Charity shop issues

What sort of valuable stuff are you talking about? If it's ornaments these are not to everyone's taste, most people don't want dust-attracting clutter these days, so it's only going to appeal to collectors or re-sellers, otherwise you'd have it taking up space for months.

If it's designer wear, handbags etc., surely a quick Google of anything you're in doubt about would reveal the sort of price range you should start at.

bigbill wrote: »

I would if I knew what was worth a lot more than we are asking but time and lack of knowledge stops me checking.

This is nonsense, You have the perfect learning tool and you are already using it but seem to be learning nothing. It is called... eBay. You are already stalking this person, you know how much they buy these things from you for and you know how much they are selling for: how can you possibly claim a lack of knowledge?

You can ban someone from your shop for any reason but to do so because they have a better grasp of prices than you do is churlish and petty. Plus, what happens if their expertise is unique amongst the people coming into your shop? You ban them, you don't sell the items. Is that what you want?

I will give you a direct illustration of the above: A few years ago a charity shop near me had a miniature 4 fold silver picture frame listed for £50. I recognised it but didn't buy it and neither did anyone else. After a month or so they dropped the price to £40. A month later they dropped the price to £30. And when they dropped it to £20 I bought it. I sold it on to an antique dealer for £50, who had it in their window for £150. Do I begrudge the dealer for doing that? No I don't: I got my profit, he can have his. Do I feel I cheated the charity shop? No I don't. They couldn't sell it for 6 months until I bought it: they got some money. Would I ask for more money from the dealer if I found another one? Of course I would. That is learning.

The second hand market from rag and bone all the way up to Bond Street Antique dealers is a meritocracy. Knowledge is king and knowing how much something is worth is only useful if you also know where you can sell it. If your charity doesn't have an eBay shop then a) they should - it's free with lots of assistance to get you started; and b) you cannot directly extrapolate eBay prices to your shop prices because you do not have access to that market. You can however use those prices as a guide. If you can't do this then you can't maximise your shop's income and maybe they need someone better suited to run the shop. It is a skill that not everyone has and there is no shame in stepping back and letting someone who can do it do so.


SP

Why don't you have a look for professional eBay re-sellers in your area, and ask them if they would come and have a look through newly donated items once a week to pick out and sell the highest selling items for you on eBay. They will take a percentage of the sales, I believe, but you should still see a better return than you currently are.

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

Really?

Why on earth does it matter.

They are not stealing from you.

You are selling something at the price you ask for.

Our local charity shops have a section for the more valuable stuff and price it accordingly.

Why do you not do the same. It only takes a bit of research.

I largely agree but the OP's point (as I understand it) is that the aim is not just to sell items for as much as possible to make money for the charity. There is a secondary aim to sell items at a fair or low price to deserving customers in the "deprived area".

Worthy as that may be I do wonder how practical it is. OK, they may well be able to spot somebody who comes early every day looking for bargains to sell on, but I bet plenty of less regular customers also do this in a more minor way?

Equally, how do you know that the main "offender" isn't actually in a very tight financial position himself. Maybe he badly needs to supplement his income too and should be commended for making the effort?

Finally, volunteers and staff getting the pickings is rife in some / many charity shops. However, many struggle for volunteers and might not get them without the perks.

My friend does this and makes a small fortune from it. I couldn't be bothered with the effort it takes though. Nothing you can do to stop it. If it isn't him it will be someone else