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 think YANBU because it's not the volunteer who is benefitting, it's her daughter and granddaughter.

Hi I am an assistant manager in a successful charity shop in an affluent area, and I have to say that some of what is being said in this thread demeans the work of volunteers. Firstly we are grateful for all donations that we receive, no matter how big or small we say thank you. In a week scream of 15 volunteers give over 140 hours of their time. Their reasons for volunteering vary some are bored, some lonely and some just love doing it and interfacing with customers. But all love the charity and love to hear how much money we are raising and selling expensive items to people who appreciate them. They do receive a discount but it is set at 20% and is only valid on items under £20. In our shop all clothes which are in a saleable state go up for sale, if they are slightly damaged but a decent make they go up at a reduced price. If unsold within two weeks they are transferred, so we can keep the shop looking fresh and new. I know that some shops get too many bags in compared to the space they have available so they transfer stock without it going out, the stock is then sold in a different location ( this is especially common with mens clothes as some shops do not have a fast turn around, good for us as we get pail smith and Hugo boss this way:)). These systems are in place to ensure that the system is fair and in all honesty there is no way you could pick out all the good makes as they are all different sizes, additionally paid members of staff face disciplinary if caught selling on stock. The majority of items purchased by volunteers are bought in goods ( no discount), and lower end clothing which they can wear at work, as it is messy. Finally the people who call it stealing and say is morally wrong the volunteers get a small discount in comparison to what more and more customers expect to receive, just watch superscrimpers if you do not believe me. Oh and we do use eBay to value stock but we always beat the completed listings by atleast 30%. hope this helps and please be nice to volunteers, all the ones I have encountered are amazing selfless people.
Have fun hunting
Ps we get tons of mini Boden, so try the west country area if you are ever down this way

My dsis is a manager ( paid) . She is very strict about the staff having to buy stuff. I have to buy stuff as does she . Which obviously I'm happy to .. Surely that's normal.?
Isn't it?

I think it's the norm, you do get bad cases like the one in the daily mail a few years ago but they are infrequent. You have paid staff to prevent it and also to add value to shop taking. On average shops with paid staff take double the amount of ones run by volunteers :)

I think volunteers should always pay full price. I am a volunteer and I wouldn't dream of paying any less.

Grrrrr just seen it is a ZOMBIE THREAD.

It's been Zombified twice Dont
First post January '10 and then December '12 and now again.
Weird.

people clearly still want to talk about it

One of the perks of the job.

I used to get all the best gear when I was doing my community service

The thread was started over 3 years ago vintage.

My Ex-MIL volunteered in a charity shop - a well known one raising money for heart problems - and apparently it was rife at this charity shop.

They would be able to take home any item that caught their fancy, before it made it out to the shop floor, for just 10p an item. And this charity shop is well known locally for having quite high prices too.

She used to buy stacks of stuff that the public had never even seen, whilst the stuff on the shop floor was the tat that was left over after the volunteers had had their pick.

I was horrified, and haven't bothered with that shop since.

ZOMBIE ZOMBIE ZOMBIE....

Oddly enough I am an assistant manager for a Welsh charity, currently on maternity leave. My shop is run like an army. Absolutely EVERYTHING that is bought is recorded, receipts are kept and ALL ITEMS have to be out in the shop for at least 72 hours before staff can purchase. Our volunteers can have 25% off but bless their hearts none of them ever pay less than full price :) The charity shop that I (until recently) donated to however is another story. I take bags and bags of stuff there without so much as a nod of thanks in my direction but didn't mind as I like animal charities, but I stopped when I took a rucksack of books in and asked for the bag back, the woman emptied the bag, saw a book she fancied said 'Oh I'll have that' and put it in her handbag. I was gobsmacked and will never donate there again. Having said that, can't judge everybody by that grabbing cows standards :D

Actually I can't see why it matters if this is a zombie thread - it's obvious that people are still interested in the subject, and it's not as if the OP was looking for advice on what to do or anything time-limited.

My 'empty-nest' thread about children going to university has been zombied every year since 2006 and it's still relevant (though I think it's now full and someone's started a new one)

I don't think it matters that it was started several years ago. People still clearly want to talk about it and it's not one of those threads that was asking advice about their pfb's first day of school and having people give advice for a pfb now in college

xpost rusty. I agree. Obviously.

There are zombie threads where it's pointless to pick them up again (telling someone who asked 6 years ago that yes, they should go to that dance next saturday 6 years ago) but this isn't one of them.

Er hell yeah so what if this is a zombie thread?

As someone else said - it's obvs still a subject of interest.

Same CUNTZ that are moaning about it being a zombie thread are probs the same cuntZ that would moan about someone starting a thread about a subject been done to death.

Mumsnet fucking bores. Bore off.

I used to be assistant manager in a charity shop and the manager had bin bags of stuff that she compulsively collected but never took home. I used to let the volunteers take stuff for a donation and she told me off!

Cuntz?
Mumsnet fucking bores?
Bore off.
Bloody hell, how to you disagree with people about something really important cat?

I wasn't moaning about it being a zombie thread , I let vintage know as an explanation as to why the OP or other posters from the thread may not be replying incase she hadn't noticed. When I joined mn I was commenting on a thread from years ago and hasn't realised until someone pointed it out to me.

I'm not a cunt either if that was directed at me

Oh do not worry I knew it was an old thread but I just saw it when I was looking into shoplifting in charity shops on google, obviously to prevent it lol, and this came up. So I thought I would give my opinion on it as obviously I felt strongly about it. And I hoped that if anyone saw it I could but their minds at rest about where their donations go and that even the dreaded dirty knickers are appreciated, handled with gloves but still valuable. Additionally a lot of the info was out of date as procedures have changed a lot since this was first posted, as references are now checked, tills are checked more frequently and stock control is tighter. Main issue now is shop lifting, collection bag stealing and label switching, nightmare as someone gets a whistles dress for 3.99 and another person complains about a primark dress priced at fifteen quid.

Ooooh, I'm a cunt. That's cheered me right up.

I've only just discovered charity shops. We have some really good ones round our way.

If yuo want the first dibs on the charity shop stuff that badly....

volunteer to work in a charity shop!

Personally I can live with the fact that someone else gets bagsies on a Littlewoods beige bodywarmer and three copies of a scratched Demis Roussos record.

Agree with dittany!

And yabu - if you feel that strongly about it, then go and volunteer at a charity shop yourself and pick out things you'd like.