Karen & co. Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 We had the school collection here too, I'm afraid I didn't return it, as it was from a company that sell the clothes to traders who then sell them on to market and shop owners in third world countries, and some eastern european cities, who in turn sell the clothes to those who need them I just thinkit's wrong so may people make a profit on clothes that were donated Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 It does seem a bit ironic that the clothes made in sweatshops could make their way back to the same people who made them, then have to pay for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted February 7, 2008 Author Share Posted February 7, 2008 My favourite charity shop in Sandbach is called Debra - we call it De - bras (the mind boggles). Had some bargains from there! They still use charity shop prices, none of your bumping the price up! Good O, as everything they sell was donated in the first place. Debra supports a horrid skin disease - it's like weepy burns & eating away / peeling of the skin - yuk. I don't agree with Oxfam's prices - they are a rip off for 2nd hand stuff! Not all of the money reaches the needy people either! Oh & the Marks & Spencers voucher is a con - you have to give them a bag of M & S clothes ONLY!!!! Then you get a £5 voucher which you can only use when you spend £35 anyway! SO they are not really giving you much are they? I also like PDSA, british heart foundation - but I have to go Newcastle for those! Market Drayton has a good selection of Charity shops & so does Chester! Love charity shops. I've got a thing about cook books & cornish ware! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I might be off to Redditch tomorrow (I love the train journey, and the fact that the track ends there!) and their Oxfam shop sells loads of stuff at 99p and £1.29. They also have a lovely Sense shop where I had a brand new pair of M&S leather sandals for £3 . We have an Oxfam in a busy shopping area (also a bit chavvy) in South Birmingham, and their prices are the same, but the nearest one to me only sells books and that sort of thing. A colleague was telling me about the M&S clothes voucher. She overheard the assistant tell someone to only take one or two M&S items in to get the voucher, then go back again with a couple more things for another voucher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted February 7, 2008 Author Share Posted February 7, 2008 oooo you're lucky! Perhaps it's because it's the Cheshire sect that the prices are a bit high? Remember the lovely Posh & Becks (not) used to live in Cheshire! he heb Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 (edited) ...I don't agree with Oxfam's prices - they are a rip off for 2nd hand stuff! If we have customers who are happy to pay a good price for a good garment then where's the harm? If we charge less, then we are doing a dis-service to the donor who has trusted us to raise money for Oxfam. Not all of the money reaches the needy people either! This is an unfortunate rumour. Oxfam work hard to bypass corruption. They set up locally run longterm projects; once established they use their expertise & experience on the next project. Oh & the Marks & Spencers voucher is a con - you have to give them a bag of M & S clothes ONLY!!!! Then you get a £5 voucher which you can only use when you spend £35 anyway! SO they are not really giving you much are they? M & S have completely paid for this promotion. The main point for me is that perhaps people who already spend a lot at M & S will be pleased to have a voucher and be encouraged to donate good quality garments, perhaps for the first, of hopefully many, times. We've had people asking who've never set foot in the shop before, so it's working, at no cost to us. Love charity shops. Agree with you there! I'm not meaning to pick on your post Emma, just used it as a vehicle to hopefully put across the other side. I feel passionate about Oxfam! Sometimes when I've had a day of it, or dwell on the imperfections, I then remember why I joined. If just one Mother can enjoy her child develop instead of watching it die unnecessarily (dirty water, no medical help) then it's worth it. Um...someone said about the heating & door open. We've stopped because of the But, the door heater acts as a barrier between the shop & the cold outdoors! It's scientific, honestly! The first reaction is but it serves to keep the heat in and really does work, as well as attracting more customers. It is not heating the outside! If we are "picky" about items it's because we receive mostly, yes mostly, rubbish. Oxfam use a fantastic Wastesaver scheme for clean textiles, but we have to pay to have our daily skip emptied. What do people think I'm going to do with bobbly clothing, cracked china, wire coathangers, plastic plantpots?.... and that's not the worst. Shops vary, but we are a High street shop in an affluent area and you would not believe the high rent & rates. By selling good quality products we receive good quality donations & have a reputation for keeping high standards. People can shop with us instead of another upmarket store, we're not competing with jumble sales. If we didn't have such good quality control, we would soon go downhill & close, as it is we make a good profit. Profits have increased since our refit. We are working in a commercial world. For a worthwhile charity. Edited February 8, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 there's a fab oxfam on Bold St, liverpool. I was in there the other day, they have tons of books and DVDs all very reasonably priced and they have a sofa so you can sit and have a read or a rest. I bought Midge Ure's 'If I was' in HB for £2.99, hardly a rip off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 Hi Sheila - no offence taken at all. A forum is a place to share opinions anyway. If we all thought the same, life would be boring. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Wow, that's certainly a clearout Emma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 I've not finished yet! I made over £60 last week on ebay, by selling some unwanted stuff. Took the bags from my clearout all to the Debra shop today. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Excellent, you've inspired me to get started here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
