What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

Pollycat

I posted this on 1/6/2015:

Pollycat wrote: »

M&S Autograph black leather shoe boots £4.50. Very high with a half-inch platform. Will be a bit of a challenge to walk in them but if all else fails, OH can carry me. :rotfl:
Been looking for a pair like this for ages.

Today I saw a pair of M&S Autograph beige/tan snakskin print shoe boots, very high with a platform, in our local Barnados shop for £5.99. A bit like buses, you wait for ages then 2 come along at once. :rotfl:
I know I really, really shouldn't have bought them, I did walk out of the shop but they kept calling me.

And a TU sleeveless jersey dress just below the knee, turquoise, pink, green, yellow tropical print with hummingbirds on a cream background - perfect for my upcoming Greece holiday. £3.99 also from Barnados.
So - £10 note given and 2p change in the charity box.

Pollycat

TudorRose wrote: »

The tag says size 12. I'm a 10/12 on the bottom half but a 16 on top. Thought it looked bigger than a 12 on the top and it is. It fits me perfectly. Probably why it ended up in a charity shop.

I agree with this.
I never take notice of sizes, either in charity shops or in 'proper' shops on the rare occasions I think about buying something new.

I look at sizes 10 - 16 and if it looks like it might fit, I try it on.

And here's a bit of a gripe:
why are some charity shops not providing changing rooms anymore?

My friend & I went into a number of charity shops on Saturday and 2 didn't have a changing room.
It's OK saying you can take stuff back but not everybody wants to be bothered doing that.

Susan1962

Picked up half a dozen items for me and the other half including a brand new Nike winter hoodie for him and a great pair of jeans for me. All 99p each! Also found a rolling drawer set for £3.99. It's now holding our shoes neatly hidden away instead of falling off the useless shoe rack!

bossymoo

MrsPee wrote: »

Ooh where abouts in West Yorkshire is it? I'm in Wakefield and wondered if it was nearby as I'd love to have a nosey.

There is one at Wheatfields in Headingley- think it's on Tuesday's and Fridays

Bogof_Babe

Pollycat wrote: »

I agree with this.
I never take notice of sizes, either in charity shops or in 'proper' shops on the rare occasions I think about buying something new.

I look at sizes 10 - 16 and if it looks like it might fit, I try it on.

And here's a bit of a gripe:
why are some charity shops not providing changing rooms anymore?

My friend & I went into a number of charity shops on Saturday and 2 didn't have a changing room.
It's OK saying you can take stuff back but not everybody wants to be bothered doing that.

I've been told by c/shop volunteers that it's because of shoplifting. What a sad indictment on modern day morality that people will nick from a charity shop rather than pay a couple of quid. :mad:

esbm

I'm never that sure what I should be willing to pay in CS anymore. I live in an expensive town so often some nice labels to be found- yesterday I bought a pretty unused Hobbs Jersey top £5 and a Monsoon shirt £4.50.... Thoughts?

kboss2010

esbm wrote: »

I'm never that sure what I should be willing to pay in CS anymore. I live in an expensive town so often some nice labels to be found- yesterday I bought a pretty unused Hobbs Jersey top £5 and a Monsoon shirt £4.50.... Thoughts?

I think it depends entirely on the item, the brand, the condition and the saving.

Generally speaking I won't spend more than £5 on anything in a charity shop and I'll only buy items if they look new or nearly new.

Exceptions to this included a Monsoon ball gown for £8.50, a NWT pair of Jack Wills tweed shorts for £8 (tag said £65!!!!), a Laura Ashley jumper for £6 and a pair of loakes knee-high leather boots for £6 (RRP £50).

I won't buy primark, new look, h&m, peacocks etc. from charity shops because they're cheap enough new and the stuff doesn't last.

Pollycat

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

I've been told by c/shop volunteers that it's because of shoplifting. What a sad indictment on modern day morality that people will nick from a charity shop rather than pay a couple of quid. :mad:

How shocking!
It hadn't occured to me that that could be the reason. :eek:

I always ask if I can go into a changing room and tell them how many items I've got.

esbm wrote: »

I'm never that sure what I should be willing to pay in CS anymore. I live in an expensive town so often some nice labels to be found- yesterday I bought a pretty unused Hobbs Jersey top £5 and a Monsoon shirt £4.50.... Thoughts?

If they were in good condition, I think that's a fair price to pay.
I agree with kboss2010, I only buy something that seems almost new. And I make an estimate of how much it was likely to cost originally to decide how much of a bargain it is.
I check the armpits inside the garment, check for 'bobbling' down the front/side, always look at the care label - if it's faded, the item goes back on the rail because it's been washed a lot. If you find the circular inspection sticker still on the care label, it means it hasn't been washed or not much.

I do like nice makes and avoid Primark - they are usually over-priced in charity shops anyway.
Sometimes, if something from a 'cheaper' retailer really catches my eye - like the TU dress in my post above - and I know it will go really well with my other items, I'll buy it.

mrssnowy_2

I had an hour to kill in a nearby town when I was having the car serviced yesterday. I was having a mooch through one of the CS(there are now 6),just killing time and I have been following the KonMarie post which makes you very thoughtful and selective.Anyway result,lovely long red lined mac-£2 plus £1 donation-never heard of the make-Ensign collection,it could be a catalogue,very nice quality and good fit.In the next shop,2 pairs M&S trousers,they were expensive(!) £2.50 each,1 pair is a bit snug but black winter weight and will fit when I have lost my half stone comfort-eating-weight-gain.
mrss

MadelinesMum

Hi all, not a cs but the school fete - a Kipling monkey named Ann, an Animal bag and a woollen scarf kit complete with loom. Lady wanted £1.20 but I gave her £2.

Also gave a £5 donation to the owl sanctuary ( they had 3 large owls and two babies on display). Not very money saving, but I can never resist donating to the owls.