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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think charity shops should be cheaper?

289 replies

Chocolatelover45 · 11/12/2019 21:54

The prices in my local charity shops are ridiculous (small northern town) .
E.g.
£2.50 for a rattle
£1 for a scuffed pint glass
£3.99 for a children's t shirt (George)
£1.50 for dog eared children's paperbacks
£4 for hardback puzzle book with half the puzzles already completed
£2.49 for 4 small plain Christmas baubles

Why do they charge so much? Surely they'd sell a lot more if it was cheaper? Or is there a good reason?

OP posts:
Coatzillaclaus · 11/12/2019 22:37

Also re. Labels and high-value goods - if I’d donated something nice, I’d want the charity to get a good price for it, not give it away as a bargain.

MistyCloud · 11/12/2019 22:38

@Chocolatelover45 100% agree.

And most of the money they make doesn't go to the charity they represent. It's a piss-take. Free shit given to them, voluntary staff, and very low rents and business rates.

I rarely buy from them, unless it's good value/very cheap (and it benefits me.)

I am not even sorry.

I have to say I agree with the posters who say shops like Primark, B & M, and Home Bargains etc (and even to some extent Asda and Tesco) having household stuff/clothes etc so cheap, makes them seem even more expensive.

gypsywater · 11/12/2019 22:38

@covetingthepreciousthings I know! I was so shocked recently when a friend did this. She tried to get me to haggle too. I was like errr no. How embarrassing ffs.

fantasmasgoria1 · 11/12/2019 22:40

I feel charity shops should charge reasonable prices in order to help those in need. The manager of the one I volunteered in said that she kept the prices as low as possible for that reason. She also said that who wants an old primark t shirt for a fiver when it's cheaper brand new.

Skittlesandbeer · 11/12/2019 22:40

I act like a self-appointed price monitor at my local charity shop (here they’re called Opportunity shops, or Op shops).

I’ll often bring things up to the counter and point out to the manger if they are wildly overpriced or underpriced. They appreciate my input, and usually change it on the spot. They can’t all be expert shoppers like me Grin

I’ve built my reputation with them over the years- they know they’ve made far more money with my suggestions. Turnover is more important than ever, people aren’t going to drop in if it’s the same old tat for ages.

I’ve often thought that these shops have a very narrow idea of retail strategies. They think they know, but they don’t. They don’t need to be ‘more corporate’, they just need to cherry-pick the retail strategies that work in their community and actively reject the rest.

I’ve convinced them, for instance, to put aside costumes and display them prominently twice a year- before Halloween & book week. They sell out this way, and got more costume donations. Word gets around the local school, and people who never come in, come in for that rack. Previously those costumes were distributed in 15 different places, according to size, colour and a bit randomly!

Now when the staff see ‘demand and supply’ in action, they can charge a little more (briefly, and for some things). Leaving the ‘daily basics’ for the bargain-hunters and people doing it tough.

Overpricing is a very backward-thinking move. And quickly earns the shop a ‘don’t bother’ reputation in their neighbourhood- both for donating and buying.

OhioOhioOhio · 11/12/2019 22:41

Yadnbu

bookmum08 · 11/12/2019 22:42

There is a charity shop in my mother in law's town. A local charity rather than a chain. I go in when I am up there so probably 4 or 5 times a year. It's a cheap place. For example they sell children's books for 10p each. However there are some books that have been sat on the shelves for 3 years or more. I am not exaggerating. (they are some 80/90s books that I reconise from when I was a kid and used to read.) The whole shop is always messy, cold, smells damp and the volunteers always moaning or talking loudly - often about inappropriate things.
The British Heart Foundation however up the road may sell books at £2/3/4 but the stock seems to always be fresh, displayed nicely (a-z), the shop is clean, volunteers always seem professional. I know which one I would rather shop at.

Iwantacookie · 11/12/2019 22:42

@aridane no I remember that one it was a different one.

mathanxiety · 11/12/2019 22:43

I agree 100%, @Chocolatelover45.

I live in the US and frequent my local Goodwill which has uniform pricing, much as described by Salvationiseasy in Edinburgh.

You can pick up amazing clothing, footwear and accessories and pay $2.99 to $9.99 for it. Turnover is huge.

People go and browse regularly because they know they will find something nice for a reasonable price. I became familiar with this particular store at a time when I was completely skint, and kept going back even after my income improved because it is such incredible value for money (and there is an environmental factor too).

People feel comfortable donating because they believe their stuff will not just end up in a landfill or the rag industry after languishing overpriced for weeks in a store nobody ever goes to.

And there are changing rooms, and loos available to customers.

CoolCarrie · 11/12/2019 22:45

I agree, Oxfam shops in particular are often overpriced.
When I visit the UK I love to had a look at charity shops, something I’ve always done and I’ve noticed the prices can be ridiculous for stuff.
I help out in a charity book shop and our coffee table books and art books cost around £4 and paperbacks around £1-50 If in good condition , children’s books are 50p and we charge £2 for new bestsellers. I don’t get a staff discount and that’s fine by me, as I live in South Africa and the money helps very poor communities and our turnover of books is huge so it generates a lot.

mathanxiety · 11/12/2019 22:48

Goodwill does seasonal events as described by @Skittlesandbeer.

Currently there is a big Christmas section. I recently bought three sets of Ikea Scandi style tree decorations, each $1.99, in original packaging, never opened. Even if this is the price Ikea charges it saves me the time and expense of going to Ikea, an hour's drive away.

They do Hallowe'en too, and Easter.

beachcomber70 · 11/12/2019 22:52

I've noticed prices creeping up here too. T shirts/jeans that have no life in them left, jackets so very out of date, acrylic sweaters out of shape and bobbled...all priced too high when you take into account new prices in Primark, Matalan, Tu, George etc.
They hang around for far too long, but the pound rail is constantly refreshing.
I donated 2 Polish plates which I bought for £2 each, didn't use them much. I saw them for sale in the charity shop for £3.50 each. Ridiculous.
In the same shop tired, old sofas with no springs/broken down foam seats for silly prices...even sillier prices when they are [old fashioned] leather ones.

ElluesPichulobu · 11/12/2019 22:54

all charities are required by law to maximise the value of their assets as far as possible within the aims of the charity.

so, if someone donates to a charity a painting that is worth £10,000 they cannot sell it for less than that.

the same principle applies here. the value of any thing is the price a willing buyer is prepared to pay. if they know they could sell a coat for £10 they would be failing their duties as a charity to price it at £5.

the exception would be if a charity actually had one of their charitable objectives being "to be a source of cheap second hand clothing for people on very low incomes" and they could then price everything at 50p.

beachcomber70 · 11/12/2019 22:58

On the other hand the animal charity down the road has a better turnover of goods as they are cheaper. Paperbacks are 4 for £1 and with a 50p bin for glasses, vases, dishes, cups, cat and dog bowls, bits and bobs. Also a £1 clothes rail of clothes for all ages.
Always people buying in there.

ILearnedItFromABook · 11/12/2019 23:00

YANBU. I rarely bother even looking anymore, because it's usually not worth my time. It's a shame. Bargain hunting can be such fun, but not when there are so few bargains to go around.

mathanxiety · 11/12/2019 23:04

Also re. Labels and high-value goods - if I’d donated something nice, I’d want the charity to get a good price for it, not give it away as a bargain.

This is a very short sighted approach that fails to see the big picture.

The charity can use your high value goods priced low as bait and end up making more by attracting more customers in search of great items for low prices.

The reputation of a second hand store as a place where you are likely to find something really nice for a really good price is key to maintaining and building its customer base.

Getting feet in the door is key. Customers who are a little more affluent than the absolutely poor will often spend more than they intended to once they cross the threshold, especially if the place seems clean, rationally laid out (clothing displayed according to type, colour and size, for instance) and there are changing rooms.

The name of the game is making money, not clothing the destitute. Yes, they might make money by pricing your old North Face coat at $40. But they will definitely sell it, and probably move more merchandise if someone snaps up your coat priced at $20 and decides they are on a roll, so they go on to load their trolley with some glassware, a lamp, a lovely cashmere scarf and pair of jeans, leaving room for new stuff on the racks and shelves. The prospect of newly arrived bargains attracts weekly prospectors.

Clevererthanyou · 11/12/2019 23:05

Ellues- required by law? That’s a new one on me! Every day is a school day I guess.
I worked in a Welsh chain charity shop that employed store managers, area managers, assistant managers, directors etc etc (all at decent wages) and we were given a handbook by Head Office which dictated that our costs had to be based on the premise that we charge 1 third of an items original cost no matter the condition and even if an item was expensive and broken, we couldn’t refund. We could however give a credit note to buy another delightful bobbled, tattered and torn Primark t-shirt for £4.95. Head office acknowledged during meetings that their prices were high and would often issue new mandates for higher pricing tariffs with all the pressure put on volunteers to go for the hard sell every time.

SunburstsOrMarbleHalls · 11/12/2019 23:06

My local area has loads of charity shops. In the more affluent area the prices are higher as presumably they pay more rent etc. If you go to cheaper areas the goods are usually cheaper.

This week I have picked up a Reiss wool coat in immaculate condition for £12 and a merino wool LK Bennett pencil dress for £6

There is also a 321 cancer research shop in my nearest town. This gets stock that has been in two of their branch shops and not sold but is too good for rags. Everything in the shop is £3, £2 or £1. It actually means that if something has been overpriced and not sold you can get a fabulous bargain. My best find there was a leather Karen Millen dress for £3.

notacooldad · 11/12/2019 23:08

I agree that the things you describe are overpriced.
However in the last 2 months I have bought
A velvet swing coat for £7 that looks amazing and is a 'going out coat'
A phase 8 evening dress, looks brand new £10
Joe Brown. Tunic dress £3
Dune shoes £3
Nigella Feast cook book £2 ( brilliant book)
A fit and flare dress from Oasis £4
Whistle dress for work £15
A lovely dress from Monsoon £6
I'm really happy, shop is happy , win win!

Bowerbird5 · 11/12/2019 23:08

Some with have higher overheads.

Some in our northern city don’t try to make too much profit but aim to offer items at reasonable prices to support the local community. Shops run by the Salvation Army and Op shops connected to a church. I also get a discount for school as I go in and buy pretty dresses and waist coats for parties and things that will be suitable for costumes or turning into costumes with a bit of sewing. It is very kind of the ladies and helps my purse.

Notcontent · 11/12/2019 23:09

I agree OP.

I have always loved looking for bargains at markets, charity shops, etc but I am becoming increasingly annoyed at some of the crazy prices.

I might not pay £2 for an Ikea glass that costs £1 new, but there are lots of vulnerable people out there who are getting ripped off.

DarklyDreamingDexter · 11/12/2019 23:10

They’re not overpriced where I live. I went around a few the other day to source some costumes for a play and it was an absolute revelation! My daughter came away with a red carpet ball gown for herself for a tenner! There was a guy in front of us buying a Hackett overcoat for £25. Amazing bargains!

DingDongSchadenfreudeOnHigh · 11/12/2019 23:11

This week I have picked up a Reiss wool coat in immaculate condition for £12 and a merino wool LK Bennett pencil dress for £6

< discreet cough>

Whereabouts is this Sunburst?

Asking for a friend. Grin

Leflic · 11/12/2019 23:11

I agree Op. I hate the Lord of the Monor “doing our bit for charity”approach,
They are second hand, Price accordingly.

notacooldad · 11/12/2019 23:16

ElluesPichulobu
Hi Ellie's, could you link the law that states that charity shops have to maximise the value of their assets. I can't find anything.
I'm not being snarky, it is useful information that I didn't know.
.

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