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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask charity shop workers what you DO and DON'T want donated

214 replies

DimityandDeNimes · 22/09/2020 09:56

Obviously you don't want anything dirty or broken.

I'm having a massive clear out and am struggling to decide what to donate or recycle or bin.

Are you overwhelmed by stuff at the moment? My friend dropped a few bags at a huge charity shop and said their faces dropped at the sight of more stuff!

OP posts:
Lovebug06 · 22/09/2020 10:00

Following with interest, I'm about to have a clear out so would be good to know too Smile

Sewsosew · 22/09/2020 10:00

Do you want hangers? I’ve put some large ones (for big coats) in my charity bag and I’m always worried they don’t want them

Sunnydaysstillhere · 22/09/2020 10:03

Gave up with our local one when the assistant rolled her eyes and declared more toys, just great. . Everything very decent and all working /bits there
Clothes and shoes to the new bank and the rest in the recycling bin.

Mylittlepony374 · 22/09/2020 10:08

I put mine in the clothing bins for charity. They have clear 'do and don't want' lists on the front.
I used to take to the local shop but got snarky comments about them being in bin bags once so gave up. I mean, what else do I transport 3 bin bags worth of clothes in?

timeforanew · 22/09/2020 10:10

I just bin stuff these days. One charity shop binned (boxed, sealed) lego right in front of me. Well, I can do that without going to their shop. So it either goes on freecycle or in the bin.

SantaClaritaDiet · 22/09/2020 10:17

Ask you LOCAL ones, they might have different needs, ask the food bank and women shelters too. Try to find a cash for clothes nearby, 50p or £1 per kilo is not much, but better than nothing and it's better than the tip.

I know my local charity shops are so full they just bin everything, neighbours were surprised to see them chucking all the bags in the big rubbish bins.

So many people have been decluttering, and shops being closed and people worried about dirty clothes in the few that have reopened, they are bursting.

Most of our local shops were dependent on elderly volunteers who cannot go back, so they have no space, no staff. Can't blame them for chucking away everything, what are they supposed to do.

BashfulClam · 22/09/2020 10:38

Our local one said only 2 bags per person as people have had clear outs during lockdown and they have to quarantine things for three days before hanging. It’s a space issue.

Camphillgirl · 22/09/2020 10:39

Check out Sals Shoes. They find new feet for outgrown (not worn out) shoes. Clothes can go to Salvation Army recycling boxes. Bedding to night shelters. Not sure about toys. Sell them on e bay for ridiculous price and give proceeds to food bank.

flourbroach · 22/09/2020 10:42

Charity shops have to pay commercial waste disposal rates to get rid of stuff, and they don't want to have to spend the charity's money doing that.

I don't know what the answer is really. My local one never seems to want books - you get an eye roll if you take any in there.

SallySeven · 22/09/2020 10:43

Ime locally nothing! Except designer or antiques.
I knew one small charity that sold kids stuff very cheaply so I both bought and donated there. Unusual though. My more local "chains" are very expensive and don't move much stock. Go figure!

contrmary · 22/09/2020 10:43

Just bin it. Like others I am tired of the eye rolls and bitchy comments when I take books and blu-rays in.

SallySeven · 22/09/2020 10:44

The only other way may be Freecycle? Is that active anymore?

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 22/09/2020 10:51

I used to volunteer in a charity bookshop and in terms of what sold, condition and newness were everything. New shiny fiction, especially by big names. Untouched cookery books.

listsandbudgets · 22/09/2020 10:52

I gave up with my local oxfam after I made donation of good quality clothes some barely worn as I'd been on a diet and lost a lot of weight (which sadly I've since regained.)

They have an alleyway behind the building which I happened to pass.I saw the woman I'd just given everything to chucking the whole bag in the bin - I don't think they'd even looked at it.

Reader - I'm ashamed to say I went and took it back, washed it all again, rebagged it and took it to the Hospice shop and they've had every donation from me ever since. My bag was not the only one there either but didn't like to help myself Grin

Wimpeyspread · 22/09/2020 10:54

I work in a charity shop - space is definitely an issue due to having to quarantine donations. The best thing to do is ask your local shops What they are accepting currently, as all will have different needs.
In general, we have no facilities for washing clothes or cleaning shoes, so please donate stuff in a saleable condition. We can’t sell things that are dirty, incomplete or broken, or unusable such as video/audio tapes or very outdated tech or very well worn Primark t-shirts - Just think what you would consider buying!
And please do not leave bags of stuff outside the door of a closed shop. Finally, charity shops are not a convenient alternative to the tip - as pp said, we have to pay to dispose of unsuitable donations, and currently the pandemic has killed off our previous rag collections

missmouse101 · 22/09/2020 10:56

Freecycle is still active and pretty good.

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 22/09/2020 10:56

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

earthyfire · 22/09/2020 10:56

I don't bother now, I called up three charity shops recently who said they weren't taking anymore donations.

MsWonderful · 22/09/2020 11:00

I phoned my local Age Concern. They were enthusiastic and polite, seemed happy to be open, and said they were accepting everything except books. When I took the stuff in she thanked me.
No eye rolling or binning at all Smile

bookmum08 · 22/09/2020 11:00

timeforanew did you ask why they were putting sealed Lego in the bin? I find it highly unlikely. Are you sure it wasn't a sorting bin for stuff they know will sell quickly or stuff they may sell via eBay. I really find your story untrue.

WorksTheDinerAllDay · 22/09/2020 11:00

I used to volunteer at Oxfam and although you might have seen us bin stuff, it was because that bin would be collected by a contractor who would take the clothes and recycle them or they would end up in third world countries.

Things we didn't want were:

Children's clothes. Obviously this varies from shop to shop but in ours we simply didn't have the floor space to sell it.

Underwear. For obvious reasons.

Anything stained or bobbled or ripped etc. If it's not good enough to wear why would anyone want to buy it? Charity shops are not tips for any old rags.

Jumpers and thick coats in the summer. Storage space is very limited and we simply don't have the space to store them up over the year.

Large items like Moses baskets or occasional tables. Again, this varies from store to store but space is such a factor.

Original poster
DimityandDeNimes · 22/09/2020 11:00

Can't blame them for chucking away everything, what are they supposed to do

Decline donations?

I suppose everything will end up in landfill at some point ...

OP posts:
anotherwinkywinkybumbum · 22/09/2020 11:01

I use my local giveaway group on facebook. Maybe you have one too?

VictoriaBun · 22/09/2020 11:01

I'm shocked that charity shops have been seen to bin stuff.
The one I worked in used to ' rag ' stuff , if an item came in and was in had condition / dirty , it was put aside and a recycling person would come and weigh it and then pay depending on weight so even that became charity money. We used to have regulars that knew that and would pre sort their items before coming and label accordingly. If we had slightly tatty books they would go into a basket 4 for £1 . Used towel became dog towels , likewise not so nice plush toys ( if safe to do so )
We didn't do so well for men's clothing , our shirts would be about £1.25 - £1.75 and that's all makes.

bookmum08 · 22/09/2020 11:04

listsandbudgets did you not ask why they did that. They must have had a reason. If it was me as soon as I saw it happens I would of been straight at them to find out what was going on.