A mum claims that even charity shops have become unaffordable during the cost-of-living crisis as they price items too high. The Mumsnet user said clothing items had been priced higher or with very little difference to brand-new items on the high street.
On the ‘am I being unreasonable’ thread, the mum wrote: “Firstly, this isn't to do with not giving to charity. I give to charity separately and donate items to local homeless charities, food banks, etc but I've always loved supporting charity shops too. They're great (or were great) for grabbing a bargain and reusing an unwanted item. I love secondhand wherever possible.
“However, I've now come to the conclusion that charity shops are largely unaffordable for me now. I browse round charity shops weekly, I would say (in more than one town) and the prices are just crazy! I always buy secondhand clothing for myself, dh [dear husband] and children but quite often the charity shop prices seem more expensive than buying new or at best, very little difference. For instance, in Chelmsford the other day, I went into the BHF [British Heart Foundation] shop and I saw a very simple baby's top, not designer or anything and it was £4! And then for adult clothing, I couldn't see anything below £6/7." You can get more consumer news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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She added: “Boots sales and Facebook marketplace are my go to places more and more now. Sometimes freebay too. I can understand charity shops putting their prices up a little with rising costs of everything but there has to be a balance, surely? AIBU [am I being unreasonable] to think charity shop prices are unrealistic for secondhand items? Are they becoming unaffordable for anyone else?”
Another user agreed, saying: "Yanbu [you are not being unreasonable]. Used to shop in them and given up for this reason. I am not going to pay £8 for worn when [a] new [item] costs £10.”
One mum shared how she also relied on online sites for secondhand items, as she felt charity shops in her area had become too expensive: “I've got to know all the charity shops near me now and there are only three that are still worth visiting - the rest are just too expensive. I buy a lot more stuff on vinted now instead. I suppose it must make more money for the shops and that's why they do it but it takes the fun out of it for me!”
Some users disagreed with the original post, saying: “I think it depends on where you go. The Cancer Research shop near me has everything priced at £3 or under.”
One user, who claimed to work in a charity shop, agreed that some items were overpriced, saying: “I work in a charity shop, and in ours, the people who process the items price them. Sometimes clothes will come to the shop floor that are massively underpriced (e.g. new and unworn designer dress at £6), other times, bog standard stuff will be overpriced (e.g. primary t-shirt at £4). My managers are proactive and I can change these when I see them. We do a LOT of price checking.
“There is another charity shop along the road from us who do generally charge more. When I have been a customer and seen something overpriced, I have pointed it out to staff. Not trying to undercut the shop, just to let them know they're pricing unreasonably.”
Another person, who also claimed they worked in a charity shop, explained why some items were priced higher than others: “In the charity shop I'm involved with, we sell tops for £3-4, have a basket of items all priced at £2 (jeans, t-shirts etc), and loads of bric a brac at 50p.
“We also have higher priced items, simply because that's what we've been donated and we know the customers who visit our shop are used to seeing brand items, some with new tags, for a fair price. Next, Wallis, M&S, John Lewis, J Brand jeans, Monsoon, Wedgwood crockery, etc. The shop rent is £3.7k per month, plus energy costs, insurance, manager's salary, merchant fees, waste disposal, training costs, tea/coffee for volunteers etc.”
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