What is your charity shop bargain of the week?

VfM4meplse

Today I picked up another 4 books from chazzers for £1 each. They weren't huge bargains as such, but they were also books that I knew I wasn't going to find on the shelves again in a hurry.

(Topics covered: Che Guevara's motorcycle diaries, brand failures, the story of mathematics, and feminism in ancient times. Not for everyone, I grant you )

Biggles

Has anyone found that any of the charity shops are amenable to haggling?

On a market stall, if you don't like a price you can haggle with the owner; but I tried this on something in, I think, an Oxfam shop (I liked it, but not at the price they were asking) and found they wouldn't give an inch.

Is this just the way things are with charity shops, or do some manager have a bit of leeway?

Pollycat

Mir! wrote: »

Also, in the St Gemma's 99p shop I found a very nice quality, (makers label removed), evening top with foldy/drapey bits at the front and with an attached camisole thing underneath in the same dull coppery sort of lame fabric, (not selling it very well but it looks great on!). Will go perfectly with a calf length pure silk, floaty Monsoon skirt in shades of green, rust & gold that I got from a chazza yonks ago. Just right for ermmm....(insert that C word....!)

These sound lovely colours.

Biggles wrote: »

Has anyone found that any of the charity shops are amenable to haggling?

On a market stall, if you don't like a price you can haggle with the owner; but I tried this on something in, I think, an Oxfam shop (I liked it, but not at the price they were asking) and found they wouldn't give an inch.

Is this just the way things are with charity shops, or do some manager have a bit of leeway?

I wouldn't haggle in charity shops.

In the large chains, the prices are often set at national level anyway.

I have sometimes noticed a fault on an item of clothing and pointed it out to staff - maybe a dress or trousers that have been taken up badly (but not an issue for me if I really like the item as I almost always need to shorten items but do prefer to start off with the manufacturer's hem) - and if they offer to reduce the price, I might decide to buy.

In all charity ships, I look at an item and decide if I'm happy with the price or not.
Buy or walk away.

Talking of happy, I bought a Laura Ashley fuchsia & purple jersey dress (regular posters will be aware of my love for jersey and this is fab quality, the assistant said 'Wow! This is heavy' when she was folding it up) in a swirly flower pattern with cross-over bodice and a fuchsia modesty panel. Fitted down to the hips then flares a bit, quite long, probably heeled boots - she says as her bunions wince ).
£1.00 Air Ambulance shop.

When I was in there, I heard rumblings about a £20 note.
I think a staff member had taken a fake note.
I thought how sad that was.

dolly84

Hi all.

I'm still going strong with my no buy but am enjoying reading about your bargains. I might pop into some shops at the weekend and look for a couple of household bits that I'm after as it's clothes I'm not buying.

osbornbiscuit

Hi
I volunteer at a charity shop in the north west and we try very hard to make sure that what goes on the rails is of a good standard( would I be prepared to buy it myself) but things do get through and I have noticed that where there is a mark or seam undone the staff are prepared to knock off some money off the price. I know of one shop where this is not the case ( they are the ones with a member of staff sat by the front door with raffle tickets!!!!) who do not reduce and charge top price.

Miró

Biggles wrote: »

Has anyone found that any of the charity shops are amenable to haggling?

On a market stall, if you don't like a price you can haggle with the owner; but I tried this on something in, I think, an Oxfam shop (I liked it, but not at the price they were asking) and found they wouldn't give an inch.

Is this just the way things are with charity shops, or do some manager have a bit of leeway?

I'm finding these days that most of the chazza shops I go to have definite 'price points', (£2.49, £1.95, 99p etc) and these seem set in stone with no leeway for volunteers to use their discretion if a garment is overpriced or faulty.

Pollycat wrote: »

In all charity ships, I look at an item and decide if I'm happy with the price or not.
Buy or walk away.

I'm with Polllycat on this!! (My iPad just renamed you Polecat....tee hee!:o)

Pollycat

Mir! wrote: »

I'm with Polllycat on this!! (My iPad just renamed you Polecat....tee hee!:o)

But I bet you also do as I do and roll your eyes and 'tut tut' about crazy prices.......

caffinated_geek

I just got 4 cashmere jumpers in great condition for £1 each. 2 M&S, 1 John Lewis and 1 chinti and parker.

Pollycat

caffinated_geek wrote: »

I just got 4 cashmere jumpers in great condition for £1 each. 2 M&S, 1 John Lewis and 1 chinti and parker.

What?

How much? :eek:

Just Googled Chinti & Parker.
I need to go and lie down in a darkened room.











Fab bargains. :T
Which charity shop was it?

VfM4meplse

caffinated_geek wrote: »

I just got 4 cashmere jumpers in great condition for £1 each. 2 M&S, 1 John Lewis and 1 chinti and parker.

May God never bestow the gift of moths upon your household

Seriously, this is a star find. Well done you :beer: