Aibu to make money from a charity shop purchase?

[Partnerprobs]

Recently went to a charity shop and found a couple of items for sale that I liked and were in very good condition. A handbag and a book. Both were in a locked cabinet. I bought them for £25 in total and have sold them on eBay for £75 and £34 pounds, so I’ve made about £84 (less eBay fees which I haven’t seen yet)

My best friend was really shocked and said it’s like stealing and I should donate the money to the charity - this has surprised and unnerved me as I thought it was fine (as they were in the cabinet so had been picked as higher end items, and also they were more expensive than normal items)

I thought it was a lucky break and was looking forward to treating myself.

Aibu?

I would imagine the shop made more money in X time by having the goods shifted quickly so they could get more stuff on the shelf that also moved quickly, rather than keeping one item on there for however long it took to sell at the ideal online price.

One reason you get better prices online is because you don't have to worry about using up display space.

How does buying something at the asking price set by the shop take away from the profit they've made?

I would feel bad because the shop manager obviously messed up, we put more valuable things on eBay

I always presume the shop manager knows better than me what to sell and how.
If I buy something and later decide to to discard it, should I not then sell it in case it makes "too much"?

I always resell things I think might fetch a pound or two (and that is literally all, in most cases)

Should I not do it with anything bought from charity?

Re: Gift aid. North London Hospice send me a letter every year saying how much money my donations have raised in gift aid.

I think the difference in gift aid in charity shops is that the seller ie the person donating has the option of adding gift aid, yet usually it would be the buyer- like when you donate to charity you're paying money and have the option of gift aiding.

don't think volunteers have the time or inclination to be looking up the potential resell price of every item that gets donated.

Not inclination - technical know-how.

In our shop we have one computer on the manager's desk. It is used for everything involved with running the shop from email to volunteer recruitment to social media to reporting the takings to head office. It is old, clunky and unreliable. Obviously, only one person can be using the computer at a time.

Many of us volunteering have smartphones, many don't. Many are on a contract where they have capped data and might not want to use all their data looking up sold prices.

We are so inundated with donations that it's simply impossible to google everything. Once you've sorted through the bags of used socks and pants, you have to process the rest as quickly as you can. Everyone has their own special areas of interest - a lady who I volunteer with on a Thursday is very knowledgeable about ceramics and paintings, I do the clothing, someone else does the books.

It's a balance - we cannot afford to waste time spending 30 minutes researching a piece of china which is worth £3. Volunteers have to use their judgement and experience to sift out the very best or most unusual to look into further. Most of the time we get it right. Sometimes we don't.

And I don't believe the items which the OP describes were priced incorrectly.

I think it is fair because you took a risk in a way. You might have bought both items, tried to sell them for more and failed as no one agreed they were worth more or liked them. You paid the asking price. It is actually an idea I had never thought of but will now keep an eye out for a designer bargain next time I am shopping for myself too.

Charity shops usually have really good sorters and valuers. They often have an online shop and/or sell through auction sites. They are really good at what they do so if they missed these items, I wouldn't worry about it.

I love charity shops and definitely veer towards ones whose cause I like the best. I won't even set foot in Oxfam anymore - overpriced and the organisation is tainted beyond redemption.

@DrSbaitso

I should have stored the tea set and sold it on Facebook at a later time.

Yes, if what you wanted was lots of money to be paid for it, wherever you intended that money to go. But if you wanted it to go to someone who couldn't afford nice things, as you said...how many impoverished people do you think will have that kind of money for a tea set, where the pot alone is worth £90+?

Or what if it gets bought cheaply by a reseller and then goes to someone who loves vintage china and is pleased to have got it, but didn't live anywhere near the charity shop?

If you "don't have the time or inclination to sell online and deal with the packing and postage", why should a local charity shop that's staffed by volunteers? You were happy to give it away for the convenience, they're happy to sell it for whatever it can reasonably and quickly fetch on the shelf.

Exactly this. I donate items to charity shops I could sell for a few quid on eBay, but 1. I can't arsed, and 2. I don't have the time, and 3. I'm happy the charity shop makes some money.
I'm not about to start worrying about what type of person buys the item, or if it's underpriced compared to what it could get with a customer-base of millions on Facebook. Tbh the person who buys it and sells it on is using their own time and money to do this. They might 'need' the money, it might be their only income. It's crazy to create moral stories and good and bad charity shop buyers. For most people donating stuff to charity shops is a convenient way to get rid of unwanted stuff while feeling they have helped a charity without making a financial donation.

@insidenumber5

This pisses me off because I buy my clothes in charity shops genuinely to wear them and because usually it is my only opportunity to own and wear 'nice' clothes. When a few people, or even just one person, does this in my local charity shop it means there are no 'nice' clothes left.

For some people, reselling might be how they feed their children.

If you want designer brands then you just need to get there first.

I feel happy that it's all a big circle of need and supply.
As long as everyone involved gets a positive out of my unwanted things then I'm content.

What about when people buy clothes at a charity shop or jumble sale or carboot and then sell them as vintage in their vintage shop?

@MissM2912

Anyone that I know who gives stuff to charity shops is doing it with the intention of it being used to the benefit of either the charity or someone in need- otherwise you would just dump it!! I don’t know anyone who donates stuff with the intention of it being sold on for profit. There is a difference between buying from a charity like for example St Vincent de Paul and a second hand shop.

You don't know anyone who donates it with the intention of being sold on for profit...which is literally what the charity does and what the donation is actually for?

I find it hard to believe people can be this dim, while misguidedly moralistic.

I’ve been reminded of a friend who had a second hand shop.
For twenty years she did well, buying from the public, family friends and contacts (a retired international air hostess so she had lots) at a fair price and selling on at a modest profit. People would literally line up to get in to the shop at opening time.
She made enough to run and maintain a lovely home, entertain friends and travel o/s.
Then she became romantically involved with one of her customers, a used car dealer who knew everything and infiltrated her business.
He encouraged her to put the prices up and pay less and had a very mean attitude to anyone who wouldn’t pay big money or sell for peanuts. Anything interesting or unknown was hoarded, lest someone who knew more got a bargain.
After he moved in, her home became full of excess items, she stopped having guests and eventually the shop failed.
My point is, there’s an art to retail and it doesn’t necessarily mean wringing every last cent out of everything. It’s more a balance of efficient use of limited time and keeping the customers coming back.
I think your friend is too ignorant to realise that the charity shop manager probably knows more than she ever will about making money.

@hesterstanhope

I’ve been reminded of a friend who had a second hand shop. For twenty years she did well, buying from the public, family friends and contacts (a retired international air hostess so she had lots) at a fair price and selling on at a modest profit. People would literally line up to get in to the shop at opening time. She made enough to run and maintain a lovely home, entertain friends and travel o/s. Then she became romantically involved with one of her customers, a used car dealer who knew everything and infiltrated her business. He encouraged her to put the prices up and pay less and had a very mean attitude to anyone who wouldn’t pay big money or sell for peanuts. Anything interesting or unknown was hoarded, lest someone who knew more got a bargain. After he moved in, her home became full of excess items, she stopped having guests and eventually the shop failed. My point is, there’s an art to retail and it doesn’t necessarily mean wringing every last cent out of everything. It’s more a balance of efficient use of limited time and keeping the customers coming back. I think your friend is too ignorant to realise that the charity shop manager probably knows more than she ever will about making money.

That's such a sad story. Did she stay with him?

I always donate hoping someone who needs it gets something they otherwise couldn't afford.

I'm with you on this @PoshWatchShitShoes I was thinking about this thread this morning as I browsed my favourite charity shop for a specific book I need, wondering how we have come to the 'don't care' attitudes of PP on this thread ...

And I have found what are treasures to me, and told the manager what they should be charging me (that I know from my knowledge of antiquarian books) - and donated that amount.

You aren't doing anything wrong as such .however the charity is for helping people in need or animals whatever. I would be a little unsure tbh . Maybe say a 10 per cent sum to the charity from the profits and you can still have a treat?

@KaycePollard

I always donate hoping someone who needs it gets something they otherwise couldn't afford.

I'm with you on this @PoshWatchShitShoes I was thinking about this thread this morning as I browsed my favourite charity shop for a specific book I need, wondering how we have come to the 'don't care' attitudes of PP on this thread ...

And I have found what are treasures to me, and told the manager what they should be charging me (that I know from my knowledge of antiquarian books) - and donated that amount.

So your primary concern is nice things going to people who couldn't otherwise afford it? Clearly you can afford these things, since you made a point of paying the "true" price, so why aren't you buying them elsewhere and leaving the charity shop copy for someone less well off?

I would personally donate a good bit of it but agree you don't have to.

Perhaps charity shops need someone with your skills to sell things on eBay.

You bought them fair and square.

You made some money from them, and you might now spend the money supporting a local business.

Or not - the money is yours and it's up to you what you do with it.

Your friend is being very precious and silly. Does she question your fast fashion purchases?

...And if the charity was serious about making money for whatever it supports, it would be selling items online too.

I know larger charity shop chains likes Oxfam tend to have a better idea of the real value of items and charge appropriately for it. This is why I encourage my Fashion, Communication and Business Students to get work experience positions in charity jobs, as they can help identify bigger brands and value them appropriately.

Charity shops need to be more savvy when pricing items. They need their own website and they need to compare prices using the Internet.

I don’t think you’ve done anything wrong, after all, retail stores buy items for a low price from a supplier and sell for a profit, the charity shop was given the items and sold them for a profit, it’s the same process. If you bought an item and then sold it for more, I say, good for you! No one would bat an eyelid if you bought a table in IKEA and sold it for £5 more than you paid for it.

Eh? Of course that’s ok. People do it all the time at auctions and car boots. The charity got their money when you bought it.