To still buy clothes from charity shops?

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

Been discussed on MN before but would appreciate some help getting my head around a heated debate last night.

I’ve bought clothes from charity shops ever since I started work over 30 years ago. Couldn’t afford a full work wardrobe, discovered charity shops and never looked back.
I am now financially very comfortable. I still browse the charity shops, and still buy from there If I see something that looks like new that I really like. I also buy books and other things eg an old fashioned trifle bowl and some unusual vases.
Somehow the conversation came round to charity shops at my book club last night. I know from previous discussions that most of them wouldn’t dream of buying second hand clothes. A few of us do - the need to spend money wisely never leaves you and I’ll admit to loving the thrill of finding a bargain.
So we revisited that old discussion but with the added very vocal suggestion that it is incredibly wrong of us to continue buying clothes from charity shops in the current economic climate, as we are taking away the opportunity for people struggling financially to buy those clothes.
I was taken aback at the strength of feeling about this, quite vitriolic.
I’d accept it more if we were rinsing the shops and if the shops were short of stock. But between us I think we had bought 10 items this year; we have at least 7 charity shops in our small town centre (all well stocked) and the next town similar.
While I appreciate the charity benefits whoever buys from them, I am now conflicted. I honestly can’t see that buying a few bits from a charity shop is taking stuff away from those that need it (on the basis that there is plenty of stock in the shops, of which there are many). On the other hand maybe they have a valid point. But then if those clothes didn’t get bought the charity would lose out.
I’ve been going round and round on this since I woke up, hence posting. Re-reading this it does sound like I am making something out of nothing but the accusations became quite unpleasant, and I found myself unusually shaken by them so am just trying to process it.
Thank you for reading, sorry it got so long!

Apologies - just seen you've pretty much said that in a later post - I'll grab a coffee 😃

Ridiculous- buy where you like. Have to
say though if I’m tight on money I buy from primark and alike- I find charity shops overpriced so I wouldn’t say they are there for the poor.

No problem at all -with threads like this I'm happy to see the same views repeated as it helps see the number of people who agree IYSWIM.
Enjoy the coffee!

Yeh I do, but I understand that they are the charity. They are trying to make money. They"ve no goal to provide me with better bargains. My coat was 25 euro, a plaid wool coat. I am happy with that!

Your friends are wrong and I think quite out of touch but I’m pretty curious about where their vitriol is actually coming from and if they are upset or jealous about something else.

I’ve never even thought about your friends opinion. I buy almost all my clothes second hand (charity shop, Vinted, eBay), I probably could afford new but I’d have to buy cheaper brands so would rather look for quality brands second hand, this is from an environmental perspective as well. There are so many clothes in our local charity shops, there’s plenty to go around. They exist to fundraise and in fact some of their prices you might find cheaper in primark

People are making good points that there's hardly a shortage of second hand clothes!

Oh ffs this kind of snobbery would actually make me leave the book club 😂

of course you should still buy from charity shops!! It reuses clothes which is way better for the environment and reduces landfill, gives money to the shop which gives to a charity and saves you money which you are entitled to do. I’ve worked in charity shops they often have TOO MUCH and throw stuff away. Definitely keep buying from them and keep them open!!

These ‘friends’ are being stupid because they want an excuse to buy new clothes 😂

Usually charity shops get's more clothes donated than they can actually sell. I remember one shop had such a big problem that they filled a room with clothes they just wanted to get rid of and you could buy it per kg.

So buy buy buy! I think you don't have to donate to buy.

Your friends are wrong. You're helping the circular economy, and helping a charity. People buying new clothes should feel more guilty as the impact on the environment is horrendous. They shouldn't be trying to shame you like this.

This i my opinion too.

Years ago charity shops were cheap clothing. Samecas jumble sales were great for bargain clothing Primark is cheaper than most local charities

I do find that discussion at my book club can escalate unexpectedly because we all drink there - could that have been a factor?

There is a huge unspoken class/cultural divide on second hand clothing in the UK if you live here and it can bring out odd views. I love a charity shop, mainly because of the unexpected nature of what you can find, but also it makes me feel virtuous- when in fact you could argue it's better to support high street shops and jobs ( i don't argue this, just saying there's more than one way to look at it).

I wouldn't read it as vitriol tbh.

There are a lot of people who are deeply uncomfortable with second-hand and struggle to articulate exactly why. We're all told we should be reusing, recycling and people who struggle with that concept and would deep down prefer everything brand new latch onto the "leave it for people who are more deserving" as a get-out clause.

@HeraldicBlazoning yes perhaps it is that!

This is why I don't belong to a book club.

Your friends are bonkers! Just keep doing what you're doing and ignore them .

Ignore them, ethically it is wrong not to buy second hand due to the climate crisis and carbon footprint of all the humans on our planet. There's plenty to go around, you can't move for people giving stuff away on Facebook around here.

Why are you even asking?!

Charity shops aren't for poor people. They're for middle class people who want the thrill of a bargain. Charity shops seem to be run like a business, not a way to help individuals buy cheap goods. Primark and other cheap shops are usually cheaper than charity shops anyway. Shop where you want

Charity shops seem to be run like a business,

As opposed to being run like a.... farm? circus? cafe?

Your friends are wrong to buy brand new every time. It's bad for the planet. I use charity shops as a kind of clothes library. I buy something, if I get bored of it and it's still in good shape I give it back and buy something else. It's much less wasteful than cheap, mass produced stuff that just gets binned after a few wears. Your friends are wrong. Income doesn't matter one bit.

As in they seem to exist to purely make a profit...which is fine and the point of them. I just mean the charitable element does not seem to extend to potential customers. Charity shops could have a two fold element whereby they make money for the charity but also help poorer people in the local community afford goods, but it appears to be solely about profit.

Maybe suggest a clothes swap to your group if they want to refresh their wardrobes for free. Some people love a bargain and are angry because charity shopping was a cheap hobby that is moving out of reach, rather than being about putting essential clothes on their backs.

Another perspective is that most of us have enough clothes. A friend recently returned from long term back packing. She owns just three outfits, a swimsuit and a winter coat, which she insists is enough. I need a few more items because clothes take longer to launder in winter without using a tumble dryer, but I think she’s right that it’s surprising how little you need.

I would keep shopping. Just yesterday I got a lovely glass fruit bowl from the charity shop for 2.50.amazing .lots on w bay with huge postal fees. I love a bargain and there is no guarantee that people on benefits will buy these clothes. Also recycling better for environment.