Vent - Charity Shops Again -'are spending less than half of cash on good work'

Pollycat

Malthusian wrote: »

They don't want £2 a month, they want your phone number and Direct Debit authority so they can ring you up at all hours and harrass you until you verbally agree to increase it to £10 a month, £20 a month or more. At least "We need £120" sounds honest.

But the advert said to text to donate so they would have your £120 and your mobile number.

Missus_Hyde wrote: »

We were in a local garden centre with our cocker spaniel and there was a charity collector for a well known dog charity. He started talking to my husband, complimenting us on our spaniel and was suggesting that we donate some money to sponsor one of their rescue dogs and help to pay their vet fees.

However, when questioned more closely it transpired that he was not at all interested in us making a one off donation (which I was perfectly happy to do) but actually wanted us to sign up for a direct debit to make continuous payments to them. I was really annoyed, as I felt that this "chugger" had taken advantage of the fact that we had our spaniel with us and so were obviously dog lovers and as soon as he wanted our bank details, we backed off and told him in no uncertain terms that there was absolutely no chance.

He was crafty and drew us in by being very friendly and chatting about our dog and so thereby making it more difficult for us to refuse (or so he thought.....his mistake!! ) It left a really sour taste in our mouths and I posted a rebuke on the charity's Facebook page about their charity collectors, to which they responded, asking me for details.

I've yet to hear back from them!

I saw a collector for Guide Dogs for the Blind (which I think is a great charity although I can't comment on their financial situation as per the original post) and he too was taking direct debit details.
I asked if he had a collecting tin as I'd like to donate some change but he said 'no'.
So the charity got no money from me at all.

Potternerd wrote: »

I love charity shops; I can't understand why everyone is being so churlish. Fantastic bargains and helping others. If you don't like their business practices, good luck with finding something more ethical.

I also can't be doing with anything the Daily Mail wants to get righteous about; its a hideous rag. And as for "my friend worked in a charity shop..." Why didn't they challenge it?

Although the OP mentioned charity shops in the title of the thread, the article in the link clearly isn't just about the shops.

Lots of people do like charity shops, there's a long thread on the Old-style board which runs to 218 pages and over 4000 posts.

Towser

I love charity shops; I can't understand why everyone is being so churlish. Fantastic bargains and helping others. If you don't like their business practices, good luck with finding something more ethical.

I too love charity shops.

Someone has just knocked on my door asking for a Donation. No.

I love charity shop shopping. A lot of the stuff in overpriced where we are from. No problem it's for charity. That is how I support the local charities by their shops by buying their stuff, if they are going to overprice I shall make them work for their money.

But don't come knocking on my door for nothing.

SnowTiger

Towser wrote: »

I too love charity shops.

Someone has just knocked on my door asking for a Donation. No.

I love charity shop shopping. A lot of the stuff in overpriced where we are from. No problem it's for charity. That is how I support the local charities by their shops by buying their stuff, if they are going to overprice I shall make them work for their money.

But don't come knocking on my door for nothing.

Just like people who buy a lottery ticket to donate to charity.

I don't consider shopping at a charity shop to be donating. It's shopping. The clue is in the name: charity shop.

Towser wrote: »

...I shall make them work for their money.

That's paying for products and services. Not charity.

Pollycat

SnowTiger wrote: »

Just like people who buy a lottery ticket to donate to charity.

I don't consider shopping at a charity shop to be donating. It's shopping. The clue is in the name: charity shop.

I consider passing on my unwanted items to my chosen charity shop as donating as they can (hopefully) make money from those items (that have cost them nothing) to benefit the charity.

When I buy items from a charity shop I consider that as helping the charity by giving them money in exchange for an item that I want.

SnowTiger

Pollycat wrote: »

I consider passing on my unwanted items to my chosen charity shop as donating as they can (hopefully) make money from those items (that have cost them nothing) to benefit the charity.

When I buy items from a charity shop I consider that as helping the charity by giving them money in exchange for an item that I want.

I think you're kidding yourself.

It's bin day here tomorrow. Presumably you think putting the rubbish out is donating.

I'm going Tesco tomorrow to buy a few items. Presumably you think that's helping.

Towser

My husband votes with his feet at the overpriced books in Oxfam and goes to the local Hospice shop instead.

I however like Oxfam and the books they sell, although overpriced, I think well it all goes to charity. Overpricing no longer a problem for me. So maybe a combination of shopping and donating?

Pollycat

SnowTiger wrote: »

I think you're kidding yourself.

It's bin day here tomorrow. Presumably you think putting the rubbish out is donating.

That's the most ridiculous analogy I've ever read! :rotfl:

SnowTiger wrote: »

I'm going Tesco tomorrow to buy a few items. Presumably you think that's helping.

Actually, scrub my comment above, this is even sillier. :whistle:

Perhaps you could explain how you think giving money to charity is different from donating unwanted goods.

JReacher1

Charity shops are business's. All profits go to charity but they still have to pay rent, utilities, some staff costs. I am therefore not surprised that less than 50% goes to charity.

People who shop in charity shops don't really shop there to help the charity. They just want cheap goods and justify it by saying "Its for charity". The reality is of course its just cheap!

Pollycat

JReacher1 wrote: »

People who shop in charity shops don't really shop there to help the charity. They just want cheap goods and justify it by saying "Its for charity".

But isn't it better all round - for the buyer and the charity - than just chucking unwanted items in the bin?

JReacher1 wrote: »

The reality is of course its just cheap!

Not always - if you read some of the posts on this thread and the long-running one one the OS board..

lazer

JReacher1 wrote: »

Charity shops are business's. All profits go to charity but they still have to pay rent, utilities, some staff costs. I am therefore not surprised that less than 50% goes to charity.

People who shop in charity shops don't really shop there to help the charity. They just want cheap goods and justify it by saying "Its for charity". The reality is of course its just cheap!

Having volunteered in a charity shop, a lot of people will actually pay more than is required for something - so that is a donation