What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

Pollycat

Living_proof wrote: »

Black ankle boots extra wide, just what I needed, new with tags £4. They are still being sold through Shoe Tailor at £31.50. Five assorted tops including Joules, Ann Harvey, etc. all £1 each. Boxes of soap, normally retail at £10-£15 - 50p each. I will be fragrant for months!

I put fragrant soaps in my knicker drawer.

Primrose wrote: »

Do you ever wonder about the previous history of items you buy from charity shops?
On one occasion ages ago I bought a lovely jacques Vert suit for a bargain price and found the owner had left a note in the pocket along the lines of "Im very sad to let this go but alas I can no longer squeeze into it. I hope you enjoy wearing it as much as I've done". The charity shop had obviously left the note in there and whenever I wore that suit I thought of the anonymous lady who had donated it.

I do if it's an expensive item.

I also get a warm glow when I see any of my donated items on sale.

Primrose

I visit my local charity shops fairly regularly and have occasionally wondered why I've never seen some of the nicer items I've donated on sale. Either they've been sold quickly, or .......dare I ask this question..... do the volunteers serving in the shop get first offer on any donated items?

I ask this, not because I mind if volunteers get first offers, but I would be very upset if they weren't paying the same price for them that they would be pricing them up for members of the general public.


Can anybody who's ever volunteered in a charity shop share what the policy is on this?

Sayschezza

We don't necessarily get first dibs but we are around more to notice things first if that makes any sense. And yes I always pay the going rate which is never priced by me if I know I am likely to be interested in buying.

Floss

I've seen some things I have donated in different branches, where they may sell better, so I know that 2 of the charities I support share out their donations to other shops.

Pollycat

Floss wrote: »

I've seen some things I have donated in different branches, where they may sell better, so I know that 2 of the charities I support share out their donations to other shops.

Our Hospice shop does that, they have one in the main town and 2 in outlying villages.

silvasava

Popped into my local hospice shop and found a phase eight dress that fits me perfectly for £12. Bit more than I'd usually pay but I've acouple of family functions in July and needed another 'smart' dress. I've looked on the website and a similar style is £110!!!

Pollycat

silvasaver
Phase Eight is a good make, I find their sizes tend to come up on the small side.

A bit off-topic - Jaeger has just gone into administration.

silvasava

Polly - you are right - my dress is a 14 and I usually wear a 12 unless the fabric is stretchy as I don't like clothes clinging!
Very pleased as I saw a dress in the week that I liked but it was £40 and not lined so I was wavering!!!

I thought Jaeger were doing well? Just goes to show - their clothes are expensive though so maybe more people are doing the same as us.

Pollycat

BBC News on Jaeger:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39557933

Miró

Been thinking for some time that Jaegar were in trouble - TkMaxx have had loads of Jaegar clothes for the last year or so at silly prices.

Yesterday's find.... a pair of B/N dark blue, Union Blues, slim fit jeans on the half price rail - £2. Do I need them...no! Could I resist...no!

And the clear out continues with six black bin bags having winged their way to the charity shops. :j Still got more to do tho.