Dover has shedloads of them and my friend is what i call a professional charity shopper. I've stopped askin her where she gets her clothes and different niks and naks from. Its now where did you get that dress? Oxfam, sense or Barnados for less than a fiver?
Now i've tried this charity shop lark but the only bargains i've ever got is an old pub Heineken ashtray for 50p and some Thompson twins albums from some charity shop on the high street. I've bagged better bargains at bootfairs.
I've never yet come across any decent clothes. I've seen loads of people walking round town in some of my old togs but never found any decent vintage gear for myself.
I'm gonna make her give me a lesson in charity shop shopping. I swear she knows what days new stock comes in and gets in there first. I bet if i was to drive past oxfam in the early hours i'll see her camped outside with a deckchair, sleeping bag and hip flask.
So the reason for this thread is are there any professional charity shoppers amongst our little clan? If so what bargains have you bagged and has anyone picked up something for 2quid to find out it was worth 200 quid?
Charity shops.
I haven't been in one for years. Do they all still smell of piss, biscuits and old books? I only ever bought old C64 and Spectrum games from them on the off chance they had some. One had a gigantic dead moth inside the case and that put me off going in ever again.
I get all sorts in charity shops - I get loads of clothes, books, records and knicknackery, and it's also my main source of blank videotapes (why do people give brand new videotapes to charity shops?). I don't think I've found anything hugely valuable though.
When I lived down South, the charity shops were really turning into rip-off merchants but now I'm in bonny Scotland I have access to proper old-fashioned, CHEAP charity shops. I've recently built up a pretty decent collection of Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark records from various charity shops, which is good.
Local charity shops and recent purchases in them:
-Sue Ryder (an excellent one, and much better than the Sue Ryder shop I used to visit down south): Four paperbacks (a James Joyce anthology, a book about the shady practices of the major supermarkets, a weird book of nude photos which had recently been discussed on another forum I read, and some boring worthy novel I'll never read, to make up the four for a pound) plus two sets of "Ace Trumps" and a bizarre 1980s aerobics LP, all of which the lady gave me for a quid even though the "proper" total was £1.90.
- Some weird religious hospice thing: I once bought some shoes in here. I have stolen the odd book from this one and given the money to Sue Ryder instead, which is particularly good for Sue Ryder as they get about eight times as much as if they'd sold me the book themselves.
-Help the Aged: actually, the last thing I bought in here was blank videos. Told you so.
-Dog Rescue: A South Park Cartman doll and a copy of "Absolutely" by Madness. (I don't really like to give this lot money as I hate dogs, and if I do buy something here I always go down the road and give at least as much to...)
-Cat Rescue: OMD's "Dazzle Ships" and "Junk Culture" LPs and a pair of trousers.
-Red Cross: actually, I haven't bought anything in here in ages. I think the last and possibly only thing I've bought in there is a CD of "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out" by Panic! At The Disco. I nearly bought a 7" of House of Fun by Madness, but when I checked what was actually in the sleeve, it was something else entirely. I believe the 7" has a unique ending, different to the familiar fade-out issued on a zillion compilations since, but I still haven't located a copy.
-Age Concern: A 1992-vintage Boxtree Book of TV Stars, which I have since mined for research for a website I'm involved with.
-Shelter: A load of hilariously underpriced mint-condition annuals from the 1970s and 80s. I particularly like the 1982 Top of the Pops annual, especially its unique misspelling of "Dexie's Midnight Runners".
-Barnardos: A nice wooly jumper, which I'm wearing NOW and it's warm and lovely.
-Cancer Research: A birthday card - yes, really! My mum's birthday is in November and I'm never organised enough to go and buy a card before everywhere else gives their card space over to christmas cards. And Cancer Research actually do quite good birthday cards.
When I lived down South, the charity shops were really turning into rip-off merchants but now I'm in bonny Scotland I have access to proper old-fashioned, CHEAP charity shops. I've recently built up a pretty decent collection of Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark records from various charity shops, which is good.
Local charity shops and recent purchases in them:
-Sue Ryder (an excellent one, and much better than the Sue Ryder shop I used to visit down south): Four paperbacks (a James Joyce anthology, a book about the shady practices of the major supermarkets, a weird book of nude photos which had recently been discussed on another forum I read, and some boring worthy novel I'll never read, to make up the four for a pound) plus two sets of "Ace Trumps" and a bizarre 1980s aerobics LP, all of which the lady gave me for a quid even though the "proper" total was £1.90.
- Some weird religious hospice thing: I once bought some shoes in here. I have stolen the odd book from this one and given the money to Sue Ryder instead, which is particularly good for Sue Ryder as they get about eight times as much as if they'd sold me the book themselves.
-Help the Aged: actually, the last thing I bought in here was blank videos. Told you so.
-Dog Rescue: A South Park Cartman doll and a copy of "Absolutely" by Madness. (I don't really like to give this lot money as I hate dogs, and if I do buy something here I always go down the road and give at least as much to...)
-Cat Rescue: OMD's "Dazzle Ships" and "Junk Culture" LPs and a pair of trousers.
-Red Cross: actually, I haven't bought anything in here in ages. I think the last and possibly only thing I've bought in there is a CD of "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out" by Panic! At The Disco. I nearly bought a 7" of House of Fun by Madness, but when I checked what was actually in the sleeve, it was something else entirely. I believe the 7" has a unique ending, different to the familiar fade-out issued on a zillion compilations since, but I still haven't located a copy.
-Age Concern: A 1992-vintage Boxtree Book of TV Stars, which I have since mined for research for a website I'm involved with.
-Shelter: A load of hilariously underpriced mint-condition annuals from the 1970s and 80s. I particularly like the 1982 Top of the Pops annual, especially its unique misspelling of "Dexie's Midnight Runners".
-Barnardos: A nice wooly jumper, which I'm wearing NOW and it's warm and lovely.
-Cancer Research: A birthday card - yes, really! My mum's birthday is in November and I'm never organised enough to go and buy a card before everywhere else gives their card space over to christmas cards. And Cancer Research actually do quite good birthday cards.
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Lorns
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Jenny you sound just like my bestest mate. Is your real name Kate by any chance?
Mental anxiety, Mental breakdowns, Menstrual cramps, Menopause... Did you ever notice how all our problems begin with Men?
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Nick Harvey
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I nearly responded to this at tea-time, but thought my reply would sound a bit pompous.Netizen wrote:I haven't been in one for years.
However, in view of what you've said, I'll disclose to the world that I've never set foot in one in my life.
I've never quite caught on to the concept of 'second hand', except for the occasional house.
I volunteer in a charity shop in York at the moment, the Mind shop, one of "the charity shop run" on Goodramgate just within the city walls. I've been doing it for around five months now and I've really enjoyed the experience. I currently don't have a job due to personal circumstances, but once I get back into full-time paid employment I'd certainly love to keep the volunteering in the shop up as much as possible.
I sort of specialise in the music and video sections, mainly pricing and sorting the vinyl, CDs, VHS tapes, cassettes and such, but I've become more aware about the world of books, clothes, household goods and general bric-a-brac during my time there so far.
The people I work with are amazing, helpful and work well together - I work with people ranging from sixth formers to a 90-year old lady; and the customers are usually pleasant and friendly - and once they hear my Norn Irn accent, it makes their day in some cases...
Our shop, as well as the others, were busy non-stop on Saturday - plenty of people looking for cards, winter coats, scarves, gifts for Christmas. We took in a fantastic amount - won't say exactly how much, but it was over halfway towards a four-figure total. We also get some good quality stuff, at the moment we have a good line of leather jackets (v. popular) and vintage clothing.
If you're in the York area, Lorna (or anyone), I recommend you drop in to either the place I help out at or one of the others on the same street - it's a wicked experience.
I sort of specialise in the music and video sections, mainly pricing and sorting the vinyl, CDs, VHS tapes, cassettes and such, but I've become more aware about the world of books, clothes, household goods and general bric-a-brac during my time there so far.
The people I work with are amazing, helpful and work well together - I work with people ranging from sixth formers to a 90-year old lady; and the customers are usually pleasant and friendly - and once they hear my Norn Irn accent, it makes their day in some cases...
Our shop, as well as the others, were busy non-stop on Saturday - plenty of people looking for cards, winter coats, scarves, gifts for Christmas. We took in a fantastic amount - won't say exactly how much, but it was over halfway towards a four-figure total. We also get some good quality stuff, at the moment we have a good line of leather jackets (v. popular) and vintage clothing.
If you're in the York area, Lorna (or anyone), I recommend you drop in to either the place I help out at or one of the others on the same street - it's a wicked experience.
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Lorns
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They call that community service round my neck of the woods!Col wrote:I volunteer in a charity shop in York at the moment, the Mind shop, one of "the charity shop run" on Goodramgate just within the city walls. I've been doing it for around five months now and I've really enjoyed the experience. I currently don't have a job due to personal circumstances, but once I get back into full-time paid employment I'd certainly love to keep the volunteering in the shop up as much as possible.
Mental anxiety, Mental breakdowns, Menstrual cramps, Menopause... Did you ever notice how all our problems begin with Men?
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Lorns
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Nick Harvey wrote:I nearly responded to this at tea-time, but thought my reply would sound a bit pompous.Netizen wrote:I haven't been in one for years.
However, in view of what you've said, I'll disclose to the world that I've never set foot in one in my life.
I've never quite caught on to the concept of 'second hand', except for the occasional house.
You mean you was worried about being called a snob. Don't worry my mate calls me a snob. I'm sorry i just can't wear dead mans shoes.
Mental anxiety, Mental breakdowns, Menstrual cramps, Menopause... Did you ever notice how all our problems begin with Men?
We do have CS people who help at the shop (and they are all a great bunch), but, sadly, I'm not one of them - I'm out of work due to high anxiety, depression and suffering a few nasty panic attacks, but I am starting to come through and prevent getting that extreme.miss hellfire wrote:They call that community service round my neck of the woods!
I feel it's a bit of a shame that it's taken such a situation to get me involved in volunteering - but I think it's the best thing I've ever done. I'm currently also involved in a voluntary radio project with the plan to launch a website in the near future, I also help put a newsletter together for young volunteers in York and I get involved in other voluntary stuff that takes my interest. I spent last Thursday dressed in a duck costume in York city centre as part of a meningitis awareness event... something I never imagined I'd ever do, but I had a real ball and I wouldn't hesitate doing it again - I've even been offered more gigs!
But I'm going off-topic with my sob stories...
I've only been in a charity shop once. That was in about 1992 when my parents dragged me in one day.
My father picked out a vile checked shirt and told me he'd buy it for me as a present. 50p. Git.
There was the usual tat; Game of Monopoly with a faded and ripped box, random pieces of lego, a Troll (remember those from the early 90s?) and stuff like hair clips, alice bands etc.
I don't get why charity shops change their names so often. Scope is still The Spastics Society to me.
My father picked out a vile checked shirt and told me he'd buy it for me as a present. 50p. Git.
There was the usual tat; Game of Monopoly with a faded and ripped box, random pieces of lego, a Troll (remember those from the early 90s?) and stuff like hair clips, alice bands etc.
I don't get why charity shops change their names so often. Scope is still The Spastics Society to me.
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