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Original poster

To think this is the end for charity shops?

177 replies

Therollockingrogue · 10/05/2020 15:12

I mean is it? I love charity shops, nearly everything I own is second hand, from car boot sales, charity shops etc etc . But the thought of a rummage now makes me feel a bit bleeeurghh. Anyone else?
Given that in some of our towns the high streets are just alternate vape shop/ nail bar /charity shops, what will happen?
Who would want to work in such an environment anyway after this, especially when most staff are volunteers ?

OP posts:
spartansisters · 10/05/2020 15:41

I'm hoping they'll be full of all the brand new stuff that shops have been unable to sell and is now 'off trend' so I'll be able to get loads of great bargains!

lyralalala · 10/05/2020 15:41

They used to have the dual purpose of helping poor people as well as raising money for the charity, but these days a lot of the good stuff is siphoned off and bargains are rare, so I don't see why they should get special consideration.

They still have that purpose. Plus give the levels of unemployment and/or poverty from furlough and shortened hours the low cost options for shopping are going to be even more important once things start moving again

JudyCoolibar · 10/05/2020 15:41

The people running a business or working in normal shops have needs which are as important as the charities needs.

Seriously? They have greater needs than, say, disabled children, people with heart disease, people with cancer, people with serious visual impairments?

This really is the epitome of utter selfishness.

DominaShantotto · 10/05/2020 15:41

Does it really matter how the currently closed charity shops are not open currently and are not open currently at the moment - or is it just that you think you've found another angle to piss on people's chips and doom monger a bit more?!

Considering the stock inside has been locked up in isolation for 7 weeks - I think it's fairly safe for a rummage at the moment!

Babyroobs · 10/05/2020 15:41

Most of the clothing can be washed, there is no risk there, pots and nice crockery poses no risk if washed. the main problem as far as I can see is that is that a lot of volunteers seem to be women in their 60's and 70's who may well not be taking the risk of serving in the shops. I do hope they survive as I love a good mooch around the charity shops in our village and one is a local hospice shop and they really rely on revenue from their chain of shops. They will lose a huge amount if they are closed for much longer.

covetingthepreciousthings · 10/05/2020 15:42

I think the main problem is that for many people it's an experience to go and browse. It's not like going to sainsburys for your weekly shop where you need stuff. If people have to wait in a queue and socially distance, when they don't even know if they'll find anything they like, will they bother?

I think this is a good point, the charity shops round here are always busy, mainly people browsing, which they won't really be able to do as much.

MitziK · 10/05/2020 15:42

The larger ones will go back to getting staff from the job centre and making money from the fees that were paid for accepting people on the Work Programme like they did before there was a backlash about it. After all, to put it bluntly, there's likely to be a lot of donations waiting to be sold in the coming months - they're going to want to make that money, with or without little old ladies able to do a couple of a days per week for some social contact and purpose.

AuditAngel · 10/05/2020 15:43

I have missed being able to drop donations off, we have sent some things to landfill that would normally have been donated.

In fact, we have been putting unwanted books and toys in a box at the edge of our drive marked “please help yourself” and passed on about 10 boxes of books, dolls house, dolls pram, Lego and all sorts,

blue25 · 10/05/2020 15:44

Agree. I wouldn’t be rummaging through other people’s stuff just at the minute. Too grim.

covetingthepreciousthings · 10/05/2020 15:44

Most of the clothing can be washed, there is no risk there

Most charity shops don't have washing machines though.

Quarantining stock will be the way forward.

GrimmsFairytales · 10/05/2020 15:44

In fact, we have been putting unwanted books and toys in a box at the edge of our drive marked “please help yourself”

This is happening a lot where I live, and is proving very popular.

CelestialSpanking · 10/05/2020 15:45

I’ll still visit charity shops once this is all over. Rummaging/flicking through items to find ones you want in a charity shop is no different to doing the same thing in primark or the middle aisle of Aldi. And I won’t be avoiding either of those places either.

Growingboys · 10/05/2020 15:45

Of course it's not. They will be more needed than ever in the recession that's coming after paying billionaires' employees to furlough.

GrimmsFairytales · 10/05/2020 15:45

I wouldn’t be rummaging through other people’s stuff just at the minute. Too grim.

Not much difference between items in a charity shop, and those in regular shops.

Why is one grim, but the other is ok?

Lemonblast · 10/05/2020 15:47

I think if we go crashing into the recession that is anticipated, charity shops will become more needed than ever.
People will still try to offload crap and manky stuff that should have been chucked but I’ve had some fantastic furniture finds from charity shops and DD loves trawling through to find clothes to adapt and alter. I can’t see that changing.

Isawamagpie · 10/05/2020 15:49

I personally cannot wait for the charity shops to reopen. I was saying the same thing this morning to my DP. Usually I only buy household/clothing items/stockpile gifts for DC from charity shops etc.
Since lockdown my money is going to amazon mostly and I'm really starting to feel like I'm "giving my money to the souless big guys"

I love rummaging around and finding bargains, and surprisingly I usually find what I'm looking for instead of buying it new. Better for the environment, better for my pocket, better for charity.

I'm really missing my fix and all the feel good emotions that come with shopping 2nd hand!

Isawamagpie · 10/05/2020 15:53

In fact, we have been putting unwanted books and toys in a box at the edge of our drive marked “please help yourself”

Ive been doing the same. Not a busy street but things usually go within the day.

LilacTree1 · 10/05/2020 15:54

I think they’ll get donations
Not sure how many staff they’ll get.

stayathomer · 10/05/2020 15:55

I'm wondering what your agenda is, OP.

Why would the OP have an agenda? I think after all of this a lot of people will put thought into all they do, where they go, what they bring into their house etc. People who love charity shops will continue to go, those of us that were dubious wont. The difference between a charity shop and a high street store is that you don't know the history of it, so if someone (I'm so sorry) but if they eg peed or vomited in it or even died. Also you'll notice from above plenty of people say they cany wait to drop stuff in, a lot more than people saying they cant wait to go and buy.

LazyFace · 10/05/2020 15:56

I shouldn't think so. I'll keep hunting for second hand things to save them from landfill and to save money. I'll just wash them at home if I'm concerned.

Pelleas · 10/05/2020 15:56

I hope not! I am desperate for a charity shop binge.

bloodyhellsbellsx · 10/05/2020 15:57

I hope not I’ve loads of stuff to take, spare bedroom is full to the brim after all my decluttering!

amijustparanoidorjuststoned · 10/05/2020 15:58

@covetingthepreciousthings I agree. It's no different to having a rummage at Primark or The Range, when different people have touched different things and surfaces.

Feedingthebirds1 · 10/05/2020 15:58

So many people have been having a clearout for something to do during lockdown, the charity shops are going to be drowning in donations when they can open again.

Six week's worth (minimum) of normal donations all at once, plus all the extra from the clearouts - they'll need more shops and staff, not fewer.

Car boot sales will flourish too. People will be queuing up to have a pitch.

SnugglySnerd · 10/05/2020 16:00

I was just saying this to dh. We have cleared out about 6 bags of clothes and a few toys and things which are in the car as we have nowhere to put them in the house and well, we might as well use the car for something! It just occurred to me that even if shops can open they probably won't accept donations for ages.