What charity shop items do you regret NOT buying?

coffeehound

Just watching one of these old cast iron coffee mills passing through £60 on ebay reminded me of missing one for £3 in a chazzer in Worcester once. They weigh a fair bit so I thought, rather than buy it straight away, I'd come back in an hour's time. You know the rest...

So what have you regretted not buying?

MallyGirl

I saw a beautiful evening dress in one in Henley. I tried it on but it was too tight. I have since lost 2 stone and it would be just right now.
Posh towns do tend to have good pickings in the charity shops

Doveling

A very heavy Imperial typewriter - £10.00.

When I went back with Mr.D to carry it for me, TEN MINUTES later!!, it had already gone

Should have paid for it immediately. Just not meant to be.:)

kboss2010

A Mulberry handbag for £8 & a Paget-illustrated complete works of Sherlock Holmes with a lovely antique-style cover for £4.

Hermia

Mine is furniture. I have often seen some lovely solid items, but never when I had the room or had transport.

sillyvixen

Doveling wrote: »

A very heavy Imperial typewriter - £10.00.

When I went back with Mr.D to carry it for me, TEN MINUTES later!!, it had already gone

Should have paid for it immediately. Just not meant to be.:)

I had one of those when I was learning to type, we got it off an old lady who was selling it for £10 (30 years ago) she lived on the top floor of a flat and we were parked a couple of streets away!!! Nightmare to get home but gorgeous.

sillyvixen

On a day trip I did see 5 small glasses (I was looking for something to use for bailys or port) these were the perfect size, pretty and vintage.. I rejected them as there were only 5 and not 6 .. kicking myself when I got home as if we used them we would never had needed more than 4 at any one time .. they were only a fiver, and I have not seen anything like them since.

Also an other day trip I was a lovelly silk floaty top I My size and colours that would really suit me, I thought it was a bit steep at £6 for a chazzer did not think untill home that £6 was a good offer for pure silk bnwt!!

Both items were too far to go back for, if they were local I would have been outside at opening hoping they were stil there.

VfM4meplse

sillyvixen wrote: »

On a day trip I did see 5 small glasses (I was looking for something to use for bailys or port) these were the perfect size, pretty and vintage..

You'll just have to use big fat tumblers like the rest of us

C_J

Or just swig it out of the bottle! I have never done this, obv.

I saw this coffee maker in lovely condition for just £10 the other week but didn't get it because Mr C J has started drinking only caffeine-free coffee lately so it wouldn't get used much. I genuinely didn't know you could get decaffeinated coffee beans (I thought the decaffeination bit happened during the processing of the beans/by magic) so I am cross not to have bought it, and embarrassed for being so stupid. My whole family laughed at me when I told them

VfM4meplse

^^ CJ, I'm so glad you're back!

Because wait for it, I am finally going to make that trip to Nettlebed this weekend! :j

I would like a bit of advice though. Is it a cash economy, or are cards accepted? I'll be looking out for books as my priority, obvs, but what else is worth making a beeline for? Do I need cash for the car park? Can I travel between the site and car park freely to deposit my goodies or does it require a repeat entrance fee?

I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it.

C_J

Oh, that's brilliant - I'm sure you will love it despite the fact the weather forecast is awful, but actually a spot of rain keeps lots of people away so there's more for us

Yes, it is cash only. The nearest cashpoint machine is at the little garage in Nettlebed village.

You don't pay to park. As you drive in to the grounds, you will be met by parking marshals who will direct you to where they want you to park, but this is often quite a hike from the house. They are lovely ladies though, so if you were to wind down your car window and tell them you have some kind of health issue and can't walk far and please could you park in car park 2, they will always say yes. Car park 2 is right next to the sales so it's easier to keep going back and forth to put your purchases in the car. You pay one entrance fee (volunteer helpers will be selling these in the central area by the little cafe hut, and you can't get into the sales courtyards etc without a ticket). It costs £1 and I find it easiest to safety-pin the ticket to my jumper or jacket to save having to take it out if my pocket and show esp if I am weighed down with purchases.

Get there early - certainly by 9.30, not 10.30 as the schedule suggests. The book bits open at 9.30 so you can beat the crowds I usually take a flask of coffee, do the early opening bits then have a refreshment break in the car until the 10.30 parts open.

I think my daughter will be coming with me this week to buy books for her class at school, so be prepared to fight a tiny blonde teacher if you are after books for six year olds