Page 10 | Annoyed at people ranting about charity shops

Dowhadiddydiddydum · 2023-11-10T16:10:40+00:00

This is one those threads that’s a release of frustration. So apologies for it being so boring. AIBU for getting pissed off at seeing people moaning constantly about charity shops and their pricing? It’s driving me insane. Most people’s objections seem to be based on…. - Charity shops should be cheap…because they’re a charity ain’t they - I could buy that stuff cheaper elsewhere. - people give them things for free then they make loads of money from it. Now am I loosing my god damn mind or do people not understand the point of charity shops is to FUCKING RAISE MONEY. So of course they want to raise as much money as possible. Of course people donate stuff for free….because they donate it so the charity can make money from it!! If you think you can get it cheaper elsewhere then bloody do it….if the shop is that over priced it’ll close down won’t it. Been tipped over the edge by a shitty TikTok video someone made slating a local hospice charity shop for selling their items for “too much”. The video has so many shitty comments under it….all apparently oblivious to the fact the shop exists to raise as much money as possible to support those with life limiting illnesses not so Barbara and Jeff can get a cheap table.

LightSpeeds · 10/11/2023 20:34

There are a lot of charity shops in and around my small city. Some are expensive, some are almost giveaway cheap!

I guess you have to shop wherever suits what you can afford.

I've got some amazing bargains. Got a beautiful long silk-mix Country Casuals dress today for £3!

And a whole outfit (trousers, beautiful Per Una shirt and matching chenille jumper) for about £15, recently.

I totally agree with the PP about pricing lower to get a faster throughput of stock. Some shops have the same stock on their shelves for months on end!

LimeCheesecake · 10/11/2023 20:40

NeighbourhoodWatchPotholeDivision · 10/11/2023 20:30

I'll pay a max of £12 for an evening dress with sequins hanging off. I don't care if it still has the designer tag on saying it used to cost £200, I'm going to have to spend evenings of my life repositioning and sewing those sequins back on.

And I’d everyone thinks like you, it won’t sell at that price and they’ll have to lower it.

this is the problem many angry posters don’t get - charity shops do close down. Those that don’t, are not pricing incorrectly for what local people will pay. You might not pay that for a certain item, but if others in the area will pay, then it’s a correct price.

it doesn’t matter what your personal ceiling price is, it matters what the local area ceiling price is. And if not sure, always worth putting an item out for 2 weeks at the higher price then discounting later. If charity shops are consistently getting it wrong (and not wrong for you, wrong for the area), then they close. If they are still open after a few years, they are the ones who are right about pricing.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 10/11/2023 20:43

@weirdoboelady - I did correct myself in a later post - I had worded my first post badly, and I apologised for that. My point was that, of course the charity shop’s aim is to raise money for the charity, but an important side benefit is that they cater to people on low income, who might not be able to afford to buy new.

Stroopwaffels · 10/11/2023 20:45

Rather than moaning about us moaning , do something about it! Listen to what people are saying and act on it, with regard to pricing etc

no. Because our pricing is fine and we shift stock at the price it goes out at.

ShanghaiDiva · 10/11/2023 20:51

@Cheesecakefiend
pricing also fine where I volunteer. We took over £700 yesterday and shop has been open for over 20 years in a small town that has over 13 charity shops.

NeighbourhoodWatchPotholeDivision · 10/11/2023 20:52

LimeCheesecake · 10/11/2023 20:40

And I’d everyone thinks like you, it won’t sell at that price and they’ll have to lower it.

this is the problem many angry posters don’t get - charity shops do close down. Those that don’t, are not pricing incorrectly for what local people will pay. You might not pay that for a certain item, but if others in the area will pay, then it’s a correct price.

it doesn’t matter what your personal ceiling price is, it matters what the local area ceiling price is. And if not sure, always worth putting an item out for 2 weeks at the higher price then discounting later. If charity shops are consistently getting it wrong (and not wrong for you, wrong for the area), then they close. If they are still open after a few years, they are the ones who are right about pricing.

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You're assuming other people might pay more around here. Ironically, the local area ceiling is much lower than £12 for a dress with sequins hanging off, because most locals can't/won't sew them back on!

ScholesPanda · 10/11/2023 20:52

I agree with you OP- I volunteer in a charity shop and if we underprice items, they aren't bought by people who are struggling, they are often bought in bulk by professionals who re-sell online.

I do think the model of a generalist charity shop is in trouble though. It's easier than ever for people to sell their more expensive stuff online, and fast fashion, cheap housewares etc. mean that charity shops can't sell them at a competitive price and cover their overheads and margin.

The future is probably more specialised charity shops, in more affluent areas/ fewer generalist ones and fewer in poorer areas.

Ktime · 10/11/2023 20:53

I’m not annoyed by or moan about charity shop pricing, but I have raised a silent eyebrow at the pricing sometimes and moved on.

Unfortunately with the sheer volume of fast fashion available, brand new clothes are available at the same price.

I love wearing my charity shop bargains, it makes me feel good and virtuous. But only if they’re cotton!

WillowCraft · 10/11/2023 20:55

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 10/11/2023 16:28

@Dowhadiddydiddydum - my point is that, paradoxically, the shops would make more money if they were pricing things more cheaply, and, at the same time, they would be more affordable for people who need them.

That doesn't follow. If they price things at half the price they need to sell more than twice as much as if they sell things at the current ("too expensive") price to make the same money, factoring in the steam cleaning costs and labelling and till consumables etc. Plus it's time consuming for volunteers to sort and price it all. It makes sense for them to price it higher and sell less.

Ktime · 10/11/2023 20:57

Do they also have to wash all clothes before putting them out? That’s an added expense.

Motheranddaughter · 10/11/2023 20:57

you need time to go through stuff in charity shops
If you have time that’s great
I have very little time ,and when looking army chargeout rate per hour at work it makes no sense to spend time trawling through charity shops
If I ever get to retire I will be right in there 🤣

WillowCraft · 10/11/2023 20:57

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 10/11/2023 20:43

@weirdoboelady - I did correct myself in a later post - I had worded my first post badly, and I apologised for that. My point was that, of course the charity shop’s aim is to raise money for the charity, but an important side benefit is that they cater to people on low income, who might not be able to afford to buy new.

They don't though. Their job is to make maximum money for the aim of the charity. So a charity shop for a cancer charity does not have the remit to help poor people.

KitchenGard · 10/11/2023 20:59

SideBob · 10/11/2023 20:22

when supermarkets can command lower prices how is it dishonest to charge less than what an item would be new ?

It's dishonest to charge the same as new for some bullshit that's been worn to death, in poor condition etc

Or to charge more than new, for anything.

It's cheeky and opportunistic. Yes, people pay what they're prepared to, sure, but look at this thread. People do not like it. We are the customers who shop here. There is no reason to inflate prices on crappy products, it's greed, nothing to do with charitable causes.

I am prepared to pay a bit more for something I really like or want immediately, but I don't expect to be taken for a mug nonetheless.

considering supermarkets sell the same products new at different prices from each other, then its upto the consumer to shop around for the best deal, i dont see why any company should price match with new, otherwise the same logic should appy to vinted or ebay ect, im sure the public would be willing to reduce their prices so its not more than the "new" price

WillowCraft · 10/11/2023 21:00

Stroopwaffels · 10/11/2023 19:33

And don't forget @ShanghaiDiva - too stupid and socially awkward to get a "proper job" anywhere else, being forced to be there by the DSS, probably with significant health issues, rude, etc etc.

Our shop doesn't have a manager, it's entirely volunteer run. Stuff from Primark doesn't even go out for sale, unless it's BNWT. Neither does stuff from Shein, George at Asda, Florence and Fred at Tesco. Everything is coded so it stays on the shelves for 2 weeks and then is removed.

All the shite spouted by people who have never volunteered in the sector, worked in the sector or even ever shopped in a charity shop because that's for the "poor people".

Anyway, must go to sort through my collection of stolen "good stuff" in the loft, brought home just so that nobody else gets the chance to buy it.

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What's wrong with primark and george and tesco clothing??? I buy loads of those brands in my local charity shops. There's nothing wrong with the quality as long as it is in good condition

Beaverbridge · 10/11/2023 21:00

@kitchengard Totally agree with you, if it was new and a well known make. In this case it looked like it'd been pulled out the bag wash.

Stroopwaffels · 10/11/2023 21:01

Ktime · 10/11/2023 20:57

Do they also have to wash all clothes before putting them out? That’s an added expense.

No! Definitely no time to run a laundry operation. We have a steamer to take creases out.

KitchenGard · 10/11/2023 21:01

Beaverbridge · 10/11/2023 21:00

@kitchengard Totally agree with you, if it was new and a well known make. In this case it looked like it'd been pulled out the bag wash.

when its like that then i can understand your points

KitchenGard · 10/11/2023 21:03

WillowCraft · 10/11/2023 21:00

What's wrong with primark and george and tesco clothing??? I buy loads of those brands in my local charity shops. There's nothing wrong with the quality as long as it is in good condition

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One of the reasons is its because of as on the thread we can buy it new for less than your selling it for

WillowCraft · 10/11/2023 21:06

SideBob · 10/11/2023 20:22

when supermarkets can command lower prices how is it dishonest to charge less than what an item would be new ?

It's dishonest to charge the same as new for some bullshit that's been worn to death, in poor condition etc

Or to charge more than new, for anything.

It's cheeky and opportunistic. Yes, people pay what they're prepared to, sure, but look at this thread. People do not like it. We are the customers who shop here. There is no reason to inflate prices on crappy products, it's greed, nothing to do with charitable causes.

I am prepared to pay a bit more for something I really like or want immediately, but I don't expect to be taken for a mug nonetheless.

Disagree... something is worth what someone will pay, no more, no less. Someone can inspect the item and decide if it's in good enough condition for them, if not don't buy it. People may be willing to pay for something if it's not currently available, if they really like it, if there isn't a primark or George anywhere locally, etc etc

Supermarkets are the worst of all anyway - their prices go up and down all the time to manipulate buyers. They produce identical products and market them at different price points to appeal to buyers who want cheap, standard or luxury.

Stroopwaffels · 10/11/2023 21:06

There is nothing wrong with George and primark and Tesco. But it’s cheap clothing worth very little. When you have limited space in the shop it’s better to rag the cheap supermarket top which you’d get £2 tops and in its place put a more expensive brand which you can charge £8 or £10 for.

ConsuelaHammock · 10/11/2023 21:06

Dowhadiddydiddydum · 10/11/2023 16:22

But charity shops run like any other shop. If they price too high or don’t have stock that sells then they’ll close down. Charities don’t keep shops open that aren’t making money. If a charity shop is open and making money then obviously, despite people feeling their prices are too high, they are making money…..and given the point is to raise as much money as possible for their charities states aims then of course they’re going to make as much as possible.

people seem to think charities are stupid. They’re not. The big charities especially put a lot of thought into how their run their shop to maximise how much money they make. Like any other shop.

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Except they’re not run like other shops/ businesses as the majority of their workforce are volunteers. Charity shops DO owe it to their customers and those who donate to price things cheap enough for people to be able to get a bargain. They’re literally making money from no investment whatsoever! And what percentage of the profit made makes it to the charity? A relatively small percentage I should imagine.
I’ve heard that anyone can set up a charity shop as long as a nominal percentage is donated to charity. Not a bad business plan. Get all your stock for free, staff for free, reduced rates bill, manage it yourself. Sounds like a good wee money earner tbh.

WillowCraft · 10/11/2023 21:08

KitchenGard · 10/11/2023 21:03

One of the reasons is its because of as on the thread we can buy it new for less than your selling it for

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I'm not selling it, I'm buying it second hand (from charity shops). At prices that are less than new. E.g. £2 for a kids jumper, £5 for a kids coat, £3 for a kids summer dress

KitchenGard · 10/11/2023 21:09

WillowCraft · 10/11/2023 21:08

I'm not selling it, I'm buying it second hand (from charity shops). At prices that are less than new. E.g. £2 for a kids jumper, £5 for a kids coat, £3 for a kids summer dress

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my error on that guess

WillowCraft · 10/11/2023 21:10

Stroopwaffels · 10/11/2023 21:06

There is nothing wrong with George and primark and Tesco. But it’s cheap clothing worth very little. When you have limited space in the shop it’s better to rag the cheap supermarket top which you’d get £2 tops and in its place put a more expensive brand which you can charge £8 or £10 for.

Fair enough but seems very wasteful. to be honest this thread is putting me off donating to charity shops, I'd rather give away via FB marketplace then at least it will get used

ConsuelaHammock · 10/11/2023 21:10

What percentage of the money raised in the charity shops for the ‘big’ charities is actually donated to those who are ‘helped’ by the big charities? You sound like you know a lot about them? What percentage is siphoned off by the big bosses?