Charity shops

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I'm fully prepared to be told IABU

I've had a good clear out of unwanted things. Most things were either new or extremely good condition. They were also good brands. I messaged the charity shop on Facebook asking if they'd accept what I have. I sent a photo, they said yes.

So this morning I took the things. I didn't have loads. I had one bag. And I went round the back of the shop. I explained to the workers that I have some new things and have spoken to someone on the Facebook messenger about donating these items. I was met with a groan, a huff, and not even a smile. I explained again that I had spoken to someone on the Facebook messenger and that I can always take them to another charity shop. She pulled them out my hands and huffed saying well I suppose we could and rolled her eyes at another worker. I said thank you and was huffed at again and didn't say thank you to me, the door was shut in my face.

I understand charity shops get given lots of things which they have to sort through and I'm sure they are given non sellable things but I explain mine were new and they even posted a post online saying they accept donations recently, also given I had privately messaged them too. I even offered to take them to a different charity shop if they weren't accepting.

Is this how charity shops are now? It takes not even 2 seconds to say thank you and I certainly won't be donating to this charity again nor will I shop in it. Anyone else had this experience?

Very rude. One near me has a sign up no refunds given, in its place a credit note as if its Harrods they, re running. Always shuts an hour earlier than the sign in the window.

I think if you just need the space and want a easy life post covid it's actually easier just to dump in in clothing recycling bin.

Charity shops don't seem to be a easy option. If they are surly and turn you away why would want to?

I give our clothes to local community clothes banks who give them away. It's a good eco friendly idea and no money ever changes hands. I prefer doing this tbh.

If I was having a major clear out I'd be seriously tempted to take it to the clothes recycling bins.

Anything new and really decent I sell on Vinted

@Beaverbridge "no refunds only a credit note" is usually the standard for charity shops.
That's normal.

Lol. OP isn't even allowed to have a moan about some prick snatching her possessions and showing a foot in her face because it's a charity shop worker.

Yep, we'll a continue to criticise rude people where we see it. Too bad I'm afraid

That's just rude. Don't take stuff to that shop again.

We do. Over 50% of all donations go to the rag man. Even nice brands if they are bobble or have a tiny stain. It's all money for the charity

I take my things into a small local charity that supports lots of groups, smaller charities, donates toys to children’s hospital/hospices, funds kids arts groups, elder visitors etc. staff are always lovely there and they send you an email saying how much your items raised.

We just stuff our donations into the big Salvation Army skips you get in supermarket car parks these days. So much easier.

Um because without donations they don’t have anything to sell maybe?

TBH I now usually just pile the stuff at the end of my drive with a help yourself sign and watch it quickly vanish.

@Needmorelego Only one I've ever seen it in to be honest. Most take things back no problem. It's for a local hospice so I like to support them.

@Beaverbridge just think that maybe that person was just having a bad day and not think about it again 🙂

I manage a charity shop and am horrified that staff treated you this way OP . We try our best to accept anything that is given despite the fact that over 50% is not actually saleable. More frequently these days we can be given entire bags of someone's underwear drawers or their pyjamas that have zero life left in them but they all go to our ragbags which still raise money for our charity. It's our job to accept donations and I would be be very unhappy if any of my staff behaved in that way .

To the person who mentioned men's clothes, Asylum support charities are always calling out near me for warm men's clothes, shoes, coats, jackets.
Anyone thinking of donating if you have a fast growing teenage boy there's probably a lot of their clothes that would get really good use.

Gratitude is free and takes a fraction of a second. I say thank you for many things throughout the day to complete strangers. It costs me nothing and is good manners.

Ah ! I'm out of date - ignore what i said earlier, it was more based on the fact that men don't go to charity shops looking for hidden gems/designer labels in great numbers but obv if there is a good use for them then definitely donate

i think it’s abit exploitative not paying workers in the shop, yet behind the scenes all the admin staff, managers, procurement managers, CEOs are all getting paid handsomely, and some of that money is coming from the shop.

@Needmorelego .Ok wonted give it another thought! 😁

It must be really tiring getting annoyed when people aren’t perfectly polite all the time. People have bad days. I’d just assume a disgruntled charity shop worker had stuff going on and hope they felt ok soon. I’m aware this makes me sound like a pious prick, but honestly it’s much more relaxing for me too.

Persons rude and nasty, not just 'not perfectly polite'.

I find it odd that a charity worker would roll her eyes to receive donations when that is what their business model is built on. Perhaps you were mistaken.

I dropped 4 separate loads off a few years ago, all if it good quality. Some coats were brand new, waterproof jacket with tags. 6 months later I received a letter saying my donations had raised £6. Think that I might have spent more on petrol.

Tel the £6 may have referred to the gift aid element on the sales ... legally charities have to advise donors how much gift aid is raised and the customer has the legal right to ask for the gift aid amount to be given to them (not the amount raised from the actual sale ... ie: if a coat sells for £10 and the gift aid claimed is 20% the donor can request £2) . I have known donors do this (they are then delisted from having gift aid added to future donations).

However your post does indicate that donors often feel their donations are 'worth' a lot more than they can be sold for ... I've worked & volunteered in charity retail for many years, my aim is aways to achieve maximum sales and therefore maximum funds for the charity ... but charity shops need to be realistic about what sells and what prices they can ask for. As others posters have said .. so much of what we are donated is only fit for rag or the tip. And if you have a small charity shop with limited storage space it is very challenging to store the 'rag' for collection even if you do get a small amount for rag .. probably much less than £1 per sack ... it's just not worth the storage space.

We give refunds if the receipt is kept, I think thats fair. I’m a volunteer, started after I retired in my 60s. Yesterday, I had to stop a donor leaving a chair. We (very obviously) don’t sell furniture, and our storage is full. There are two charity shops five minutes away that sell furniture and electrical goods.

Our manager realises that some volunteers are better equipped to deliver good customer service, they are usually front of house. We have lots of regular customers, who know our stock is usually clean, and reasonably priced. I’m on the shop floor occasionally, and we are happy to receive donations. We had loads yesterday!

I do think its unfair to use charity shops as a dumping ground. A big bag of smelly, greasy and well used kitchen utensils and pans was just one of the donations yesterday with nothing saleable. Old clothes are fine, the ragman takes those, but what do people think we’re going to do with battered lampshades, chipped crockery or broken toys?

@TodayForTomorrow Actually the Salvation Army has a rebag scheme, you buy a bag for 99p fill it with donations and you get a £2 stamp on a card plus a new bag