Charity Shopping - New to You in '22!

Brie

MrsCatz said:

Hello, I have been lurking. I live in a seaside town and have noticed that in the summer months we have a lot of bay of e hunters because we have an older population and vintage sells. This means our local shops  will sell vintage online rather than put them out to be found in a rummage but it also means out books are 50p and buy one get one  free or 3 for £1. Likewise DVDs (10p) and lots of scarfs.

did somebody say scarves???  You're not on the south coast by chance??  Maybe in Dorset??????

General_Grant

Rosa_Damascena said:

Cherryfudge said:

Well I knew it was up north somewhere.....should have gone there I guess when I used to live at York but that was 36 years ago!!  Now it would be the Bournemouth train to London, underground to Kings Cross and then up to York and beyond....the bargains would have to be pretty terrific!!!

So instead I was looking at Freegle and saw someone had a big bag of toiletries on offer - of no interest to me personally but I could gift a gift set if there was something special.  What did interest me though was it included 2 wooden soap dishes - exactly what I've been looking for - at least I think I'll like them but haven't been sure enough to actually pay for them.  Anyhoo - sent a  message and won the freebies and picked them up.  The soap dishes have never been used which is great.  And apparently I won out of several people because I said I really just wanted the soap dishes but would take the lot and give whatever else to the food bank where I work.  Second time that has worked out for me

You did better than I did - it was a completely new area to me when I came. And I see what you mean about the bargains - they would have to be colossal to make up for the cost of travel! I'm not even sure travelling from York could be repaid, though I've had a few amazing car boot/charity shop bargains this summer. Actually, when I think about it, getting an instant pot for £20 and a microwave for £5 a few months ago probably saved me over £150, so that would have covered your travel costs. (London to Northallerton can be done without changing trains).

What a good idea to donate spare items to the food bank. Our local one needs all the help it can get as needs increase.

That said, I do want to visit York as it's a fine city by all accounts! Next summer I think.

I had a reasonably good chaz-day as the work I was having done at home wrapped up sooner than expected. From the first 2 books for £1.50 (at 75p each expensive but ones I wanted to read) and from the second a blouse and 4 books for £2. £3.50 well spent.

I know Norwich declares itself to be a fine city on road signs as you enter.

General_Grant

Skibunny40 said:

I went for a trip round various charity shops a few days ago and was surprised that two of them were shut, due to lack of staff/volunteers. Of the ones that were open, the chain ones like Barnardos and Red Cross were much emptier than usual. Wonder if this is a sign of the times that people aren't donating so much or if stock is getting bought more from charity shops as people can't afford to buy new?

My local Oxfam shop has been closed on a number of occasions recently - including Saturday this weekend.
But I often see bags of donations left outside the closed shop and wonder whether the street cleaners remove them, local shops have an agreement to take them in temporarily or other charity shops in the town pick them up instead.  Often the bags have been opened by person or persons unknown.

Brie

General_Grant said:

But I often see bags of donations left outside the closed shop and wonder whether the street cleaners remove them, local shops have an agreement to take them in temporarily or other charity shops in the town pick them up instead.  Often the bags have been opened by person or persons unknown.

It's like that outside most shops round here - despite the signs saying "please don't leave stuff as we'll have to bin it".  People can't be bothered to leave a bag of clothing in their cars - potentially it's unclean so may well smell so I'm surprised they think anyone will want to buy anything.  I had a friend years back that worked at a charity shop and refused to take a bag of really foul clothing and the person was all indignant as if people should be grateful to pay 10p for someone's filthy socks.   

Rosa_Damascena

General_Grant said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

Cherryfudge said:

Well I knew it was up north somewhere.....should have gone there I guess when I used to live at York but that was 36 years ago!!  Now it would be the Bournemouth train to London, underground to Kings Cross and then up to York and beyond....the bargains would have to be pretty terrific!!!

So instead I was looking at Freegle and saw someone had a big bag of toiletries on offer - of no interest to me personally but I could gift a gift set if there was something special.  What did interest me though was it included 2 wooden soap dishes - exactly what I've been looking for - at least I think I'll like them but haven't been sure enough to actually pay for them.  Anyhoo - sent a  message and won the freebies and picked them up.  The soap dishes have never been used which is great.  And apparently I won out of several people because I said I really just wanted the soap dishes but would take the lot and give whatever else to the food bank where I work.  Second time that has worked out for me

You did better than I did - it was a completely new area to me when I came. And I see what you mean about the bargains - they would have to be colossal to make up for the cost of travel! I'm not even sure travelling from York could be repaid, though I've had a few amazing car boot/charity shop bargains this summer. Actually, when I think about it, getting an instant pot for £20 and a microwave for £5 a few months ago probably saved me over £150, so that would have covered your travel costs. (London to Northallerton can be done without changing trains).

What a good idea to donate spare items to the food bank. Our local one needs all the help it can get as needs increase.

That said, I do want to visit York as it's a fine city by all accounts! Next summer I think.

I had a reasonably good chaz-day as the work I was having done at home wrapped up sooner than expected. From the first 2 books for £1.50 (at 75p each expensive but ones I wanted to read) and from the second a blouse and 4 books for £2. £3.50 well spent.

I know Norwich declares itself to be a fine city on road signs as you enter.

Norwich is on the list too! It will be a cultural tour interspersed with a chazzer-trail

Potternerd

Brie said:

General_Grant said:

But I often see bags of donations left outside the closed shop and wonder whether the street cleaners remove them, local shops have an agreement to take them in temporarily or other charity shops in the town pick them up instead.  Often the bags have been opened by person or persons unknown.

It's like that outside most shops round here - despite the signs saying "please don't leave stuff as we'll have to bin it".  People can't be bothered to leave a bag of clothing in their cars - potentially it's unclean so may well smell so I'm surprised they think anyone will want to buy anything.  I had a friend years back that worked at a charity shop and refused to take a bag of really foul clothing and the person was all indignant as if people should be grateful to pay 10p for someone's filthy socks.   

That’s so foul I always wash and iron stuff before I donate.

I’ve noticed that Oxfam shops are temporarily closed which is surprising because they seem to be less the preserve of older volunteers that some other shops. On which subject if you have littlies or grandchildren watch Peppa Pig Charity Shop: it’s hilarious.

Cherryfudge

Potternerd said:

 On which subject if you have littlies or grandchildren watch Peppa Pig Charity Shop: it’s hilarious.

Brilliant! I'll pass that one to someone I know who works in a charity shop.  

Pollycat

Potternerd said:

Brie said:

General_Grant said:

But I often see bags of donations left outside the closed shop and wonder whether the street cleaners remove them, local shops have an agreement to take them in temporarily or other charity shops in the town pick them up instead.  Often the bags have been opened by person or persons unknown.

It's like that outside most shops round here - despite the signs saying "please don't leave stuff as we'll have to bin it".  People can't be bothered to leave a bag of clothing in their cars - potentially it's unclean so may well smell so I'm surprised they think anyone will want to buy anything.  I had a friend years back that worked at a charity shop and refused to take a bag of really foul clothing and the person was all indignant as if people should be grateful to pay 10p for someone's filthy socks.   

That’s so foul I always wash and iron stuff before I donate.

I’ve noticed that Oxfam shops are temporarily closed which is surprising because they seem to be less the preserve of older volunteers that some other shops. On which subject if you have littlies or grandchildren watch Peppa Pig Charity Shop: it’s hilarious.

I wash but don't iron.

Our Oxfam currently is closed for refitting

Wednesday2000

I want to visit Norwich again too.:)

The MIND shop I mentioned has a sign up saying something like leaving bags outside the shop will be considered fly tipping. I saw it a couple of weeks ago. I don't know why people do that. They are similar to the people that leave dog poo in bags and hang it onto trees. Just total nuisances! Nuisances is a very polite way of saying what I really mean, lol.

MrsCatz

 Hi Brie, I am but Littlehampton