Would You Volunteer at a Charity Shop?

Years ago, I used to volunteer in various charity shops in my area (for work experience and reference). In those days charity donations were sold for next to nothing etc brand new coat £5, jeans £3 and so on. Today I went into a charity shop, and I was shocked at the price for shoes, jeans, etc. I am not a buyer of second-hand goods, but I do buy the occasionally book or children's games and I am hoping to resell them online via a friend who has several online accounts. I used to do "fundraising" for various charities. I would "disappear" and resurfaced before the end of the "line" or if I was left unsupervised, I did nothing, but I would add my own money to the money raised for the various charities causes. I was never caught out doing this.

Thankyou for sharing

My friend volunteered for a local charity shop but the paid manager was too bossy so she eventually gave up.

Like jam45 posted, charity shops years ago you could get some great bargains. Because of the bad weather yesterday I popped in to a charity shop to shelter from the rain. Looking around the shop I could see the prices for items were quite high. I know they have to make money but it just put me off buying.

I supported my service user around the shops after her Dr Appointment..We went into 2nd Time Around at Firth Park, Sheffield where she got a lovely green long M & S jumper for £3. I was asking the lady called Kerry if the place was a Charity Shop,no she replied it was her own busines.There were some nice items in Kerry's shop priced at £3 each...

I volunteered 3 years ago enjoyed it till the new manager started then I left before I slapped him he had a power trip everyday I walk pass to see a note in the window he's looking for new volunteers

it is definetely worth voluntering for charity as it gives more of experience in collaborating with people

As someone who supports a coille of charity shops local to me I appreciate them. I won't go to one shop over a combination of high prices and the staff. The volunteers are great but the paid ones are rude. The final nail was when j brought a wardrobe the delivery driver was paid to deliver goods. Didn't like stairs.

I was aware of this as my mum had arranged for items to be collected from her and her upstairs neighbours. He refused to take half of my mums stuff. Ironically took the stuff that wasn't in best condition but left the stuff in near perfect condition and refused to go to the neighbours because the stuff should have been taken out the property and taken downstairs. This needed 2 people. All explained when booked. Staff agreed it was fine. Driver refused. Despite the one with him happy to do it.

I brought a wardrobe. Had it delivered as it wouldn't fit in oh van or out car. Driver knocked. Asked 2 or 3 times if I wanted it. Was like well I've paid for it so yes and to put it under the shelter outside my house. Asked if i knew how big it was as it wouldn't fit through the door. Told him yes that's why it's going outside til oh gets home. Informed him that oh was going to get it in the house. Oh is a carpenter so going to take the wooden wardrobe apart. Asked if oh knew how big it was. Told him yes oh was with me when we brought had looked at it to see if it came apart and told me we could have it. Driver kept asking if I wanted it, could get it up the stairs of the house. The wardrobe was going to get wet outside. Put my foot down and said the wardrobe needs to go outside oh is out for an hour (was at the Dr's as off sick). Driver didn't need to worry as it was none of his business. Realised I wasn't going to fold and said. "Oh well I suppose I better go snd get it then". That was a decade ago barely used them since

I would but I would need to check out the charity as resent the charities that are effectively businesses with a lot of high paid staff in mid-management and above but rely on volunteers to do the work that generates their wages. I've seen jobs in the past where a local region manager was paid £80k a year and that was something like 6 years ago. I also resent giving donations to charities where administration costs are ridiculously high mainly due to high wages etc and effectively I'm giving my donations to mainly pay for someone who is highly paid. I totally understand many people have to be paid a proper wage for the work that charities do i.e. RSPCA inspectors but I don't agree with the people at the top of charities getting wages over £100k or more with incredible pension schemes. I seem to remember the Salvation Army boss was on a very low wage, token wage for costs I think yet you see Salvation Army charity shops not just here but over in the USA too. Seems to be a very successful UK charity despite not paying huge sums. I guess my point is I would volunteer where there is a real charity ethos where people are working for the aims of the charity above everything else. It feels like a fine line between commercial business and charity sometimes.

I would love to work in a charity shop, we have a Scope one in my high street and every item is one pound only...when they have a sale it's a total bargain in there

I would like to volunteer at a charity shop but unfortunately I don't have a great deal of free time outside of work.

Wish I could, hard to get to towns now I have mobility issues and I am not reliable enough to commit to it now