Have you ever bought anything in a Charity Shop?

freshpopcorn

I personally haven't from what I can see locally they carter more towards woman and nothing has ever really interested me.

Have you ever bought anything in a charity shop and did you get a fantastic bargain?

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058311982/have-you-ever-bought-anything-in-a-charity-shop

Good God no!

freshpopcorn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121061521#Comment_121061521

Mother Popcorn calls TKMaxx an expensive charity shop!

Conall Cernach

You can usually pick up cheap paperbacks for around 5 for a euro. I did score some Advanced Dungeons and Dragons manuals for a fiver a piece a few years ago. They're around 30-50 on ebay.

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121061527#Comment_121061527

Coincidentally, I was in one today. Shite clothes and still over priced. I left empty handed

ednwireland

picked up a whole scalextric set they couldnt get to work ! (it works cars were a bit battered )

odyssey06

Several times - Wine and whiskey glasses.

One time an emergency fleece - on a day trip to seaside town and weather turned chilly.

Some coffee table type food books.

Hangdogroad

Yes.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058311982/have-you-ever-bought-anything-in-a-charity-shop

Yes. Once I bought a small stuffed soft toy, that I suspected was a collectors item. Paid €3 for it. Sold it on eBay at auction and it went for over €200.

elperello

Yes.

Some nice stuff in them ,you are re-using things that could be discarded and helping a good cause.

Duke of Schomberg

"Several times - Wine and whiskey glasses."

Same here: things like that, decanters as well.

Mainly though I find the local charity shop - some Roman Catholic hospice - a useful dumping ground for my wife's old paperbacks. Anything worth anything - like our old, well looked-after, three-piece suite - goes to the British Heart Foundation charity shop in the nearby market town.

Strumms

No. I don’t think I’ve ever set foot in one. None near me.

If I need / want to buy something I prefer spending a few bob , it being new and if anything goes wrong there is a receipt and a comeback….

Xander10

I've seen the likes of suits on mannequins in the window. The thoughts of buying some dead persons second hand clothes makes me shudder.

If that stuck, at least try the likes of Penney's for something unworn

griffin100

A couple of years ago I spent half a day in Kildare Village and then Whitewater Shopping Centre trying to find a coat - no joy (I’m a fussy fcuker). Later that day I was in the local town with my teenage son and I spotted the perfect coat in a charity shop. My son was mortified but I dragged him in and got it for €20. I still have it.

My folks go the same part of Spain for a couple of months at a time a couple of times a year. My mother brings very little clothing and buys her clothes in the local charity shop when she arrives (underwear excluded!!). When she’s leaving she donated the clothes back to the shop. She reckons it’s better than dragging suitcases with her (she’s in her 70’s).

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121061527#Comment_121061527

She’s not wrong

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058311982/have-you-ever-bought-anything-in-a-charity-shop

Books.

Rubberchikken

Did once bought a coat for 9 euro for one days wear. It was a dressy type that I'd normally never have a need for and even the cheapest in Dunne's at the time was 30+ .

We have a few in our town but never went into one before and haven't had a need to since but some family members have gotten great value kids books in them over the years.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121061607#Comment_121061607

Living people donate clothes too.

HorseSea

Regularly buy books, used to buy a lot of DVDs and CDs but not anymore.

Buying less books now too, most are overpriced and the best are always picked out out by dealers or sent to eBay, much less chance of finding a rarity these days.

Never bought clothes, don't think I would, if I need something cheap there are plenty of other cheap shops.

Nickla

Yes I’ve bought from lots of stuff from charity shops and encourage my kids to buy from them too - if I’m leaving stuff in I always buy something as I feel they’re doing me a favour by taking it and they’re all important charities. I mostly have bought toys and books but I have bought the odd clothing item if I like it enough and try to make all my halloween decorations and outfits from stuff bought at charity shops as usually the aim is too look old and tatty anyway. It also gives me a nice smug feeling that I’m supporting a worthwhile cause and helping the environment and suppresses the feelings of guilt over the amount crap I’ve wasted money on like shoes I don’t wear cause they’re uncomfortable or toys my kids don’t play with.

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121061639#Comment_121061639

Do they keep them on separate racks?

Gaspode

Yes, why not.

Books, CDs, vinyl, clothes. Even furniture on occasion.

i124Q

I once bought Cluedo for a 5er. Full game, all pieces. We had a blast that evening playing it. Hours of fun!

NewbridgeIR

Yes. Books, CDs, records, DVDs.

The charity shops in Ireland are poor compared to the UK though.

corner of hells

Yes , I collect china cups and saucer’s.I’ve bought quite a bit over the years and donate books and clothing to the shops.

However recently a manager in a particular charity shop told me they wouldn’t be selling me china anymore because they knew what I was doing , I’ve no idea what she meant and she wouldn’t tell me .

cj maxx

No , but I tried to donate to one , but during the pandemic they wouldn’t take anything

NIMAN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121061881#Comment_121061881

Probably think you are buying heap and selling yourself for a profit?

Either that or some weird china cup fetish thing??

jack of all

I don't often visit charity shops but I have picked up some nice items and genuine bargains over the years, including quality glassware, EPNS tableware, linen shirts and best of all a top quality Rothenberger adjustable water pump pliers in its wrapping for a fraction of the retail cost. As a household we do donate generously to charity shops also, although I can't understand how people can "donate" broken and worthless junk to charity shops.

corner of hells

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121061977#Comment_121061977

Shhh , it’s my thing.

everyone’s got a fetish , don’t they ?

NIMAN

I have donated a lot of good quality stuff to my local charity shop over the years.

Hifi, dvds, cds, clothes (many unworn and even with labels still attached), toys, homewares still boxed, bedding unopened.

Plenty of folk got bargains.

I browse the charity shops occasionally when I have the time.

Mostly I spend my time sifting through endless broken plastic toys, chipped ornaments, books with pages torn out, DVD box sets with discs either badly scratched or missing altogether and "pianos" (a very loose description here) that were probably out of tune when they left the factory somewhere in the Far East. Throw in an old UPC Horizon box that's no good to anyone else anyway into the mix.

Sometimes I wonder if people think as follows when sorting through old stuff that they don't need anymore - 1) Sell it, 2) Can't sell it? Give it away, 3) Can't give it away? Take it to the recycling centre, 4) But the recycling centre charges you do get rid of your old junk, 5) No problem, drop it off at the charity shop!

Still though, I have come across a few gems. Plenty of books, CDs and LPs in my collection came from charity shops.

I had a Sony micro system that I bought for a tenner that I used in the bedroom for a while and then sold for more than what I paid for it.

I have a (really) old Swan electric copper kettle that I bought for a fiver and still use.

About three years ago I picked up a golf bag with about 20 clubs in it for 20 quid. I kept a handful for myself and sold some of the better ones.

Other good finds include a bedside table drawer unit, an old Victorian reed organ, a vintage cricket bat and an Arabian-style rug that I steam-cleaned and gave as a wedding gift.

Oh and a mate of mine picked up a ZX Spectrum Plus in its original box a while back. I can't remember what exactly he paid for it but it wasn't any more than low double figures. Lucky git!

JP Liz V1

A real good nick Michael Kors handbag for €6 also some dvds including box sets and special editions

fatherted1969

Wife loves them for a root around, kids are the same. They know a bargain. When we're in the states we go to all the local thrift shops as well. You'd be amazed what some people consider to be junk. My son buys old soccer jerseys and sells them on a retro soccer Jersey site as well

z80CPU

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058311982/have-you-ever-bought-anything-in-a-charity-shop

This thread is *really smelly* like one about the same shops a good many years ago here on boards :p

o1s1n

I've bought mountains of gear from them over the years. They were a great place to hunt for hobbiest type things back in the days before eBay.

A lot of that stuff has moved to eBay now unfortunately and as said above, it seems to be mostly women's clothes.

There are also now difficulties with them selling electronics in a lot of cases due to electrical safety laws.

But back in the day there'd be piles of electronics and cool stuff. I used to pick up loads of old consoles, games, toys. Musical equipment.

Oxfam Home store on Francis Street had an amazing electronics section. I picked up several really fancy stereo receivers in there over the years and lots and lots of great speakers.

H_Lime

8x30 Zeiss binos unused in case for 30e.

Pwindedd

Frequently !

I love clothes, bags, shoes, costume jewellery etc and it’s a great way to get some new bits in your wardrobe at a fraction of the cost and do your bit for charity and sustainability. If you’ve a good eye you can tell the stuff that’s been donated because it didn’t fit or was an impulse purchase, from the stuff that’s been worn to death.

Big fan of TK Maxx as well. Most of it is rubbish but if you don’t mind a good rummage you can find some really nice stuff.

HildaOgdenx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121061614#Comment_121061614

Same here.

There's one in the next town to me where the books are always in pristine condition. I buy a lot of books anyway but can't resist having a look in charity shops for them too.

Bought some over the years that I had planned on buying new, and they were in mint condition. I also donate them back.

Ger Roe

I have bought loads over the years:

Some highlights include -

Books - I have a good collection of autographed autobiographies picked up over the years, Vinyl records - various, including a collection of JFK speeches, a 'Summit Freeplay' wind up/solar radio, a hand held label printer, various glassware items.

I like a good rummage... never bought clothes though. Just collectible items that interest me... or total dust magnet crap as the wife calls them 😁

Actually, I have a story about charity shops.... my late father and I used to frequent them in our separate areas of the country and we would often buy bits that we thought the other of us would be interested in and we would often exchange purchases when we met up. When he died, my mum wanted a song played at his funeral that she said he had sung in the church on their wedding day (55 years previous) - it was Mario Lanza... 'Because'. I didn't believe her, as I never heard him sing a song in his life, never mind a Mario Lanza opera track... but through the magic of download, mam got her wish on the day of his funeral, although I still told here that I didn't believe dad had sung it - it became a family joke.

Six weeks later I was going to register his death, but the civic office was closed for lunch and I had an hour to wait. I walked down the street and saw a charity shop. I thought it would be appropriate to pass the time in there, Dad would have approved. The first thing that caught my eye was a box of dusty 7 inch singles. I reached in and pulled out the first one .... it was Mario Lanza singing 'Because'. I ran out of the shop in shock, before composing myself and going back in to buy it.

It is now in my mothers house, in a photo frame with a picture of mam and dad on their wedding day. When she asked where I got it, I told her dad sent it to me and wanted her to have it.

suvigirl

Regularly. I also donate stuff regularly.

Recently got a golf bag and clubs for 10 euro, just to give it a go. Also a lovely wicket basket perfect for bedsheets for 6 euro.

best places for clothes are charity shops in dalkey and malahide

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121062561#Comment_121062561

i once rather stupidly told the chap in oxfam on francis street how much a rega planar turntable they had in there was worth new. should have offered 50 quid for it!

(it had not gone on sale, was on the shelf to be checked before going on sale so i don't know how much it would have been asking)

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121062670#Comment_121062670

My mother used to make visiting charity shops a day out. She loved them.

She once bought a simple little dress ring for a few euro that she thought was a piece of costume jewellery, turned out to be 18 karat gold and a natural pearl. It's beautiful, I still have it.

Photobox

30 plus years ago yes I would have bought clothes in them when I was into the indie scene. Gypsy skirts, seventies leather jackets, flared jeans that kinda stuff. In more recent years books, handbags and barely worn pair of gorgeous shoes for €10 that was my only proper bargain though.

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121062735#Comment_121062735

Haha! Fair play to you. I used to drop in every day during my lunch break when I worked around the area for a couple of years and saw some lovely stuff pop up that I just didn't have the space for. Couldn't nab it all!

I didn't drive at the time and on a few occasions carried heavy receivers and big speakers back over to the northside. Remember being absolutely wreaked by the time I got a big Pioneer receiver over to Dorset Street on one occasion. Or another time I convinced my missus to meet me there and we carried a pair of Wharfdale Lintons over home. She was not impressed!

Cash Converters on Thomas street was great years ago when I was back in college, around 2007 or so. Would always be full of cheap games. Hoovered up about 40 N64 games in there in one go once.

Ezeoul

Oxfam in Georges Street used to do a sale of donated sample bridal dresses every year, I wonder if its still there and if they still do it? People used to queue up for it.

(eta) they do - and it now looks like they have a dedicated shop for it!

https://www.oxfamireland.org/getinvolved/shop/bridal

Hippodrome Song Owl

No. I'd have no objection if I saw something I liked, but I have never found anything I liked in one. However, I have donated plenty of brand new gift items that just didn't suit me, and also many brand new items of clothing and shoes that didn't fit, and the return process wasn't worth the hassle.

Annasopra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058311982/have-you-ever-bought-anything-in-a-charity-shop

Yes.

Books, shirts - boot ice grips

They can often have decent stuff

kksaints

Books mostly, they can be useful for getting older and sometimes out of print books that might not be available in normal bookstores. While I haven't bought any myself I did have a housemate who got some vintage football jerseys in one that were worth a lot more than he paid for them anyway.

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121062685#Comment_121062685

Still love real books, but I'm a kindle fan now.

Actually must bring down a load of books to the charity shop(very good condition ones). I was a fool for hard backs.

Annasopra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121061881#Comment_121061881

She probably reckons you are selling at auctions or sonething

HildaOgdenx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121062846#Comment_121062846

I have a kindle for years which I really like but I love real books still. 😁