Jenna Ward admits she spends around £100 a week at charity shops, but she recently spotted an “issue” that could be stopping people from using them. Her findings left her taken aback
Lots of people use charity shops, but lately some have admitted there are “issues” with using them, with a woman claiming there’s a side to them she previously hasn’t seen. Jenna Ward confesses to spending around £100 a week at charity shops; however, some people have pointed out they aren’t always as they seem.
She recently turned to TikTok to detail her recent shopping experience, and it’s fair to say her findings took her, and others, by surprise. Jenna felt compelled to tell her story, as it’s the first time she’s come across such a problem in Derby, where she regularly shops and hunts for deals.
She’s not the first person to shine a light on such issues either. Previously, another woman claimed there’s a reason people are not buying second-hand goods.
In the clip, Jenna said: “Guys, we need to have a serious chat, and I fear this is going to be a massive rant. We all know that I normally find the cheapest charity shops.
“I find so many that are either everything’s £1, everything’s £2, you know most things are under a fiver. That kind of thing. Those charity shops are phenomenal, but today I decided to go to the posh area where I live, which is Matlock. Pretty posh.
“Anyway, there’s about six different charity shops. I went in every single one of them and I bought one thing. As we all know, I spend probably £100 a week in charity shops.
“I buy stuff to resell and I buy stuff for myself. When I tell you every one of those charity shops were so over-priced, honestly, I haven’t even got words.
“I nearly fell through the actual floor at how bad it was. I wish I took photos, but there was literally Primark tops in the sale for £4.”
Expanding, Jenna said the pricing was “ridiculous” and, while she doesn’t expect every charity shop to make everything a pound, she did think the prices were “insane”. She admitted a lot of people comment on her videos to tell her they think charity shops are expensive, and the experience made her realise that it can actually be a problem.
Usually, she finds many cheap items while bargain hunting, and she visits the same shops regularly as she knows the prices are so good there. Based on what she saw this week, however, she was left confused as to how they were going to sell items at such high prices, as she believes they’ll really put people off.
Various people commented on the video after it was posted, and many were keen to share their thoughts. It’s clear they had very different opinions.
One said: “I’m not surprised if charity shops are upping their prices because of resellers.” Another added: “I went to a charity shop last week.
“I found a summer dress by Pretty Little Thing (PLT) priced at £15! I genuinely don’t understand how they price their stuff.”
A third replied: “Same as my area, prices are crazy!” Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “They’re getting greedy.”
What’s happening to charity shops?
If you’re wondering why charity shops have become so expensive, it’s reported to be for a number of reasons. It’s generally a result of increased business savvy, rising overheads (rent, staff) and the higher demand for “thrifting” trends.
When resellers “flip” items, it can lead to charity shop prices being pushed up to ensure they raise funds for their dedicated cause, though this is not always the case. Valuation methods have also become more sophisticated, such as using eBay data, identifying and pricing valuable items higher.
Even though the shops aim to achieve charitable fundraising, the operational realities and increased market demand have changed a lot of charity shops and some are now more commercially focused retail outlets. Some people believe this has impacted their original purpose.
In the video, Jenna made it clear that she thinks the prices are too much for people; however, she is a dedicated charity shopper and uses her platform to share her tips and finds with others.
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