Does anyone else think charity shops are getting too expensive?

Question

Like most it was during my student years that I discovered the wonders of charity shops.
Over the years I've brought a huge amount from them but they seem to be getting more expensive. I used to buy a lot of my books from them, at 50p ago I would think nothing of reading the book and then giving it back to the charity shop to resell. I now struggle to find any book under £2 in them so tend to use the library instead.
But what really gets me is that they have all these books at what I think is silly prices, and then when I turned up at a charity shop a couple of weeks ago with two boxes of books, I was told they weren't accepting book donations as they had too many!!!!!
Surely common sense shold tell them that if they lowered the prices slightly they would increase sales, therefore allowing more room for further book donation which would result in more sale and higher revenue.
Is it me? Am I being an old stinge or has common sense lost the plot here?

Answer 1

I love looking in junk and charity shops, but i think youre right the other day I went into Oxfam for a peek and it looked very stylish and was more than a match for high street stores such as as WHSMITH and WOOLWORTHS, I think the expense on these fancy shelves, lighting and flooring is being passed on to the customer and perhaps even the people the charity is helping are getting less now, Oxfam has become a business, some of the people working for them command good salaries aswell.

Answer 2

Yes I do, I actually find it's often cheaper to get clothes in Primark. Okay, the quality isn't there, but it's ridiculous that charity shops are trying to sell USED clothes for more expensive than you can buy brand new ones!

I also think they're getting a lot more fussy with what they actually put in the shops. I stopped donating to my local charity shops for a while, because I would take a bag of items in, and the ladies would open them and turn their noses up and make some comment about "Oh, they're not in great condition"! It seemed like they wanted people to donate brand new, mint condition items?!

Why was I going to bother to donate my stuff to high and mighty snotty people when I could make a little money and actually see people be grateful for my stuff by selling it on a Buy/Sell page on Facebook?!

Also, where does the money go? My local Oxfam shop is kitted out like a designer boutique, I thought the money went to charity, not making the shops look stylish?

Luckily, a new charity shop has opened which supports my local cancer hospice, so I actually see evidence of where the money is going. The ladies who run it are very grateful for whatever you bring in, and also the only charity shop in my town which takes electrical items. I trailed round the charity shops for ages looking to donate my old hairdryer and hair straighteners as I upgraded mine. Everywhere said "we don't take electricals", got to this charity shop "Oh, we'll just test them to check they're safe and then put them in the shop, thank you very much!" I know where I'm taking all my charity donations from now on...

Answer 3

Thats the same situation here in the states. Some 15 to 20 years ago I first discovered the thrift shop and was amazed at all of low prices for all of the useful stuff that I otherwise would have bought new. But I think that its a matter of supply and demand. The thrift shop that I normally visit has a big sign on the wall that says, "If this price is too low, buy it quickly! If the price is too high, wait for it to be reduced". And I think that the crowds are driving the prices up because the majority of the people feel that they are still getting a bargain.

Answer 4

I agree with you, as it is the same in the U.S.

I just dropped off a load of good quality merchandise (I had excess and had no further use for these items) to the Good Will and sort of wished there was some way I could put the price on it myself.

I went inside a local used store earlier this year to get some things for my sister who was in need of help. It was mind boggling to see the prices of "used" furnishings, household goods, and clothing. I heard stories that the workers keep the good items for themselves and most of the items on the shelves that appear more use for the trash are sold. Broken items should have been repaired (or trashed) instead of sold to those who could really ill afford it. Also, some of the garments were sold at prices that a person could spend $2 more at the local discount store for something new (Wal-Mart or K-Mart).

You are definitely not stingy - the common goal of these institutions has been lost.

Answer 5

I'm not sure how it is in other countries, but in the states the thrift shops are helping to support the elderly and mentally handicapped. Our government has cut most of the funding for these groups, and so the slight raise in price is better for the programs being supported. yes the book prices are getting higher, but when it comes down to it a nearly new pair of jeans cost $5.00 there and $50 in the chain stores. I supplemented my two kids wardrobes (they are in the middle of growth spurts) for $100. That netted me 9 complete outfits each. In the stores that would have cost me upwards of $300. So yes. I will go there.

Answer 6

No you are ight the charity shops have got greedy considering they are given things for nothing. They had a faded out of shape T shirt once for £4.99 when you could buy a new one in Primark for approx £2.99. There was a trouser suit not long ago so I looked at it they wanted £14.99 I would rather buy something new. They will get people stop giving them if they are not careful.

Answer 7

Nope ur not being a stinge, and yea common sense has lost the plot completely. I went thru the same thing but with clothes. And damn the prices are high! All I wanted to do was cut up clothes and its cheaper if i just went to a market

Answer 8

I agree, I like using charity shops to suppor the cause but you can get brand new clothes from shops now at the same or even cheaper prices. Dont visit them as much these days tend to donate into tins at supermarkets.

Answer 9

Yes! Everyone has an 'antiques' expert (aka a Miller's Guide) and a vintage section. because of this they can charge through the nose. Personally, I blame Oxfam.

I have been wearing vintage (and mainly vintage - I'm a devotee) for a good 17 years now and usually ONLY shop in thrift stores. It used to be fun; now it's a flipping nightmare and waaay too expensive.

Answer 10

I couldn't agree more.

I went in a charity shop the other day and they wanted £9.99 for a pair of jeans. Used! And, regarding books, most paperbacks are at least £2.50. Ridiculous.

I know it's for a good cause etc, but if they keep putting their prices up, no one is going to bother going in them anymore.