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.

Charity shops should price according to what the second-hand item is worth surely. In the case of clothing, price similar to what said item would fetch on Vinted.

There are fairly priced shops near me and I go in often and happily donate my own used items to them because I want them to keep going.

Sure a charity shop can charge what they want but don’t be surprised if nobody wants to buy overpriced items and people stop bothering to come in 🤷‍♀️

They're not just to raise money, its also to service a need for those who want to dress well but don't have money for brand new items. .

@Iwantcakeeveryday , think about it. Would you open a shop for any other reason than to make money?

I used to love cs, now i avoid my local ones as things are often cheaper brand new in the shops!
i also get angry by things sectioned in colour than size 🙄i don’t even bother looking then

Thats assuming if that is how he made his business and that there were not other factors involved.

They're not just to raise money, its also to service a need for those who want to dress well but don't have money for brand new items

This is complete and utter nonsense

I work in the charity sector - purpose of the shops is to raise money and awareness of the charity, I'm usually fairly forgiving.
But I went in a few the other day when I had half an hour to kill - a threadbare knackered MaxMara T Shirt - £30, Primark top £15, admittedly slightly better condition. TK Maxx next door was a far better proposition.
Bonkers.

The pricing should reflect a fair market price basically what people will pay for x item, i would charge x amout then reduce accordingly rather than just a low price to begin with plus i wouldent use other platforms as a benchmark as the prices can flux.

Perhaps but they aren’t the “charity” are they

You're absolutely right.

However, YABU not to realise that people who go on tick-tock to complain about stuff like the pricing in charity shops are best ignored or ignored because they're thicko idiots.

Many of the CS staff will have never set foot in a Primark store.

Who the heck trawls through charity shops if money isn't an issue?

Charity shop customers have different motivations and those who can't afford to shop elsewhere are just one group of customers. There are also those:

• who want to support the cause
• who prefer to buy second hand for ethical, sustainable and environmental reasons
• who like a bargain
• who are looking for vintage or unusual items

The thing is for most charities the purpose is not to provide a service for people needing good cheaper clothing. It relates to promoting the welfare of maybe animals, running a hospice or research and help for people with a particular disability or illness.

The best way to raise money might be to lower prices. Maybe some are pricing themselves too high. That might have the added benefit that you experienced. Charity Trustee Responsibly Charity funds would include for instance wages of a shop manager

Focus on your charity’s purposesYou must deliver only your charity’s purposes. Your charity’s funds can only be spent on supporting the delivery of these purposes.
Read the governing document. Make sure you understand:

• what your charity is set up to achieve (its purposes)
• who your charity is there to benefit (its beneficiaries)
• what your charity can or cannot do to carry out its purposes (its powers)

Checking that your charity is furthering its purposes is something you will do all the time as a trustee.

So to answer your bullet points

Charity shops should be cheap…because they’re a charity ain’t they

They should be cheap because they’re second hand. HTH.

I could buy that stuff cheaper elsewhere.

I actually once saw a Primark dress that cost more in BHF than it did in Primark. So yes I could PLUS it wouldn’t be second hand

people give them things for free then they make loads of money from it.

Do you have any clue how much directors in charities are paid? People have the right to be annoyed that actually the overpriced second hand stuff they’re paying new-price for isn’t lining the pockets of the people they think it is

To add to the very excellent information shared by @Cookingdoesntgettougher here is another useful guide to charity shops.

How charity shops work - Charity Retail Association

Quite right.

I live in a town with loads of charity shops.

I can afford to buy in regular shops.

But my style is quirky and I cannot get on at all with beige and boring stuff that’s on sale in Next, River Island, Primark etc. The stuff I find in charity shops far suits me better

But these are charity stores.

How do people think those with little to no spare cash buy themselves clothes? I mean I have been shopping in these stores for 50 years, its definitely the case the prices have skyrocketed generally speaking. I think of charity clothing stores of places that raise some money for charity while providing the community with a need too. People that can't afford new clothes, need somewhere they can get them much cheaper.

You see this is an example of where the purported function of something does not reflect the actual reality of what it does.

Which is, of course, to provide cheap second-hand clothes for poorer people and/or those who like a bargain who will be no doubt aware of how much things cost.

So it really is no f-ing good at all to charge £10 for a second-hand M&S jumper to a person on benefits/low income OR a bargain hunter who will be aware it's already been worn.

So frankly your relpy is in fact very wrong.

then at the same time when the private sector can command x amounts for salaries for directors etc then charity's also need to be competitive in that reguard to recruit suitable Ceo's etc otherwise youll get most going to private companies

Do you have any clue how much directors in charities are paid?

There are tens of thousands of charities in the UK and the vast majority of directors are paid below market rates and could earn a lot more doing something else.

There are a small number of charities where directors are paid larger sums of money. These are very large charities with turnovers of £300-£400 million who employ thousands of people often in multiple countries.

It is a good thing to employ highly qualified and experienced and well paid individuals who know what they are doing to run these multi million pound international organisations which are often involved in literally life and death operations.

Charity shops have all the same costs as any other retailer, except for the stock.
@Gazelda

You do know that other retailers have to pay their staff (charity shop staff are mostly volunteers) and don’t get the 80% discount on rates that charity shops do?

This

Hundreds and hundreds looking for a bargain.
people like me who serious charity shop rummagers.

i would like proof on your 80% assertation as most charities i know get no way near that amount of reduced rates

I don’t moan about them anymore . I simply don’t shop in them anymore .

if you want my other thing of things that put me off was the colour grouping rails ..

Not wrong - its a supplementary benefit which arises in some/many cases but it is not the purpose of charity shops and it is not a service that they are required to provide so I am afraid that it is you who is wrong.