More Charity Shop Bargains for 2018 & beyond!

VfM4meplse

AstroTurtle wrote: »

I am a charity shop virgin. However willing to see what it's like


One question is how do people generally find the quality of clothing from the shops? do they hold up well?

Its mixed, you need to apply discretion. My eyes don't linger on anything that looks poor quality.

I have had some brilliant quality finds though. I think people just get tired of wearing certain items and would rather make the wardrobe space for new items.

AstroTurtle

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Its mixed, you need to apply discretion. My eyes don't linger on anything that looks poor quality.

I have had some brilliant quality finds though. I think people just get tired of wearing certain items and would rather make the wardrobe space for new items.

Do you generally find a decent range or is their better shops to try for certain items?

Pollycat

AstroTurtle wrote: »

I am a charity shop virgin. However willing to see what it's like

One question is how do people generally find the quality of clothing from the shops? do they hold up well?

They are the same brands you find in the shops or on-line so if you find a new or nearly new item then they'll last as long as if you'd bought it new.

Anything I buy is put straight in the washing machine.

Here's how I approach it:

Pollycat wrote: »

I always check every item I buy.
My Mum says I'm bobble-obsessed.
I feel down the front of a garment, especially round the bust area and also round the side-back where cross-body bags can rub and bobble the fabric.

I check the inside underarms or crotch area if it's trousers.
I check the inside 'care label', it can give a good indication of how much it's been worn if it's faded.

I check if it's been taken up. I don't mind shortening hems on skirts, trousers or dresses but prefer to do it myself from the original starting point than from somebody else's higgledy-piggledy attempt.
I also check zips.

Finally, if it's a patterned dress or tunic, I turn it inside out as it's easier to check for holes on the reverse side.

Maybe my actions are OTT for an item that doesn't cost very much.
:hello: Hello. My name is Polly and I'm a bit OCD. My sister says (jokingly I think) that I should get out more. :rotfl:

I also check woolies (anything with wool/cashmere content) for holes (moths).
I bring them home and put in the freezer - which is supposed to kill the moths but the jury is out on that.

I assess the possible new price of an item and work out if the price the charity shop is selling it for is a bargain.
For example, last week I paid £6.50 for an Aigle brand coat. Retails around £240. And it was in as-new condition.

I'd probably not pay that much for a M&S coat (for example) unless it was exceptional.

AstroTurtle wrote: »

Do you generally find a decent range or is their better shops to try for certain items?

Every shop is different. Every area is different.
I find generally that the national chains - BHF, Age UK, Cancer Research, Oxfam - can be expensive. Although that's not always the case.

Owain_Moneysaver

Mir! wrote: »

On the advice of an M & S assistant I put a pure cashmere sweater, bought in the M & S sale at a really silly price, in the washer at the recommended settings. Went in at a size 14 - came out a size -00000. Disaster!

I'd be going back to M&S for a new replacement item, sale or not.

Laredouter

I was posting a few items in town and just had a quick nip around the charity shops. I popped into the Marie Curie shop to see if a Whistles top I had ummed and ahhed about was still in there. It wasn't sadly, but I did see the perfect example of Guildford charity shop prices. There was a worn-out looking Joseph cardigan on the 'designer' rail, with massive coffee stains down the front. The charity shop wanted £10 for it! Had a good laugh, and left the shop.

Miró

AstroTurtle wrote: »

Do you generally find a decent range or is their better shops to try for certain items?

Pollycat wrote: »

Every shop is different. Every area is different.
I find generally that the national chains - BHF, Age UK, Cancer Research, Oxfam - can be expensive. Although that's not always the case.

I always find that the local hospice charity shops and the local community charity shops have the best bargains and the keenest prices, (and the nicest assistants!)

I was saddened today, when going into the Oxfam shop, to see a notice on the window with a long and seemingly heartfelt apology regarding the recent reports of abuse...just wondering if this was something done by this one shop or is it a national thing???

GreyQueen

It's on the door of our Oxfam, too, Miro, so I think it's a national thing. I am flabberghasted at the conduct of some of the people within that organisation, the level of moral bankruptcy would shame anyone with an ounce of soul. But, it is only the few, but there has been weak leadership, and the organisation will inevitably suffer for it.

Re charity shops, what I really like about them is that they are a digest of all brands, including some non-British ones, consolidated under one roof. I have bought R0han and Tilley branded clothing in the last week or so, for about 5% of full retail. I have brought Icebreaker merino wool top for 50p as opposed to £80, an as-new Puff@ jacket for £6.50..... there is really no need whatsoever to buy most clothing new when there is so much good stuff going begging.

Can't top Polly's list, just basically get in there and look at anything in your size. We can tell when something is as-new or whether it's half-worn out or about 10% worn, by look and by feel.

When buying anything new, what you're actually assessing is the amount of useful life left in it, and deciding if the price is right.

Haven't bought anything bar a nice basket for £1. It is to serve a particular purpose and the present incumbent of that purpose, which turned out to be sub-ideal, is going off to the same charity shop.

Pollycat

GreyQueen wrote: »

Can't top Polly's list, just basically get in there and look at anything in your size. We can tell when something is as-new or whether it's half-worn out or about 10% worn, by look and by feel.

When buying anything new, what you're actually assessing is the amount of useful life left in it, and deciding if the price is right.

Just to say that I don't always take much notice of sizes in tops, I've bought sizes 8 to 16.
In fact I bought 2 M&S tops at the same time - one size 10, the other size 16.
My range is a bit more condensed in coats and more so in trousers (10 or 12).
And there are times when an item has been put on the wrong size hanger, so I don't limit myself to looking at just my size.

GreyQueen

Yup, it's always good to check that items haven't been mis-racked. I founf the Tilley blouse becuase it had been racked with men's shirts (I was looking out for Kid Bruv) thought that doesn't look like a man's XL, even though the label said XL as well as the hanger. Quick check revealed it's a woman's XL and fits me as if it was tailored for me.

I wear whatever fits, I'm notationally a size 16 but might be wearing 1-2 sizes above or below that; sizing is pretty useless across brands, you get an eye for what's your size and can ignore the label.

Pollycat

GreyQueen wrote: »

Yup, it's always good to check that items haven't been mis-racked. I founf the Tilley blouse becuase it had been racked with men's shirts (I was looking out for Kid Bruv) thought that doesn't look like a man's XL, even though the label said XL as well as the hanger. Quick check revealed it's a woman's XL and fits me as if it was tailored for me.

I wear whatever fits, I'm notationally a size 16 but might be wearing 1-2 sizes above or below that; sizing is pretty useless across brands, you get an eye for what's your size and can ignore the label.

Oh yes.
I've found 2 coat bargains for OH - 1 Monsoon, 1 White Stuff - hidden amongst the ladies coats.;)