Charity shops

jpscloud

Spendaholic_Chick wrote: »

I fill every single one that comes through my door....they make excellent bin liners :rotfl:

I use mine for the recycling!

They have been coming through the door thick and fast - I honestly had to wonder who on earth would have enough stuff to fill them all with donations anyway!

hoo

Really starting to love charity shops for years we have donated stuff but never shopped in them until a couple of days ago we decided to go to a nearby town and go charity shop shopping. I got a lovely grey fluffy cape style cardi with lovely chunky button detail still with tags for £6. My oh got 3 next shirts all in fab condition for about £4 each and one jeff banks shirt for £4.50. Today we popped into another couple of shops and my oh got another next one for £4 and a mantaray one for £3.59. So that was 6 really good shirts for about £24. :j

Bargain !!

lucy*locket

prepareathome wrote: »

Don't think I have ever posted to this thread before but had to share my charity shop bargain today - a Gap coat, its duffle coat style which I love, in heavy white cotton with quilted lining and has fixed hood, has zip and buttons to do up, two big pockets on front that close with poppers and one big one inside again with poppers, cuffs also can be opened or closed with poppers. It was slightly dirty, and priced at £12 and I pointed out how it needed a wash and manager had a look and decided to let me have it for £5. I had been thinking as its cream that even if I couldn't wash out the marks I could dye it, but as it turned out after a 40c wash as label stated every mark came out, tumble dryed it and took it out straight away and it looks brand new. Its big enough to wear a few layers underneath if its really cold but not to big, I always have a look in the charity shops and do pick up odd bargains but none like this. I am over the moon a brand new coat for the winter for £5 comfy, not to young, I am 55 but even my granddaughter says it looks good on me ( she is 12 and soon tells me if I look like mutton dressed as lamb) so one happy shopper today as needed a new coat but couldn't really afford the expense so thought I would be wearing my still serviceable but worn one again this winter, the fact that it was in my size 18 makes me feel it was waiting for me, as you can tell still buzzing over it.

I love it when you pick up a real bargain from the charity shops, and completely understand that buzz it gives you. Last week I bought a Coast little black dress, very Audrey Hepburn in style and holds my size 18 figure in place! It was £8, looks like new, and is perfect for my work Christmas do in December. Now I can splash out on some new heels and a bit of bling to give the outfit a festive look. Buying this dress gave me far more pleasure than if I'd paid a lot of money for a new one. Yay for charity shops!

TudorRose

I am finding that prices have gone up a lot recently in charity shops around where I live & the quality of many of the items has come down.
High prices for stuff that didn't command a very high price when new & lots of items that are bobbly etc & personally I would put in the rag bin.

Having said that I bought a fantastic coat a few weeks ago which I would class as one of my favourite buys from a CS shop ever.
It is in A line style in black & white dogtooth check with very stylish black buttons. It fits nicely with enough room underneath for a jumper in colder weather. Was £11.99 but it is like new & came from a town where they seem to still get good quality stuff donated.

I still keep looking as you do find some gems still & a huge amount of my wardrobe has come from CS shops over the years.

lucy*locket

TudorRose wrote: »

I am finding that prices have gone up a lot recently in charity shops around where I live & the quality of many of the items has come down.
High prices for stuff that didn't command a very high price when new & lots of items that are bobbly etc & personally I would put in the rag bin.

Having said that I bought a fantastic coat a few weeks ago which I would class as one of my favourite buys from a CS shop ever.
It is in A line style in black & white dogtooth check with very stylish black buttons. It fits nicely with enough room underneath for a jumper in colder weather. Was £11.99 but it is like new & came from a town where they seem to still get good quality stuff donated.

I still keep looking as you do find some gems still & a huge amount of my wardrobe has come from CS shops over the years.

Yes you do have to sort through a lot of low quality clothing but isn't it great when you find that one fantastic item, and even better, it's your size!

TudorRose

I agree lucy*locket. It's worth sorting through all the rubbish to get the really decent stuff.

Over the years I've donated nice stuff myself as my weight has gone up & down like a yo yo so it's great when you find a good bargain. I can see my new to me coat being my wardrobe for a good few years. Have had some nice comments from other people about it as well.

katieclampet

I donated quite a bit of stuff recently, moved to a smaller house, and the lady at the cs said that donations were really down. I think people are selling stuff themslves, to make a bit of cash, or are hanging on to stuff, rather than get rid of it.

katie

meritaten

my local charity shops
Cancer Research - have great nearly new paperback books - but charge a hefty £1.50 minimum - the clothes are a bit hit and miss - have got some great never worn M&S stuff for a quarter of the new price.

Barnados - OH dear - I rarely find ANYTHING I want to buy in there these days. they used to be great - but so much of the shop is given over to their 'new' stuff (which is vastly overpriced).

Ty Hafan - I dont shop there

St Davids foundation - brilliant shop! books a bit overpriced but still acceptable and they do furniture (bit pricey but its good stuff). and quirky bits and bobs!

St Annes - paperbacks are all 50p! I buy loads of them! 10 yesterday and a few kids games too! they price low and they shift the stock! the shop is really popular as there are are some REAL bargains to be had!

tiff

I just wanted to talk about my local Mind shop, I just dont get their pricing at all. Childrens items seem to £1 or cheaper. I got my 11 y/o DD a pair of navy linen trousers from M&S Autograph and they look like they've never been worn. All their kids stuff is bogof at the moment yet in the same shop they have used mens shirts with no particular special brand, for £12 and one I found was £20. Who in their right mind is going to pay that price for a used shirt? And sometimes it doesnt get spotted that there is a rip or hole or bad stain, so to pay that price is shocking.

Hobsons_Choice

Meritaten: I wish we had a St. Annes around here. I think all the chazzers ought to do this, they'd clear their books quicker and attract new customers for the rest of the stuff. Or...maybe they could give you a discount on books providing you also donated some?