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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that charity shops should sort clothes by size not colour

115 replies

makingforwardprogress · 05/10/2023 18:01

Sorting by colour is crazy. I want to be able to walk straight to the rail of clothes that might fit me and see what is there.

I'm looking for a new work top. I have very specific requirements. I don't want to have to go to blue to search, then red, then green then white, then black, then yellow etc etc etc

I just want to go to the rail of size 16 and see if anything there is suitable

The manageress of a local charity shop told me that the reason is because it is run by volunteers and there is no time, but that makes no sense to me at all. If you have a blue dress that you have sized and labelled size 16 why would it take more time to hang it on a size 16 rail than on a blue rail, whether you are paid or not?

I had half an hour for before my train, but ended up standing on the platform for 20 minutes of that rather than hunting through one colour rail after another, because I just don't have the energy

OP posts:
Chamomileteaplease · 05/10/2023 18:04

OMG this is a particular bug bear of mine too!

It's so bloody stupid.

Like you, I just want to see a whole rack of stuff that I know will fit and work through it. Not ten racks.

I asked a volunteer about it once too but to be honest can't remember the reply. I shall ask next time!

Kpo58 · 05/10/2023 18:06

I don't even bother going to charity shops for clothes as I don't have hours to waste finding out that they don't have anything in my size. I'd be prepared to spend 2-3 mins to find out if there is something in my size, but no longer.

TeenDivided · 05/10/2023 18:07

I agree. One of our local charity shops orders by size and it is so much easier.

(Though the colour method was useful when DCs needed 'something green' for a dress up day.)

TeenDivided · 05/10/2023 18:08

Visually colour blocking makes them look more ordered.(still don't like it though)

itsmylife7 · 05/10/2023 18:09

I thought it was just me that felt this way, glad I'm not alone.

I've stopped going in some shops because of this.

Any charity shop workers know the answer to this ?

Joolsin · 05/10/2023 18:10

I love the colour organisation because I just wear black. So I only go to the black rail and waste no time. But they could easily organise further by size on each colour rail.

MockneyReject · 05/10/2023 18:10

But I scan the rack in the size I need, if I'm specifically looking for 'something green'. I can't scan the green rail and instantly know whether there's anything in the right size.

Beaverbridge · 05/10/2023 18:11

Yeah totally agree. Swift rake through your size, would make it so much easier.

Gifgirl · 05/10/2023 18:11

YANBU.

This really winds me up. I used to LOVE charity shops but now it just winds me up.

Shame we are making it so difficult for people to buy second hand.

BridgetRandomfuck · 05/10/2023 18:11

Mine tend to order by size within colour - not too bad. They’ve got to do it somehow….

PuzzledObserver · 05/10/2023 18:12

100% agree. I’m a size 22/24, there tend to be very few things in my size, it would be so much easier if they were all together.

Shinyandnew1 · 05/10/2023 18:13

Completely agree-this makes no sense to me at all!

Teapleasebobb · 05/10/2023 18:15

Agreed.
They also need to have a rethink on their pricing. I went in to one the other day £4 for a Primark basics T-shirt (would have only been about £2.50 new) and £7 for a very well used Asda throw (which would have been £6 new). Ridiculous prices for crap quality items!

Totaly · 05/10/2023 18:16

I no longer shop in boots because of this!

I want a shampoo aisle - not a brand by brand shelf! I don’t want to walk round 10 brands to see what’s on offer and what might suit.

Online shopping all the way now

ScarlettSunset · 05/10/2023 18:19

I like it personally.
I only wear certain colours so it takes no time for me to go to the rail then check if there's anything I like and see if it will fit me.
Far easier that wading through everything that claims to be my size (and let's be honest there's nothing standard about women's clothing sizes anyway).

Gowlett · 05/10/2023 18:20

It’s merchandising for he shop to look attractive.
Not all staff would have the eye for visuals, so it could all end up looking like a jumble sale (high street shops, take note!)

What drives me mad is when they won’t sell something that’s on display or in the window. I know it’s for the same reason, somebody has coordinated that look / theme.

But the manager of my local charity shop wouldn’t pluck an item that was just sitting there within reach out of the window. She said it was a Halloween decoration. That I wanted…

One time I managed to persuade her to sell me a dress that she’s just literally hung on the wall (it was 20 bloody quid) if I helped her to do shoes / handbag etc to match a different one.

Isseywith3witchycats · 05/10/2023 18:20

our shop that i work in goes by size rails rather than colour dresses on one rail, trousers on another etc so if you wanted say a size 10 ladies top all the tops on that rail are size 10 we are an independent cat charity maybe its the larger chain ones that do this

uncomfortablydumb53 · 05/10/2023 18:22

I agree
I'm sure they must lose custom because of this
Just sort it by size, you may find something in a colour you didn't realise you liked and it's so time consuming to go through the rails looking for sizes
I don't go in those that do this, and I've got all day to spare as I don't work

largeprintagathachristie · 05/10/2023 18:24

Agree, the sorting by colour drives me bananas.

BrendaMcPherson · 05/10/2023 18:31

I hate it! I wouldn't want a size rail either. I'd prefer a rail of tops, organised from smallest to largest sizes and a rail of skirts organised the same etc like in normal clothes shops.

abominablesnowman · 05/10/2023 18:32

I volunteer in a shop that does this, and management claims that the customers like it.
I don't really believe that, and personally I've walked straight out of shops that sort by colour before.

senua · 05/10/2023 18:34

MockneyReject · 05/10/2023 18:10

But I scan the rack in the size I need, if I'm specifically looking for 'something green'. I can't scan the green rail and instantly know whether there's anything in the right size.

I agree. I can tell from the other side of the shop if an item is 'something green', I don't need sorting-by-colour.
It's especially laughable when they get to the stuff that isn't a simple red / green / blue. They never know what to do with the multi-colour garments!

I blame Mary Portas.

Peachy2005 · 05/10/2023 18:40

I do enjoy having my own wardrobe sorted by colour though 😀

Beaverbridge · 05/10/2023 18:57

@Teapleasebobb Totally agree with you. I was in one last week and they were trying to sell 2 pairs of Primark flat ballet pumps for £6!. I said to the woman, these are only £4 new in the shop. Also loads of bobbly jumpers at £7.

Spl0ink · 05/10/2023 19:04

No YABU! My local charity shop used to look completely amazing, like a high end boutique, sorted by colour, with coats against one wall and long dresses against the other. I can sometimes get away with wearing a size 10, 12 or 14 dependent on the brand and style and would always come out of there with a few bits. The old manager has left and they’ve abandoned the colour coding and now it’s returning slowly to jumble sale nothingness. Dispiriting paisley. Boo.

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