prices in charity shops

Azari

Where do you stop, though?

In our town you can't buy a pen, pencil or ruler, you can't buy a mobile, radio or TV, there is no bookshop (other than a 'remainders' one), you can't buy even the basic tools or decorating equipment/supplies. All these were available 3 years ago.

We do have 10 charity shops, however.

MarzipanFish

Actually what frustrates me most is how the cheapy (original shop/quality) stuff isn't priced much differently from the really nice stuff. One near me sells a lot of furniture and I've noticed that they price stuff based almost entirely on what it is and barely at all on the quality. Solid wood stuff gets priced at about 5%-10% more than chipboard crap a lot of the time.

They do seem to sell everything but I think they're shortchanging themselves massively on nice things which are probably being snapped up by dealers with the time to visit several times a week (at least they've always been 'reserved' by the time I've got there even when I went twice a week so maybe I'm bitter ).

Same goes for pricing clothes too. I know they have scales of brands but they're often way off imo.

NoSatisfaction

Outpost wrote: »

Damn right! Those bloody charity shops and their volunteers trying to help sick people!

I am sure that is true of many. Just some are run as businesses and therefore unfair competition. A while back a local council sent trading standards to charity shops as they were selling new goods. At the time (don't know if its the case now) if they sold new goods then they had to pay full rates.

The problem is if charity shops push other shops out of business then all that will be left in a town centre will be charity shops, estate agents and banks.

moonrakerz

Azari wrote: »

We do have 10 charity shops, however.

............and Estate Agents.................and Antique dealers .........:rotfl:

SailorSam

moonrakerz wrote: »

............and Estate Agents.................and Antique dealers .........:rotfl:

Don't forget the chippys and betting offices.

karenb33

I was overseas for a year and they ran a Thrift Shop for charity. The stuff was donated by the local (small) community and pretty much bought by the same people!! The prices were great £1 for tops, £2 for trousers, 50p for books etc. And the turnover was amazing. There is so much stuff in charity shops you think they would want to turnover as much as possible and get the next batch in.

I do go to charity shops but I am always mindful that they were set up for a purpose. First and foremost to raise money for charity but also to help out those who struggle make ends meet and buy new clothes. Trying to sell a pair of Primark trousers for £6 is ridiculous.

I think the problem may be that your average charity shop worker may not be the most fashion savvy person and won't know what people expect to pay for things.

I watched one price up a Primark (plastic) coin purse and charge £6 for it. Crazy!

Azari

moonrakerz wrote: »

............and Estate Agents.................and Antique dealers .........

And hairdressers and art galleries/nicky-nacky-noo shops.

It seems that selling useful things is no longer profitable.

Karenp_2

I agree - charity shops should be a great way to help through all ways including being able to buy items at a good price!

pendulum

I'd expect bargain prices at a charity shop, if not I'd walk straight out again, I wouldn't pay more just because it's a charity I'm buying from, I keep purchases and donations separate. (I hear I'm pretty generous when the charity collectors come into pubs after I've had a good few).

Mayflower10cat

This topic is very apposite for me today - this afternoon I was browsing in a local charity shop (won't mention which one but it was a biggie). Spotted a familiar red/black print cotton flowery skirt that I've got myself, bought four years ago in H&M. Cost me £6.99. It was priced second hand at.... £6. I did smile slightly ruefully, I must admit. I've also spotted really good quality labels (Jaeger, Aquascutum etc) that are seriously underpriced, yet items that were cheap to begin with priced almost as much as if they were new. Bizarre!!!!