Let Thrift shopping thrive in 25!

C_J

weenancyinAmerica said:

Everyone may need to start wearing a yellow ribbon or something so you can recognize each other in the same charity shops!

I love that idea! 😁

C_J

@goldfinches : There are eight charity shops in Bicester. They are mostly small and centrally located around Sheep Street (with the exception of the Sobell House warehouse). They are:

Katharine House Hospice, on the Market Square - very reasonable prices and thus a regular turnover of stock. It’s small, a tiny version of the Rose Hill branch which I think you liked.

Age Concern, tucked away down an alley to the right of Poundland - v small shop, over half is clothes, not much in the way of books or bric a brac.

Forces Support, Sheep Street - Large shop, very reasonable prices, eclectic mix of everything including furniture but stock is sometimes sparse. Nevertheless, I’ve had some of my best bargains from here.

Bicester Green, Sheep Street - an eco store which is partly a Refill Shop. The rest is mostly second hand DIY stuff (tools, screwdrivers, nuts and bolts sort of stuff) plus some home electricals, gardening equipment, bikes and bike accessories. I think it might also be a repair shop.

PDSA, Sheep Street - this is quite a large shop, mostly clothes with just a couple of shelves of bric a brac. Small kids section and some pet stuff in a room at the back. No books!

Salvation Army, Sheep Street - long thin shop, which always seems to have a good range of stock and some very good £1 sale rails of clothes to the right of the till. Good for books and bric a brac, don’t think I’ve ever seen any electricals there.

British Heart Foundation, Sheep Street - small shop, often cluttered and a bit of a squeeze to get around. A good range of items, stock does seem to rotate quickly but I find them expensive (the staff tell me they are under orders from central management re prices and can’t use their own knowledge or initiative, which they find frustrating). 

Sobell House Warehouse, Murdock Road - this is about a 20 minute walk from Sheep Street, I’ll give you directions below. A cavernous warehouse containing furniture, white goods (they deliver to Oxford for a fee), small electricals, kitchenalia, bric a brac, books, vinyl records, DIY and garden things, toys, bird seed, knitting wools, pictures, clothing (everything is £4 or less), scarves and accessories. Sensible prices. I love it here, there’s almost always a bargain to be had.

I’ll assume you will be walking - stand with your back to Poundland and head off to your left. At the mini roundabout turn left onto Launton Road and keep walking (you will pass a petrol station on your left, Aldi and Wickes on your right). The next turning left is Murdock Road, there is a building painted pale blue on this corner called the Almond Tree Hotel. A hundred yards or so along Murdock Road, turn right. You will see a big distribution warehouse called Darcica with all its lorries on the corner, it looks like you are just going into Darcica’s car park. Go through the car park and around to the right, it takes you to the rear of the units you just walked past on the main road. Sobell House is about the third or fourth unit down, it’s clearly signed.

If you are in need of refreshments, I can recommend a little cafe called Savoir Fair located in Garth Park. You’ll walk past this as you leave the town centre to walk down Launton Road.

Have fun!

Rosa_Damascena

C_J said:

@goldfinches : There are eight charity shops in Bicester. They are mostly small and centrally located around Sheep Street (with the exception of the Sobell House warehouse). They are:

Katharine House Hospice, on the Market Square - very reasonable prices and thus a regular turnover of stock. It’s small, a tiny version of the Rose Hill branch which I think you liked.

Age Concern, tucked away down an alley to the right of Poundland - v small shop, over half is clothes, not much in the way of books or bric a brac.

Forces Support, Sheep Street - Large shop, very reasonable prices, eclectic mix of everything including furniture but stock is sometimes sparse. Nevertheless, I’ve had some of my best bargains from here.

Bicester Green, Sheep Street - an eco store which is partly a Refill Shop. The rest is mostly second hand DIY stuff (tools, screwdrivers, nuts and bolts sort of stuff) plus some home electricals, gardening equipment, bikes and bike accessories. I think it might also be a repair shop.

PDSA, Sheep Street - this is quite a large shop, mostly clothes with just a couple of shelves of bric a brac. Small kids section and some pet stuff in a room at the back. No books!

Salvation Army, Sheep Street - long thin shop, which always seems to have a good range of stock and some very good £1 sale rails of clothes to the right of the till. Good for books and bric a brac, don’t think I’ve ever seen any electricals there.

British Heart Foundation, Sheep Street - small shop, often cluttered and a bit of a squeeze to get around. A good range of items, stock does seem to rotate quickly but I find them expensive (the staff tell me they are under orders from central management re prices and can’t use their own knowledge or initiative, which they find frustrating). 

Sobell House Warehouse, Murdock Road - this is about a 20 minute walk from Sheep Street, I’ll give you directions below. A cavernous warehouse containing furniture, white goods (they deliver to Oxford for a fee), small electricals, kitchenalia, bric a brac, books, vinyl records, DIY and garden things, toys, bird seed, knitting wools, pictures, clothing (everything is £4 or less), scarves and accessories. Sensible prices. I love it here, there’s almost always a bargain to be had.

I’ll assume you will be walking - stand with your back to Poundland and head off to your left. At the mini roundabout turn left onto Launton Road and keep walking (you will pass a petrol station on your left, Aldi and Wickes on your right). The next turning left is Murdock Road, there is a building painted pale blue on this corner called the Almond Tree Hotel. A hundred yards or so along Murdock Road, turn right. You will see a big distribution warehouse called Darcica with all its lorries on the corner, it looks like you are just going into Darcica’s car park. Go through the car park and around to the right, it takes you to the rear of the units you just walked past on the main road. Sobell House is about the third or fourth unit down, it’s clearly signed.

If you are in need of refreshments, I can recommend a little cafe called Savoir Fair located in Garth Park. You’ll walk past this as you leave the town centre to walk down Launton Road.

Have fun!

Next time I take a trip to the midlands I shall skip the M1 in favour of the M40 and detour accordingly!!

My three month chazzer embargo seems to have had the desired effect. Yesterday I went into 3 and didn't buy a single thing!

DigForVictory

C_J said:

Sobell House Warehouse, Murdock Road - this is about a 20 minute walk from Sheep Street, I’ll give you directions below. A cavernous warehouse containing furniture, white goods (they deliver to Oxford for a fee), small electricals, kitchenalia, bric a brac, books, vinyl records, DIY and garden things, toys, bird seed, knitting wools, pictures, clothing (everything is £4 or less), scarves and accessories. Sensible prices. I love it here, there’s almost always a bargain to be had.

Can utterly vouch for the warehouse - sis bought a smashing sofa chair & footstool set, under £200 all delivered  - OK her Labrador pup has gnawed them all to barely functional but a year older, sis hopes the Lab has "become sensible". Not holding my breath, but sis happily planning a return foray. 

weenancyinAmerica

Miró - several of the members have gotten together before, and others have mailed things to each other or even delivered them to the their homes. You probably need to send a Private message re-contact information however.  Mrs. S_D and her husband even met up with me at the airport hotel in Los Angeles and it was wonderful. The highlight of my year.

elsien

It’s against forum rules to share addresses and personal information even via the messaging system. If people want to ignore them then  that’s up to them (I’ve made direct arrangements with people before now), but just clarifying what MSE say.
It’s a safety thing because of us all being an anonymous, and probably MSE not wanting to get sued. 

Wednesday2000

^ I didn't know that at all!

Miró

elsien said:

It’s against forum rules to share addresses and personal information even via the messaging system. If people want to ignore them then  that’s up to them (I’ve made direct arrangements with people before now), but just clarifying what MSE say.
It’s a safety thing because of us all being an anonymous, and probably MSE not wanting to get sued. 

Oh heck, totally confused now!

joedenise

I’ve also met another forum member.  Met in a very public place and no addresses exchanged.

There’s also been group meets arranged in public places.

elsien

Just for information:

Do not share personal information

We want to keep our Forum focused on quality MoneySaving content and to keep you safe while doing this. Please do not request or share personal identifying information or arrange to meet up in posts or PMs. This also includes sharing your own or others' names, email addresses, details of where you live or work and any social media accounts.