www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2550648...-reined-say-MPs.html

Charity begins at home? The bosses home?

Many shop owners have complained to me that charity shops are unfair competition.They're not charities in effect,as most of their earnings do not do the job people think they do,that is go to the charity concerned.

it's happening everywhere..my favourite St Vincent's De Paul charity shops were superb near me in inner-Sydney, mainly because there seemed to be a few gents the very same size as me who disposed of their Jermym St & Savile Row tailored shirts and Prada shoes ( I have such a collection of brand names from charity shops) etc...so I could look handsomely glamorous at about 7 quid a pop.

now they have drafted in a ghastly "marketing expert' and manager on ginormous salaries and prices have sky-rocketed.

In the one shop I like.. the prices now resemble the sale prices of nearby smart boutiques or 'vintage' shops...and I see stock staying there for weeks.

## they make the occassional mistake as they did just last week with a superb vintage Johnny Walker water jug I picked up for $6..worth ten times that.

I think the point that is getting missed here though people is that most charity shops are now struggling to get enough donations to keep shops going. People are 'making do and mend' more than before and websites like Music Magpie are offering people another option of how to offload unwanted stuff.

I do agree though that the image charity shops have is starting to sour because more and more are now stocking new goods, charging more and spending gross amounts on paying 'managers'.

Tony May wrote:
I think the point that is getting missed here though people is that most charity shops are now struggling to get enough donations to keep shops going. People are 'making do and mend' more than before and websites like Music Magpie are offering people another option of how to offload unwanted stuff.

I do agree though that the image charity shops have is starting to sour because more and more are now stocking new goods, charging more and spending gross amounts on paying 'managers'.

Don't forget those annoying 'chuggers'

A few years ago I volunteered in a charity shop ( with my children so they could have work experience)

I can see why the managers think that pricing high brings in most money but the opposite happens.
Selling high street stuff dirt cheap and "accidentally on purpose" underpricing Johnny walker jugs is what brings in the cash because people come back to search for more bargains.

Revamping as high class boutiques works well in a few places,
(I recommend Alderly Edge. Not cheap but the very smartest brands)
but in the more normal areas people only go in them to snigger at the high prices.

Customers complain that the staff have first pick on the stuff.
well.... Considering some of them have to sort through donations of used condoms, tampons, dog dirt and colostomy bags (traumatised for life. Where's my compo? ) so what!
But I have never seen or heard of anyone stealing the donations or underpricing for themselves.
The system is usually that someone else has to price if you want to buy, and in practice most pay more out of guilt.

honey!oh sugar sugar. wrote:
(I recommend Alderly Edge. Not cheap but the very smartest brands).

Footballers' wives' cast-offs?

In The Know wrote:
honey!oh sugar sugar. wrote:
(I recommend Alderly Edge. Not cheap but the very smartest brands).

Footballers' wives' cast-offs?

Exactly! They only use their bags once.

honey!oh sugar sugar. wrote:
A few years ago I volunteered in a charity shop ( with my children so they could have work experience)

I can see why the managers think that pricing high brings in most money but the opposite happens.
Selling high street stuff dirt cheap and "accidentally on purpose" underpricing Johnny walker jugs is what brings in the cash because people come back to search for more bargains.

Revamping as high class boutiques works well in a few places,
(I recommend Alderly Edge. Not cheap but the very smartest brands)
but in the more normal areas people only go in them to snigger at the high prices.

Customers complain that the staff have first pick on the stuff.
well.... Considering some of them have to sort through donations of used condoms, tampons, dog dirt and colostomy bags (traumatised for life. Where's my compo? ) so what!
But I have never seen or heard of anyone stealing the donations or underpricing for themselves.
The system is usually that someone else has to price if you want to buy, and in practice most pay more out of guilt.

Mate of mine volunteered in a charity shop, he found dressing gown#s covered in shit and a pissed stained mattress protector. why would people put in used tampons and condoms in a charity donation ?

Pattaya wrote:
Tony May wrote:
I think the point that is getting missed here though people is that most charity shops are now struggling to get enough donations to keep shops going. People are 'making do and mend' more than before and websites like Music Magpie are offering people another option of how to offload unwanted stuff.

I do agree though that the image charity shops have is starting to sour because more and more are now stocking new goods, charging more and spending gross amounts on paying 'managers'.

Don't forget those annoying 'chuggers'

They should be outlawed, when they stop you ask for proof where my donation will go they can't answer it.

andrew wrote:
honey!oh sugar sugar. wrote:
A few years ago I volunteered in a charity shop ( with my children so they could have work experience)

I can see why the managers think that pricing high brings in most money but the opposite happens.
Selling high street stuff dirt cheap and "accidentally on purpose" underpricing Johnny walker jugs is what brings in the cash because people come back to search for more bargains.

Revamping as high class boutiques works well in a few places,
(I recommend Alderly Edge. Not cheap but the very smartest brands)
but in the more normal areas people only go in them to snigger at the high prices.

Customers complain that the staff have first pick on the stuff.
well.... Considering some of them have to sort through donations of used condoms, tampons, dog dirt and colostomy bags (traumatised for life. Where's my compo? ) so what!
But I have never seen or heard of anyone stealing the donations or underpricing for themselves.
The system is usually that someone else has to price if you want to buy, and in practice most pay more out of guilt.

Mate of mine volunteered in a charity shop, he found dressing gown#s covered in shit and a pissed stained mattress protector. why would people put in used tampons and condoms in a charity donation ?

I have no idea. It really makes you wonder how some people live because it happened quite often.
We once found a contraceptive cap at the bottom of a vase.
Perhaps it pinged across the room and landed there?

Do people still use them caps ? I stick to Durex.

honey!oh sugar sugar. wrote:
I have no idea. It really makes you wonder how some people live because it happened quite often.

Have you never seen Benefits Street ?

We once found a contraceptive cap at the bottom of a vase.
Perhaps it pinged across the room and landed there?