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.

Mary portas had a jumper for sale for £,40 with a visible hole in the front of it today

See your problem is Tik Tok and Facebook. I use charity shops and have not heard any complaints

The actual money that goes to the charity in most cases from shops is very small, take the Esther Rantzen charity for instance where they were having dinners that were around something silly like 15 grand a head. I read somewhere ages ago that the charity only gets around 1 percent from a charity shop.

We donated a furniture item to a charity. It was in excellent condition and brand new cost us over 3k. I visited the shop and saw it on display for £50. Granted it had been damaged at some point but as it was something that could be sold in parts or as a whole, the £50 price tag was a huge disappointment to me.
My point is, as the giver I would want to see any item I donate raise the maximum it possibly can. As a purchaser I have the choice to buy or not.

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.

I was in a charity shop during the week. There was a row of sparkly dresses. Pulled one out, sequins hanging off, badly made. Price tag £50.!. I said to the male worker half jokingly I take that's a typo on the tag. He took it over to Miss Business type at another rail. He repeats what I asked and she shouted over no that's been checked according to make, that's the price. I said don't think realistically you, ll sell it at that price. If it was so valuable it would be displayed in the window. Looked it up when I got home, some American make. Cheap looking tatty stuff.

I read somewhere ages ago that the charity only gets around 1 percent from a charity shop.

I have read that only 1% of MNetters know what they are talking about.

Seriously, do you really REALLY think that it's worth the charity's time to keep a shop open which is making so little? Come on, engage a bit of critical thinking. Or get yourself over to the Charity Retail Association website and do some reading.

@Stroopwaffels
90% of mumsnetters know exactly how a charity shop should be run, yet for some inexplicable reason choose not to volunteer their time and expertise, leaving us socially awkward dimwits to get on with it.

Incidentally for us charity shops aficionados, I have found a new haven in Vinted recently! I’ve got loads of stuff for about £1 an item and less, as I’ve said my style is quirky and very anti-high street so it’s been fun doing my Vinted hauls

Because most of the funds end up in the pockets of the corrupt fat cats at the top who are leaching off their charities

Have you seen some of their fancy arsed plush offices in London, kitted out with the latest top spec equipment?! I have.

The people donating, the volunteers in the shops, and the less-affluent users of the shops don't benefit anywhere near as much as the high salaried execs do!

Fat cats - bingo! Have we have "snouts in the trough" yet?

Saw a nice top from White Stuff in mine the other day but they wanted £25 for it.

The prices in the ones around here for clothes are ridiculous but I did find a huge box of beads including some made jewellery and a 4 tier really useful box for £9.50. That was way underpriced and I'd have paid double at least and still been well content with my bargain. And before anyone jumps on me I'm going to be donating the findings and beads I don't want (about 1kg in weight!) back to them. It was the box I really wanted!

I understand what you’re saying but I do get the pricing thing. More often than not the charity shops round here sell items for the same as they cost new and sometimes more which means their stock is always the same and they then can’t take donations.

I do not see anything of what you are saying in the charity shops I go to. I support to regularly. both supporting animal rescues which I know they do great work. one I donate clothes to regularly. I don't donate crap. I don't shop at shein boohoo etc and haven't shopped in penny's since covid. the shop does amazing displays in their windows. have good eye for matching things and you can walk past the window one day and half an hour later walk past and half the display is gone. I agree with someone above no issue paying 2e for a book than buying off amazon. I donate all the books I read aswell some cost about 15e which is the average price here in easons ( irish main bookshop).
the other charity shop I discovered during lockdown. due to being shut the volunteers started online auctions. every month put up about 100 to 150e items with a low bid and you bid in the comments over a certain period. they obviously research the proces as they list what it would cost new. I have bought some amazing stuff that way. you pay via paypal either collect or they post (let you knwo cost). its excellent. my most recent purchase was a brand new marks and spencer king size duvet set for 30e. they retail about 80 to 100e here. plus all money goes towards helping dogs etc vet care and new homes.
if charity shops have crap in your area its because people are donating crap in your area.

Sorry if it's been said already but historically it was because second hand clothes were for people who couldn't afford clothes, not raising money for another charity. They were the charity.
And yes whilst I understand it's changed, it does bug me because I can't afford new right now.

You can download the reports from charities and see exactly how much money goes directly to the cause.

I think your bingo card is virtually complete!
We are still waiting for the ageist comments…

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

As for ebay its a bidders war, the market itself then sets the limit that the price will rise to, you could put an item at eg £10 but the market takes it to eg over £50 thats what people choose to pay so theres no dishonesty involved.

Thats very kind of you.

the style and look could be debated but if new its eg £200 and the charity is selling it at £50 then to me its still a bargin price.

I didn’t buy a F&F jumper today because it was £5.50…which isn’t much but it’s too much to pay without some thought, and after some thought I decided not to buy it. If it had been £3.50 I’d have bought it. It happens a lot lately, especially because I can buy better clothes on Vinted.

Charity shops usually have so much stock that I feel like the staff are annoyed when they receive a donation.

Mind you, I’m wearing a Balenciaga denim skirt that I bought brand new for £3.99…

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.

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.

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.