Are Charity (Thrift) shops pricing themselves out the market by inflating prices?

Question

Have Charity-Thrift shops, turned greedy, charging high prices and degraded the purpose? Has big business found a new cash-cow to milk?

Answer 1

I believe so. As a child from a single parent family, my sister and I got our winter coats from the Goodwill every year, since it was all our mother could afford. Now as an adult shopper, I wonder where the poor, or the less privileged families have to shop for warm clothing when the prices of clothing in these stores are truly appalling! It seems to me that they no longer cater to the needy as initially intended, and it really is unfortunate, considering that CHARITY is what the donors have in mind each time they make a clothing donation (or other types) to these institutions.

Answer 2

Are you saying that charity shops are now dearer than alternative second hand clothes sellers? Who?

They may now want £2 instead of 50p for an arran jumper but i suspect only a true troll is likely to object - especially as I expect the lime green and purple jumper (just as warm but not quite as fashionable) still have the 50p tag on it.

As for degrading the purpose, almost ALL of the big charities, Oxfam especially actually only get around to spending about 5% of the money given to them directly on what is needed.

When my Friend was working in Sri-Lanka with other charity workers, he said you always knew when the charities were coming. The air conditioning units would go into the best offices around, air conditioned landrovers were purchased and lavish banquets and PR exercises were oganised. Of course a couple of voluntary workers might come along for a few days and "muck in" for a while but on the whole, most of the money raised by charities are spent on administration, fees, bonus's etc. Less than 5p in the £1 is spent where people THINK it is being spent.

£10 for a goat? Well that needs about £200 raising to cover the administrative fees and "salaries / fees / funds / bonus's / luxury apartments / air con\range rovers....

Appalling but true.

Answer 3

Absolutely! There used to be a stigma attached to shopping in charity shops because it was where the 'poor and lowly shopped'. Then suddenly certain celebrities admitted to shopping in them and giving their old clothes to them,and now they are seen as places that you may be able to pick up a cheap designer something or other. So, now they are cool and trendy they hike up the prices. There is an ex-catalogue shop in our High Street that sells new clothes cheaper than some of the charity shops charge for second hand. On the other hand if you shop there just for a good cause don't complain!

Answer 4

particular, our community Goodwill shop has raised their expenses over the final year or so and did away with a number of their specials which incorporate 0.5 fee senior day. We stopped procuring there awhile returned, not extra sturdy bargains. They in all probability observed an advance in consumers using fact the economic device isn't so sturdy and everybody is calling for a deal and their corp. place of work have been given grasping and forgot why people shop there interior the 1st place. needless to say all of us decide to help the handicapped yet we additionally want sturdy bargains if we are able to have the funds for to be commonplace consumers.

Answer 5

Some managers of charity shops get a bit above themselves, but they soon learn when they stop selling.,
A clever manager knows how to price items so that they sell. People aren't stupid. They like to buy cheap. Otherwise why go to a charity shop?

Answer 6

Oh, my gosh! I won't even go to Goodwill anymore. They're prices are outregeous! My husband was looking at a pair of shoes there, and they were almost $20! At Goodwill!

I don't know how true it is, but I heard that Goodwill is a franchise, and anyone can own one. Forget the 'help the handicapped'.

I still love garage sales the best. I won't stop. It's the thrill of the hunt. Keep going until you find the bargain of the day.

Answer 7

Yeah I reckon some of them have. They get the stuff donated free so they should be selling it cheap, to help people who havnt got much cash and to support the cause. The trouble is a lot of them have become greedy.

Answer 8

Yeah! Goodwill and Salvation Army are outta control- They think they are Targets! The smaller church and hospital run shops are still ok in my area though.

Answer 9

yes they are i cant believe some prices in there something that would have been £1 is now 10!

Answer 10

yes they are now tryna charge the same price as walmart and kmart i aint payin an arm and a leg for used items u feel me.
hollla