Charity Shop Ignorance

anamenottaken

Mids_Costcutter wrote: »

One policy where a number of charity shops seem to demonstrate particular ignorance is their policy of leaving their front door open even on the coldest winter days. . . .

Why do some charity shops have this open door policy?

I thought it was to freshen up the air quality when sometimes it seems necessary!

Having the door open all the time is indeed very wasteful when it's cold outside.

Probably much cheaper, and useful, to have a light on to show that you are there.

WhiteHorse

Tippytoes wrote: »

I used to get loads of real bargains from charity shops. However, prices are getting ridiculous. My local charity shop has a bridalwear department. I've seen dresses on display in the window for £500+! Unbelievably greedy on the part of the charity shops. Because of this, I no longer donate goods - instead I sell them at bootsales or on ebay. Many charity shops seem to have shot themselves in the foot.

Unfortunately, a lot of charity shops and organisations are now run, not simply to cover costs and get money for charitable purposes, but for profit. As so often happens, the thing becomes an objective in itself.

This is why there is now only one major charity that I give to. I give to small local charities like hospices, but no others.

anamenottaken

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Unfortunately, a lot of charity shops and organisations are now run, not simply to cover costs and get money for charitable purposes, but for profit. As so often happens, the thing becomes an objective in itself.

Surely the "money for charitable purposes" is the "profit"?!

Regarding the level of prices in charity shops - I think a lot has changed since the BBC showed Mary Portas revamping some charity shops. IIRC she suggested they were selling things too cheaply and that they would do better to increase the prices to make them seem more valuable. I'm not sure whether Mary Portas had ever needed to use charity shops to supply her home or clothe herself, but rather think she did not understand what the majority of shoppers were able and willing to pay.

u1bd2005

Mids_Costcutter wrote: »

One policy where a number of charity shops seem to demonstrate particular ignorance is their policy of leaving their front door open even on the coldest winter days. This must significantly increase heating costs and makes me reluctant to support these charities. When challenged shop staff have claimed that they have to do this otherwise customers wouldn't come in. BHF even admitted in an email that this is company policy at all their shops.

I can't say that I am more likely to visit a shop when the door is open: what matters is what the shop offers. In fact for me the opposite is true: I don't like browsing for books when a freezing cold draught is coming through the door! Why do some charity shops have this open door policy? I don't believe that there is any real evidence regarding customer numbers and an open door policy. What do others think?

We actually did a bit of research in our charity shop over the period of around 2 weeks, at set times having the door open and at set times having the door closed.

We counted the number of people who came into the shop in various 1 hour periods and then compared them.

Having the door open did make a difference, but not enough of a difference to warrant having the door open on cold days. On average I think it proved around 10%-15% more customers.

Mids_Costcutter

Thanks u1bd2005, it sounds like some other charities need to do some research too? What would happen then if all shops (not just charity shops) agreed not to open their doors during cold weather?

WhiteHorse

anamenottaken wrote:

Surely the "money for charitable purposes" is the "profit"?!

Not quite. Some charities have become ends in themselves - massive bureaucracies with highly paid 'executives'.

In those sorts of organisations most of the money raised is simply used to make the empire bigger.

anamenottaken

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Not quite. Some charities have become ends in themselves - massive bureaucracies with highly paid 'executives'.

In those sorts of organisations most of the money raised is simply used to make the empire bigger.

In that case, the executives' pay is an expense which is deducted before calculating the excess of income over expenditure which is the amount used for the precise charitable purposes.

I'm afraid you can't use "profit" to describe a cost.

Oldernotwiser

I use different charity shops depending on whether I'm donating or buying. If I'm donating good stuff I hate to see it selling at knock down prices.

WhiteHorse

anamenottaken wrote:

I'm afraid you can't use "profit" to describe a cost.

Accepted. The point remains however ... these 'costs' consume more and more of the income.

kizdeb

Hi I work in a charity shop and we always thank people for the donations not only that but we also help offer to carry the bags and get stuff out the car. We also never leave the door open and we are rigourous (well in our store anyway about what we sell. I won't put out tat and expect people to pay good money for it. Unfortunately charities are run as a business now and as such they are given budgets to meet and also given a pricing structure which to me can be a little unrealistic depending on the area you live in.
Our shop has only two paid employees and the rest are made up of volunteers, who mostly go out of their way to help customers and like all shops we also have to be vigilant about people shop-lifting (yes some people,will even stoop as low to steal from a charity shop) which also hikes prices up.