Chelsey Bowen was searching for a pink jumper in Truro charity shops when she found second-hand items priced higher than expected, including a £50 faux-fur coat she believed was from Primark with the labels cut out
The first charity shop, as we recognise them today, appeared in the late 1940s when the first Oxfam store opened in Oxford. Today, virtually every British high street features at least one thrift store, offering donated clothing and other pre-loved items at knock-down prices.
However, not all of the prices represent genuine bargains, as experienced charity-shop hunter Chelsey Bowen found out. The Cornwall-based second-hand shopping enthusiast questioned “have charity shops officially lost the plot?” following a sweep through Truro searching for the ideal pink jumper.
“I’m actually going into Primark this morning to find a light-pink jumper for an ad campaign that I’m working on,” she revealed.
Yet mindful of the importance of staying within budget, Chelsey visited the charity shops first. She spotted what could have been the perfect garment immediately in a British Red Cross outlet, though unfortunately it was slightly too small.
At £3.50, it was really quite the bargain too.
Chelsey did discover a couple of pieces she fancied in the Red Cross shop at a sensible cost though. “That is exactly why we go to the charity shops first,” she commented.
“I found exactly what I wanted, but at a fraction of the price and got to give the money to charity.”
But not all of the charity shops she explored were providing good deals. Chelsey ultimately gave up her hunt through her local town’s second-hand stores after discovering far too many products on sale at excessive prices.
A box of pre-owned candles, for instance, that when brand new had retailed for £2 in Poundland, were being priced at £1.50.
Similarly, a blue nylon bomber jacket had been tagged at £35. “It sounds so negative, but people out there need coats and the pricing in here just gave ‘greed’,” Chelsey said.
She said she’d “had enough” of that shop after finding a pair of basic boots on sale for £40. The “final nail,” she said, was a fairly unremarkable faux-fur coat on sale for £50.
“I know for a fact this was Primark with the labels cut out,” she said.
A visibly disappointed Chelsey added: “£50 for a Primark faux fur jacket that they’ve cut the labels out of on purpose? I feel like that’s naughty. Very naughty. It’s a used jacket. It’s too much. I’m not one to moan about things very often. But I feel like this needs to be talked about a little bit more.”
She explained that after witnessing the ridiculous prices, she “lost the will to live,” and chose to visit Primark instead.
Numerous charity shop workers utilise online resources and platforms such as eBay, Vinted, or Depop to verify the current market value of products. This enables them to prevent undervaluing items that could fetch higher prices.
Bigger national charities frequently offer specific, structured pricing guidance to shop managers to maintain consistency. Products are thoroughly examined for brand, quality and condition.
Designer pieces, brand-new items with tags and quality vintage finds are typically priced higher. Costs are also shaped by the shop’s location – operating expenses tend to be steeper in more prosperous areas – and the requirement to cover additional overheads such as heating and lighting.
Shop managers’ main objective is to shift stock as rapidly as possible, so products that haven’t sold for some time can often be reduced substantially – it’s worthwhile popping into your local charity shop regularly!
