Charity shops aren't doing themselves any favours

[Downatthefarm]

I can afford to buy new but prefer to buy second hand. I enjoy the experience of sifting through the varied clothes in the charity shops and finding things I wouldn't otherwise see on the high street at that time, and of course I like other thrifters love a good bargain.

Over the last 5 years charity shops have really gone downhill where I am. They price second / third hand clothes similarly to the original RRP, sometimes even more expensive.

They are stocking more and more brand new items, like Frenchic furniture paint, priced higher than it costs at places like Wilko's and B&Q.

I already know somebody will say "the shops purpose is to raise as much money for their charity as they can, not to cater to people who don't have much money" but hasn't being accessible to people with low incomes and being good value for money always been one of the most appealing aspects of them?

I still donate but do the vast majority of my own second hand buying on vinted now and I know lots of others are doing the same.

AIBU?

Never noticed this myself but yes unlikely to pay more in a charity shop as usually only go there for a bargain.

You obviously don't live near me. I volunteer at one and they have pricing strategies that mean it's a fraction of new prices

Our local ones have a similar problem and are currently advertising that they can't accept donations because they're full. I don't know why they don't reduce the price, shift the stock and then accept more stuff. That seems a better model all round.

Where abouts in the country are you?

I'm in London and this is definitely the case in the ones I've been in here which is in the dozens.

The ones near me - and there's a few - are mostly full of shitty Primark and supermarket clothes. They have the nerve to price them at multiple pounds too. I need to cast my charity net wider and go for a thrifting day in nicer neighbourhoods.

I've noticed this too OP. Stopped shopping in my local ones for clothes and switched to using Vinted - even with postage added in it's still cheaper, and to be honest whilst I like supporting charity given the cost of living crisis I know plenty of people who are selling on Vinted to boost their weekly income to pay rent/bills etc.

Yep. I had a good chatity shop hunt today for dresses for my daughter. I found some great H&M dresses but they were £3.50 in the charity shop, with obvious signs of wear. They are less than £4 new. In the same shop, I brought a pair of Boden shorts for £1.50.

Charity shops had a dual function imo - to raise funds for the charity whilst also enabling people to find bargains. It's not cheeky fuckery to think that if you are buying second hand, it shouldn't be priced at more than a brand new item.

I've had a couple of good bargains recently but it's true there's a lot of dross to sift through.

Agree with @NuffSaidSam .
I'm in the US where there is a big nationwide chain, Goodwill, which does uniform pricing, and you know if you see something you like you'd better buy it because it won't be there the next day.

I love a bit of charity shop shopping and can't say I've noticed this. I love the kids books in my local ones and they're 3 for £1. I sometimes visit a fairly fancy town with loads of charity shops and they almost always have some bargains.

I only use Vinted now, I rarely bother looking in my local charity shops, the same stuff is there for weeks.

I expect part of the problem is they're being inundated with cheap throwaway fashion and have to either try to sell it on for a few pounds or pay to dispose of it.

I want to go US thrifting. I wonder where is best for this.

I don’t even bother going in Oxfam or BHF half the time as they’re full of last season Zara…boring

Heard a woman in my local Barnardo's saying "that box is for eBay" so I've given up thinking any amazing brands left in the shops themselves anymore, all goes online. Sigh.

I thought originally charity shops were not only to raise money for a charity but to help people who have little money afford clothing etc.

I follow a great account on TikTok and Instagram called MuckNBrass, she's an artist but does "come charity shopping with me" videos both here and in the US and the US chazza's look AMAZING! If I ever visit the US then thrift stores will be high on my list of things to do 🙂

Local hospice and other charity shops are ok, in my experience.

Large charity shops wanting £4 for an old paperback can f off.

Sw. I bought a reiss dress for £9.99 last year, a fat face one for £6.99 the week before (which I happen to know was £65 new)

Gosh yes I forgot about this. Rails and rails of Zara BNWT and priced sky high. Who on earth, in a deprived Borough of London, is going to spend £30 on a top in a charity shop? The mind boggles.

Me too but the charity shop defenders of MN will insist that it was never the intention to help the community 🙄

It’s the same near me. We have seven charity shops in my town and a similar amount the next town over, which is only 3 miles away. All full of overpriced Primark & Asda tat.

Most are full of primark stuff at more than the RRP. I shop on vinted for bargains now