Charity shops have lost the plot

[DancingonmyOwn88]

Had a bit of time to kill before work earlier so had a browse in a charity shop. Surrey town but more commuter belt than anything salubrious. Shop was a run of the mill one not one of the boutique type offerings.

Nice green and white maxi dress, casual summer type thing, the other dresses were priced around £8 pounds which isn’t really a bargain but as I liked it a lot I picked it up- only to see it was priced at £30. Yes it was ‘Max Studio’ but those dresses aren’t going for anything like that on Vinted etc.

I asked why it was priced so high and the lady said ‘it’s designer’.😐

Probably been sitting there for months!! Where’s the sense in it?! Why have charity shops become so far removed from what they’re supposed to be- a way to shop sustainably and feel like you’re getting a bargain because it’s not new? Yeah I know they want to raise money as well but surely they’d do that a damn sight quicker if they actually shifted stock and not stuck eye watering labels on things.

I’m still annoyed from last week from a different shop as well when my little boy picked up a toy dinosaur figure and the label said £6. We put it back and I told them why but they didn’t care obviously and it’s still sitting there as of yesterday. How greedy to price children’s toys so high. When I was little you could always find a pocket money toy for a couple of pounds and come away feeling chuffed.

Ive heard lots are going out of business and my sympathy is somewhat limited. Serves them right. They seem to be terrified of people grabbing bargains to resell but then they’ve forgotten that some people on lower incomes are using them to buy clothes etc too.

Our local Compton care shop is all £2.99 or less and they sell all sorts. I’ve bought a lot of M&S and Next clothing as well as supermarket own. They also get lots of donations which they’d obviously love to sell for more but the sign on the door stops them! I’ve seen a massive brand new dog cage, ikea shelving, rollerblades, cookware etc. I love this shop!!! The StGiles shop three doors down has also cottoned on to how popular it is and they do everything for either £2.95 or £1.95. I spend a lot of money in these two shops despite their low prices so they still make a profit.

I blame Mary Portas!

Unless it's a charity set up specifically to cloth your children that's neither here nor there.

Well I highly doubt I was unique in using local charity shops for this purpose.

I love charity shops and there are some I go to that price everything really fairly.. it makes me wonder if they can do it why can’t the others?

there are 2 large charity shops near me - one has steadily increased their prices and I now hardly bother going. The other is always reasonably priced, regularly turns over stock and has a random assortment of stuff to mooch through. Both are for large charities. Its a case of business approaches being different.

The trouble is that people are really taking advantage on Vinted now too, I think anyway. Only just started buying from them but what some people consider “new” is a joke. Have had a few bargains but have learned my lessons too.

And some things priced at only £5 less than they were in the shop, with no consideration for the buyer that purchasing from Vinted is more risky.

I agree that everyone has got a bit more greedy op, including charity shops.

I suppose you can’t blame them in some ways bc of rising costs, but equally, it’s important to be fair and honest if you are selling to people on low incomes and they are not just out for profit surely but part of their role, is to provide a community service, but maybe that’s all flown out of the window nowadays?

You don't know why? Cost of living crisis? Fuel, utilities, rent, rates....all gone up. Charity shops have overheads, even if the stock is free.

Don’t they get a whopping reduction on business rates? And then if you use volunteers for staffing too..and like you say, the stock is free. They’re definitely cushioned from some of the big problems facing the high street.

What a lovely sarcastic response! And no I don’t know why they have shot up to the extent they have. Other prices haven’t risen as much as some charity shop prices have, and a lot of people are not shopping there due to this. Doesn’t seem like the best business model to me. As I say, I worked for charity so I do get how hard things are, but pricing your customers out so you no longer make as much business doesn’t make any sense to me, no. But please be more sarcastic, it’s all good vibes.

The role of a charity shop is to make money for the charity. They have never been a community service. I don't personally consider I am low income but I love a bargain and spend alot of time scouring charity shops and car boots. A normal priced dress would cost me upwards of £60. That means I can get 10 for the price of one if I shop second hand. More if I add in my car boot finds. And it raises funds for charities. And it stops very wearable stuff going to landfill. Very much an ethical choice in that regard.

And frequently things have tags on or if you look at the labels are new or very nearly new - frequently washed items show in the labels.

And don't get me started on the jewellery....

But also pay managers. And volunteer expenses.

Our charity shop is a right rip off. I get way better bargains on Vinted, even after adding in postage.

I really love charity shops but I’m very particular about the charity shops that I go in now, there’s too many that are overpriced and full of SHEIN, Primark or George at stupid prices so I just don’t bother. There is one near me where everything is £1 and I went in this afternoon and bought a new looking pair of black Wrangler jeans and a North face fleece for dh!
last week I bought myself a pair of Salomon walking boots from there, it’s my new favourite shop!

No sarcasm at all. Just facts.

Some are decent where I live and others nuts. I do love a rummage and got some bargains today (well xlcheaper than vinted when you factor in p&p)
We have one in particular with a branch in our town which has everything for dirt cheap, then the same chain in the next town is £££ for the same stuff.

If you say so!

Not everyone can be arsed to sell on Vinted and all the hassle but that goes with it.
Not everyone can be arsed to list things for a quid.
Shops cancelled sell at what they want, you don't have to buy.
Charity shops still have overheads too.

So charity shops don't have overheads?

Your money's going in someone's pocket though rather than a charity.
A Vinted seller dosent have any overheads.

I literally came on to say the same thing!

If the charity thought they would make more money by charging less, they would. I'm sure some volunteers price incorrectly, but in general, they will have worked out what they can charge and still sell things fairly quickly.

No one said that at all? But that doesn’t mean the price increases make sense. Please see my previous response.

Shop dosent run with electricity and heating

YOU may not have wanted to pay the asking price, but someone else will. The advantage that charity shops have over Vinted is that you can see the garments and try them on.