Why do charity shops do this?

[LuLuLemonadeDrinker]

A couple of local charity shops near me both constantly have signs up outside on an A-Board, saying that they are not taking donations. However, both of these have very little stock inside, and are both very overpriced. For example, a worn, very bobbly Primark jumper for £7, and a Boohoo polyester dress for £12.

One in particular is just depressing to go into; I went in the other day for the first time in two months and some of the overpriced clothes that were there then were still hanging there, still for sale. The rails were also pretty empty. The board was outside as usual requesting no donations. There were 5 members of staff in the shop.

I really don't get it; surely it would be far better, and raise far more money, if they had more stock out, and priced it at lower prices for a quicker turnover. I really can't see the shop I went in yesterday raising much money at all, as there's never anything in there really to buy.

I'm sure some posters will reply saying it's a 'charity shop bashing thread', and yes, it is! I want to support charities and want to buy pre owned items but shops like this aren't exactly going to raise any money!

Amazing isn't it. Like a trope.

Why don't these people complaining donate some decent stuff?
I've been bagging up my surplus today and there isn't a single item from fast fashion brands.

Makes you wonder who donates all the bobbly jumpers and stained clothing..

We really are a nation of shopkeepers based on everyone's opinion on how to run a charity shop. Usually from people will never volunteer their amazing expertise by working in one

I think charity shops are struggling now because of Vinted and now eBay and lord alone knows how many other free to list sites there are

They are being sent the crap that people can not sell themselves

I would always come back with a few items from a charity shop afternoon, now its very rare

Mum just passed, and Ive been finding homes for her bits. A lot of her clothing for instance, never worn, quality pieces, I sent them to a charity shop that had the staff and the nuance to look at what they were sent - her jewellery box for example was put up for £50 - so I googled it - worth £465 - and good on them . A few of her outfits - all going for really good money. I sent nothing that had any sign of wear. I wouldn't want to be buying bobbled clothes so why send it? Although chairty shops will take "rags" they sell by the kilo for recycling - just bag as such

Most people now have access to the WWW and know what they can get if they sell on, I do myself with select bits and pieces , but there's a lot of people who treat charity shops as a dumping ground for tat
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I was an assistant manager in a charity shop and something people don’t consider is that a lot of vulnerable people volunteer in charity shops. A large part of my job was supporting the volunteers. Everything from basic maths to use the till to social skills of greeting customers.

If you only have one paid employee in to support these volunteers (which was us 5 days out of 6) you won’t get sorting done mid-week as the other volunteers tend to be elderly and often arrive with a fixed idea of working the till or doing displays and aren’t prepared or able to sort. That being said, when we did have a situation that spring was possible we absolutely blitzed it, meaning we always had space for new donations.

I’m surprised by your description of it being a major charity. Most operated like us and date stock being put out and collect it in after 4 or 8 weeks and send to a warehouse type shop for either very cheap sale, donation or recycling depending on the item.

Oxfam shops seem to overprice things, and I really feel that although charity shops are there to support the charities, they should also be places that people can go to buy something secondhand cheaply, especially those that need to be able to buy a top for a couple of pounds, very, very few are like that anymore.

I do not purchase fast fashion clothes. I donated good quality clothing last week. After loosing weight, I had six bags of clothes a mixture of Crew, Joules, and Phase Eight. I had to visit 3 different charity shops before I found a shop happy to have the donations. To be fair, I was avoiding the larger charities and was seeking a smaller local charity to benefit. Unfortunately even Women’s refuges do not take clothing donations since Covid. Which would be my first choice of passing along donations.

We have a few good ones just down the road from me, in one they extended & rented the premises next door for household, soft furnishes, nicknacks etc & it's made such a difference, I only get in maybe once a month, never have change for parking 🙄but I did get an almost full bottle of Marc Jacobs Daisy about 2 months ago for €20!! I was chuffed & yes it's real I still have some of my old one left

I totally get the point though that it discourages people from going in for a rummage if the turnover is very slow

Barcelona has excellent thrift shops - everything €3, next door €5 and another €7. Some amazingly brilliant stuff too.

Quite possibly, but that’s irrelevant as the charity shop as still made at least £2.

Where is this magical charity shop that sells books for 10p lol

Exactly. They should come and volunteer then they’ll see for themselves the reality of operating one.

Because I bought a size too small, I was going to diet into them!
The clothes that fit me are worn until fit for the bin. Others I have worn a few times and don’t like the fit. I actually buy and have very few clothes. One 50cm pax wardrobe full.
But what I do have isn’t wanted is it because it’s not good enough quality.
The charity shop managers on this thread say as much.

Totally agree with you OP. The ones around here are so overpriced for crappy old clothes. And really expensive on books. Surely they’d make far more money by selling things more appropriately ie cheaply. Also it would help those on low incomes such as myself afford things.

They are being sent the crap that people can not sell themselves

I've never sold clothes I'm bored with or no longer fit. Really good stuff is passed on to people I think might like it and everything else goes to charity. No "bobbly. Primark jumpers"

I quite like a charity shop, and I'd prefer to rebuy something of better quality than buy fast fashion.
But it's impossible to find children's clothes in the charity shops in my town, and I know a lot gets donated.
A new one opened a few weeks ago and I actually found a supermarket brand but nice child's item in there, which wasn't priced but I didn't worry as it was a charity shop.
It was about £2 cheaper than if I'd purchased it new, I was quite shocked but also too embarrassed to say no.

To be fair, I was avoiding the larger charities and was seeking a smaller local charity to benefit. Unfortunately even Women’s refuges do not take clothing donations since Covid. Which would be my first choice of passing along donations.

My office has twice in the last year organised collections for this. Both times they got masses of stuff, including several Cos dresses from me.

https://scotland.smartworks.org.uk/

My local charity shop never turns down donations but it's full to bursting plus a huge stock room and the option to send stock to other stores. But if other shops don't have so much storage space they may have to turn down donations just cos they have nowhere to put it. Sometimes they have signs saying things they have enough of and things they will accept.

Yes, would be quite the eye opener I imagine!

Aside from the overpriced fast fashion I generally find vinted a lot cheaper for clothes even once you factor in postage.

I noticed a nice jumper in my local charity shop which had been £15 and cut down to £7.50. It had a hole in it so I thought no one will buy it and I told the staff and they told me the hole had already been factored into the price 🤦🏼‍♀️

but then one persons cheap can be another persons thats pricy,

Charity shops seem to be growing exponentially, sometimes I wonder where all the stuff comes from, perhaps it just moves round from one shop to another. Although, we have some that have stuff that never goes anywhere, I always look through vinyl in vain sifting through Lena Martel, Val Doonican and Scottish country dancing records

What does it matter if they shift the stock?

Agree with you OP. I’ve given up trying to donate stuff to charity shops now. Their business model seems insane - don’t accept donations and over price things. My teenage daughter now flogs it all on Vinted instead and makes some extra pocket money for herself. We longer either donate or purchase from charity shops.