What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

Uniscots97

kitschkitty wrote: »

Our local Marie Curie shop is useless, their stock isn't very good, and a tad expensive (though not as bad as Oxfam) it's one of the very few charity shops me & my mum never find anything to buy in!

For new jewellery our local British Heart foundation shop is fairly good, but 2nd hand is normally rubbish (like the 1 Primark Alice band for 99p I saw when they were sold new in Primark 2 for 99p)!

Thats a shame, sorry to hear that. There's 3 I go to (1 I predominately volunteer in), only 1 out of the 3 is of a lesser standard than the others and that I think has been due to them not having a regular manager. MC usually have a very high standard and get new stock gifted from large stores as well. I don't know where you are but you could send an email to MC and they'll look at the pricing. MC try to be realistic but they do try to take into account what the item cost new (where they do know), sometimes this isn't always possible if its a brand the volunteers don't recognise.

I served a lady once who complained about the price on big brand orthapaedic shoes, full leather, cushion sole etc and we had a range of sizes (given to MC by a local shop as new styles were coming out), their rrp had been £90, and the shop where I volunteer had them priced for £10. She didn't believe me until I showed her the box they came in and still she hummed and hawed about it, behind her were 2 eldery ladies who politely asked if she wanted them. She said 'I don't think so', they bought 2 pairs each in their own size and 2 pairs for a friend. The other lady asked them what was so special about them, once the ladies explained what the shoes were the original lady was miffed she'd missed out.

wondercollie

I love Arcadia handbags. Especially the patent leather ones. They are comparable in quality to LV Vernis bags. Great find.

kitschkitty

unixgirluk wrote: »

Thats a shame, sorry to hear that. There's 3 I go to (1 I predominately volunteer in), only 1 out of the 3 is of a lesser standard than the others and that I think has been due to them not having a regular manager. MC usually have a very high standard and get new stock gifted from large stores as well. I don't know where you are but you could send an email to MC and they'll look at the pricing. MC try to be realistic but they do try to take into account what the item cost new (where they do know), sometimes this isn't always possible if its a brand the volunteers don't recognise.

I served a lady once who complained about the price on big brand orthapaedic shoes, full leather, cushion sole etc and we had a range of sizes (given to MC by a local shop as new styles were coming out), their rrp had been £90, and the shop where I volunteer had them priced for £10. She didn't believe me until I showed her the box they came in and still she hummed and hawed about it, behind her were 2 eldery ladies who politely asked if she wanted them. She said 'I don't think so', they bought 2 pairs each in their own size and 2 pairs for a friend. The other lady asked them what was so special about them, once the ladies explained what the shoes were the original lady was miffed she'd missed out.

I wouldn't say they are overpriced (I would say Oxfam consistently are though), but the donations they receive don't tend to be very exciting/fashionable/inspiring, and there are lots of charity shops locally that attract better donations. I've never seen donated stock in our local branch. I know the 2 Barnardos branches here get a lot of donated stock though.

I would point out that certain charities are more popular hence have better stock though. I think people choose where to donate based on 3 main factors either it's a charity they support, they think what they are donating is more likely to get sold by (and make money for) a busy/popular charity shop, or it's the nearest/one that left a bag i.e. most convenient.

empressemma

Very pleased with my recent purchases...
'the help' book 50p
Brand new new look shoes £2
Zara top £2
Another Zara top £3
And most excitingly... A boden skirt for £3!

Happy bunny!

dogcat_2

A lovely floatly long dress with separate under dress....Debenhams label £4.00.

princessfufu

My local hospice CS has brand new brollies for £1. Worth checking if your old one has been overused recently!!!

Also got a BBC set of 4 CDs with books for learning french for £1 - they look brand new.

foreign_correspondent

wondercollie wrote: »

I love Arcadia handbags. Especially the patent leather ones. They are comparable in quality to LV Vernis bags. Great find.

Thanks, I'm very pleased with it!

I wore it the other day with an indigo, calf length, belted 50's style dress - £5 in a sale!
Teal shoes (Clarks Bombay Lights - I love these shoes, I now own 3 pairs in teal, butgundy and black patent!) from a charity shop, unworn, £7
- and a blue polka dot scarf (about 20p from a jumble sale)

...and loads of people said how nice I looked, and I felt good in it too...:o

I reckon the whole outfit, inc. italian leather handbag cost less than £20 quid. I LOVE charity shopping!

chika

I've just come back from the charity shops in a little town I'm visiting. Losing weight at the moment so old clothes are too big and looking a bit grim.

Bought three lovely tunic tops for work, Evans, Ann Harvey & Marina Rinaldi still with the £80 price tag attached for just £3.50 each. A really nice sheer butterfly print shirt for £4.50 and a Next suit for £5.00. I'm plus sized and bigger clothes are hard to find so I was pleased.

My best bargain today was a massive vintage, snuggly mens merino and cashmere cable knit Wolsey jumper which I'm going to wear at the festival I'm going to next week. Can't wait!

debbiedeejay

Well not my bargain personally but my Dad picked up a bone china coffee pot with Indian tree design on it for £2.29 from our local RSPCA shop,matches his set perfectly! - it's the first time I have ever known him actually buy from a CS shop, my late Mum was a big Jumble sale queen and CS shopper(me too,have to kerb it or else I would have a hoarding problem!) so he always left it to her - never too late to start CS shopping i say, even if he is 85!

MoaningMyrtle

A White Stuff linen cardigan for £4.50. Note to self, must stop buying cardigans.