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?

[rsvp]

I just drop the bags by the counter and say to the assisant ' Just a few things for you - hope they are useful' then leave.

[hc4361]

That's what I've always done, but yesterday they looked at the goods before they would accept them.

[ummmm]

Clothes?

[dannyk13]

Wait until I get a charity bag through the letterbox, then leave it out on the day specified for collection.

[hc4361]

Yes, a barely worn leather jacket and a freshly dry cleaned suit.

[hc4361]

danny, I never do that. There are too many bogus collectors and genuine charities are losing out.

Even if the bag is genuine the person who picks it up may not be. They know when the bags are due to be collected and try to get there first.

[ummmm]

I do what Danny does. If not the council take fabric with the recycling.

[MargoTester]

If I have old or slightly tatty stuff I put it in a separate bag marked 'rag' . They can sell this and make money.

[Arksided]

In the past I have just left them at the counter... having worked in Bernardo's I do know that all items are inspected and clothing steamed before they hit the shop floor.

[marval]

We have a couple of large skips by our local shop. One is for the Salvation Army, I used to work in their charity shop, so any clothes I don't want go in there.

[Old_Geezer]

You go in and announce in a loud voice, "Now I'm not asking £75 for this mystery bag, on no, I'm not even going to ask £50. Indeed this is your lucky day, just for you, seeing you are doing such a great job, just give me £10 for the lot and you won't be disappointed."

[mk1975]

I volunteer for Cancer Research and we never inspect items in front of people donating them. In my opinion it is very rude to do so. Some people would say here i have few things for you, some would just leave the bag by the checkout and go.

[hc4361]

I felt embarrassed, mk.

[cassa333]

The Salvation Army shops have a loyalty card.

Each time you take a bag of stuff in they give you a £2 credit stamp.

[mk1975]

I would too and i wouldnt go there ever again if it was me because of the way i was treated. You could donate to Cancer Research next time :)
and im very happy i got Best Answer :)

[Tilly2]

I always hand the bag in and then my Gift Aid card. That way they make more money from selling my clothes.
I have never had any bags inspected.

[maggiebee]

I usually donate to the PDSA and have a card which lets them reclaim tax (gift aid) on any items from me that they sell.

[Hopkirk]

Yes, at the BHF they take my donor number so they can reclaim the gift aid.

They don't inspect the items though.

[viv41]

I just leave the bag with an assistant and they smile sweetly and take it from me !

[Cloverjo]

How do you get a Gift Aid card? I've given clothes to charity shops before, but never been asked if they could claim Gift Aid on them.