M O'Sullivan
none
none
15 Mar 2011

When I give to a charity shop I forgo the personal gain I might have had from the items in question, and make a gesture towards a world which is not driven exclusively by greed and profit. I expect the charity to reciprocate and not pursue its charitable objectives relentlessly. I do not expect it to exploit or bully its workers or volunteers, nor to buy stuff produced by child labour, nor to pollute the planet when it can get away with it - nor to squeeze the last ounce of surplus out of those who buy from its shops.

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Oliver Jones
17 Aug 2009

I work in a charity shop too and am quite outraged by charity shops losing the plot - not all shops are like that full stop. Take example of our shop-we have usually got the right people for the right department in our shop - and even if they are new we have a price guide for them and we go to the extreme and check the condition and going along with what prices are selling locally, nationally and still a good bargain but not a cheap bargain. These charity shops are out there to raise the best they can for each individual item that is donated - whether it's suitable for the shop or to be transferred to rags to which will still bring in money for the shop.

Before you people say any of this kind of stuff again, just try working in a charity shop - you'll be amazed on what really goes on behind the scenes. Whilst you read this message, please bring your good stuff to the shops, not babies nappies, ladies bra's, children's helmets, knives... if you're not sure - contact your local charity shop to see what they take.

Many thanks,
Oliver

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Sue
7 Feb 2009

Charity shops have to charge inflated prices to pay for too many head offices staffed by too many prima donnas and their perks.

 

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Vibeka Mair
5 Feb 2009

Thanks for the comments. I appreciate that a charity shop's primary aim is to generate income for their cause.

But it's a nice, and perhaps unintended consequence that charity shops in my area have historically served those who are less affluent.

It's upsetting to see that now they have been priced out, and replaced by trendy, young vintage hunters. Just today, I baulked at paying £20 in a charity shop for a very simple and non-designer bag.

Charity shops also need to be careful as people tighten their purses. I've heard mixed reports from the press - some charity retailers say people are flocking in search of a bargain, others say they are struggling with donations and sales.

 It'll be interesting to see the true picture in Charity Finance's annual shop survey compiled by my colleague Gareth in the autumn  http://www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/category.php?cat=36&pg=18

Last year, it found charity shops were in strong position as the country headed towards a recession. I don't know if that'll be the case this year.

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Benita McMahon
4 Feb 2009

Charity shops operate just like any shop. They charge what the market will bear - and that's their right. Their primary responsibliity is to generate income for their charity and as second-hand shopping becomes ever-more trendy and socially acceptable, charities should benefit.

I have to agree, though, that it doesn't always sit that well with the bargain hunter. The British Red Cross store off the King's Road in West London regularly has 'designer afternoons' where they bring out all the designer stuff they've been hoarding and - probably - make a mint. However, I don't think anyone goes in to a charity shop really thinking that they are donating to charity. At best they think they're happy with their ethical/green decision and bargain-scavenging.

By the way, I still know a place that sells second hand Manolo Blahniks for £7 - and I'm not telling anyone.

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Frazer Orr
4 Feb 2009

Prices go up as supply goes down. See here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/jan/31/charitable-giving-consumer-affairs

 

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Penelope Blackwell
4 Feb 2009

The suggestion that people who struggle financially and shop in charity shops are in some ways a "secondary beneficiary" of a charity misses the point . Unless the charity's aims are the relief of poverty, then the only possible beneficiaries are those identifed by the underlying cause - people with cancer, sick kids, animals, etc..

Even for charities aiming to help with poverty, this should be done through the strategic aims of the charity and not by discounting stock in their shops, which merely passes on the benefit to everyone. Charity shops operate, as Benita has said, in the market place.

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