hi there would you like to help me need to know peoples opinions on charity shops!!

discodiva123

Hi everyone!! :j im a student at Liverpool John Moores University and id really like too know everyones opionions on charity shops as this is what my dissertation is on people perceptions of Charity Shops

if youd like to help, i would be most grateful ill post the questions here and if you could PM your answers and opions be completely honest that will be great

Thanks in advance i really appreciate this

well ive got a few questions and id be grateful if you could answer in as much detail as possible just ramble on that would be fab, please be honest and if there's anything you don't want to answer you don't have too.

heres the questions
Name?

sex?

Age?

Location? roughly

employment status? don't have to answer if you don't want too

Do you shop in charity shops? and if yes why?

if yes what do you buy from the store?

What encourages you to purchase from a store?

what are the three main things you buy from charity shops?

Any favourite shops?

do you contribute goods to charity shops?

Would you ever consider being a shop volunteer?

when was the last time you visited a shop?

what's your opinions on layout of the store, price of goods, window displays, staff helpfulness?

Is there anything you feel shops should change, for example lower price of goods, better layout etc

When do you think you will be next visiting a charity shop?

any other opinions you would like to add please give?

thanks again for all your help I really appreciate it :T

GUMPO

discodiva123 wrote:

Hi everyone!! :j im a student at Liverpool John Moores University and id really like too know everyones opionions on charity shops as this is what my dissertation is on people perceptions of Charity Shops

if youd like to help, i would be most grateful ill post the questions here and if you could PM your answers and opions be completely honest that will be great

Thanks in advance i really appreciate this

well ive got a few questions and id be grateful if you could answer in as much detail as possible just ramble on that would be fab, please be honest and if there's anything you don't want to answer you don't have too.

heres the questions
Name? Tha Gump

sex? M

Age? 32

Location? North West

employment status? Full Time

Do you shop in charity shops? From time to time (see below)

if yes what do you buy from the store? Stuff for fancy dress and sometimes books

What encourages you to purchase from a store? Dirt cheap

what are the three main things you buy from charity shops?
See above
Any favourite shops?
Local age concern and heart foundation.
do you contribute goods to charity shops? Yep the two above

Would you ever consider being a shop volunteer? Probably not they all seem a little strange

when was the last time you visited a shop? Couple of weeks ago to donate couple of months to buy

what's your opinions on layout of the store, price of goods, window displays, staff helpfulness? The age concern is fairly professional all the others I have been in are really random and a bit bizzare but the staff are ALWAYS brilliant

Is there anything you feel shops should change, for example lower price of goods, better layout etc A bit better organisation wouldn't hurt. But I realise these people are staffing the shop in their spare time

When do you think you will be next visiting a charity shop?
Couldn't say
any other opinions you would like to add please give?
Hope this helped.
thanks again for all your help I really appreciate it :T

After all that I had to add this "message too short indeed"

GiveItBack

are you going to compare it to the charities' perceptions of their own shops??

Sallys_Savings

Name? Sally

sex? female

Age? 43

Location? roughly cambs

employment status? fulltime housewife at present

Do you shop in charity shops? and if yes why? yes I do, for bargains

if yes what do you buy from the store? It can vary but mainly fancy dress bits, dvds, fabric, books, toys, and some clothes but some are becoming more money now and not very competitive in price

What encourages you to purchase from a store? price

what are the three main things you buy from charity shops? Books, toys, DVDS
Any favourite shops? not really...but our local cancer shop is good on price but our oxfam is not. I find that the oxfam pricing is roughly the same price as items i could buy for new at tesco etc.

do you contribute goods to charity shops? yes regularly

Would you ever consider being a shop volunteer? I have in the past but not at the moment

when was the last time you visited a shop? 2 weeks ago

what's your opinions on layout of the store, price of goods, window displays, staff helpfulness? Staff I have dealt with have always been lovely and helpful...sometimes a little slow but they are normally elderly ladies. Most of the displays I have seen have been really good, especially the cancer shop display.

Is there anything you feel shops should change, for example lower price of goods, better layout etc To be competiive they need to lower the price on some items, like t shirt

When do you think you will be next visiting a charity shop? Probably within the next two weeks

any other opinions you would like to add please give? The whole layout in charity shops has vastly improved over the last few years, making it less of a jumble sale. Displaying in colour coordinated rails and sizes.

Sus1e

discodiva123 wrote:

Hi everyone!! :j im a student at Liverpool John Moores University and id really like too know everyones opionions on charity shops as this is what my dissertation is on people perceptions of Charity Shops

if youd like to help, i would be most grateful ill post the questions here and if you could PM your answers and opions be completely honest that will be great

Thanks in advance i really appreciate this

well ive got a few questions and id be grateful if you could answer in as much detail as possible just ramble on that would be fab, please be honest and if there's anything you don't want to answer you don't have too.

heres the questions
Name?
Susie Harris
sex?
F
Age?
28
Location? roughly
east midlands
employment status? don't have to answer if you don't want too
Employed full time
Do you shop in charity shops? and if yes why?
Yes, price
if yes what do you buy from the store?
Books
What encourages you to purchase from a store?
Price
what are the three main things you buy from charity shops?
Books, christmas cards
Any favourite shops?
Save the children - books for 20p!!
do you contribute goods to charity shops?
Yes
Would you ever consider being a shop volunteer?
Yes, if I wasn't working full time
when was the last time you visited a shop?
Last weekend
what's your opinions on layout of the store, price of goods, window displays, staff helpfulness?
They have improved significantly in the last few years.
Is there anything you feel shops should change, for example lower price of goods, better layout etc
I would like a website for the larger charities where you can search for items/request to be notified of items which are rarer, like specific board games, books, CD's etc. I know this is unlikely to ever happen but you can dream
When do you think you will be next visiting a charity shop?
This weekend
any other opinions you would like to add please give?

thanks again for all your help I really appreciate it :T

Hope this helps you.

Edited to make the colour stand out

feefee_3

sex? ...female

Age? ...37

Location? roughly ...glasgow

employment status? don't have to answer if you don't want too .full time

Do you shop in charity shops? and if yes why? ..I shop mainly for clothes as Im always on a diet sixes up and down and if i bought something new I never get my moneys worth from it

if yes what do you buy from the store?..... clothes ..books..and shoes

What encourages you to purchase from a store? .. i like the store to smell nice some shops smell a bit damp.. price

what are the three main things you buy from charity shops? ...clothes books and shoes

Any favourite shops? ...sense british heart foundation

do you contribute goods to charity shops? ...sometimes

Would you ever consider being a shop volunteer? ...no i work full time

when was the last time you visited a shop? ...last week

what's your opinions on layout of the store, price of goods, window displays, staff helpfulness? .....sometimes the price on some items are way out and you can buy new in the for less

Is there anything you feel shops should change, for example lower price of goods, better layout etc ....i think they do well in what space they have

When do you think you will be next visiting a charity shop? ..next week

any other opinions you would like to add please give?

thanks again for all your

marybishop

Name? Mary

sex? Female

Age? 45

Location? Surrey

employment status? Run own business with OH - also p/t verger for local church.

Do you shop in charity shops? Absolutely! - Our local CS's have some really good bargains and being on a tight budget I have been able to kit myself out with clothes that I would have not been able to afford new.

if yes what do you buy from the store? Mainly clothes and books but yesterday got two bargain videos for each of my DD's.

What encourages you to purchase from a store? The thrill of finding a good bargain but also supporting the charity in question.

what are the three main things you buy from charity shops? Sorry, answered above - clothes, books, christmas cards.

Any favourite shops? The local Marie Curie Cancer Care is really well laid out, bright and clean.

do you contribute goods to charity shops? Yes.

Would you ever consider being a shop volunteer? In the future if I'm not working but do not have any spare time at present.

when was the last time you visited a shop? Yesterday!!

what's your opinions on layout of the store, price of goods, window displays, staff helpfulness? Generally staff are really helpful but the layout of the shops varies widely. Some are really clean and bright - others are quite dismal places. I think the goods are generally priced well but again it does vary from shop to shop.

Is there anything you feel shops should change, for example lower price of goods, better layout etc Some of them could really help themselves by smartening up the appearance of the shop and the way the clothes are displayed. Our local Oxfam shop is quite large but it has the feel of a jumble sale! But then again I think in most CS's only the manager is paid, the rest are volunteers (I might be wrong) so they probably don't have enough time to spare to make it look like a smart boutique.

When do you think you will be next visiting a charity shop? Probably the next time Im in the High Street - I can't resist having a browse.

any other opinions you would like to add please give? I see buying from charity shops as a great way of recycling goods and giving to charity at the same time.

Kay_Peel

Sorry, I won't be filling in my personal details. I don't think it's appropriate (for me! Other people may feel comfortable with it, I don't.)

Do you shop in charity shops? and if yes why?
Not any more

If yes what do you buy from the store?
Not applicable

What encourages you to purchase from a store?
Not applicable

what are the three main things you buy from charity shops?
Not applicable

Any favourite shops?
Not applicable

do you contribute goods to charity shops?
Yes

Would you ever consider being a shop volunteer?
No. They are very 'corporate' nowadays.

When was the last time you visited a shop?
A month ago, when I visited another city.

what's your opinions on layout of the store, price of goods, window displays, staff helpfulness?
I visited eight. They were all on the same street.
The national Charity ones were indistinguishable from each other. They were neat, tidy, clean, well set out and totally, totally uninteresting, selling stuff that I didn't want. They all sold the same types of nick nacks and smelly stuff, the clothes were rubbish (or if they had a 'label' they were over-priced) and the books were all of a muchness in titles but very overpriced. (I'm not paying more than a pound for a book. I'd prefer to pay 50p and give it back when I've read it!)

I thought I'd look for some knitting needles and wool. I wanted real wool, not acrylic, and looked at the jumpers to see if there was anything worth unravelling. All the assistants said they hadn't sold balls of wool for ages. They were very helpful but couldn't think of any place that sold wool in the city. 'You'd make a killing if you sold wool, wouldn't you?' I said jokingly.

A local charity for a hospice was much more inviting. It was a bit chaotic. I don't think it was very clean, but that didn't matter. The assistants seemed to be having a ball and it had the atmosphere of a car boot or a jumble sale. It had furniture, gadgets, designer clothes, decent books going cheap, vintage wool and hand crocheted items. This was the place for me. I not only got my wool and knitting needles but I bought a designer jacket and a hand knitted retro tea cosy. I was delighted with the bargains and the range of goods and they seemed happy enough with my custom too.

Is there anything you feel shops should change, for example lower price of goods, better layout etc

Back to basics. Charity shops cannot compete with shops that include Poundstretcher, Wilkinsons, TK Maxx and supermarkets with budget clothes lines. There are too many of them and they are in a dwindling market. They've lost sight of what made them popular.

When do you think you will be next visiting a charity shop?
Unlikely

any other opinions you would like to add please give?
You have phrased the questions as though you wanted answers only from people who like charity shops (eg do you shop in charity shops - if yes why?) You didn't ask why not - but I've answered the questionnaire as though you did ask 'if you don't why not?' Hope that's OK.

Second point. When I was in the 7 'national' Charity shops there were a lot of browsers and no buyers. They seemed to be places where people just mooched about to pass the time.

Good luck with your dissertation. It sounds worthwhile.

Kp

fuzzgun19

Name? fuzzgun19

sex? F

Age? 32

Location? roughly North East

employment status? don't have to answer if you don't want too

Do you shop in charity shops? and if yes why? occasionally/sometimes cheaper

if yes what do you buy from the store? varies, mainly clothes

What encourages you to purchase from a store? depends on price

what are the three main things you buy from charity shops? clothes/shoes

Any favourite shops? none

do you contribute goods to charity shops? yes

Would you ever consider being a shop volunteer? not sure

when was the last time you visited a shop? 5 days ago

what's your opinions on layout of the store, price of goods, window displays, staff helpfulness? 99% of them are too expensive now, hence me only buying occasionally. much prefer car boot sales

Is there anything you feel shops should change, for example lower price of goods, better layout etc LOWER PRICES and the ability to haggle prices

When do you think you will be next visiting a charity shop? unknown

any other opinions you would like to add please give?Prices have increased alot in the last few years, which has put me off buying from them more

NumboJumbo

Name? Numbo

sex? M

Age? 44

Location? roughly Cardiff

employment status? don't have to answer if you don't want too Full time

Do you shop in charity shops? and if yes why? No

if yes what do you buy from the store?

What encourages you to purchase from a store?

what are the three main things you buy from charity shops?

Any favourite shops?

do you contribute goods to charity shops? Yes

Would you ever consider being a shop volunteer? Yes

when was the last time you visited a shop? Approx 1 year ago to donate some used stamps

what's your opinions on layout of the store, price of goods, window displays, staff helpfulness? Layout of store - a bit cramped and not that inviting. Pricewise - have no idea coz I don't shop in them.

Is there anything you feel shops should change, for example lower price of goods, better layout etc 1) Better lighting: 2) declaring where all the unsold goods go to: 3) declaring where all the donated dross that is not good enough to be sold goes to

When do you think you will be next visiting a charity shop? When I next donate but this is becoming infrequent now as I donate stuff through the doorstep charity bags

any other opinions you would like to add please give Good luck with your dissertation and hope something good comes out of it. Will you be presenting your findings to charity shops in the hope they will improve things?

GiveItBack

discodiva, I'd particualry love to find out if people prefer shops to be 'branded and professional', or individual, cluttered and chaotic.

And I suppose I should at the very least help by filling in the form, not sure I'm much use though. Have an idea for ya too, will pm it.

Gib

heres the questions
Name?

GiB !

sex?
M

Age?
28

Location? roughly
N Scotland

employment status? don't have to answer if you don't want too
FT employed

Do you shop in charity shops? and if yes why?
Yes, for an occasional rummage, and feeling of doing something good. Also find
some things there you’ll never find anywhere else!

if yes what do you buy from the store?
Books, trinkets, clothes from time to time

What encourages you to purchase from a store?
Price, shop staff, the specific charity itself

what are the three main things you buy from charity shops?
Books, trinkets clothes in that order

Any favourite shops?
Local Sue Ryder Care shop is super friendly. Also like my local Oxfam one.

do you contribute goods to charity shops?
Yes, at least monthly, and whenever I’m clearing out/moving

Would you ever consider being a shop volunteer?
Perhaps. Time is an issue though

when was the last time you visited a shop?
Two weeks ago

what's your opinions on layout of the store, price of goods, window displays, staff helpfulness?
I like them to be organized, even if you still need a bit of a rummage. But I prefer to have things in sections. If it’s bright, it ‘feels’ cleaner. Clea is a big thing for me

Is there anything you feel shops should change, for example lower price of goods, better layout etc

I like them to be well run

When do you think you will be next visiting a charity shop?

This month

any other opinions you would like to add please give?

Not at this time, thanks though