To think Vinted has killed charity shops?

[Finlesswonder]

I'm sure in posh towns or areas they are still alive and well but I went into 3 or 4 in my city yesterday and they were completely barren, I guess because people are now thinking why give their unwanted stuff to a charity when they could make a few bob?
It's a bit sad I used to love a mooch around a charity shop but these were seriously slim pickings! Anyone volunteer in one and know if that's true or did I just get unlucky with the day?

I am still racking my brains with the math because if charity shops really have no disounts or subsided bills and pay real market rent then some must have incredible turnover purely from selling second hand stuff which to me is mind boggling.
There are quite few in my city which ocupy very expensive streets where many businesses including big ones have problems to make solid profit sometimes when rents go up in reviews.
I wonder if that difference is caused just by VAT and staffing bill?

"Fire alarms COST, fire extinguishers COST, maintenance of these systems COST."

Why are you shouting at everyone? As I said, here they are responsible for maintenance only and not of the systems, just the equipment visible to the eye (excluding extinguishers). They don't have to provide the equipment either. Each unit is equipped.

"I wonder if that difference is caused just by VAT and staffing bill?"

They are probably paying only tiny rents too. As we can see from that other poster, this is not always the case, but on many high streets I know for a fact that it is.

I don't disbelieve what your are saying about the charity shops in the centre you refer to.

But honestly, it is the vast, vast minority of charity shops that don't pay full rent. Most are paying the same rents, training, insurance, utilities and other and costs (except staffing) as non-charity retail outlets.

They make their money by having low staff costs. No (or minimal) stock costs. If you ask any retailer what their biggest costs are they'd say staff, stock and rent. Charity shops enjoy minimal staff and stock costs thanks to the generosity of volunteers and donors.

"I don't disbelieve what your are saying about the charity shops in the centre you refer to.

But honestly, it is the vast, vast minority of charity shops that don't pay full rent."

Slightly outing but I know that it is the case on many of our high streets/shopping centres because I work for a company that own many of the centres and my job is related to negotiating unit rents for them.

Not all, of course. But there will be a high street near most people here where we are placing charity shops. I used the Centre nearest my home as an example but they all hover around £25-60pw rents.

If I can get a national or multi in there, or an indie although I'd pass them to a local team, the charity shop will have to move without notice. Some don't like that, understandably, and opt to take private rentals just around the corner to our Centres for the footfall.

I've been looking for a new bedside table. Theyre all £30+ in thr local charity shops, even thr really tatty looking ones.

I've just ordered a brand new one from B&Q for £20!

When they want £7 for a top you can buy in primark for £10. I'd rather go on Vinted. Maybe these 'charity' shops need a rethink.

I still go into charity shops for a look at their books and regularly buy something. But I think it's a good thing if vinted is doing well. I'd rather give jane from birmingham money for her own stuff than some huge charity which, after the oxfam fiasco, I just don't trust anymore. They all have overpaid ceos and are run as businesses now and so little actually goes to the cause. Better to know Jane is feeding her kids with my tenner than some rich wanker is going on holiday with it.

I think charities killed off charity shops. They are so expensive even a paperback costs £2-3.

Also when I gave to charity I’d like to think of the item being reworn by somebody. So much stuff is ragged and sent for recycling by charity shops when people don’t pay the shockingly high prices.

At least when you sell a party dress on Vinted you know some other child will enjoy wearing it.

I think there used to be an idea that charity shops had a dual purpose, they benefited the community by selling affordable clothing/ books and the charity. Now the idea is purely to maximise the return for the charity by selling at higher prices equivalent to buying online. So you may as well just buy it online and save time.

Bad so what do you think is a fair price for a paperback? I manage a charity shop and we sell paperbacks for between £2-£3 depending on the date of publication. We only sell paperbacks in very good condition, displayed carefully by genre and in alphabetical order by author). I needed to buy a book for my Book Club read recently... couldn't find it on a charity shop or library so had to buy it new (happy to support our local independent book shop) but it cost £9.99 so surely £2 or £3 is good value?

We do have local charity shops that sell paperbacks for 50p or £1 but the majority are dog eared, scruffy and not well presented. Customers in my shop frequently comment on the standard of our books and we consistently beat year on year sales. Also we get comments from people donating to us that they would rather give to us as we recognise the value of good books and raise the most money for the charity.

A new paperback costs £10 so £2 for a used one seems reasonable imo.
@Badbudgeter
the majority of items we rag are not fit for sale. Last week I received two bin bags of donations from a lady who told me they were all lovely, branded clothes. They were indeed branded (hush and white stuff) , but absolutely filthy and some also covered in mould.
where I volunteer we reduce prices after two weeks and then we might rotate stock. It’s not often than items from the shop floor are ragged, it’s mainly items that are not fit to be sold.

Agree with Ragwort. All my books are in vg condition and in alphabetical order.
I also highlight best sellers and new releases.
you can go to the shop next door to where I volunteer anadromous buy a dog eared paperback, not presented in alphabetical order for 50p. There is a market for both types of shop. Personally I prefer order and separation by genre and I’m prepared to pay £2 to £3 per book for this.

Depends on the book. If it's available in the works deal, then £1 tops.

I used to buy loads of books when they were a quid for a long commute on the train. Which I’d then redonate. Then they went up to £3 after the local bhf shop had a refurb.

Now I have a kindle and a selection of 99p books. I just think you price people out. Also since I don’t pop in for books I don’t buy anything else whereas before I got the odd pair of shoes/ jumper / bric a brac.

Maybe there is lots of demand for used paperbacks at £3 a pop but it’s too expensive for me.

It does depend on the type of charity, small local charities seem to be cheaper and have a quick turnover.
Last week I bought a small beech side table for £3 in a one off local charity shop. Their books are £1 or £2.

Charity shops killed charity shops, when they started overcharging.

BHF you would get better new.

The overcharging affects who I donate to now, I won't donate to shops where things sit for weeks at stupid prices. I, personally, want second hand clothing to be affordable to those on lower incomes so I only donate to reasonably priced shops.

Thing is, they are that price online, including delivery. You can search by title, condition and then pick from several. So charity shops should be charging less imo.

Charity shops have killed themselves. Prices have rocketed and they no longer represent value for money. For a lot of stuff they are charging almost new prices. I vint everything now because of this and because it is almost impossible to stop or park near any of the charity shops here to drop off and they will not collect as we live too far away. Also none of the ones near us keep normal shop hours - ie only certain days and 2-4 or 6 to 8.
i also buy from vinted

Also none of the ones near us keep normal shop hours - ie only certain days and 2-4 or 6 to 8.

And why do you think that is? Because they can't get the volunteers. I've volunteered with two of the larger chains and both have lone working policies - you must have at least two responsible adults in the shop to open. Kids under 18 and people with significant learning disabilities are not counted in that number.

People might think books should be cheaper, or clothes should be cheaper or whatever. But if the charity is happy with the level of sales and keeps stock moving, they are pricing correctly for their market.

Here we go again…
how many posts before the comments on staff/volunteers ‘stealing’ all the quality items start?

My son volunteers in a local charity shop. The problem in his town is getting volunteers to work in them. There are several shops, with paid managers, but they rely on volunteers to keep going. With other costs rising too, it gets more and more difficult to make any money from retail. Contrary to what a lot of people seem to think, their prime aim is to make money for the charity, not supply goods cheap for the customer. Having said that, our local shops do seem to sell things at reasonable prices.

Last time l donated, the woman was so rude and acted like she was doing me a favour my taking my stuff - which for the record was all good quality and clean. So l won't be going there again.

Books are freely available in local book swap venues ( repurposed phone boxes, corners of cafes and shops etc), free giving sites online and at the end of fetes and jumble sales.

I used to count books as precious things but like clothes there are just so many I read them in bath or get them sun damaged in the garden and put them in recycling now. I’ll buy one at a pound but no way £3 unless it’s second hand from Amazon and it’s one I specifically want.

These sorts of threads always bring out posters who 'never' shop in charity shops or won't donate but, whatever you like to believe, most charity shops are performing well otherwise they would be closed down. This does happen, in the organisation I work for any underperforming shop is closed.

Many, many people do enjoy both shopping in charity shops and donating to charity shops .. in our small town yet another charity is opening a shop .. that will be just under 20 ... clearly the charity has done its research and feels it is worth investing in a new shop in our town .. and competition is good, my sales have improved year on year despite many more new charity shops opening. And I don't sell dog eared books or Primark . Only yesterday I put out three brand new tops from White Stuff - priced at £9 each which I think is very fair value. A customer happily bought a book from me earlier this week priced at £15 ... he actually said to me 'I've researched this price on line and can't find it (second hand) under £30' so he was very happy.