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Original poster

To ask the charity shop for my things back?

51 replies

Monkeydonkey · 21/09/2019 22:33

My partner today mistakenly dropped off about 6 boxes of items to a charity shop that I had been keeping aside to sell. I didn’t realise until it was too late and the shop had closed. Wondering how unreasonable it is to go in there tomorrow and ask if I can have my things back?! I was really hoping to make a little bit of money from this stuff. Or should I just let it go?

OP posts:
Namechangeforthiscancershit · 21/09/2019 23:39

If it's stuff you were planning to sell anyway I'd just leave it. It's such a pain selling stuff. Your DP can definitely make it up to you though for being so monumentally unhelpful!

mathanxiety · 21/09/2019 23:43

It could, yes, sadly. But they might be willing to help find it if the OP went in person and offered a donation.

thelionessqueen · 21/09/2019 23:44

I would give them
A call Monday ... I manage a charity shop ... and honestly ... if it was dropped off at about 5 .... provided they close about 5 and closed on Sunday .... it would not be sorted til Monday.... if by any stretch it had ...they would have to tag and steam it etc ... so again highly doubtful this has been done today .... hope this helps ....by the way ... I would be completely unfazed by being asked for a donation back as I would totally understand the confusion

InvisibleWomenMustBeRead · 21/09/2019 23:47

Ask for it back - no big deal, it was donated by accident. I volunteer with a charity and we'd give it back without hesitation providing we could easily identify it.

Johnjoeseph · 21/09/2019 23:52

Let it go. Annoying - most definitely. But if you're not desperate for the money it would be incredibly stingy/tight to ask for it back.

LimitIsUp · 22/09/2019 00:07

If you don't really need the money - as you say - just let it go!

midlifesomething · 22/09/2019 00:08

Was it gift aided? That might help staff track it down. I work in a charity shop and it happens a fair bit and we do try and locate items (even when people call) but donations are sorted so quickly you have to be quick.

Wizzbangpop · 22/09/2019 00:10

I’d leave them at the charity shop. But I would be telling dp that he should double and triple check with me first before donating next time.

PurpleFlower1983 · 22/09/2019 00:37

I would leave it and hope that the universe would pay me back for my good deed in some way! Grin

WillLokireturn · 22/09/2019 00:42

Yes, contact the charity shop. Effectively your partner gave away stuff to them that wasn't his/hers by mistake, so of course if charity shop still has it, they'll return it, as it wasn't his/hers to give. Especially if you can describe items in it.
I doubt they'd have had chance to sort it already. It doesn't matter the reason, so I wouldn't go into it, other than it was your belongings that were taken to them in error.

(Have a word with your DP, as s/he should have checked with you first)

LemonScentedStickyBat · 22/09/2019 10:07

The shop I volunteer in would give it back if at all possible but we genuinely do often sort stuff very quickly- and if it’s a big chain of shops it could have been carted off elsewhere. Really hope you get at least some back.

Simonmaria1 · 22/09/2019 13:31

I am a charity shop manager and donating the wrong stuff happens a lot. You might be lucky if it hasn't been sorted but this usually depends how busy they are. You could offer a donation as a gesture of good will for the charity, maybe a fiver if you can afford it. Good luck.

Notthetoothfairy · 22/09/2019 14:45

I probably wouldn’t try to get it back but, if I did, it would be DP’s responsibility to deal with this (he’s the one who made the error).

VipFi · 23/09/2019 07:43

Well i did so I'd say go and ask! I changed my mind about something and they had a rummage round the back and found it for me. Bit embarrassing mind. So I'd say ask but if it's too late see it as karma, it's good to give and maybe something will come back to you in return... Good luck!

Butttons · 23/09/2019 08:01

Please come back and let us know how you got on!

Mykidsdrivemeupthefluckingwall · 23/09/2019 08:20

I've done this before, I accidentally dropped off a bag of winter coats with other thing's, then went to ask for it back a few hours later. Luckily it was still in the bag. But I didn't feel bad as it's my things. They were fine about it.

Notajogger · 23/09/2019 08:27

Let it go. Annoying - most definitely. But if you're not desperate for the money it would be incredibly stingy/tight to ask for it back.

labazsisgoingmad · 23/09/2019 08:33

i run a charity shop and being a small shop with no volunteers i tend to sort as soon as comes in otherwise i would be overwhelmed with items. i am always happy if people want to check their donations in case something not for us was included but it needs to be done quick or it would have been put for sale/recycled/stored. at 5 on a saturday usually i would have been shut anyway but we did have items in 2 boxes come in just before closing but i did not sort properly as a quick look through indicates it probably will all have to be binned anyway (chipped/broken china furred up kettle stained plastic wear etc)

Frickinfabulous · 23/09/2019 08:35

I'm a manager of a well known charity shop OP and would have absolutely no problems finding your stuff and giving them back, no need to feel embarrassed. Flowers

dottiedodah · 23/09/2019 08:44

I think it would be nice to just "let it go "(good for your conscience anyway!).Unless you are desperate .Just think of it as an extra donation.I think sometimes good things come back to us !

Aprillygirl · 23/09/2019 09:14

If you’re not desperate for the money it’d be more trouble than it’s worth for both them, if they’ve already got it sorted and ready for sale, and for you who would have to go collect it all, lug it home and try and sell it. Let them have it and enjoy knowing you have done something good today.

GameSetMatch · 23/09/2019 09:23

If you don’t really need the money I would just leave it, it’s not very charitable. I’m sure they will be pleased with your donation.

SmellbowSmellbow123 · 23/09/2019 09:27

My husband did this! My Nan died and I’d sorted some stuff for charity and some to keep. He gave it all to charity. I’d explained which box was which but it was all still given. Never got it back though, but you could ask.

Blamangeme · 23/09/2019 09:39

Just say your dh took the wrong boxes in and you will return with the others another time? Then just take the things you couldn't sell or make a donation like others have suggested. Unless you have already rung this morning.

covetingthepreciousthings · 23/09/2019 09:46

What did you decide to do OP?

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