What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

welsh_mummy

Got a brand new wasgij puzzle for £2 today, will keep it back for a present for the in laws for either their birthday or Xmas. Also got a horrible history book for my DS for 30p x

Predaleko1984

One of the most recent Mandasue Heller books "The Driver" a quid from Weston HospiceCare
My partner picked up a double bed sheet for £1,25 and two cushions for 69p each at an independent one called Animals Asia which is next door to out flat the other day!

sniffles

kboss2010 wrote: »

I'm not an uncharitable person but I buy from charity shops out of necessity rather than choice. Also, most large charities are money-making machines and how much of their profit actually goes towards the cause directly? The CEOs are usually earning pretty great sums, no charity is completely altruistic.

If a person buys from a charity shop and sells on then I would assume it is because they need the money to live, it's not exactly an easy way to make a regular income. The charity is getting the price on the tag and someone else in need is benefitting too. It also stops things from going to landfill.

In my eyes, it's a win/win/win, but I appreciate that some would say that those who can't afford to buy items at full price are being disadvantaged.

I agreed until you said that "those who can't afford at full price are being disadvantaged".

How are they? I have always bought from charity shops when I could have afforded to shop in Karen millen, Hobbs etc. My main going out black dress came from a charity shop, but that was in the days of charity shop hush hush!

Charity shops set their own prices, as gumboot and esplay do, and we decide what to pay.

Personally I have never sold anything I have bought, although I have sold some things I have inherited and don't want.

I do get annoyed on this thread when people are encouraged to say what their bargain of the week is, only to find that others question the bargain.

Ches

I don't think it really matters if people sell on their CS bargains. I work (volunteer) for a local charity (I do pay the same as everyone else) and although we are careful and sell on-line anything we think will make really good money, we do miss some things and TBH we don't have either the staff or the time to sell everything with a label in this way as its not just the listing its the packaging and posting it all as well. There is only so much volunteers will do and carrying lots of parcels to the PO is probably not one of them. I also think its the bargains that bring people back. If we sold all the good stuff on-line we would have a shop full of stuff nobody wants. As long as the CS gets the price they want its a win win for everyone.

floss2

sniffles wrote: »

As your post appeared after mine I wondered if you thought I might be this sort of person. I am not, and have been collecting art deco for over 30 years. This jug is the very best I have ever acquired...

No it wasn't aimed at anyone in particular.

kboss2010 wrote: »

... Also, most large charities are money-making machines and how much of their profit actually goes towards the cause directly? The CEOs are usually earning pretty great sums, no charity is completely altruistic....

TBH, a CEO of an organisation of the size of some third sector organisations would probably be earning comparable salary packages to non third sector company CEOs. CEO is a CEO, whether it is of Oxfam or M&S, PDSA or Tesco. Also, business rates are crippling for ANY company, so prices may need to be higher to cover those overheads.

sniffles wrote: »

....I do get annoyed on this thread when people are encouraged to say what their bargain of the week is, only to find that others question the bargain.

Hear hear - if the buyer is content that it is a bargain for their area, surely thats what matters. We don't all have the 99p Barnardos or good hospice shops (why is it that they seem to have really good stuff? Maybe donators feel happier going local?) but then again, we don't all have "wealthy" areas locally - I know I certainly don't, so I tend to pick up better quality items away from home.

Pollycat

sniffles wrote: »

I do get annoyed on this thread when people are encouraged to say what their bargain of the week is, only to find that others question the bargain.

I have to say that I haven't seen any 'questioning' of people's bargains on this thread.

It seems to be a feel-good 'Oh, well done, lucky you' type of thread.
Or maybe I've just missed the odd post that you're talking about.

Chris25

I forgot that i also managed to get 2 large rectangular cushions covered in pink velour & trimmed with lime green bobbles - £1.50 each. i'm sure I've seen them somewhere on the high street, not sure where. I don't think they were that expensive to start with as the cover is stitched on so i can't take it off to wash but i love them.

carlamarie_2

I don't have any bargains to report, but on the subject of charity shops overcharging......
I have been after a lot of buttons for my crafting. A lot of people advised trying charity shops as apparently they take the spare ones out of clothes and sell them in bulk, really cheap.
I tried four in my city the other day, 3 looked at me like I was mad when I asked for buttons!
The fourth (cancer research) produced a big jar full, at a guess about 300 in there, mainly plain white. I asked how much as they went to ask someone in the back.
They came back and said 25p each. To buy the lot it would have cost £75 (if my calculations are right!) I thanked the and went on my way. A stall on the market was selling them new for 10p each!

I would guess that jar would continue to have more buttons added, and doubt very much that anyone would buy them at that price, especially if you wanted a lot!

Pollycat

carlamarie wrote: »

I don't have any bargains to report, but on the subject of charity shops overcharging......
I have been after a lot of buttons for my crafting. A lot of people advised trying charity shops as apparently they take the spare ones out of clothes and sell them in bulk, really cheap.
I tried four in my city the other day, 3 looked at me like I was mad when I asked for buttons!
The fourth (cancer research) produced a big jar full, at a guess about 300 in there, mainly plain white. I asked how much as they went to ask someone in the back.
They came back and said 25p each. To buy the lot it would have cost £75 (if my calculations are right!) I thanked the and went on my way. A stall on the market was selling them new for 10p each!

I would guess that jar would continue to have more buttons added, and doubt very much that anyone would buy them at that price, especially if you wanted a lot!

Carlamarie
Do you ever look at garments to see if they have buttons you could use?

I've seen some items for 99p/£1.00 in charity shops and the buttons have been worth much more than that.

I think if I'd been offered single buttons for 25p each I'd have raised my eyebrows, although we do have a lovely haberdashery in our town and they have some wonderful buttons but they can be pricey.

I have to admit that I've never heard of charity shops cutting spare buttons off clothes.
Most of the stuff I've bought seem to still have the sdpare button on the washing label.

Chris25

carlamarie wrote: »

I don't have any bargains to report, but on the subject of charity shops overcharging......
I have been after a lot of buttons for my crafting. A lot of people advised trying charity shops as apparently they take the spare ones out of clothes and sell them in bulk, really cheap.
I tried four in my city the other day, 3 looked at me like I was mad when I asked for buttons!
The fourth (cancer research) produced a big jar full, at a guess about 300 in there, mainly plain white. I asked how much as they went to ask someone in the back.
They came back and said 25p each. To buy the lot it would have cost £75 (if my calculations are right!) I thanked the and went on my way. A stall on the market was selling them new for 10p each!

I would guess that jar would continue to have more buttons added, and doubt very much that anyone would buy them at that price, especially if you wanted a lot!

there's a CS near me that I always pop to if I need buttons, as they sell them for about 25p for 4.

When I needed absolutely loads for a project, I went to several jumble sales over a few weekends & bought clothes that had interesting or had lots of buttons on.

I also found that when I was looking for particular ones, some shops were willing to take my number in case any items came in with that type of button.


I also managed to get some from Freecycle.