That M&S/Oxfam ad - have you taken M&S stuff to Oxfam? How did it go?

[Wolfmother]

I have been rather shocked to find that Oxfam shop staff seem a bit sniffy about exchanging my donation for an M&S voucher! I've tried three different shops, but none of them seem very keen. In one shop, I was challenged - one of the backroom staff said that my (large) bag of goodies didn't have an M&S item in it. But it was a Per Una top, so the label said Per Una, not M&S. I was embarrassed to say the least, to have to defend myself.

I think it's such a great scheme, it's a shame if people are put off it. What's not to like? I always end up buying at least one book while I'm in the Oxfam shop; they get a load of my good quality clutter; I then spend a fortune in M&S. Seriously, the motivational effect of a shopping spree in M&S in exchange for letting go of some of my precious clutter really does work for me.

To redeem the voucher you have to spend £35 - and only on clothes or household stuff - so I can't imagine they get too many people pulling a fast one, surely?

My local Oxfam are fine about it. I usually just point out the M&S things on the top of the bag and they give me a voucher. Haven't done it for ages, mind, as I don't often spend much in M&S. I presume it's no skin off Oxfam's nose so I've no idea why they'd be sniffy about it. M&S provide the vouchers and give the money off. If I was you I might have to contact Oxfam and/or M&S and very nicely point out that you've been having problems using this great scheme and could they advise you how best to deal with it, you being a good customer of both stores and all!

Thanks, SweetApril. I certainly am a good customer - spent well over £100 at M&S with my voucher last time!

It's the checking of labels to see if I might be 'cheating' which seems so demeaning to me. Rather defeats the point.

I am genuinely an eco-warrior (albeit a rather well-dressed one ) so I do support the idea on principle.

Anyone else use the scheme?

I've never had a problem with my local Oxfam - in fact one guy told me it didn't matter if there was just one M&S thing in a big bag of stuff.

How silly of them to make a fuss. After all you could just send your things to another charity shop....

Also had oxfam lady being, as you say, sniffy. She complained that a couple of ds's school trousers were worn at the hem, which one might have understood if there hadn't been a practically new lady's jacket and some nice dresses of dd's in the bag as well(all M&S)

In fact they were so funny about it I haven't even tried it since.

But saying that now I've read that some of you got on alright at your oxfam- I might have another try.

I just don't get why they are sniffy. Surely the whole scheme is about a feelgood factor, and it's not as if they're handing out money in exchange for donations, just an incentive to go mad at M&S, which boosts M&S' profits.

I'm glad to hear there are Oxfam shops where they don't turn their noses up.