Charity shopping (1 Viewer)

Dec 25, 2015
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I am almost embarrassed to admit this, but our hobby (if you can call it a hobby) is to visit as many charity shops (or Op Shops as they are called here in New Zealand) in search of “treasures”. My hubby collects old vinyl records, mainly pop music of the 1950s and 60s, and I collect - well, anything really.
When we bought our Motorhome in the UK we stuffed it full of treasures. Luckily the space under the lounge seats was exactly the right size to take LPs.
After six months of touring the UK we shipped our lucky finds back to NZ at huge expense, so they were no longer bargains, but they provide happy memories of a great holiday.
I suspect we are not alone in our hobby, but who is prepared to admit to being a charity shop-aholic?
 
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KiwiKampers
Dec 25, 2015
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They are so right! When we go to Aussie we have an app to direct us to the Op Shops in every town - Vinnies, Salvoes, etc.

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Oct 15, 2012
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There are two such shops in Cowbridge near where our eldest daughter lives, whenever we visit her my wife make a beeline for them and has found some great outfits at very good prices. I on the other hand have found nothing.
 
Feb 16, 2013
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Trouble is they all smell of wee:(

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Ambilkate

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Jul 15, 2009
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We love a good mooch in charity shops. Disabled daughter loves to check if they have her magnetics In. She is always wanting more to make even bigger designs
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Steve and Denise

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Sep 26, 2011
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Were you at LINCOLN show about 4 years ago before you went back to NZ.

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KiwiKampers
Dec 25, 2015
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No, we were not at Lincoln Show, but we have been to Lincoln a few times. The last time was about 2 or 3 years ago when the Gothic Festival was on. Fantastic.
 
Jan 22, 2012
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Don't be embarrassed we enjoy a good 'nose' around charity shops. We were in Perth in Scotland one day and I heard a woman say that there were 42 charity shops in Perth, we both looked at each other and knew what each of us thought about that..."Now there's a challenge". We then visited all 42.

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KiwiKampers
Dec 25, 2015
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Don't be embarrassed we enjoy a good 'nose' around charity shops. We were in Perth in Scotland one day and I heard a woman say that there were 42 charity shops in Perth, we both looked at each other and knew what each of us thought about that..."Now there's a challenge". We then visited all 42.
Perth sounds like my sort of town. I admire your devotion to duty, but don't you think you should admit you have a problem. I am currently on the 12-steps programme with Op-Shops Anonymous and haven't been shopping for 3 days (admittedly, one of those was a Sunday so the shops weren't open).
 
Jan 22, 2012
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Perth sounds like my sort of town. I admire your devotion to duty, but don't you think you should admit you have a problem. I am currently on the 12-steps programme with Op-Shops Anonymous and haven't been shopping for 3 days (admittedly, one of those was a Sunday so the shops weren't open).
No its not a problem if everyone around you does the same. My son and partner are professionals with good salaries, they live in Christchurch NZ. They also use charity shops and their daughter who is coming up to two is dressed from them. You may have bumped into them.
 

Southdowners

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May 7, 2015
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I love a good rummage! Over the years I've made some fantastic finds.:D

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scotjimland

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Jul 25, 2007
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Once upon at time you could find the odd hidden gem.. then sell on for a profit.. today that would be rare.. even old vinyl records are now priced up to market value.. they now employ people to value items, and know the price of everything and if not they find what it's been sold for on ebay..

Example..
Some years ago I found two Singer Featherweight portable sewing machines , they date from the early 1950s and depending on condition can sell for £200 - £400 .. Highly sought after by collectors.. I snapped them both up for £50... kept them for a few years and recently sold one to an American buyer for £450. and the other to a UK collected for £250 ... I keep my eye out for them and recently saw one for sale in a charity shop, but they valued it at £200 ..

what puts me off is the 'charity shop smell'.. old clothes hanging on rails make some shops stink..

nowadays the best chance of finding hidden gems is at boot sales..
 
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KiwiKampers
Dec 25, 2015
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No its not a problem if everyone around you does the same. My son and partner are professionals with good salaries, they live in Christchurch NZ. They also use charity shops and their daughter who is coming up to two is dressed from them. You may have bumped into them.
Tell your son to go to the MacLean's Island Swap Meet in Christchurch next month (13 & 14 October). It is a giant car boot sale and a great place to buy bargains - also for people watching! We will be going and camping overnight in our motorhome.
 
Oct 18, 2012
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I wasn't a fan of Charity Shops and usually only went in for a cheap umbrella when caught in a shower. However, I must put in a plug for our newly opened Big C charity shop. I still don't think I would buy clothes but it is a wonderful source of craft items, dress and knitting patterns and lovely books reasonably priced. I'm in the shop every week teaching patchwork and box making and cannot resist browsing the books and rarely come away empty handed. :rolleyes:

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Aug 18, 2014
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They are so right! When we go to Aussie we have an app to direct us to the Op Shops in every town - Vinnies, Salvoes, etc.
Have you the link please?

Paper back books is usually our purchase for in the van.
Many I go in they are far too dear. 50p is the most I'll pay.Even that's pushing it unless there's 3for a£ :) St.John's or Age concern, usually 25p s book.
 

Puddleduck

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On and off for many years.
DVDs to play in the van and then pass on is our favourite purchase in charity shops :)

We also browse Entertainment Exchange for DVDs as well.

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KiwiKampers
Dec 25, 2015
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Jan 22, 2012
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Javea in Spain has some great charity shops. I got an electric pizza oven from one for 6 euros, i can cook anything on it...a great buy. The dog one is really cheap for DVD's and books. I also go in to look at the dynamics of leadership and how the staff relate to each other. Again there's a big one in Javea thats recently moved where the staff openly bitch about each other.I went in to one in Preston where there were 5 staff behind the counter all of them looked like retired professionals apart from one young girl who obviously had learning difficulties. I was the only on in there and they were all sat around waiting to serve me. The young girl asked her seniors if she could go out for a fag break. Then one of the old dears replied "Oh Cheryl you really do take advantage of us"!
 
May 9, 2016
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You have to love a good charity shop. I volunteer in our local Marie Curie shop,which I like to call the Locks Heath 'boutique' and usually come away at least once a week with a bargain. It's good for the environment as its like recycling, and also healthy on your bank balance. Not to forget helping to fund the wonderful nurses supporting the patients and their families.
 
May 7, 2011
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Like @Puddleduck , I check out the dvd's to use in the moho, wife like's browsing for all sorts , nearly every time she gets a fluffy stuffed toy/animal for asbo.

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chesterfield hooligan

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May 12, 2009
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In a local charity shop dvds £1 and they never sell hardly any, in a cash converter type shop 5 for a £1.
I said to the charity shop do a swop system of say .50p to swop a DVD at least it would earn something for them. A year later still the sane dvds on the shelfs.
:party2::party2::party2::party2::party2::party2::party2::party2:
 
Jan 22, 2012
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I was in one once and found the box set of the first series of The west Wing. The first disc had been pinched. Shop worker says it happens all of the time. Who would steal from a charity shop. I was in another in Sidmouth and a loud mouth smart arse went up to the till and was told the price of the item was £5, he said 'I'll give you £2". The shop worker replied slowly and loudly so that everyone in the shop could here "Its a charity shop sir...….a charity shop. we don't give the charity back to people like you"
 

TheBig1

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Nov 27, 2011
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many many years! since I was a kid
I love a good look round charity shops and have found a few bargains, like the motorhome table a few weeks back for £4

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