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Original poster

To be bloody annoyed by the 'helpers' at the NCT sale.

154 replies

littleoldme · 18/10/2008 20:18

There must have been about 20 odd helpers there. It opened at 10 I queued from about 9.30 as I'd been advised to get in early and get the good stuff. Then I find out that the people helping get first pick before it opens and all the decent clothes - what I went for - had gone before it even started. I did find one nice thing and the woman at the pay desk said " Oooo that's nice, I wonder how I missed it " . No more NCT for me.Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

OP posts:
tigermoth · 19/10/2008 21:57

Well that's good to know So is this the usual practice? is it all transparent? So would someone with no experience of the NCT clearly understand from the pre-sale publicity that they could volunteeer to help and get first dibs at the things on sale?

tigermoth · 19/10/2008 21:59

So does the publicity mention that volunteers also get first dibs?

IOM people will not assume that volunteering has any perks attached unless it is spelled out to them.

CaptainUnderpants · 19/10/2008 22:02

To get our vouinteers to stay for a resonable time i.e not turn up at 12 midday help set up then bugger off at 1.20 after getting first dibs, we asked them to pay for their items towards the end of the sale . A bit mean but then at least we got them to stay and acatually help a bit more !

Aitch · 19/10/2008 22:04

i never see the publicity material, i check the dates online. it's just a nearly-new, not the bank of engand... the standards the nct is held to is ridiculous. i must check the publicity for our local 'save the church spire' jumble... report the old biddies running it to the priest if not.

Annner · 19/10/2008 22:08

Why did the OP put the word "helpers" in inverted commas? What on earth did she think that they were doing if not helping?

Swanning in early and swanning out again?

Err, no.

I totally agree with Aitch. The NCT is held to greater levels of accountability by angry mothers than the NHS, education system and public sector put together.

spicemonster · 19/10/2008 22:13

I didn't know that you got a sneak preview until I'd already offered to help. Perhaps they should tell people as clearly it's a much bigger perk than they realised

Tryharder · 19/10/2008 22:20

I was going to go along to my local NCT sale but if all the best stuff's gone I might not bother...

But it's definitely true that the volunteers/helpers nab all the best stuff before it gets displayed whatever the situation.... I gave an almost brand new and unused moses basket to my local charity shop and it never actually made it onto the shelves (presumably one of the old ladies nicked it for their grandchildren)

CarGirl · 19/10/2008 23:21

Anyone who wants to sell is told about it at all 5 of my nearest branches. At one branch a few years ago they locked all the volunteer purchases away until the end of the sale as several people only ever unpacked, pre-viewed and then cleared off!! It's not just about getting pcik of the bargains though - stiff competition from the other helper it's about looking through stuff without being half killed!

AbbeyA · 20/10/2008 07:22

I really don't know what the fuss is about! People go to the NCT sales because they have good stuff and there is always lots of it. They would stop going if the helpers had nabbed it all and only left crap!
The sales have always been run in the same way since they started. Of course the helpers get first pick-they are unpacking it and putting it out.
Any second hand sale, jumble sale, charity shop runs the same way and always has done. If you do a car boot sale where the public are not allowed in until a certain time, the other carbooters will come round before they are let in! I would expect that at something like an antique fair or craft fair, the other stall holders go around before the public go in.
It is unrealistic to expect otherwise.

tigermoth · 20/10/2008 08:14

ok, I agree it's accepted that helpers/sellers get first dibs at any type of charity/car bootsale.

IME a lot of jumble sales are run by specific groups - it would be a bit cheeky to phone up the organiser and explain you wanted to help at the sale in return for getting a preview of the stock - you had no interest in joining the group, you don't live in the area, but you want to buy their stuff before the public sees it so you'll give up your Saturday to help them, just for the sale event. I am sure some organisers would be thrilled to get a volunteer, but it's not quite the done thing to be so brazen in your suggestion. TBH, I don't think most people would consider this approach and cold call like this.

Yet (correct me if I am wrong) at NCT sales, you are saying that non NCT members can volunteer and get the pre-sale perks, no strings attached. If this is so, is it widely advertised?

hatrick · 20/10/2008 08:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mrsgboring · 20/10/2008 09:18

OP, you queued up early hoping for bargains - i.e. you did made more effort than those who swanned up at 10.30. You would have been rather miffed if they'd been let in at the same time as you to allow them a fair crack at the stuff. Yes? The helpers made far more effort than you, however much you may dislike this fact.

FWIW my first NNS, I was overwhelmed, didn't know what I was doing and missed a lot of good stuff because I didn't have my eyes "tuned in" to what was a bargain, and it wasn't how I expected it. As I've got more experienced, I'm a lot better at picking out good stuff from what initially looks like "crap." It's still hard to do in the 20-30 mins that the volunteers get to shop, and much easier when you are an ordinary shopper, in early to the sale. I've done both and shopping is far easier.

Aitch · 20/10/2008 11:07

your question hs been answered, tigermoth.

No1GruffaloHunter · 20/10/2008 11:16

I think the "strings" are that they help out as long as you are prepared to work you would be welcome at my local sale and the pre sale shop.

As for advertising again I can only speak for my local sale but details are on the posters and if anyone enquires about the sale then they are asked about volunteering as are all sellers. TBH I don't think the local organisers could do more. Volunteers are needed and no the NCT don't mind where they come from (although I believe non members are restricted in some of the things they can do eg not able to handle money). I agree that generally Joe Public probably won't volunteer but the sale I help out at gets ex members, friends of people who have done it before.

FWIW I wouldn't buy things at an NNS and then Ebay as I generally find EBay cheaper but you do get to check quality / stains / tears at the sale so very useful for kitting out a DC. I've also not seen any volunteers being "greedy" and it takles 2-3 hours to sort out left over stock all of which looks nice to me so don't seem to have a tock problem.

Anyway whatever you can vote with your feet. If you have a chip about the NCT avoid them and everything they organise. Its hardly difficult.

Cosette · 20/10/2008 11:24

I'm not an NCT member, but have sold and volunteered at a number of NCT nearly new sales, and had the opportunity to buy at the preview along with everyone else. At our sale you are limited to buying only a couple of toys during the preview, but can buy more during the general sale. Clothes are not limited as there are always loads - and masses left at the end. Can't remember how I found out about it - assume I saw it on the website.

Blu · 20/10/2008 13:13

Tigermoth - in the branch I have sold through / volunteered with, if you register as a seller, you get an e mail begging you to volunteer, and with various attachments showing the different commision rates for volunteers 4hr and more / volunteers, 4 hours of less / and details of the pre-shop - which is also divided into 4 hour volunteers pre-shopping before the others. Also begging you to make cakes.

Obviously everyone pays full price for what they buy

Members are allowed to register as sellers before non-members.

I was just on the list as a former member of the branch I suppose.

vonsudenfed · 20/10/2008 13:21

I'll just second what someone said ages back, that quite often the people who volunteer aren't in it for the pickings,

Our local branch has a tabletop NNS - we simply don't have enough people to do the other kind - and volunteers get a bit of preview shopping (as do NCT members, who get in 15 min early).

But TBH, no one bought that much - by the time people have enough time to volunteer, their kids are at least one, and mostly 2+. But the vast majority of stuff for sale is up to 18 months, so most of what's for sale is irrelevant to us all. So it's the people first in the queue with the small babies that did well, not the volunteers.

CuppaTeaJanice · 20/10/2008 13:30

My God your sales must be huge! We had 5 helpers at ours. It's table-sale style in a small hall.

Once Joe Public was let in it was heaving. And still people brought buggies and clogged up the very narrow aisles!

The helpers only seemed to buy the big plasticky toddler toys.

The boxes under the tables are where the best bargains lurk!

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 20/10/2008 13:42

How on earth did you know that 'literally ALL the 9-12 boys stuff was sitting in a bulging bag beside one of the helpers at the pay desk' ?

Did you have a good rummage through just to get yourself worked up?

Cosette · 20/10/2008 13:43

I think our local one has decided to restrict the number of sellers to 150 next year - as it's been a bit crowded. So, yes I think they come in all sizes!

Ariela · 21/10/2008 09:58

I'm not an NCT member these days, but our local sale has a corridor where sellers such as Phoenix cards, USbourne, Chocholics etc PAY £15 for a table - so I pay to get in and help. I'm there for usually 2-3 hours before the sale starts and it's hard work sorting stuff out. Half an hour before doors open is shopping time for helpers, I don't buy much just the odd book or DVD these days.
However any decent toys or equipment where several helpers want it eg there was a fab wooden kitchen in vgc for £20, there's a raffle - I think they sold the tickets for £1 - for the winner to buy the really decent item.
i think it's perfectly fair to allow helpers to pre-shop, I certainly wouldn't get there early and help if I couldn't, I'd just set up my stall half an hour before.
Stacks of stuff is left for the main buyers, and stacks of stuff is at the end. One time a crowd of 6 student types came in half way through the sale (they'd queued), spread out round the rails and hand picked all the label and designer items spending over £300. Several people were complaining but as many said if it wasn't them buying it to sell on eBay half of it would remain unsold as it'd been on the rails for a good half hour after the sale started.

BitOfFun · 21/10/2008 10:08

can't they just allow volunteers to buy one item or something?

mrsgboring · 21/10/2008 10:15

If I were limited to one item (or six) I wouldn't volunteer. If I went to shop, I would get probably 50 items, so there is no way I'd be cutting off my nose to spite my face, and signing myself up for 4 hours of seriously hard graft on my feet for no good reason.

There is absolutely no time for a sale helper to shop during the sale; we are all run off our feet.

AbbeyA · 21/10/2008 12:07

I fully agree mrsgboring.

tigermoth · 22/10/2008 08:27

blu, your NCT branch seems to have made it clear what the pre-sale perks are to anyone registering as a seller, which sounds great!

Generally, though, do NCT branches actually broadcast the fact to people who have not registered as sellers, (ie just members of the general pulbic) that if they do want to sell/volunteer they get to the preview sale? ie it this spelled out in a poster in the local shops or in a classified ad in the paper?