To disagree re: charity shop shopping

[toconclude]

Read an article in a student newspaper saying better off students (we are talking Cambridge here) should 'check their privilege' and not buy clothes and homeware from charity shops so that poorer students and townspeople can buy them. But honestly almost no one I know who is on a really low income wants to shop there - they prefer sales, fewer clothes or hand ons from friends and family. So is the writer right(YABU)) or am I to carry on shopping in charity shops for the odd item - which often aren't that cheap anyhow?

"For those saying' they can't believe some people on here think the charity is about the customer in the shop' well sometimes it is. It depends on the charities purpose and strategy, many also have a social mission regarding the local community. "

Can you name the ones you're talking about?

I never find anything great in my local one (unexciting London suburb).

I did get a thrill the few times I saw my own donations neatly ironed and tagged for sale

I work in a town with lots of charity shops. I'm sorry to burst the bubble of those mentioned by the OP, but those who clearly have nowt/state benefits do not go in charity shops. They are all in Primark.

I have spoken to some of them in my work and I get the strong impression they would feel ashamed, feel looked down upon, to go in a charity shop. They are afraid of being seen going in and potentially being called a "scruff".

That's how they operate.

So if the charity shop wanted to see proof of a postcode before allowing anyone in, they'll get nowt from their desired customer base.

Wasn’t there a list of the top charity shops to buy (based on quality of donations / number of designer goods)?

Dies it matter. The posh charity shop I found isn't cheap but the clothes are often designer classics that don't date that have been worn once. I treated myself to a cardi from there for £15 last week, I'll wear it to death . The local one isn't posh & has lots of low income customers . The books are extortionately expensive though & I've never seen anyone buy any..

Shopping secondhand whenever possible is my idea of common sense. Saves good stuff from getting thrown away, and there's so much stuff in the world, buying everything new all the time is inexcusable. I think it's a really bad idea that the secondhand stuff should be left available for the poor when that means encouraging others to buy new. It's also kind of accidentally elitist as it contributes to the mentality that new and shiny things are for the rich while old used things are for the poor.

no i am sure the charity shops move from their clothes from one branch to another, if it doesnt sell in one town they move it to another

Y A W N.

I live in a well off part of town and prefer to hand in good quality children's clothes to charities who pass them on directly to people who need them

@longwayoff

Y A W N.

Only boring people get bored.

@Girlyracer

I work in a town with lots of charity shops. I'm sorry to burst the bubble of those mentioned by the OP, but those who clearly have nowt/state benefits do not go in charity shops. They are all in Primark.

I have spoken to some of them in my work and I get the strong impression they would feel ashamed, feel looked down upon, to go in a charity shop. They are afraid of being seen going in and potentially being called a "scruff".

That's how they operate.

So if the charity shop wanted to see proof of a postcode before allowing anyone in, they'll get nowt from their desired customer base.

Do you think it is also a generational thing with low incomes. Are they young.

Saying that both my dds in their 20s shop in charity shops, use eBay and dd buys baby clothes 2nd hand or is appreciative of any used baby clothes passed on

Pop into your local charity shop, loosegoose, there's bound to be a book of cliches on sale which will serve you well.