What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

Pollycat

After swearing not to buy any more coats, I bought a Per Una dark brown corduroy trench coat that looks like it hasn't been worn, with a lovely pinky patterned lining.

It fits perfectly and is quite heavy so should be warm.

The clincher was that it was washable.

Had been £10 in our local hospice shop but reduced to £5.

Just have to find room for it in my wardrobe now.

hilstep2000

Set of three tea, coffee , suger canisters in wood to match my bread bin. £2.50!

silvasava

Its really interesting to read of all the lovely bargains that are out there if you are prepared to spend a little time & look. Kitchkitty I'm the same as you - my wardrobe is organised by colour & I like the CS shops that do the same as I can then ignore anything not in my range - but I do prefer it when they also put things in sizes too. I also used to keep an eye out for DMiL who was a plus size & the local Hospice shop has a separate rail too so I didn't have to trawl through everything.
Not a CS bargain - I went into my local Mr M's for some flowers for a close friend's birthday & they had a beautiful huge bouquet of white flowers that looked perfectly fresh reduced to half price - £10.00. She was delighted & so was I

Happy Hunting everyone!

katsu

Got a VGC Next coat for £8. Not an amazing price for a CS but I had a desperate need for a warm jacket for wearing to work so very pleased with it.

tinamoo

I have been reading this thread with envy. I never get any bargains really. I trawlled the CS yesterday hoping to find a bargain I could post and tell you about.

I bought a a New Look top in the first charity shop I went in. It was £3 but I only had a £10 note. The volunteer in there was struggling with the till and I was there ages. After trying for a few minutes she asked if I had the £3. I said no but I have got £2. For one minute I thought I was going to get a discount but she said no, it is £3. Cue more waiting. Just as I was going to say I would leave it she managed to get the till open.

In the second shop the volunteer just kept staring at my children. I could not get out of there quick enough.

In the third was a very miserable volunteer. I spotted some perfume in the cabinet near the till and got excited because I have started collecting perfume. The perfume was SJP Lovely. Then I saw the price £15, I can buy it new for £20 . I found some leggings for my daughter which were £1.49. I took them to the miserable woman. I handed over two pound coins. She gave me one penny change. I asked where the other 50p was and she said she thought it was £1.99. She asked to see the price label. It was her mistake but I felt like I was being accused of trying it on. She did apologise and give me the 50p. I was then waiting for my daughter to come out of the changing room. It felt a bit awkward and so I tried to make small talk but she bit my head off. I could not wait to get out of there.

So, no real bargains for me. There is a couple in the City Centre that I never normally bother going to, so I may give them a try in the week. I hope that I have a bit more luck.

TDMum

Managed to get my 6 yr old daughter a bike in great condition for £4.99!!! So excited for her to come home and see it

hobbitfancier

tinamoo wrote: »

I have been reading this thread with envy. I never get any bargains really. I trawlled the CS yesterday hoping to find a bargain I could post and tell you about.

I bought a a New Look top in the first charity shop I went in. It was £3 but I only had a £10 note. The volunteer in there was struggling with the till and I was there ages. After trying for a few minutes she asked if I had the £3. I said no but I have got £2. For one minute I thought I was going to get a discount but she said no, it is £3. Cue more waiting. Just as I was going to say I would leave it she managed to get the till open.

In the second shop the volunteer just kept staring at my children. I could not get out of there quick enough.

In the third was a very miserable volunteer. I spotted some perfume in the cabinet near the till and got excited because I have started collecting perfume. The perfume was SJP Lovely. Then I saw the price £15, I can buy it new for £20 . I found some leggings for my daughter which were £1.49. I took them to the miserable woman. I handed over two pound coins. She gave me one penny change. I asked where the other 50p was and she said she thought it was £1.99. She asked to see the price label. It was her mistake but I felt like I was being accused of trying it on. She did apologise and give me the 50p. I was then waiting for my daughter to come out of the changing room. It felt a bit awkward and so I tried to make small talk but she bit my head off. I could not wait to get out of there.

So, no real bargains for me. There is a couple in the City Centre that I never normally bother going to, so I may give them a try in the week. I hope that I have a bit more luck.

Sounds miserable! I've met my fair share of abrupt and rude charity shop staff. You volunteered to offer customer service and that shouldn't slip in my opinion. There's a couple of CS in my town I'm not in a hurry to go into due to rude staff (and shocking prices but that's another story)

kitschkitty

Nothing in the 5 I visited today, was disappointed as I saw a fab Next Doctor Who, Daleks hoodie for £2.50 that would have been perfect for my little nephew, but there was a pale black mark on the hood & I didn't want to risk it not washing out.

Bogof_Babe

hobbitfancier wrote: »

Sounds miserable! I've met my fair share of abrupt and rude charity shop staff. You volunteered to offer customer service and that shouldn't slip in my opinion. There's a couple of CS in my town I'm not in a hurry to go into due to rude staff (and shocking prices but that's another story)

That's so true . You'd think volunteers would be pleasant to the customers, otherwise why bother being there? In a 'proper' shop, I suppose some staff might be offhand or miserable because they have to be there as they need the money, but if you don't like volunteering then simply don't do it.

sairy2010

This is for Sweaty Betty who is going to Cambridge. Sorry I havent replied before but my BB was playing up.
I used to live in Cambridge (I was born and brought up there).
You need Burleigh Street for the charity shops. Go to the Grafton Centre (all the park and rides go there) and it runs along side the shopping centre. There is a big Primark there also so if you need help ask for that. You can park in the multi storey but parking is very expensive in Cambridge.
Burleigh St is a continuation of Fitroy St which is the front of the Grafton entre.
There are quite a lot of charity shops along there. Oxfam, Red Cross, Cancer Research, Mind, Scope and possibly another one. Prices are high in Cambridge but usually the stock is very good.
Hope you enjoy it.