They smell frowsy, but are great for pictures and picture frames....and bits of rag to make Easter bonnets and those rogue costumes that Primary schools bombard you with.

 

Doesn't matter about class either, I've been in posh second hand stores that stock Chanel and Dior. Still smell frowsy.

And books, forgot about books. Records are okay too.

I like looking for bits of china etc but I'm a bit funny about the clothes and soft toys - I do agree that they sometimes smell a bit musty. I'm funny second hand books too.

You're thinking about someone licking their finger before turning a page. I get ya!

We wash & iron all non new stuff....and polish glassware etc daily....

 

What about prices ?

Ha!...we can't obviously polish pages 

I used to like them when the kids were little ... picked up a lot of Osh Kosh (sp), Laura Ashley, Boden etc for them.

 

I haven't been in one for years - but my two girls trawl them all the time looking for things that they can 'customise'

Oh...today I priced a lovely pair of brand new Osh Kosh jeans for a mini minor for £1.50 & a pair of dungarees for £2.00<<<<<<<too cheap ?

 

Hello You 

You can call it vintage and wash and iron all you like, I still can't take the smell.

 

I used to wear vintage 501s and 1960s Crombie coats when I was a student (with my grandpas old fedora...it was an acquired look) but I just can't stand it now.

 

I donate stuff all the time, and people probably find my stuff squiffy. 

Most of the stuff we get is brand new....reckon cos we sell good stuff it invites good donations....stuff that is slightly worn but still has good wear in it...goes straight to the container for the Gambia. Manjai Kundar (the village we support)

Garments that shouldn't be worn by any other goes for rags...which a local charity gets monies for.

My daughter is a fiendish charity shopper. She loves certain types of wooden frames, but she is also great at picking bits of clothing which are just right. The most local is Woodside which is a place for cats and dogs on Dartmoor. The place doesn't smell fusty at all and, as the area is quite affluent, has some really good stuff.

Oh right, so you work in one Slimfern. And the good stuff stays local, while the seconds go to the developing world.

L LOVE charity shops, use them all the time fir a bargain, books , jewellry, clothes etc... good cause too 

I like them But I do agree they can sometimes smell a bit musty ..

Hope it's still going well Slimfern

But people buy the good stuff suzy, which in turn makes more money for the charity.

 

What did amaze me though ... my friend went to Zambia this summer and on a street corner was a huge pile of clothes from Oxfam. They were all the stuff that wouldn't have sold in charity shops here ... and they were being SOLD to the locals.

I drop things off to them but I don't shop in them.The shop I go to is very modern and fresh,its set out like a proper shop and the window is always very well dressed,none of that bric a brac sh*t.They play music in the background and have pretty nice smelling  dressing rooms.

I was in Zambia last year Rexi and I'm aware of all you mentioned.

 

 

http://www.pbs.org/independent...irttravels/film.html

I'm going to bookmark that page and show it to my friend. Thanks suzy

Love them my mum used to volunteer in one that my friends sister managed.. Wealthy people used to frequently donate perfectly good and often unused items because they were redecorating. I got a brand new rug for my bedroom one year!

You're welcome Rexi. Bear in mind that I'm in no way making a criticism of all the well meaning people who donate. I work in International Development so I get to hear about the insidious side more.

I manage one Suzy...and every stitch that is in the shop at the time the container goes..will go into the container....the proceeds leading up to it pays the costs...and the unavoidable backhanders! 

Costs of running the shop are paid for by other means....all proceeds that are a result of donations...go to where they are meant!

Thanks Baz...we are doing fine 

Week 11 come Monday! 

Ours is a quaint little offshoot from an Augutus Pugin Church...
The changing room is the disabled toilet...clean..roomy & available!

Atmosphere is relaxed & very friendly....the church is now an Enterprise centre...lots of little businesses that serve the community.

 

We have the local radio on 

 

Sounds the business

Could you maybe have a make shift changing room,litttle area with a curtain.I dont think I would like to go and change in a loo.

I love charity shops, me. We spend loads of time in them and regard ourselves as experts. I mainly buy and give music but am just as likely to buy crocks and clothing. Mrs Jer's all in keep-fit group makes trips to towns and cities to trawl the different establishments. It is the ultimate, or ne plus ultra if you will, example of recycling. God bless the obsessive neurotics who buy expensive schmutter and donate after one or less outings.

We have two rooms...a fair few of our customers are of an ethnic origin...we simply let them change in the back room and ask others to be patient...which they are.
Patience is a virtue after all... 

Indeed

When I read it i thought the toilet was the only option.

Good Man GJ & Mrs...
We have many customers who only shop in charity shops these days (except for food that is)...however...we are hoping to expand to include a cafe where those who need/want to...can buy a decent healthy meal for £1.00...of course if they want to try my home made cheesecake...then they may need a mortgage 

Our favourite places are Whitby, Darlo, Harrogate, Headington, and my old home town.

It did read like that...but we are flexible 

Sounds very Camberwick Green...nevertheless...keeping the landfill down is a good thing on it's own! 

Have lost count of the folk that come to us and say "Bliddy Nora (not their exact words)..have just bought one of them and paid 10/20 times as much!

Alas! The small town we are visiting for the w/e was severely flooded so I expect that the charity shops are big up and running yet.

Damn predictive text! NOT up and running.

No high rollers: Charity shop in Wythenshawe asks customers to show benefits books before buying fashionable Farrow & Ball paint

February 18, 2012

Not Hebden Bridge is it ?
 

Oh Dear....see now...I agree that a maximum purchase should be fixed...but a donation is free for all to buy imho....unless it is stipulated that the paint is exclusive!

I agree Slim,the recession has hit everyone so if the paint is there to be bought it shouldn't matter who is doing the buying or how much they earn .

 

On the subject of flooding

Here is a Yorkshire man surfing to work