Annoyed at people ranting about charity shops

[Dowhadiddydiddydum]

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.

ime as a volunteer one of the key issues is quality of donations: fast fashion quality is atrocious and doesn’t sell even at very low prices.

I am sorry about your situation but that is the role of clothing banks, not charity shops.

Charity shops do not exist to clothe those in need of cheap clothes. They exists to raise funds for the charity. If they can do both that is great but that is not their purpose.

Actually I do know what you're getting at. I was at another charity shop last week and was shocked to hear a woman haggling the price of a collectors item and just not giving up! She was literally begging for £1 off the £35 the item was listed at. When the manager explained the item was listed for £20 more on eBay and was welcome to buy it from there instead, she then tried to get some free packaging materials (bubble wrap/a small box, etc. ) as she wanted to send the item abroad and was worried it would be damaged in transit! Some people are just dickheads.

I don't think charity shops should be charging £4.99 for a second hand Tesco t-shirt. Or £14.99 for a cotton skirt that looked like someone dug it out of their grandmothers closet. Those items were cheaper when sold new.
Yes charity shop should be cheap to encourage purchasers. As you say there are cheap NEW alternatives out there so who would buy second hand if it wasn't? Most are staffed by volunteers and items are donated. And some things they sell are grim.
My 18 year old daughter loves an afternoon checking the shops out - but they need to have a high turnover otherwise she won't go back. She's prepared to pay for good items but not for tat.

YABU for being on TikTok

Some points, charity shops usually set a price then either date or use a code, then if x item has not sold by eg week 3 they get reduced.

The issue of selling an item more than you could buy it at eg Tesco's, you could then argue why do Asda sell x item for x when Tesco's is selling it cheaper, or why buy x item at Argos when eBay's has it cheaper, just because one is selling the items cheaper else where then its unto the customers to shop around rather than undercutting the "New" price elsewhere.

Charity shops are scoring an own goal by charging high prices when new is cheaper.

To make more money they need to move the stock in and out quickly it keeps people coming in regularly. Stack 'em high and sell 'em low. They get loads of donations and some places throw decent stuff in to the sell by the lb to get rid of the overstock. Or even in the dumpster.

some of the TikTok videos have shown pretty ridiculous pricing though and items like kids shoes with holes in them for £4 :/ surely you would be better just making a donation for the same amount.

I get the aim is to raise money for charity but surely that means pricing items at amounts people are willing to pay, who wants to buy a faded bobbly Primark t-shirt for £6.50

Not always as then its upto the customer to shop around otherwise the same logic is eg asda charging more than tescos etc

Who doesn't know that you can get a new tshirt for cheaper that the price they're charging. Unless no.adult has ever shopped for clothes before.

I disagree. They are far too expensive now. I'm not paying £2.99 for a second hand book that I can get from Amazon new for not much more. It's cheeky.

Other retail businesses have to also pay for or produce their own stock whereas charity shops on the whole do not so prices should be able to be reduced to reflect their lower overheads whilst still making a good profit for the charities. The town I live in has many charity shops, many of which currently are not taking in any donations or limited amounts which suggests the flow of stock is slower than it could be. Lowering prices would not necessarily lower profits if the turnover of goods was higher.
It is also sad that those on a lower budget are finding charity shops too expensive and are therefore having to rely on fast fashion and budget retailers instead of using charity shops.

Ive also seen TikTok accounts dedicated to charity shopping and the shops they visit are so reasonably priced, nothing like the ones near me! Why so much disparity?

But that makes no sense - Tesco and Asda both sell new. You would expect a second hand item that is well worn to be much cheaper.

The charity shop owners do rather well. They only have to give the profits to the charity…they are businesses

But then its cheeky that amazon undercuts the recommend retail price of most books as usually its eg 6.99 etc then sometimes its also delivery charges or free depending but if amazon didnt exist and it was eg smiths then its usually the full retail price.

Agree OP. We have a furniture charity near us- they upcycle and sell on, giving jobs to people who need support to be in work. If you find yourself in dire situation, they will kit out a whole flat for you. E.g. a Mum had been rehoused due to domestic violence so they had nothing for the kids; they took sofa, beds, chairs table etc.

This charity loaded a van and sorted it out for her.

Someone donated a Lloyd Loom Chair which I believe was worth over £100. They asked just less than £100 and people lost their minds. They said they were depriving people of chairs. It was pointed out that they still had many, many chairs in the warehouse for around £5 each and this chair would be sold to raise money for the charity, I was told it was disgusting profiteering.

It's a smashing little charity and I do all I can to help- but the nonsense they get online is dreadful. It helps adults who need a little support learn a skill- and they get a wage for their work. But people seem to think they are entitled to a bargain- yes, the furniture is donated but the work that goes into it isn't.

Most people aren't shopping in charity shops solely to support that charity though. I'm happy to donate money but I don't want to pay over the odds for used clothing. I used to buy most of my clothing from charity shops but I don't bother now as it's easier and cheaper to use vinted.

Our local Barnardos had some nice new ceramic pots donated and priced quite expensive. Months later they are still sitting on the shelf.
Maybe if they reduced them to a more realistic price they would sell

I did wonder when I went into a local chazzer that was selling a load of Kate Spade bags if someone had had a massive clearout, but if they get donations from companies it was probably that. Nice bags, looked new, and cheaper than buying them elsewhere. Still couldn't bring myself to shell out three figures, though.

Yes they obviously have marketing and sales strategies but that doesn't mean they are good strategies - especially in deprived areas where people looking for second hand items just can't afford the overpriced worn out sh!te they put out for sale. And unsurprisingly in my area (which is one of said deprived areas) two have closed in the town centre over the last six months and others before that.

Then it depends if you can get the same item new, my point was why should charity shops undercut the big names on price. if its the new factor you want then i can see your point, but even with new its then upto the customer to get the item from the supermarket or help the charity.

I also think that charity shops have two aims - making money for the charity, of course, but also providing people who don’t have much money the opportunity to buy things they need, but otherwise couldn’t afford.

But this is wrong. These shops don’t have two aims, they have one aim and that is to raise money for whatever the charity does. They are not there to provide bargains for people and charities would be in trouble with the charities commission if they tried to claim that they were.

Obviously it’s great when people do get a bargain, but that is completely irrelevant to the charity.

I agree that they often charge more than I’d want to pay for second hand items, but if others out there are happy to pay high prices for those things then good for the charity.

Sorry but I live in an fairly affluent area (by happenstance not by being affluent myself) and I DESPAIR at our charity shops. I want to support them and I want them to do well, but the prices are ridiculous - not just like for like with new from cheap retailers, but completely inflated because we are in a leafy green suburb. Pair of Sainsbury's Jeans £25. Unbranded average scarf £12. Used Jigsaw Puzzle £9 - that sort of thing. It's nonsense.

My DD (18) would love to buy vintage second hand but it's too expensive for her. And for families who rely on charity shops, it becomes non-viable.

Of course they need to be run like businesses, but good retailers are mindful of the competition and their market - many of these shops don't seem to be. We have several on our high-street and their their stock just doesn't rotate because it's not selling.