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Original poster

Lovely, lovely find in a charity shop today

103 replies

Gatekeeper · 03/09/2016 20:17

I am bloody chuffed to bits; in in need of some new clothes but dh has just gone back to work after being made redundant last year and we are having to be very careful with money. My long sleeved tops are a disgrace and at least 6 years old

I unearthed 4 brand new tops these ones in clay, sienna, chambray and cypress for £2.50 each. quality is lovely and they are a perfect fit

Bloody pleased...can you tell ?

OP posts:

WellTidy · 04/09/2016 22:11

I am one of the people that donates brand new items to charity shops. My weight fluctuates a lot, but I know that I will never be an 8 or even a small 10 again. I had a huge clear out last year and found tens of items of clothing with tags still on. I knew that I would never get round to ebaying them and once I'd decided to bag them up, I just wanted to get them out of the door. Some items were coast, principles, debenhams, m and s etc. I am happy with the thought that someone else might feel that they had a bargain!

swampytiggaa · 04/09/2016 22:18

All of my boden stuff has come from my local charity shop :) someone donates who is my size :)

evelynj · 04/09/2016 22:18

My mil bought a 'gold bracelet with floating diamonds' in it for £1.75 in a charity shop & when she got home was showing bil her purchases who recognised it as Chopard, (too posh to hallmark their gold!). It was valued at £5kish!

ParadiseCity · 04/09/2016 22:25

Great find OP it's so nice that it was just what you needed too- I've had lots of bargains that the DC will grow into/out of season etc but the best ones are the ones you can enjoy instantly, they feel meant to be!

Whenever I get chance I pop into a charity shop, I can't stand normal shops now. Racks and racks of everything the same. You can turn on your heel and see the whole stock. I like a proper rummage

Ragwort · 04/09/2016 23:24

Many of the big retailers (inc. Boden and Joe Brown) donate their end of season stock to charity shops (no doubt it is tax efficient) so it is well worth finding out if any of your local shops receive that sort of stock.

Tiggeryoubastard · 05/09/2016 00:09

Too posh to hallmark? Sorry it doesn't work like that. It's a legal requirement if you're selling it as gold.

Piscivorus · 05/09/2016 00:22

I live in a comfortable, retirement area and our charity shops are full of clothes that would suit somebody over 70, never anything for younger folks although the furniture and knick-knacks bit of the shops do quite well. I do also think that, because they do so many house clearances, the charities are very experienced at sifting out the good stuff so I have never heard of anybody getting a real find locally

LunaLoveg00d · 05/09/2016 07:31

Too posh to hallmark? Sorry it doesn't work like that. It's a legal requirement if you're selling it as gold.

My limited knowledge from watching Antiques Roadshow and the likes is that not all countries hallmark silver/gold, especially those outside the EU. A quick Google says that hallmarking in Switzerland wasn't a requirement until the 1880s and Chopard was going for 20 years before that, so it is vaguely possible that any item was not hallmarked if it were produced at the start of the company's operations. Not because the company was "too posh".

As a charity shop volunteer, I am terrified of this sort of thing happening. I am constantly googling things, looking up pottery makers' marks or trying to identify if something is a valuable vintage piece or modern tat. It's my job to maximise income for the charity so will always price high if in doubt - £20 for a silver necklace rather than £10 because you can always come down a bit but can't negotiate up.

I always hope when I hear these stories about people buying something in a charty shop for pennies and it being valued at thousands that the purchaser makes a hefty donation to the charity concerned.

LunaLoveg00d · 05/09/2016 07:36

Yes, it's well known that Oxfam and M&S have a tie-in. We regularly get boxes from M&S with brand new stock. It's very random though and you never know what's coming - one week it will be socks, bras and swimwear, next week it will be children's wear and men's trousers. Some huge bargains though, I got my Dad a pair of old man's cord trousers which were originally £39.99 in M&S and we were selling them for £6.

We have also had Ted Baker stuff in but I think it's ex-display stock rather than sale stock. We've had things like laptop/tablet cases and jackets. The Cancer Research shop over the road has a deal with Quiz, and takes all of their sparkly party dresses which have minor faults like a split seam or a hem coming down. I've also seen new stuff in the Shelter shop, but can;t remember what brands it was.

Shantotto · 05/09/2016 10:25

I'm in a rather naice area and we have loads of charity shops. But they are still full of Primark and supermarket labels for about the same price you could buy new, and anything Boden etc is priced really high, even the stuff in really bad condition. No bargains to be had here!

Floisme · 05/09/2016 10:40

Same here... well it was until a few months ago but the two Oxfam shops nearest to me have really raised their game recently. In recent months, I've regularly spotted Whistles, Toast, DKNY, Paul Smith, Karl Lagerfeld, J Brand and 7 for all mankind... and more. After years of bobbly Next tops, it's remarkable.

I'd always assumed Oxfam were shipping off all the good donations to where they would fetch more money. Does anyone know if this has changed? I don't want anyone to out themselves but I'm wondering whether this is a permanent (and very welcome) improvement or whether someone's just having an extended clearout.

Original poster

Gatekeeper · 05/09/2016 11:22

tigger I am a size 16/18...eekk, do you know me

OP posts:

Ragwort · 05/09/2016 11:56

Floisme - most charity shops keep their stock for 2-3 weeks and then rotate it around their other shops - amazes me that we receive some really good brands from our other shops that just haven't sold - equally I've sent off some nice designer brands that we can't sell.

We also used to receive a lot of stock from the textile banks in London as we didn't have many actual shops in London to sell it in & they tended to be much more up market brands.

Theselittlelights · 05/09/2016 13:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LunaLoveg00d · 05/09/2016 13:55

Hi Flosime - I am a volunteer for Oxfam and there is a bit of this going on, but not as organised as you suggest.

Oxfam and other charities have specialist shops - in the city where I live there is a specialist Oxfam bookshop, a DIY shop concentrating on homewares, and a boutiquey type shop. So if we are given a first edition book, expensive mother of the bride type outfits or some vintage tea sets, they may be sent to the specialist shops. But all stores have their own targets to hit and if we think we've got a good chance of selling a £75 designer suit in our own branch, we'll keep it. There are also lots of shops which don't get as many donations for a variety of reasons - one shop is in the middle of a pedestrian precinct with no parking close by so really struggles to get people to drop things off. So excess stock might get sent to them. But it's not as organised as "we know Reiss tops sell in Slough and Levi jeans sell in Macclesfield so send them there".

It could also be that the local shop has a new manager who is much more on the ball with stock and volunteers who can tell their Prada from their Primark. A nice window display and well laid out shop encourages more people in, and can increase the quality of donations.

Floisme · 05/09/2016 14:47

Thanks Luna and Ragwort - that's interesting. I suspect it may be a new manager (or area manager? I'm thinking specifically about 2 branches). I've overheard some of the assistants talking and it sounds as if things have recently got a bit more organised and also as if they're being more proactive about bringing in donations. Good to know!

BikeRunSki · 06/09/2016 14:39

DD started reception this morning - just mornings for a fortnight - so I had an opportunity to potter round the charity shop in the next village. Got ice skates in DS's size!!! We went ice skating last week, and he's asked for lessons for christmas!! They cost the same as hiring them twice. Well chuffed.

DavetheCat2001 · 07/09/2016 16:43

I bought this Topshop dress earlier in our local RSPCA for a fiver.

I thinker's really pretty. I'm going to sell it on as it's a bit short for an old bird like me, but some young strapping will look lovely in it.

Lovely, lovely find in a charity shop today

RickOShay · 07/09/2016 21:58

Keep the dress Dave, you look stunning

LuluJakey1 · 07/09/2016 22:02

I got a pair of Hobbs shoes- brand new, totally (unmarked leather sole) . I paid £4.00. God knows what they would have been new.

Cocklodger · 07/09/2016 22:12

Most of you live in affluent areas actually, I don't. I live in one of the poorest counties in the UK and have done for all of my adult life after getting priced out of the capital city I lived in as a child.
jenny young handbag, 50p.
John collier vintage suit with tags (!!) which retails at about £90 without tags, for £10. Full suit. Made a fab present for DH's birthday.
Leather jacket with tags stating the price at £80, for £12.50.
Lovely high heeled leather boots with tags. £5. Tag stated £30.
I do always feel quite bad though as the jumbled way things are presented and various other things makes me wonder if its the naivety of the 2 women (Who to be fair are 78 and 85 and do all of the pricing up) that leads to such bargains, as I'm sure lots would be willing to pay a few bob more even though quite a few might not be able to, the prices are just so ridiculously low sometimes! So I always pay an extra £10-15 as a donation/tip minimum, as I can afford to but I know that some can't.

DavetheCat2001 · 07/09/2016 22:13

bless you Rick.

It's really too short for me, and I did actually buy it with the intention to sell on. Hoping some 18 year old takes a shine to it

My Topshop days are behind me sadly!

LunaLoveg00d · 07/09/2016 22:23

Couldn't you wear it with leggings or skinny jeans? (Or is that super unfashionable?)

froubylou · 07/09/2016 22:28

I have a fantastic charity shop across the road from me. And we live on a big new build estate with some naice houses.

I have had some brilliant bargains. A johN Rocha winter coat for ds for £2.50. A really decent scooter that has flashy lights for £2.95, a sylvan ian family house for £3.50 I think and a lovely Next handbag for a fiver!

I am always more chuffed with a charity shop bargain than a sales bargain.

nennyrainbow · 07/09/2016 22:30

I love charity shops too. Have bought loads both for myself and DCs over the years, including an almost new White Stuff dress for £2.50. Being a small size helps - as a PP said, people often donate clothes that they no longer fit into, so the rails tend to be well stocked with smaller sizes, as we live in a relatively 'fat' area.

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