Charity shops - expensive?

da_ra_sa

I have always used local charity shops as an alternative to buying brand new, but over the last year or so I have noticed that they are not the cheap alternative that they used to be, for example in Barnado's today they had a cardigan for ...... £19.99:eek: nothing special, just a cardigan, a small box of lego bits £9.99 :rotfl: the list goes on, I have to say it is not only this shop that over prices but quite a few are more expensive then say george, peacocks or primark.
I am aware of the idea that because its going to charity we shouldn't mind paying the prices they ask.
Has anyone else noticed that their local charity shops are grossly overpricing stuff?
What is the most outrageous price you have seen?

Mine was £49.99 for a 1980's style bridesmaid/cocktail dress in peach with frills:D

pawpurrs

The problem is clothes etc have got so cheap, and there are allways sales on that the charity shops are not really the bargain that they once were.

clutterydrawer

I see your point and agree that some are ridiculous. Oxfam in leeds for example charges £20 for a pair of topshop jeans, you can get them new for not much more and with more choice of size and style.

However comparing them to, say, peacocks or primark isn't always useful - yes you can buy new clothes cheap there, but they tend not to last well, whereas in a charity shop you can pay slightly more and get something of better quality. And feel that you're giving money to a good cause, not to a company who pays its employees pennies an hour to stitch clothes.

I would also mention that I used to volunteer in a charity shop and it was absolutely gutting when customers would moan about the prices or try to haggle - i appreciate that no one wants to throw money away, but it's not classy to haggle with a charity.

lolabug_2

My boyfriend gave a played Brighton edition of monopoly to the charity shop just downstairs last week. It's not a limited edition and you can still buy it new for about £25...the charity shop have it marked up in the window for £19.99!

Patchwork_Quilt

I find the charity shops around here very reasonable but recently, there seems to be less on the rails that I would like to buy. I wonder if it's because thrift is now in fashion?

Justamum

I think they've been over-priced for a long time so only buy books from them.

Olliebeak

We have the usual array of charity shops in our small town centre. Help the Aged; Barnado's; British Heart Foundation; PDSA Furniture Shop; Cancer Research; Local Hospice and another new one that only deals with second hand furniture.

However the best of the lot is run as a joint effort by all the churches in our town and staffed by church members. The profits go to third world charities (usually something like Christian Aid and Water Aid) AND local ones. Every year there is a Charity Evening when the donations are announced/made and the local charities for the following year are announced. Staff and customers are asked to nominate local charities for the Board of Trustees to consider. The whole place is more like a drop-in centre with coffee/tea/cake/scones etc on sale and the staff are always willing to spare a few minutes for somebody who just needs a chat. Their prices are always much lower than all the other shops and the atmosphere is brilliant.

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

Yes, I think that prices have gone up.

I think it might be because they are getting less donations and more customers so laws of supply and demand dictate that the prices must go up. I don't usually mind the prices too much because the stuff is still usually a bargain and its about recycling and supporting worthy causes too. I probably would be less inclined to buy something if it was too pricey though.

Justamum

Desperate_Housewife wrote: »

Yes, I think that prices have gone up.

I think it might be because they are getting less donations and more customers so laws of supply and demand dictate that the prices must go up. I don't usually mind the prices too much because the stuff is still usually a bargain and its about recycling and supporting worthy causes too. I probably would be less inclined to buy something if it was too pricey though.

Considering the clothes are somebody's second-hand tat then they are over-priced if they are more than a couple of quid.

fernliebee

I definitely think they are too expensive on the whole. In age concern a while back, they had a black ash, child's desk, had been covered in stickers and was obviously not expensive when new- they were asking £35!!!! I can't imagine they would be able to sell it??? It does make me laugh, but at the same time, surely they would make more money to sell item's for less, as people would buy more! I find the animal charities tend to be cheaper round here!