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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be annoyed the charity shop would not accept my donation

643 replies

Bearbehind · 21/01/2018 13:49

I've had a bit of a clear out and had some stuff to take the the charity shop.

I checked on line it was open today then took the stuff into town.

You can't park right outside so I carried the stuff, in the snow, to the shop only to see a sign which said they no longer open on Sundays.

Oh well, I thought but, all the lights were on and I could see at least 3 people inside so I knocked the door and someone opened it.

He said they were shut and I explained I didn't want to come in, just drop these donations off.

He outright refused to accept them, because they were shut, and I'd have to go to another branch of theirs that was open today or come back tomorrow.

AIBU to think that if someone has made the effort to bring a donation to a charity shop and if there's are people there, they should accept them.

I'll be buggered if I'm taking stuff to them again.

OP posts:
Sharonthetotallyinsane · 21/01/2018 13:50

YABU. They don’t have to take your old junk. Those people, who are volunteers, were obviously busy.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 21/01/2018 13:52

They’ve no idea if it was junk or not; it was in bags do they couldn’t see what it was.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 21/01/2018 13:53

It's disappointing but perhaps they've been instructed not to take donations when they're closed.

Beachcountrysidetown · 21/01/2018 13:54

It is often seen that charity shops should except anything at any time and just be grateful. They were closed and probably getting on with much needed jobs - you have no idea of the work that goes into a charity shop until you work in one I assure you!! The people working were giving up their Sunday - for free - and did not have to just take your donation. They explained that they were closed.

BarbarianMum · 21/01/2018 13:54

I can see why you're annoyed but i think YABU. And in terms of "doing their bit for charity" I think them working on a Sunday trumps you hauling your stuff to their door.

PearlyGatesMontenegro · 21/01/2018 13:55

Think I probably would have dumped the bags outside if I were you 🤷‍♀️

BarbarianMum · 21/01/2018 13:56

Yeah fly tip it. That'll teach them! Hmm

AgnesBrownsCat · 21/01/2018 13:57

They were being unreasonable . How difficult would in be to put a couple of bags to one side and explain they were dropped off today .

Original poster
Bearbehind · 21/01/2018 13:57

I realise they’ve probably been told not to take donations when they’re shut, I just don’t understand why that would be the case.

Completely refusing to accept donations seems to fly in the face of giving up their time to volunteer.

OP posts:
Blueemeraldagain · 21/01/2018 13:58

I really hate seeing things left outside charity shops but if the website said they were open today I would have left the stuff with a note asking them to change the website.

ShowerGel9 · 21/01/2018 13:58

Nope. I agreen with the OP.

Takes seconds to take the bags (there cold to have been heaps if she's carried them in the snow)

That's man is probably a jobs worth who feels important working for free in a charity shop. Gives him some kind of 'badge' that he wouldnt get elsewhere.

MissDuke · 21/01/2018 13:58

They definitely should have taken it in. They could have left it sitting, they didn't need to do anything with it. I personally think it was very rude after the effort op made.

Beachcountrysidetown · 21/01/2018 13:58

Dumped the bags outside?! We have a real problem with the way we view charity. Sad.

strugglingtodomybest · 21/01/2018 13:59

That would annoy the shit out of me. But then I'd give myself a strong talking to and get over it and find a charity shop with parking if possible.

timeisnotaline · 21/01/2018 13:59

Because you are being so gracious and generous as to take your unwanted stuff to charity their rules, announced on signs , shouldn’t matter and the volunteers working on a Sunday should jump to do your bidding oh most benificent one? Is that your thinking op?

Tarraleah · 21/01/2018 13:59

YANBU

They could have just left the bags somewhere in the shop to be dealt with tomorrow. When you leave your donations in front of the door, they will be ransacked and the best bits taken to be sold somewhere else.

Some charity shops just bin a lot of their donations too anyway. It's not really worth giving anything unless you are confident how things are managed

PuppyMonkey · 21/01/2018 14:00

It does seem a little odd of them not just to accept the bags and keep them to one side. Nobody was expecting them to stop everything and go through all the stuff there and then, I’m sure.Confused

SandyDenny · 21/01/2018 14:01

I'd contact the head office of the charity and check that is the policy and politely ask why in today's circumstances they couldn't have shown a bit of common sense and taken it in. Sometimes it's OK to bend the rules imo

BluebellTheDonkey · 21/01/2018 14:01

This is why I Freecycle stuff. I always state collection only and leave it on the doorstep when I know someone's coming. Only been let down a couple of times. I like to think of things being genuinely used and appreciated by someone else when I no longer have a need for it.

SandyDenny · 21/01/2018 14:02

That's just silly timeisnotaline, she's not saying anything like that, where are you getting that from?

Beachcountrysidetown · 21/01/2018 14:02

It’s obvious that no one here has worked in a charity shop. The backs of charity shops are usually full to the brim of dirty, unsuitable items that need disposing off. Many items are donated needing washing and ironing. It takes so much time to sort the items out that on the days where the shop is shut these jobs have to be done - for free. Yes the website should be updated but that isn’t the workers job to do so. It is extremely entitled to think that they need to just accept your items and be grateful.

Anxiousally · 21/01/2018 14:03

I think YANBU it would not have killed them to put the bags to one side untill tomorrow. Take them to a more appreciative charity shop. My uncle works in a charity shop and said they are ALWAYS really greatful of the things they receive (as long as it's not total junk obviously).

PearlyGatesMontenegro · 21/01/2018 14:04

Yep, what's the problem with leaving hen outside? I bet they would have come and got the bags then wouldn't they. As pp said, not like they were expected to go through them there and then is it? Could have put the to one side and dealt with tomorrow.

If it's clothes/shoes/handbags etc, see if you have a cash for clothes near buy. I believe they send the stuff to Africa etc. I got 20 quid for 10 bags of stuff the other week.

jaimelannistersgoldenhand · 21/01/2018 14:04

Yanbu. It's proper "Computer says no" culture at work here.

godricshollow · 21/01/2018 14:04

I agree OP.
No matter what OP was donating it wouldn't change quality or condition between one day and the next would it? So all these comments are irrelevant.
No idea why they couldn't say "well we really wouldn't normally when we are closed but just put them in the back".
I'd take them elsewhere OP.

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