(Yes I'm in Hebden Bridge at the w/e)
We are also familiar with Wilmslow ^^^ and Alderley edge.
Originally Posted by erinp:
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 .
Precisely!
I ventured into Manchester city centre today (a hideous thought...hate shopping personally) and excuse if you have read this on our FB page...but passed 3 Oxfam shops on my travels...all prime high street locations....and tbh was flabbergasted at the prices in the front windows...were no different than the designer shops next door!
No wander they were empty of customers!
Originally Posted by Garage Joe:
(Yes I'm in Hebden Bridge at the w/e) We are also familiar with Wilmslow ^^^ and Alderley edge.
Poor Hebden...copped it last time too!
The lady that started our charity venture lives there....by day she runs a centre for those who struggle with mental health!
Oxfam were quite serious about staff training and pricing, and used to have a reputation for wasting money on daft concepts like staff development plans and whatever.
Oxford used to have very expensive shops in particular the original one. However their prices are quite competitive at the moment. I bought a couple of exceptional tops at ÂĢ4 each in a local hospice shop yesterday. Had the Darlo Oxfam had them they would have been ÂĢ2.50!
Yes! Some great characters live in HB!
Originally Posted by Garage Joe:
Oxfam were quite serious about staff training and pricing, and used to have a reputation for wasting money on daft concepts like staff development plans and whatever. Oxford used to have very expensive shops in particular the original one. However their prices are quite competitive at the moment. I bought a couple of exceptional tops at ÂĢ4 each in a local hospice shop yesterday. Had the Darlo Oxfam had them they would have been ÂĢ2.50!
The pair of shoes I saw in one window were ÂĢ16.99...and t'other shop had a book for ÂĢ29.95 !
I don't call them competitive at all!
As I said...both shops were totally empty!
I guess it differs where one lives....but have always maintained as a regular shop worker of many years....one Sainsbury's shouldn't disparage from another just by location!
There are a couple of Oxfam shops in York which are of a specialist nature. I think that they send rarities there and I have seen manuscripts, gramophone records, and designer wear at all sorts of ridiculous prices.
Originally Posted by Garage Joe:
There are a couple of Oxfam shops in York which are of a specialist nature. I think that they send rarities there and I have seen manuscripts, gramophone records, and designer wear at all sorts of ridiculous prices.
See..That is one of the things I love about our shop...ÂĢ2.00/2.50 for a pair of jeans...jeans are jeans....regardless of whether they are designer or not...and let's face it..you get more material in the non designer...(less rips)
I need to er, crash.
As a last point I think the heart shop is the best for books!
Originally Posted by slimfern:
Originally Posted by erinp:
Originally Posted by slimfern:
Originally Posted by erinp:
Originally Posted by slimfern:
Originally Posted by erinp:
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.
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.
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.
It did read like that...but we are flexible
Our wee premises as the awning is being put up....
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Originally Posted by slimfern:
Originally Posted by slimfern:
Originally Posted by erinp:
Originally Posted by slimfern:
Originally Posted by erinp:
Originally Posted by slimfern:
Originally Posted by erinp:
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.
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.
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.
It did read like that...but we are flexible
Our wee premises as the awning is being put up....
One of my pride & Joys....have a white one two ...well did have!
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Some years ago I did voluntary work in an Oxfam shop and enjoyed it. We'd have young people come in but I especially liked talking to the elderly customers who often came in more for a chat than to buy. I often wondered if they lived alone and coming into the shop was a place where they could talk to someone. On some occasions an elderly person was interested in buying something but couldn't afford it so without asking the Manager I'd lower the price to one they could afford and I'd put the extra money in the till. I did a lot of different jobs that paid but when I became interested in different kinds of voluntary work I got far more satisfaction from that
I should have given a mention to the local independent shops. I took my son to a job interview near Barnsler and discovered a superb one. Ceramic bread bin, once read hardbacks etc.
Originally Posted by slimfern:
Originally Posted by erinp:
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 .
Precisely!
I ventured into Manchester city centre today (a hideous thought...hate shopping personally) and excuse if you have read this on our FB page...but passed 3 Oxfam shops on my travels...all prime high street locations....and tbh was flabbergasted at the prices in the front windows...were no different than the designer shops next door!
No wander they were empty of customers!
Yes, but why should things be sold off dirt cheap, just because it's for charity?
I'm just about to make a last journey into HB centre. Watch my back!
How....what's it going to do? 
Safely back at the upper dwelling. There was even a flea market on at the Trades Club. Apparently Norman and Eliza are on there in early December.
Originally Posted by Extremely Fluffy Fluffy Thing:
Originally Posted by slimfern:
Originally Posted by erinp:
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 .
Precisely!
I ventured into Manchester city centre today (a hideous thought...hate shopping personally) and excuse if you have read this on our FB page...but passed 3 Oxfam shops on my travels...all prime high street locations....and tbh was flabbergasted at the prices in the front windows...were no different than the designer shops next door!
No wander they were empty of customers!
Yes, but why should things be sold off dirt cheap, just because it's for charity?
Cos dirt cheap is pretty much what our locals can afford and with it being a donated item...should we be charging near enough what folk can buy in an every day shop ?
I wonder why they (Oxfam) need a high street location in the first place (let alone 3 within spitting distance of each other)....business taxes are free...a backstreet location ....volunteers....overheads are minimal!
Most of our frequenters shop only in charity shops these days...and more & more are heading that way....I feel that the likes of Oxfam are cashing in on the need of ordinary folk...
Had many a bargain out of them. First port of call for M&S jumpers
Penny in your pocket's your best friend.
Originally Posted by velvet donkey:
Had many a bargain out of them. First port of call for M&S jumpers
Penny in your pocket's your best friend.
I have come to the conclusion that M & S shoppers have too much money to spend...based on the amount of their goods we get unworn....either that or M & S stuff is naff!
No the two items I mentioned ^^^ were M&S and very nice too. Unworn also.
some dodgy goings on in some charity shops..i know, as we used to buy offa a bloke who sold us unsold goods to sell on the market stall, he pocketed the money, he said it goes on in a lot of charity shops, especially the one he worked for..
but apart from that, i dont mind 2nd hand goods, i buy off eBay, same thing
Originally Posted by pirate1111:
some dodgy goings on in some charity shops..i know, as we used to buy offa a bloke who sold us unsold goods to sell on the market stall, he pocketed the money, he said it goes on in a lot of charity shops, especially the one he worked for..
but apart from that, i dont mind 2nd hand goods, i buy off eBay, same thing
I hear you Pirate.....had to tell one couple that came in asking to buy all our baby clothes....(all new & not your cheap stuff)....that 1...it would leave nothing for our locals to buy & 2. we would be doing our charity a disservice...as they wanted discount on top!
Told them...if they don't want to pay our minimal prices...then please feel free to shop elsewhere!
These people live local....they resell on their market stall!
Don't get me wrong....if someone comes & pays the price we ask...then the goods are theirs to do with whatever they want...but am not doing it wholesale for no fecker!
Originally Posted by slimfern:
Originally Posted by pirate1111:
some dodgy goings on in some charity shops..i know, as we used to buy offa a bloke who sold us unsold goods to sell on the market stall, he pocketed the money, he said it goes on in a lot of charity shops, especially the one he worked for..
but apart from that, i dont mind 2nd hand goods, i buy off eBay, same thing
I hear you Pirate.....had to tell one couple that came in asking to buy all our baby clothes....(all new & not your cheap stuff)....that 1...it would leave nothing for our locals to buy & 2. we would be doing our charity a disservice...as they wanted discount on top!
Told them...if they don't want to pay our minimal prices...then please feel free to shop elsewhere!
These people live local....they resell on their market stall!
Don't get me wrong....if someone comes & pays the price we ask...then the goods are theirs to do with whatever they want...but am not doing it wholesale for no fecker!
wholesale!? thats a bit cheeky..i buy my books from charity shops,i wouldnt dream of asking for a discount lol
Originally Posted by pirate1111:
Originally Posted by slimfern:
Originally Posted by pirate1111:
some dodgy goings on in some charity shops..i know, as we used to buy offa a bloke who sold us unsold goods to sell on the market stall, he pocketed the money, he said it goes on in a lot of charity shops, especially the one he worked for..
but apart from that, i dont mind 2nd hand goods, i buy off eBay, same thing
I hear you Pirate.....had to tell one couple that came in asking to buy all our baby clothes....(all new & not your cheap stuff)....that 1...it would leave nothing for our locals to buy & 2. we would be doing our charity a disservice...as they wanted discount on top!
Told them...if they don't want to pay our minimal prices...then please feel free to shop elsewhere!
These people live local....they resell on their market stall!
Don't get me wrong....if someone comes & pays the price we ask...then the goods are theirs to do with whatever they want...but am not doing it wholesale for no fecker!
wholesale!? thats a bit cheeky..i buy my books from charity shops,i wouldnt dream of asking for a discount lol
Have certainly had my eyes opened to the cheek of some folk Pirate....
Am happy to give to those in the community that really have nothing..but I know that there are those that are out to make personal gain off the back of donations.
We have folk who set clothes recycling bins out...they look like local authority bins...but are not....they then empty & sell in their shops/on their stalls!
I visited one commercial music stall holder in the flea market and several charity shops. I found a few rarities in the latter and only one in the trades club. Even though the market man was charging double he still had mainly common material.
Perhaps we should have suggested to him that he was missing an opportunity.
** writes new Apprentice episode **
I had to take some stuff to a charity shop today.
What a miserable affair (although the shop assistant was rather tasty)
So i was thinknig ... aint it about time charity shops disappeared?
Just like public toiles have almost gone in favour of toilets in supermarkets and libraries for example.
Charity should be integrated similarly ... becoming part of ASDA range or M&S event sales of nearly new.
Wot yew fink?
They don't pay rates saint, they'll not vamoose any time soon!
I think M&S and ASDA could defo put a stop to them lil piddly shops.
A new world order in buying "formerly owned" clothing should be seriously considered.
We're about to take a trip out to a north east seaside toon, where we will trawl the charity shops for music and clothing.
Originally Posted by SazBomb:
They STOLE my sodding idea !!! 
Originally Posted by Garage Joe:
We're about to take a trip out to a north east seaside toon, where we will trawl the charity shops for music and clothing.
Don't Joe - just don't
Go to a swish restuarant and spoil yourselves
The only time we ever go to a swish restaurant is when our daft mates come up from down south and pay for us at The Magpie. No meal is worth more than a fiver. We've spent about ÂĢ25 already btw.
Come on . . . of course some meals are worth more LOL
Spend a day in The Metro Joe - its warm, pleasant, free 
We took your advise and splashed out on a slap-up shoppers special. ÂĢ4.95 each. The metro is evil. Went for the first time this year, only because it's the nearest apple shop.