to think that charity shop workers should not take all the best stuff for themselves?

[gramercy]

I admired dd's friend's coat. Her mother duly informed me it was a Boden coat which her mother had got from the charity shop in which she volunteers. "I gave mum a list of the brands to look out for - so she can pick them out when stuff comes in. I've got loads of good things."

I know this goes on, but I really don't think it's on. Even if the volunteer pays a nominal price, it means the shop is deprived of stock, and if the shop only stocks horrible old tat then people won't bother to go in. You can't imagine a boutique, say, allowing its staff to buy all the prime stuff first so there's nothing left to attract customers.

I signed up for gift aid and subsequently received letters saying how much money my donations had made for the charity. I took a shed load of decent, labelled items to them (gorgeous dresses I'm too fat/old for) and received a letter for that quarter saying sale of my stuff raised less than £7. Are they kidding me? Where did all the stuff go?
I take it to another charity shop now

Christ, we'll be reading OPs written in Latin soon...

Worra

Time to put the thread to bed for another year?

I have a relative who used to volunteer in a charity shop. She just took anything she liked for herself and anything new/worth money and sold it on ebay/gum tree. She made a fortune

cakelady - were the clothes you donated season appropriate ? for instance my DH shop is putting spring/summer wear out now, some of these clothes would have been donated in the winter, therefore they would have been tagged gift aid at the time of donation but the gift aid money would not have been made until the clothes are sold and that may be six months after you donated them, my DH is storing any winter clothes donated now, he will gift aid any heavy winter clothes but these will not go on sale until later in the year.
Waiting if that is true then I doubt the volunteer works for any of the larger high street charity shops, who have the same rules and regulations as any retailer, so just as a shop asst at marks who would be sacked and prosecuted if found stealing so would a volunteer in a large chain charity shop, also large chain ones have paid staff who lock up (part of the insurance conditions) and would therefore see any volunteer stealing large amounts of clothing.

There's a vintage designer shop near me. The owner told me he had to stop buying from certain people who were regularly bringing in loads of lovely pieces they wanted to sell in his trendy shop. Apparently they were volunteers from a local charity shop and he said he didn't think it as right. I kind of agreed.

:) @DoJo and Worra but seeing as though I'm here I might as well add that I've had some fab bargains out of my local shops and my mum used to volunteer at one where the staff were limited to buying 5 or 7 (I don't remember) items weekly.

CarbeDiem and does he have proof that the money will go into the volunteers pocket and not the charity.

My DH takes donated clothes that have a value to a more affluent area and sells them, that's because the demographics of where his shop is is a poorer area, that means that if he has a designer outfit that is worth about 30 quid he cant put more than say £5 on it as people cant afford it and also the perception of charity shops is they get clothes for free therefore £30 is too dear.

So he sells the garment for say £20 quid, the other shop still makes a profit and he gets £20 for his charity where he would only get a fiver if he put it out for sale, its rung through the till as a donation and if its gift aided he can add the GA to the donation.

Its a win win situation as I am sure the people who donate would rather the charity get £20 for an item rather then £5

OOOPPS sorry was replying to post by Babymamamama

must remember to bump this thread next year

Charity shops used to be a lot of senior citizens but now people do work experience and students go there to learn english.

They are giving up their time for charity of course they should get perks. isn't the whole point of the charity shop to raise money for charity? as long as they are paying why should it matter

My comment about people working there used to be senior citizens was replying to EveBoswell.

I think a charity shop is better run when volunteers genuinely want to give up their time. A lot of young people only do it to add to their cv and their heart is not in it.

I think the 24 hour rule that dittany speaks of and limiting the amount they can buy is a great idea.

I agree with the op though as an avid charity shopper and donator. I donated tons of really decent stuff to my local charity shop, I go in there at least once a week and hardly any of my stuff appeared on the shelves (unless it was snapped up very quickly).

I'm also surprised what people have said about things being cleaned. I go in charity shops every week and they all stink. I just assumed it was the clothes .

Having said that I've had some great stuff from charity shops, only yesterday I got a great bag which was brand new from clarks for £8.99. The volunteer in the shop told me that a lot of big brands are donating. A similar bag on the clarks website is £45. I do have to scour though, the ten or so I frequent are mostly full of tat.

I don't donate anymore.
Not since the time I handed in two bin bags full of freshly washed soft toys, only to be shown the 'super bargain' / bought for £1 !!!! pile of same toys my neighbour 'bought' for her GC.
I had suspicions before , beautiful children's clothes, bags of them , but never anything in the shop ????
She admitted she only volunteered to 'get the best stuff'
I have no doubt she wasn't/isn't the only one.
Charity obviously 'Begins at home' for some of these 'selfless volunteers'

A few months ago I donated by accident with other items my husband’s pilot chart maps worth around £100 to British Hart Foundation in Walthamstow. Next morning I went to ask for the maps back, as they were donated by accident. Since then the item was not found, it “disappeared” overnight. The manager was very vague from the beginning. A few days later I contacted the British Hart Foundation head office. They were willing to check CCTV only a few weeks later, but the video was already deleted.

The maps have my husband’s handwriting, so I could easily identify them. Since then I prefer to throwaway my unwanted items than give them to charity shop, where staff steals. They should be ashamed of themselves.

FUCK OFF ZOMBIE THREAD - 6 YEARS OLD. DON'T RESURRECT OLD THREADS!!!

Someone I know who volunteered at Vinnies told me that the very best items are given to people in need - I don't think anyone would have a problem with that.

Additionally, I know the Sallie's (perhaps Anglicare - can't remember) stores in the city in which I live are organised by type e.g. one has lots of wedding/formal wear, another sportswear, etc, so, on that basis, maybe stuff does get moved around.

Stop it stop it stop it stop it.
Oh
My
God
Let
This
Thread
Die!!!!

ZOMBIE

I thought dittany was back, for chrissakes.

trice I am amazed she manages to make money out of that. I look in charity shops often and I am gobsmacked at how overpriced most things are for not such great quality or well known high street labels. In many cases you could buy brand new and just as good from TKMaxx, Asda etc for less.

I guess if she's sniffing out collectable vintage stuff she might be in luck but recognised desirable brands on reasonably recent items never seem to make the rails....

damnit sorry that was in reply to trice right back on the first page. didn't realise it was such a long thread

Oh dear. 2010.

I guess that means trice won't be replying to my comment on page 1 then.

ZOMBIE THREAD - THIS IS A SIX YEAR OLD THREAD

I honestly think these days that no-one cares much about Boden any more on MN. The demographic is much more diverse than it was when I joined, it was wall to wall Boden obsessives in those days. It hardly ever gets a mention now.

Given the thread is six years old then you may be right