More Charity Shop Bargains for 2018 & beyond!

luvchocolate

I totally agree with the above post, in my position as an ex charity shop manager with many years experience, volunteers have not necessarily worked in retail or in some cases never worked at all.
Systems have changed drastically with computerised tills, gift aid, sales targets etc and a lot is put upon volunteers.
As said charity shops are big business but without professional help.
Its also a very physical and dirty job now that all donations have to be sorted into many different kinds of recycling, gone are the days when it was either rags or rubbish.

VfM4meplse

CAFCGirl wrote: »

Lots goes unseen though inc a lot of the abuse volunteers deal with. A close family member volunteers in one. She's almost 80 and been threatened, and assaulted by another volunteer, so I don't mean to offend by any means.

That is very sad. What a slap in the face to community spirit! And fair enough Pollycat, volunteers aren't one homogenous bunch.

Keep donating, it's far better to do that than unwanted items ending up in landfill.

Sayschezza

I work for a local hospice with several shops in the area. Accepting less than the marked price is a definite no no for any volunteers. Sadly it would also be open to abuse with some volunteers giving huge discounts to family and friends. Something similar happened in one of our shops some years ago with a volunteer who practically accepted any offer he was given. Must have cost the charity a lot of lost revenue over the years. One of his customers used to try it on in our shop and when she was refused she bragged how little she had to pay in the other shop and once showed us a beautiful real leather designer handbag she got knocked down to a couple of quid.It eventually came to the notice of the area manager and he was asked to leave.

Miró

Pollycat wrote: »

To me, haggling in a charity shop is a big 'no-no'.
Unless of course, there is some flaw/fault with the item but you still want it.

I wouldn't dream of haggling in a charity shop either, or any other shop for that matter....just makes me feel uncomfortable. (It's one of the reasons I wouldn't go back to certain countries where haggling is the norm!) I do appreciate that I am fortunate in never needing to do so tho.

I did once find a pair of Hobbs brand new trousers for sale at £20 and noticed that the seam had come undone at the side around the zip and there was a tiny hole where the stitching had pulled. There was no mention of any faults on the price ticket. I mentioned it to the shop manager and she offered them to me for half price which I thought was more than fair. That's the only time I have ever queried a price.

*Ahem*....talking of Hobbs...this afty I got a BNWT Hobbs dress from Barnardos reduced to half price...£4.99.

https://www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productid=0217-5023-1185L01&productvarid=0217-5023-1185L01-ROYAL-PURPLE-12

Sayschezza

Moro that dress is fabulous. Well spotted.

Happy_One

Couple of nice charity shop buys this morning at YMCA, a large white wicker heart that I will make into a decoration for Easter, cost £1 and a Mason’s cereal bowl for 50p.

Pollycat

Sayschezza wrote: »

Moro that dress is fabulous. Well spotted.

It is fab, very elegant.

Well done. :T

Pollycat

Pollycat wrote: »

An as-new Signare shopper-style bag in a tapestry material with a lovely poppy design. £3.00. Local charity shop. These retail about £15.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=signare+tote+bags&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjy0qir-I7cAhVkBcAKHeLuDoAQsAQI9wI&biw=1366&bih=631

I bought this ^^^^ last year and have used it a lot.


So yesterday I snapped up the same bag in a cream hummingbird and flower design from the local hospice shop. £3.50

Wednesday2000

Mir! wrote: »

*Ahem*....talking of Hobbs...this afty I got a BNWT Hobbs dress from Barnardos reduced to half price...£4.99.

https://www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productid=0217-5023-1185L01&productvarid=0217-5023-1185L01-ROYAL-PURPLE-12

That is lovely.:)

dolly84

Miro - that dress is lovely.