General Chat

Are there?

I heard it said today, that some shopkeepers are annoyed that as charity shops either pay a lot less rates, or none at all, think that charities should start paying more, as they also now sell a lot of new things, I can see that, BUT I heard one man say, there are too many charity shops, and it means that "middle class" people buy stuff on the cheap :-| What a moron, if people buy, what others don't want, for a fraction of the price when new, I'd say that's being extremely clever :-D

Also, It seems that there are 8 times as many charity shops in the High Street than there are MacDondalds..... that's really good news then :-D

To recycle things can't be bad. And why shouldn't 'middle class' people buy things on the cheap? Being 'middle class' doesn't mean youa re rich these days. What an ignorant man. Surely it is better that anybody buys other people's unwanted things rather than they end up in landfill. And also that, hopefully, the money made will go on to do good.

I do understand the complaint about the shops selling new things and paying low rent and I remember seeing similar in our local paper. But, at the back of my mine (Jude may be able to help here) I have an idea that theya re only allowed to sell a certain percentage of new stuff.

Aaaand... If the charity shop[s were not there the shops would probably lie empty. And people would not necessarily buy the over priced things in other shops.

I do know that one very well known charity org pay the same rent and rates as any other shop.
As Ann says if the c.shops weren't there attracting many shoppers they would most probably be boarded up.
Even in small shopping areas they have put Tesco Express etc,s taking income away from butchers, bakers and such like.
Now that most c.shops are run by well paid managers they look better but I dont really like the selling of new goods.
I like a good rummage so good luck to them all.

When there is a build up of these charity shops in a town is normally a sign that the town is becoming run down, a bit like those 99p shops. :-| :-|

George

Not necessarily George, it is a sign of the times. When the country is in a recession and many people are hard up, charity shops, 99p and pound shops are what people want. Gloucester has several of each but also has some big stores and more are opening gradually. Like many towns we have a lot of empty shops but we were in town today and it seems to be thriving, the farmers market was busy and people were in the shops.

Iwent to Poundland the other day in a small town The site was previously a large ladies and gents outfitters and quite expensive and never very busy.
Poundland was packed with shoppers and queues at the 4 tills. People are looking for bargains as was I. The town is buzzing every day with full car parks.
Oh and it has its quota of charity shops always very busy too. Also it has quite a few private grrengrocers, bakers and butchers. No sign at all of being run down. Quite the opposite.

I live in a very small town and we have six charity shops in the high street, all of them are busy and always after more stock. We do not have a pound land but a couple of similar shops and they are busy as well.

It's better than seeing vacant shops which always look so depressing


Teresa

I loved the old traditional town centres of 50 years ago. But the car and out-of-town centres and now internet means we spend most of our money away from town centres.

Yet still new businesses come in and try to get established. Hairdressers, charity shops, pound shops, cafes, building societies, solicitors, accountants, discount clothes shops.

They struggle because local government is greedy. They tax them at a ridiculous level of business rates, parking can be very expensive and inconvenient.

But there are some wonderful new entrepreneurs in these businesses who work really hard, often don't earn very much at all but who make our high streets an enjoyable place to shop, to meet our friends.

:-D :-D

I love charity shops! They are like Aladins caves, you never know what you will find.
Our small market town has 4, also a large out of town Sue Ryder which sells furniture and electrical goods.

The modern day charity shops are well laid out and inviting, with eager and friendly volunteers. Also, a great source of books.

Rather have this type of bargain store than the cheap and nasty.

I'D RATHER BUY FROM A CHARITY SHOP THAN OVERPRICED STORES
WE HAVE 7 NEAR BY

Do you remember when charity shops first started? Dingy places where people used to shuffle in hoping not to be seen.

How different today :-D :-D We all love to swap stories of what we found in our local shop. A Jaeger jumper for £2.50 is mine. And how many times on Antiques programmes does someone sell something for £100 and then says "I bought it in a charity shop for 50 pence"

I'm not ashamed to buy from any charity shop....if fact I cant resist one ..!! LOL

Now if I can give my clothes to Charity that are often of good quality, I expect to find other clothes there from folk that are just as fed up with wearing their (fed ups) clothes ...(oh does that make sense ) ;-)

George .....I love 99p shop.......now have you ever been in one George ? they are great for gardening bulbs & seeds & Chocolate bars :-D

I shop in Chartiy shops a lot (especially for books) and have done for years.

In fact I may chose to shop in a particular street because it has a few charity shops.
This may then mean that I also buy from main-stream shops that I would not have otherwise used.

I also donate stuff to charity, really do believe in recycling.
Marilyn, I like a change of ormament or picture now and then, I suppose that I should call them my fed up tronkets!
Some people clear out their wardrobes, book shelves, kitchen cupboards etc. before buying new items.
Often if I didn't buy from a charity shop I would go without, so main straem shops are not missing out in my case.

I feel good when I donate stuff, when I buy stuff and by the fact that a charity has benefitted by the transaction.

They also give a lot of volunteers a boost. Happy places to spend a little time and money.

I HAVE AND SOME GREAT BUYS,I RECENTLY GOT A MONSOON SILK SKIRT FOR £3 AND AS PUR UNO DRESS FOR 50p, LONG SUEDE BOOTS BRAND NEW £6,

BUT MOST I EVER PAID FOR SOMETHNG WAS FOR A BUTLER & WILSON LIZARD BROUCH/NECLACE/BANGLE
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW BIG AN THAT WAS TO TREAT MYSELF £10

I agree that local Councils have done their best to kill off the traditional high street with high parking charges and restrictions.
Business rates are set by central Government and are also too high.
Plus employers' NIC and regulation make it hard for small businesses.

We,ve got about 20 in my area,just a tad too many.Buy Books from them and when finished give them to Tesco to sell on for their charity donations.**M**.

Brian It amazes me how so many traders in our High Streets are so positive and so hardworking.

In Tonypandy High St, there is an Indian shop. It is absolutely fantastic and prices are similar to what you pay in India. It smells like India, it looks like India. And the young man is making a living and (3 years on) he is employing 2 local part-timers.

When I worked for Budgens, our supermarket in the middle of Milton Keynes shopping centre was selling £100,000 per week. Profits before deductions of rent and rates were about £2,000 per week and company was reviewing it because rent and rates totalled £2000 pw and it was contributing nothing to company coffers except a bit of "cash flow".

Then Council did a rate review and increased them from £1,000 to £3,000 p w and introduced car parking charges outside. Closure was a no-brainer.

That will happen to my Indian friend in Tonypandy if he continues to build his little business :-( :-(

ps did not realise that business rates were set by Central Government. Do not local authorities have powers to waive rates if, for example, they are charity shops or start ups?