What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

sniffles

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!

Our local Barnados has a basket of zips at £1.25 each. In my area it is the last shop to venture into. The manager is a man, and his idea of what is fashionable is not mine or most of the women in the area. I believe it was downgraded, but I expect the 99p sale to start soon. Nothing sells, baby toys at £3.99 never sell when they are going for 1.99 across the road.

Buttons and zips should be 5p and 25p respectively.

soon2bjobless

Sally arm trip - got the following

Full length lightweight coat - £2.25
2 cotton pillowcases - 50p
Single duvet - £1.50
2 x double duvet covers - £3.50
Boots for me - £2
Unworn slippers for me - £1
5 dinner plates at 20P each and 5 matching bowl at 10p each
Football boots for DGS - £1
Peppa Pig DVD for DGG - £1
4 soup spoons - 5p each

Pollycat

Living_proof wrote: »

It wouldn't do for all charity shops to have the same pricing policy. We would become complacent and lose that terrific feeling of optimism as we entered a new shop. There's a bargain in every one of them and it's just a case of finding it..... Which reminds me I am getting withdrawal symptoms and haven't ventured out for about a week....

Maybe it wouldn't do for all charity shops to have the same pricing policy but surely there should be a sensible pricing policy?

Especially when you have 5 other charity shops within a 5 minutes walk that you are competing with.

I've been in enough Barnados shops in other towns & villages to know that this particular shop is well-overpriced compared to them, so I'm not just comparing them to other charity shops.

I talk to lots of people in the various charity shops and everyone has the same opinion.

I don't know if Barnados has pricing guidelines or if the manager has total autonomy to decide how to price.

There ain't any bargains in that shop, I'll tell you.

parkgirl

Think somebody who loves "nice" label cardigans has been having a clearout. Recently, I got a Laura Ashley one, two Phase Eight and then yesterday I got another two and a tank top from names I didn't recognise but they are really nice quality. There were a couple of Hobbs cardis and a Fenn Wright and Manson one too but they were bobbly so I left them. All about the £3/£3.50 mark. And, in the local town, I got a Monsoon dress for £8 - it's lovely and I'm going to a wedding this weekend (am feeling really fat at the mo so it's a bigger size). Yikes! Better do something about that!!!!

kboss2010

I bought my mum a beautiful monsoon dress with matching wrap for £8 from a Marie Curie charity shop a few years ago. It's amazing how many people donate barely worn evening wear to the CS!

paulineb_2

I actually love having a 99p shop in my town. I understand what people mean about finding a bargain, I used to volunteer for the red cross and I got staff discount as well, but Im skint most of the time and its been great to get a few bits and pieces that cheaply.

Bogof_Babe

kboss2010 wrote: »

I bought my mum a beautiful monsoon dress with matching wrap for £8 from a Marie Curie charity shop a few years ago. It's amazing how many people donate barely worn evening wear to the CS!

I don't find that surprising, as most people generally socialise in the same circle, and wouldn't want to be seen wearing the same dress more than once.

I have bought c/shop posh frocks, worn them once, washed and re-donated.

madelaine

Got a lovely knitted style dress papaya label, looks brand new, £4.95 from British heart foundation, will look lovely with thick tights and my biker leather boots.

Beenie

kboss2010 wrote: »

I bought my mum a beautiful monsoon dress with matching wrap for £8 from a Marie Curie charity shop a few years ago. It's amazing how many people donate barely worn evening wear to the CS!

kboss, there may be a reason for that, and not just extravagance.

I have had cancer twice. After the first one, I thought that my 'old' life was over and that I needed a clear out. I wasn't the same shape afterwards anyway (chemo does that to you). I felt doubly so after the second experience. Didn't want to socialise much with hair loss and fatigue, so out went my lightly worn, good quality Phase Eight, Monsoon, Principles, Laura Ashley clothes and bags. I haven't missed them at all. I'm more of a casual gal now

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Missed my train by 30 seconds last night grrrrrr......ended up wandering into the charity shop nearest the station and buying some Next pinstripes for £4.80 and a lovely Whistles jumper with pretty sleeve buttons for a fiver (these are London CS prices). In the winter sales I got some other Next work trousers for £2- that's about as cheap as it gets in SW19! Also got a really nice subtly-patterned cream lampshade for £2- been looking for one for ages, but didn't like anything I'd seen in John Lewis/Debenhams.

I find shopping in "normal" clothes shops a bit boring now; bagging a CS bargain is far more satisfying.