Charity shops - expensive?

needmoney

Bargain Rzl
What I didn't notice until I was wearing it - IN PUBLIC - was the large and irreparable hole in the inner thigh

:eek: :eek:

It's really bad when they put bad stock out when I was a volunteer they had a policy anything broken went in the bin and you should not put out anything on the shop floor that you wouldn't want your family to be seen in.

chrisewey76 very nice of you to be so kind to the children. I also have bought loads from Primark but since their shops have gone a bit upmarket and much bigger I don't like them so much. The one in Cardiff is always jam packed and I find it confusing to get around it now.

Elliesmum

As much as I love rummiging though charity shops I too have found them more expensive now than before.

We still have a couple of 'independant' shops which are not as expensive and we also have an Oxfam 'depot' which has fixed pricing on all items. However the one in town is more like a boutique and very expensive.

I also love Primark and Matalan. Only yesterday we bought some jeans for my hubby from Matalan for £8 a pair and they were the easy brand too.

EM xx

redsquirrel80

Not surprised to hear that some Oxfam shops are closing! I know they need to cover costs etc, but it defeats the purpose when they raise the prices to the point that it puts people off buying from them :mad: Same goes for all these TV/ magazine campaigns/ people in the street/ stuff in the post, wanting you to set up a direct debit - I have one for a cause that I particularly care about, but won't set up any more, whereas if they were shaking cans in the street (OS charity collections?!) I'd give them some money as a one off.

I always used to think that charity shops served something of a dual purpose as well, in that they were an outlet for people on a tight budget to be able to buy clothes etc, as well as raising money for charity. I still have a look round but not as much as I used to, tend to buy on eBay where even with postage it can be cheaper!

The other thing that charity shops have gone silly with is CDs and records, they're pricing out of 'price guides' without a clue about things like grading/ condition, and thereby losing out as collectors who know what they're talking about won't pay over the odds.

It makes me angry and sad, as they seem to have lost their way, and some very good causes may well lose out in the long term.

Penelope_Penguin

I love charity shops for clothes. I've set myself a challenge for this year to buy no clothes *new* and apart from a couple of vest tops, everything has been Freecycle or charity shops. I buy mainly from Scope and Cancer Research, and find excellent quality at a reasonable price.

I do, however, find some of the staff very pompous. I was told that I couldn't take more than 3 items into the changing room. Bearing in mind I wasn't sure how well the different brands would fit, and wanted things to co-ordinate, it was impossible keep nipping out of the changing room.

Plenty of bargains, though.

Penny. x

Justamum

I only buy books in our local charity shop - usually the classics for 50p each or children's books for 10p each. I wouldn't buy clothes in any of the charity shops because to be perfectly honest I think all the best stuff is bought/taken by the staff, and only the stuff for old people seems to be hung out - and it's all over-priced for second hand. Anyway, nothing I would want to be seen dead in! Furniture is even more of a no-no - old tat for brand new prices. Basically charity shops are greedy considering they haven't paid for anything - even the bags they put the stuff in are second-hand! They are just playing on people's consciences.

chrisewey76

needmoney wrote: »

:eek: :eek:

It's really bad when they put bad stock out when I was a volunteer they had a policy anything broken went in the bin and you should not put out anything on the shop floor that you wouldn't want your family to be seen in.

chrisewey76 very nice of you to be so kind to the children. I also have bought loads from Primark but since their shops have gone a bit upmarket and much bigger I don't like them so much. The one in Cardiff is always jam packed and I find it confusing to get around it now.

try newport, its quiter and a bit smaller

singlemum1983

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

Just a thought, I saw on TV that Primark are a very ethical company, compared to the likes of George (ASDA) who have had a warning about were and by whom there items are produced. The one fundamental reason why Primark is so cheap is simply because it doesnt advertise!! Companies like George, Gap H&M etc have big name celebs and spend billions each year on advertising where as Primark has gained its reputation purely by word of mouth.
It's not very often I post on this forum but thought this was an important thing to share with you all!
Long Live Primark!!!

N9eav

Wow this thread has moved on from when I started it. Thanks for the comments. At least it's not only me that thinks they are getting expensive.
I still look over them and have to confess that I did get a real bargain once.... last year I found a 'hermes' tie. 50p. Sold it on e-bay for £28. :rolleyes: .. No need to post scathing remarks!
Usually I buy work shirts and occasionally trousers. Better brands for less then new.
USA is the best, When we go on holiday I always have to look around Goodwill. Fab charity shops. Huge like, Tesco size...

Raver2k7

I have to disagree! im 26 yrs old and used to die of embarassment when my mum used to get me stuff from a charity shop! However, im now in them all the time and just recently have found lots of designer stuff with the tags still on! eg; bench tops, ripcurl tops, playboy & goldigger. i bought a vintage playboy top, tags on it said £46 from rock & Republic and i only paid £3 for it!!!

verynewmoneysaver

I buy a lot in charity shops so find this thread very interesting. I think that they are comparable to ebay when you take into account the cost of postage. The other week, though, I bought a nice Per Una bag. When I got it home and took the paper stuffing out I found that it was full of cigarette ash. I couldn't believe that someone had left it like that.:eek: