Who's Cash Are They Using.

[nicebloke1]

I notice some of these charity shops especialy Barnardo's are in fact dealing in brand new items that have been bought in direct from manufactores. If they are using the funds from goods that have be donated to buy these new goods, is this not in a way gambling with these funds in the hope of increasing there turnover/ profits, or are the goods supplied on a sale or return basis? If its the latter then the shop is being used for private enterprize to make money when really the shop is not there for that purpose. Any thoughts?

[naomi24]

//They are losing their idenity.//

 

No they're not.  They're still selling second-hand items but they have to make money as well as hand it out.  They have overheads to meet just as any business does.  

[nicebloke1]

The idenity of a charity shop is, walk in you never know what secondhand bargin you will find, the latter is the excitment of going in there. As time passes, dont bother, they are now selling the same rubbish along with everyone else, the trouble is they wont be selling it because to many other shops are selling the same. This is the point you seem to be missing.

[newmodarmy]

Have you thought maybe it's you that's missing the point. They are in the retail business ( albeit charity based ) and have far more experience of business models than you do

[BoxAngle]

Last time I looked their stock is still mainly donated items.

[naomi24]

^Me too, boxangle.  It seems, as NMA says, Nicebloke is the one missing something.

[nicebloke1]

Not to long ago many posters on AB said they had stopped giving to charities because they had turned into big businesses? 

[naomi24]

I think they perhaps meant they stopped giving money to the big charities, nicebloke.  I'm one of them - but I still give my unwanted items to charity shops.

[Spicerack]

I'm with NB. Where you have a 'charity side' and a 'business side' running in tandem. You will have abuses.

Some already pay themselves salaries in line with big business.

And big businesses have developed (far from) charitable arms. 

[nicebloke1]

Wel I'm pleased someone see's the point I'm trying to make. So BA

[naomi24]

..Where you have a 'charity side' and a 'business side' running in tandem. You will have abuses.//

 

That's why people have stopped giving money.  I've been fairly heavily involved with a few of the big charities and have resigned for that very reason.  I regarded much of what they did as a misappropriation of funds.  My money and effort now goes almost exclusively to my local hospice.

 

Having said that the OP's point was about the items sold in charity shops.

[nicebloke1]

New items bought from a wholesaler, and bought with donated funds from private enterprise businesses. Not right.

[naomi24]

If it raises money it works.  That's the object of the exercise.

[nicebloke1]

Barnardo's shops are mainly void of footfall now because they have a shopfull of rubbish from China.

[BoxAngle]

You seem to be blinded by some sort of false ideology. I am sure the beneficiaries of the charities would be grateful for any help they can generate. Earning less out of devotion to some sort of self defined "principle" may be laudible but it provides less money.

[nicebloke1]

BA? you seem blinded by the finer details and reason for my post. 

Ps. If you donate items but not cash, then you have not stopped donating.