Charity shop. Second shift.

[Tilly2]

I did my second three hour shift at the charity shop yesterday and really enjoyed it. The difference was, I was out in the shop, on the till and dealing with the customers.
We had all sorts of people in including a bloke who was really excited to find half a dozen saucers for £1.99. I asked him if he was going to use them as plant pot saucers but he said, 'No we quite often break saucers, so it will be good to have some replacements.' ..............Er, right!

Then, the local very lonely lady came in for her daily chat. She wears a badge saying 'I'm hard of hearing, please speak up.' So she shouts at you and you have to shout back.

I loved it. The manager has declared that I'm a 'people person' and would be much more useful in the shop than in the back with the piles of detritus.

So that's all right then.

[tenrec]

Glad it went better than last week.

[vodkancoke]

That's great Tilly, so long as you enjoy it and hopefully they will keep you out front x

[albaqwerty]

yay!!!! Am glad you went back and had a better experience. x

[cathfromsaron]

brill news! i love charity shops for bargains and the craic!

[Tilly2]

You weren't the lady wearing the badge were you cath? She said she'd come in for a laugh.

[cathfromsaron]

lol!

defo not if it was today!

i'm at home with the sickness bug from hell!

[Tilly2]

No, it was yesterday, cath. Maybe you picked something up in the shop. I got bitten.

[cathfromsaron]

lol! i was in disguise!

[murraymints]

It was Mrs O...researching episode 10.....lol

[wolf63]

I've volunteered in a charity shop for about 5/6 years. It is a specialist book and music shop - this is the reason that I picked this shop to volunteer in.

I enjoy it - there are people of all ages and the manager is okay too. Stick it out for a while, it is much better once you 'really' know what you are doing.

Unlike you I hate being on the till, I get in a muddle and make a total mess of it. I do stuff/paperwork for the manager - because it is unpaid work I don't feel pressurised and can do the work if/when I feel well enough to do it.

Before ill health became a problem I worked as a civil servant and it was a tough and stressful job. The bookshop suits me.

You will find that many of the staff are nuts and fun. :-)

[Tilly2]

I made mistakes on the till yesterday wolf but as it was the first time, they didn't seem to mind.

Yes, I will stick it out. I will enjoy meeting all the different characters.

[cathfromsaron]

sounds good x

[EcclesCake]

Tilly, I really did feel for you after your first experience. I have a management background working with some seriously high-level people and despite giving it up a few years ago the level of professionalism and focus never leaves you. I have found it terribly difficult to adjust to a much more arty-farty style and felt great empathy for you.

I'm so pleased you've found your niche. As a people person you are going to have the opportunity to tap a deep seam of societies eccentricities.........

[tonyav]

Tilly, have I ever told you that I have a part time job as an undercover shopper, maybe I will visit your shop next week ! lol.

[wolf63]

Tilly - we have one very bossy ex-teacher who volunteers. One day I was feeling generally unwell and had PMS, she was picking fault with everything and I snapped. The manager got in between us before I slugged her. I was seething for ages and hid in the office for ages. We are now very good friends, but a sense of humour and a thick skin are needed to deal with some people.

[Tilly2]

Thank you, eccles. You obviously know exactly how I felt last week.

When there was no one to serve, I still found myself going around the shelves making sure that the sizes were in order and putting all the hangers the same way round.

(I also folded the clothes in the way that I was taught at Marks and Spencers when I was a 'Saturday girl' there in the early seventies)

[Tilly2]

Tony, I'll know it's you. Your u-bend will give you away.

[tonyav]

Doh.

[Tilly2]

Wolf, I'm a bossy 'sort of ex' teacher but I don't pick on people. The only person I drive to distraction is my husband.

[EcclesCake]

Tilly, STOP....if you get me started on my OCD folding style and how everything should hang we'll be here until next week.

I remember watching the Mary Portas programme where she went off to re-invigorate a couple of charity shops. I completely understood her frustration when she encountered 'well meaning, old dears who were looking for company, a cup of tea and a chat'. No offence to anyone who gives their time, but it is soooo hard not to set to work to try and make money for the charity rather than creating an afternoon tea shop.

It is so difficult to work out where the line should be drawn, is it a fund raising 'business' or is it a social club?

A friend who is a Vicar has and incredibly difficult time 'managing' volunteers, as you have to appreciate they are giving up their time for nothing but their motives are many and varied.......and rarely suited to the ultimate goal.

I don't wish to come across disrespectful to those who give their time but the bigger picture is often missed.