What d you feel about the charity shops that are springing up all over the place.

[RATTER15]

We regularly take unwanted items to the charity shop, we favour the Animal Ambulance charity but also take things to other charity shops. I know there has been talk of towns being negatively affected by these shops as people are buying so much from these shops instead of the buy it new shops.

What are your views?

[rowanwitch]

Some are better than others I find BHF and Cancer research have become very expensive in fact I have seen items I have taken in on sale at more than I paid for them when new.... primark and peacocks stuff mainly

I do get books but even they are getting pricy not unusual to find a crime novel in good condition at around £3.50 now. I mostly scour car boots for books now last year picked up 23 for just under £5 most stalls sell at between 20p and 50p. China and glass are often good buys though

[Swanson]

The smell as you enter puts me off going in some, reminds me of the old jumble sales in the church halls many years ago.

[Carakeel]

I have to say that while I support some of the charity shops, it does not sit well with me when they sell all sorts of new things as well. Most are not transparent enough with regards to clearly showing people how much of the moneys raised actually goes into direct help for those they are supposed to be helping, how much goes for staff, directors, overheads etc. Another problem is the attitude some of the shop staff dish out to customers and those donating good items. Staff (volunteers) in many of the shops are quite full of their own importance, consider themselves above others and can even be rude. We have had that a few times recently and needless to say, we didn't go back again! The other problem you so often see is that there are too many charity shops, which does hurt "normal" trade and they are often not presented well, which brings the area down a notch! We are now very selective as to where we donate things. The animal ambulance charity we support only sells used items and keeps its overheads to a minimum, so a very large proportion of their income is used directly for the animals in their care. This is the way it should be. We also support the air ambulance, as they do a vital job and also manage their funds well.

[emmie]

they are a blot, and quite frankly a death knell to many towns. They get discounted rent, rates as far as i know. having seen my families town centre turn to dust because of them i would say don't put one in, because once one is up and running, every other outlet that goes belly up, another will follow.
They currently have 14 charity shops, that is in two streets of retail units.

[237SJ]

Is that the N D Animal Ambulance. I hope they`re more transparent than they used to be then their accountant wouldn`t have been able to siphon off £100,000. Turns out she was my friend`s accountant too. I hope he checked his bank statements!

[emmie]

and Nomercy is absolutely right, small amount goes to charity, and much of the good stuff is picked over by staff first, that info was from a friend who once worked in a couple of charity shops.

[hc4361]

What's wrong with charity shop selling new stuff? This will have been donated by the store or manufacturer.

[emmie]

are you saying they don't buy the stuff in at a discount?

[Maydup]

I take them or leave them. But I would prefer to buy from them and reuse stuff rather than see it go to landfill, or to buy from the sweatshops of Primark, Tescos etc.

I have no objections to them paying for professional managers either. Why should people be expected to do a proper job for nothing. One or two days a week helping customers and preparing stock is one thing, but managing those volunteers, the banking, the utilities and the fabric of the shop is not a job to be taken lightly.

As customers we have a choice. Buy from wherever you like and give to whichever charity you like, but don't assume everyone is creaming money off the top. Very few people, paid or unpaid, work in the third sector for the money.

[chi-chi66]

I support charity shops too, but must agree, that they are getting more expensive, especially the Heart Foundation one. I buy lots of books in all
charity shops, sometimes clothing if I spot anything.
The above named shop though, is charging as Boo said, nearly as much for
a book as you can get new, if it's a novel..as in Asda and Sainsbury two
for £7, the latest in print.

[daffy654]

Whilst I do enjoy a good rummage around in a charity shop I feel there are far too many of them in certain places. The village I live in has 7 of them and it makes the village high street look cheap and scruffy.

[chi-chi66]

^^Rowan said too

[EvianBaby]

I think it's just time everyone accepted shopping habits are changing and the highstreet will have to change too.

I went to a charity shop yesterday to buy some old sheets to use to protect a newly cleaned carpet when loads of furniture gets taken in and out. I had the joy of being able to compare prices at two different charity shops and managed to get a bunch of old sheets for 6 quid. If I'd gone to B&Q and bought proper dust sheets it would have cost at least double. And B&Q would unlikely be giving any of my money to a charity.

[mrs_overall]

We are over run with charity shops where I live.
I find that they are expensive and I much prefer a good rummage at a jumble sale

[chaptazbru]

I love them, donate to the local RSPCA one often and buy loads of books from charity shops. I agree with you chi-chi the British Heart Foundation does charge more, but they do have some excellent books.

[chi-chi66]

Not many of those about now though Mrs.O, not even advertised in our papers.

[emmie]

sorry but they use up retail units they could be utilised by proper shops. If you give charity shops discounted rents, rates, then that means it's an unfair starting point.

[chi-chi66]

True chapta..I always head there first, more selection.

[mrs_overall]

chichi, in the villages surrounding my town there are loads of jumble sales. I've been to 3 in the last month

[EvianBaby]

What proper shops Em?

I refer you to my first point, the high street is changing. It's not like there's a shortage of empty retail units any business would be able to set up in.