Slim Pickings in the Charity Shops

wintersunshine

My local charity shop has started to advertise asking for donations. I don't remember this happening before. Indeed, they are have always been a bit snooty and picky.

The pickings are slim these days too.

Anybody else noticed the same?

MaggieBaking

Yes, lots round our way have signs up for donations. Some charity shops are pickier (and therefore more expensive) than others.

ginnyknit

As an ex Cs manager I analyse every shop I go in and yes they are all struggling. Donations are down and poor quality, I guess people are saving stuff or selling it. When the first news came of a recession approaching many charities began planning to diversify especially in London. The charity I worked for talked of opening reading rooms with coffee shops in, dress agencies and using ex- offenders to act as unpaid assistant managers. It was around then I decided to retire due to Oh's poor health and I am so glad I did ad the pressure to make your targets will be terrible. When I handed my notice in it was getting harder and harder to achieve and I was physically and mentally exhausted. However nothing can replace the feeling I used to get of a good job done and I miss the wonderful people I met.

wintersunshine

I used to get some great stuff. New stuff - still sealed, in boxes, with labels etc. Beautiful photo frames (so many), ornaments, plant pots, brand new mugs, brand new chopping boards - now nothing!!! I look but most of it is real rubbish.

Maybe more people are e baying?

GreyQueen

I'll be having a trawl around my local c.shops in a few minutes and I have to say that, whilst I still get some nice things (most of my goods originated in the charity shop ) it's getting harder and harder to find the excellent stuff at bargainous prices.

Re E-Baying, I think there is an element of that, plus people probably taking stuff to car booters or passing it among family members/ friendship circles. I'm wearing a mate's very good quality cast-off shoes (she decided they weren't a good fit on her), not something I would normally do, but I feel relaxed at knowing where they came from and they are certainly a couple of price brackets above my normal level. Haven't bought new shoes since 2006 as am determined to use up what I have first.

Plus, of course, people in straightened circumstances, as so many of us, will be buying less and thus having less to turn out.

I really feel for the C.S managers and volunteers because the sector is under such fierce competitive pressures.

Also, as most of my own clothes are pre-owned, when I do have a turn-out they are really only fit for the rag-bag as I tend to wear favoured items to death. I only tend to c.s. clothes if I have made a major error of judgement in choosing them (probably in another c.s.) or have majorly changed size and accept that I'll never get back there again.

:mad: I was a little ticked off at that Mary Portas who does shop-makeovers and did some c.s makeovers !!!!!ing about getting cheap clothes as donations. Cheap is all many of us can afford in the first place so the idea that we'll be able to buy middling or high end clothing and turn it out virtually unworn to the charity shops is, IMO, misguided.

Gettingtherequickly

Didn't want to hear this! I volunteer with a charity and had a letter from my supervisors oh to advise that a significant birthday is coming up and inviting me to a surprise party. Presents are supposed to be something fun from a charity shop and costing no more than a set amount.

What's a person supposed to do now?!

thriftychick

I've been put off giving anything to charity shops after Mary Portas did her makeover, she made me feel that unless it was a designer item, they wouldn't be interested in it.

Charity shops are really expensive around here at the best of times and they are all advertising for stock. Most of the time it's cheaper to buy new in the supermarkets.

dorsetlady

I used to buy lots from charity shops but now I tend to get stuff off eBay. Recent bargains included a lovely Per Una coat for £6.50 including postage (a lot of charity shops I frequent would probably charge £15 for it) . I have sometimes had bad buys when things don't fit but then I donate the item to a charity shop.

shelley_crow

i stick to car boots and facebook selling groups. everyone i know who used to donate things are buying less and wasting less. This is good in principle, not so good for the cs though. It got to a point that it wasn't much cheaper to buy used book from cs than buy them new.

dreamyd

I think it depends where you are. The local CS near me have always been asking for stuff.
The only clothes I buy new are underwear, jeans (I'm on the tall and larger side) and shoes. All of my workwear is from a range of charity shops. I make a point of tracking down the CS where they are when I visit a new town. In return anything from my wardrobe which I don't want goes back to the CS, particularly Cancer Research/BHF because they are charities who have helped my family.

Bogof_Babe

It depends on the shop as well. I've had some lovely M&S t-shirts for 50p, but some places price Primark ones at £3.99.

I'm a bit shocked to learn that shops have targets to reach - given that most of the staff are volunteers it doesn't seem fair to put that sort of pressure on them.