charity ? too fussy by anybodies standards

alec_eiffel

Worst thing I've found in a bag - well, I've seen all the usual, but there's nothing like a dirty nappy on a hot day. When I was doing my management training at another shop someone found a dead puppy.

butler_helen

alec_eiffel wrote: »

Worst thing I've found in a bag - well, I've seen all the usual, but there's nothing like a dirty nappy on a hot day. When I was doing my management training at another shop someone found a dead puppy.

I've read the whole of this thread with interest, especially after watching the Mary Queen of Charity Shops and am shocked at finding a dead puppy. So shocked I don't know what to say, I just hope it's not normal to find such things in the donations.

I give generously to charity shops because they're on my doorstep and because I also buy from them. Although I do take bags in marked 'rag man' and the people in my local Mind store don't mind (sorry for the pun). Perhaps people need to know that they can separate it out?

daveybea

i don't know if its just me but if i see a charity shop with lots of rubbish near the doors for the bin men to collect it makes me feel dead cross cos some of the stuff ie toys suitcases aren't rubbish...surely if they hired a cheap hall/room for a couple of hours n have an old fashioned jumble sale to get rid of their so called rubbish they would raise a few more quid for the cause! i never give to shops with tons of rubbish waiting in principle
talking about over-pricing..it gets me so mad when they are asking £20 for a well used pair of shoes because they are branded (I am not talking jimmy shoo!!) esp when u can get brand new for less half of that from primark!!

Savvy_Sue

daveybea wrote: »

surely if they hired a cheap hall/room for a couple of hours n have an old fashioned jumble sale to get rid of their so called rubbish they would raise a few more quid for the cause!

Having run a few jumble sales in my time, there's always a fair bit left over after them too!

Pennylane

Old_Git wrote: »

is it acceptable to haggle prices in Charity shops

Several charity shops in my area have signs up stating that volunteers/staff are not allowed to barter/haggle.

Pennylane

remembered_nights wrote: »

I still can't forget sticking my hand into a bag of donated clothes and pulling out a pair of extremely stained knickers... from a certain time of the month... what are people thinking???

OMG - when I was a volunteer I remember finding a swimming costume just like that ........ bleeeerrrgggggggghhhhhhhhh:eek: I also unrolled a ladies dressing gown and I swear someone was butchered in it. I have never seen anything like that.

We often used to find bags of underwear and buried in amongst them would be sex toys.;) or packets of condoms etc.

Then we'd get people who'd bring in a bag and make a big point of telling you that it was all freshly laundered, good-quality clothing ....... well, the top couple of items might be & underneath would be all the old smelly socks, pilled jumpers, shapeless T-shirts and kids clothes covered in bogies!:rotfl::rotfl:

I could write a book about it, I really could.

Bogof_Babe

What gets me in charity shops is seeing the same item on the same shelf for weeks on end, and knowing it is hopelessly overpriced. In one shop there was a pair of cheap nylon socks with the original 75p label on, marked at 99p!

This is even more obvious with pictures that are hanging on display. Some of them are marked £45 or so, and they are quite ordinary and not particularly well framed, and are only mass-produced prints. If they knocked them down to £12 or £15 they just might find a buyer.

Pennylane

After reading a thread on here about a charity shop not selling items under a certain amount, this is happening our way too. One shop sells nothing under 99p and they throw SO much away now. Why can't they use a bit of commonsense and package, say 3 or 4 kids books together and sell them for a quid?

Some of the pricing is now totally daft. I've always said that they are better to get something for an item rather than binning it. I noticed a man's outdoor jacket priced at £30 & I couldn't imagine anyone paying that for it. It was not in pristine condition although it was a good label. The volunteers rolled their eyes when I expressed shock and said "don't tell us, it's our new manager". I monitored that jacket for weeks and then saw it eventually being put in the rag bag one day. The volunteer and I agreed that £10 price and it might have sold.:rolleyes:

Pennylane

Babe - our posts crossed but ... precisely!!

Bogof_Babe

Great minds!