Charity shops - expensive?

N9eav

Is it just me or do charity shops seem to be getting more expensive?

I like to look in them and get the odd thing or 2. Work shirts are usefull as I can get a nice M & S shirt for £3 and save quite a bit . But it seems they are getting too expensive now.
I find it a bit annoying that considering they are given everything, why not put it out at a price that means they can shift it on? I have seen the same clothes sitting in the shop for weeks and weeks because it's too expensive.

Oxfam are the worst..

I saw Asda jeans in one shop £6.99 They are brand new in ASDA for £4 ?????
And so it goes on. I would buy more and spend more if it was a little cheaper... not overpriced.

Am I wrong?

annie-c

LOL, you're not wrong! But by and large the shops are not staffed or trained by pople with retail/marketing experience.

I think that the bigger shops like Oxfam have set prices per item, ie t-shirts, jeans, shirts etc. So Primark T-shirts will be marked at, say, £1.99 along with designer labels.

I think as well, where it comes down to the volunteer's judgement to price things, it depends on their age/preferences etc as to whether they will guage the 'right' market price for things. For example, I recently felt bad buying a brand new with box Bodum coffee jug for 99p, whilst there was a ghastly and not branded 'cut glass' jug on the same shelf for 4.99.

I guess if things seem on the cheap side and you want to, you can always make an additional donation. If they are over-priced and/or out of your price range, well unfortunately it is sometimes cheaper to shop at Primark....

dolly_day_dream

What you need to consider is that the charities have a responsibility to raise as much money as they can. They still have to pay council tax, rent, electricity etc for their shops. I know that it is very annoying when the clothes are overpriced for the market. Our local Oxfam no longer stocks very many donated clothes because they have competition from 18 charity shops in our town and people voted with their feet. I treat them as I would any other shop. If it is overpriced in my view then I just don't buy it. However I do try to buy as much as I can in them not simply because of the cost but to feel that my purchases are helping someone else and not just lining the pockets of big business or causing someone else to work for peanuts.

[Deleted User]

They sometimes ask silly prices though. Paperback books for example. I`ll easily buy six, read them and hand them back for re-sale but I won`t pay more than 50p each. If a charity shop asks for £1 each then I walk out

scubaleopard

I like to give to Charity and make a small monthly donation to my favourites. BUT charity shops have overwhelmed the town where I live

louidog

I have been a volunteer in a charity shop and I think it depends on who is pricing things as to what gets put on the label.

The "older" lady will price designer and better quality stuff the same as cheaper makes and the "younger" lady will price stuff according to brand etc. I used to pull stuff back and re price it when I saw something that was wronly priced. One examply was a Barbour fleece (for inside the Barbour waxed jacket) priced at £1

Remember also there there is a lot of stealing that goes on from these shops. I was horrified the first time I saw someone steal from a charity shop. Trust me, that happens more than you would think.

chrisewey76

i too volunteer in a charity shop.
i agree that some shops are way too over priced.
pricing depends sometimes on set guides and sometimes on pricers disgression.
in my opinion, prices should reflect brand and retail prices!
most stores have PAID managers and the pricing has to include this!
i think that managers shouldnt be paid, at least not a wage! maybe a reasonable, small percentage of the daily takings?
that way its in their best interests to keep pricing down to sell more.
also, if you have a large stock of one particular type of item, then put a sale on those to sell more and clear up any back log in the storage area.
also, possibly a rack with very cheaply priced out - of - season stock, to also clear any back - log.
although you still get paid for scrap, it is a very small amount, compared to even 10p per item! (depending on weight!)

Sarahsaver

I know stealing takes place in a local independent charity shop, and people are always trying to haggle down when the prices are always more than fair. That particular shop is my FIRST port of call if I need anything for the home or clothing, even got brand new wellies for DS for £1
ANd - If you do not like the price then go elsewhere.
Just remember the £1 top in Primark will not have been made by someone earning a fair wage, and you are doing a great thing for recycling by buying second hand. Also you will not look like a high street clone

annie-c

louidog wrote: »

Remember also there there is a lot of stealing that goes on from these shops. I was horrified the first time I saw someone steal from a charity shop. Trust me, that happens more than you would think.

:eek: That's astounding!!!!

LizD_2

louidog wrote: »

Remember also there there is a lot of stealing that goes on from these shops. I was horrified the first time I saw someone steal from a charity shop. Trust me, that happens more than you would think.

Stealing is disgusting anyway, but to steal from a charity shop is utterly despicable, even if the clothes are overpriced.

chrisewey76

we were always told in my old shop that the chances are that if someone stole from the shop that they were desperate. i dont think this is always the case and stealing is stealing!
we were also told NOT to approach someone if you know they are stealing for your own safety sake!
not sure what i'd do in that position!