Charity Shop dilemma

[dewaltdisney]

Mrs D has had a clearout from her (copious) wardrobes. The clothes are good quality and in good condition and we were discussing where best to take them. I made the point that even though that clothes for cash only give tuppence I cannot stand taking stuff to the ungrateful bastards in the charity shops who make you feel like they are doing you a favour by taking your donation. I am a bit anti-charity as I feel that they're largely self-serving organisations with little regard for the benefit of the recipients of the cause. We got a tenner today from Clothes for Cash, the lady was polite, chatty, and grateful so I feel that we made the best choice and got a tenner at least.

DWD

[big-all]

Charity donations are a nightmare
charity bags through the front door are nothing to do with charity, the same with Xmas card and similar
they are companies that pay perhaps £10 a ton towards the charity to use there name so perhaps 5-8% off the clothes value ....read the small print on the bags its all there
even charity shops rag any donations off clothes that dont sell quickly and thats often far more than sold

then you have most charities less than half the collected money from any source gets used for the cause towards the front line it goes in wages and costs as most jobs are paid away from the front line

the best performing are local charities, where up to perhaps 80% goes to the front line

[etaf]

i only use 2 charity stores (in fact one has 2 stores in the village) rabbits and cats, BUT they very rarely refuse donations and are always polite , i often buy stuff from and the other - which very often refuses donations - as they are full and really dont have the room, and again very polite about it - are a hospice who looked after my M-I-L very very well, so i do tend to try and provide stuff to them
otherwise i often use the free website , like freeycle , or sale/give away on nextdoor and facebook market place

when i lived in surrey we had a few of the big name charity shops and after a couple of visits i stopped going as you say

ungrateful bastards in the charity shops who make you feel like they are doing you a favour by taking your donation.

They did in did make out that i was doing them a big favour and then took th ebag and said wait there while I check to see if we want this stuff - i just picked up the bag and said this is high quality stuff , not just rubbish, i will take it to somewhere that appreciates the FREE donation for you to make profit with no goods cost and walked out

[Argyll]

I am a bit anti-charity as I feel that they're largely self-serving organisations with little regard for the benefit of the recipients

Agree about 90%. The first thing when stopped in the High St I ask is how much their CEO gets paid. Most don't know so I walk away. I know Martin Narey who was CEO of Barnados got £320k Salary. The Barnados guy on Falkirk High St rued the day when he stopped me.

[big-all]

I am a bit anti-charity as I feel that they're largely self-serving organisations with little regard for the benefit of the recipients

Agree about 90%. The first thing when stopped in the High St I ask is how much their CEO gets paid. Most don't know so I walk away. I know Martin Narey who was CEO of Barnados got £320k Salary. The Barnados guy on Falkirk High St rued the day when he stopped me.

that would be the paid chugger you spoke to???

i just say "i dont have a bank account" problem solved

[Argyll]

that would be the paid chugger you spoke to???

I know but it still pisses me off when they jump in front of you on the High St.

[big-all]

that would be the paid chugger you spoke to???

I know but it still pisses me off when they jump in front of you on the High St.

yes indeed to me iff les than 90% goes to the front line its not a charity its a business with conflicting interests where the full devotion off all efforts to help the chosen cause can and will be diluted with energy wasted in defending decision not connected to helping those in the greatest need sometimes sadly with loss off life

[aeromech3]

Aside from CEO wages, there are those tear jerking adverts on TV, that must cost a fortune to make and air, also I suspect the personalities that implore you to give ££'s, have a retainer too, or a self interest, or a vacation to visit some far off land that has a model example be it school, pump or clinic!
What I contribute goes directly to support a Family whom, yes I know, but where the 64yr old Father earns, when casual work is available, just £8.00 for days days hard toil.

[Megaross]

I tend to give to charities I know do good work. Shelter for example - you literally see them handing out blankets and coats to homeless round here.

Macmillan couldn't do enough when my gramp was on his death bed.

And then there's small community funded projects I tend to give a bit to on occasion.

You do need to be choosy but like all third sector they do need competent employees so their staff aren't going to be on pennies (pay peanuts get monkeys) - all charities have staffing costs because you would never get enough volunteers.

That being said anyone being paid to get donations can absolutely sod off. Especially if they want my bank details.

And the charities where about 99% of the donations are eaten up by scummy founders and the like, they can do one.

As far as getting rid of my old junk goes I will literally take it to any charity shop that comes about.

[Razor]

We have a charity install on this weekend in Windsor at a homeless refuge/food bank...

http://youtu.be/59k-c2MEX9c