Donating To Charity Shops

[hc4361]

When you take goods to a charity shop do you ask the assistant if they want them, or just drop the bag(s) off and leave?

[alavahalf]

We have always given everything to Sue Ryder's as they were the first charity shop that accepted everything and didn't want to pick and choose. Over the course of a few years we have received lots of letters telling us how much our donations have raised and asking if we would like to reclaim up to 98% of the money raised. We have given £100's of pounds worth and never asked for any of the proceeds. The whole amount gets the gift aid added and the more money is raised.
Some time ago I got home one afternoon to find my wife had started clearing out the old clothes and had at least 10 bin bags full .. all on the drive ready to go to Sue Ryder's. I asked her where she had put my cash .. she said she hadn't found any cash! . After an hour or so I said " do you fancy a meal and a pint" and then asked her again .. where was the cash ?
She was very adamant and said there was no cash in the drawers.
Knowing that there was cash in the drawers, I went outside and started emptying the Sue Ryder bags that had been loaded into the car ... where I found my cash.. more than £1000 in £20 notes in a clear polythene wallet !
Do you know what she said .. "Fancy leaving all that cash in the drawers".
How did I manage to get the blame for that one ?

[murraymints]

I take things to the Sally Army hostel..not to any shop for resale..the clothes are given directly to folks in need ...no money changes hands...homeless go in for a shower/bed for the night/ medical attention etc and if they need a coat..shoes ..whatever it is simply taken from a rack and given...

[DSJ]

I never use charity bags posted through my door. Far too many bogus collectors around. I take everything to my local Red Cross charity shop.

[hc4361]

Thanks all, food for thought.
Gift Aid is complex

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2010/jan/30/gift-aid-hidden-catch

[wolf63]

I volunteer in a charity shop and we have a Gift Aid system working. We stick barcodes on the books and can control it all that way. But we are part of a huge network, smaller shops (our local Cat shelter for one) don't seem to be able to claim back. Not sure if it is just too complex or what.

Most of the donations that we get in are books and music - coz that is what we sell. The stuff that we can't sell online or in the shop is recycled properly and not binned.

Back when there wee jumble sales it was so simple.

[hc4361]

Does anyone who has donated the goods ask for the money when the item is sold, wolf?

[choux]

I donate to either of my 2 local charity shops. Sometimes I am advised that they are not taking books for example. Fair enough. More often than not they are grateful for whatever I donate. If items remain unsold they are moved to another shop.

[mikey4444]

I donated some old clothes, to my local Barnados charity shop. All of them were is very good nick and some of them were new. Unfortunately I will never squeeze into 23inch waist trousers, or 15 collar shirts again !

The staff were very appreciative, as they said they don't get anything like enough quality mens clothes.

[wolf63]

hc - one that I am aware of. And that is over a period of years so I would say that the charities get a good amount of money.

I think that I get an email saying that I have donated a certain amount which has raised another amount and if I want it I would have to claim.

We have a barcode scanner at the till and all is sent to the computer and then off to head office. I avoid the till as I can't seem to fully understand how it works. I do the accounts (really just filling up spreadsheets) and other computery stuff and that suits me.

[hc4361]

Thanks, wolf. It would be interesting if something awful happened because of a faulty item sold via Gift Aid and the question of liability arose.

[bednobs]

i don't think the question of liability would arise - it would be up to the shop to accept your donation, do any checks and sell it on. Any libility would be theirs?

[hc4361]

No, bednobs. When it is sold via Gift Aid, the charity shop acts as the donor's agent and the item belongs to the donor until it is sold and title transfers to the buyer. It is never owned by the charity shop.

This is why the charity shop has to offer the donor the proceeds when the item is sold.

[waterboatman]

If I have something to donate, I take it to the shop. I never use the bags that come through the letter box. Too easy to rip off. I use the bags as bin liners.

[hc4361]

Me, too