Shoppers in Shock: Why This $400 Discovery at Salvos Is Causing Uproar and What It Says About a Deepening Charity Shop Crisis

In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis that has many Australians tightening their belts, the discovery of a pair of secondhand R.M. Williams boots priced at $400 in a Salvos store has sparked a heated debate about the pricing strategies of charity shops. This incident, which occurred in what is believed to be a Tamworth, NSW location, has left shoppers and op-shop enthusiasts feeling both outraged and betrayed.

The boots, which retail for around $649 new, were deemed 'very greedy' by many who saw the price tag as a sign of a growing problem within the charity shop sector. The image of the boots, shared online by an op-shopper, quickly became a symbol of the broader issue, with comments flooding in to express dismay and frustration.


'Daylight robbery. They get everything for free and sell for ridiculous prices. Sometimes it’s cheaper to go to Kmart,' one person argued, highlighting the irony of finding better deals at commercial retailers than in stores meant to serve those in financial need.


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High prices at Australian charity stores like Salvos and Vinnies outrage shoppers. Credit: Facebook


'They are a business now, they have forgotten people actually go there to shop because they have little money to spend. I give to the smaller charities now, they need it more,' another commented, suggesting a shift in the ethos of charity shops from community support to profit-driven enterprises.


The sentiment was echoed by others who feel that the essence of op-shopping – finding affordable secondhand goods while supporting charitable causes – is being lost. 'Salvos are getting very greedy these days,' someone else remarked, pointing to a trend that seems to be alienating the very demographic these shops were intended to serve.

In defense of the high prices, industry experts have weighed in. Andrew Hughes, a business and economics lecturer, acknowledged that charity stores are 'taking advantage of people,' given that much of their stock is donated at no cost. However, the secondhand economy is booming globally, and in Australia, for a reason. Omer Soker, CEO of Charitable Recycling Australia, attributes this to a growing interest in sustainable shopping and the prohibitive costs of new goods.

Soker also pointed to 'resellers' as the culprits behind price hikes, arguing that they purchase items from charity shops to sell at a significant markup on commercial platforms like Depop. In his view, charity shops are inadvertently acting as wholesalers, and their prices still represent good value, especially in more affluent suburbs where higher-income shoppers are willing to pay these prices. He maintains that the average cost of items across charity stores in Australia is just $5.


Yet, this defense does little to quell the concerns of regular op-shoppers and those relying on affordable secondhand goods. The issue at hand is not just about the price of a pair of boots but about the accessibility and affordability of essential items for those who are struggling financially.

As members of the Seniors Discount Club, many of us have long appreciated the value and community service provided by charity shops. They have been a staple for finding everything from clothing to household items without breaking the bank. However, when prices in these stores begin to rival those of retail outlets, it raises questions about the role and responsibility of charitable organizations in supporting the community.

Key Takeaways
  • The high cost of some secondhand items in Australian charity stores like Salvos and Vinnies has caused outrage among shoppers.
  • A pair of secondhand R.M. Williams boots was priced at $400 in a Salvos store, near the new-item price of roughly $649, leading to claims of greed.
  • Some shoppers have accused charity stores of becoming too business-like, forgetting their core clientele of people with limited funds.
  • An industry expert defended high prices by explaining the impact of resellers on the market and claimed that the overall average cost of items in charity shops is around $5.

We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences. Have you encountered similar pricing issues at charity shops? Do you feel that the mission of these stores is changing? And importantly, where can seniors and others on a fixed income turn to for affordable goods in these challenging times? Your insights are valuable, and together, we can continue to advocate for fair pricing and the true spirit of charity in our shopping experiences.
 

Seniors Discount Club

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Along the way the Salvos thought employing shop designers and staging designers would make them more mainstream. They forgot they were a charity where helping is the core value. My donations now go to smaller more deserving charities where you get a thank you and a smile not a grimace and someone looking at the items like you are handing them a dead rat.
 
I love op shops , not that I buy much . I look for certain old wares to add to my collection.

I picked up a few bargains on my recent trip down the coast.

As for salvos you can buy it cheaper in the shops.

I usually donate alot of clothes and bags .I wished their was away to give straight to those in need.

I've just gone from a size 14 to a 10 and have a huge ammount of clothes to give away.
If anyone needs clothing message me.

I can send photos and I will pay the postage
 
Charity Op Shops exist primarily to help people. Cheap second hand goods is only part of this story. The profits are often used to buy food for the hungry, petrol vouchers etc. The Op shop in our little town sells most things cheaply eg kid's clothes $1 - $3; adults clothes $3-$10. However, if we get antique pieces, brand names etc these are sold at about a third of the price they might attract on EBay. Yes, we do get all the goods for free. While it might be nice to get something valuable for a few dollars, this is not the only purpose of an Op Shop. We buy food vouchers from the local IGA supermarket to give to those in need. We receive no discounts or government assistance. ie. The Op Shop pays $50 to give one $50 voucher to someone. The best way we can utilise high quality second hand goods, isn't to sell to the first lucky customer for a couple of dollars, but to sell them for a higher price (about a third of Ebay value). That way we can help more people. Anyone destitute and genuinly in need of household goods, clothing etc is always given the goods they need.
 
They have forgotten the Purpose of why they are there, we stopped donating to them a long time ago this is not just a recent observation.
The Purpose of Op Shops is far bigger than just the cheap goods. Profits are generated that are used to assist fund things such as hospitals, food programs, transport vouchers etc.
 
23 years ago I brought my partner a pair of RM Williams boots for 50 cents from a swap meet and they are still going strong.
We use to love going to those until the last one which was very traumatizing. We'd just come over from Perth to Adelaide and were staying at my mum's house, we hadn't unpacked the car yet bar from one computer tower. We went to the swap meet at the local drive-in and when we left we found the car had been stolen, every single thing we owned was taken, my deceased sons birth certificate, my wedding and engagement rings from my ex husband, my partners very expensive camera equipment and all of our clothes, all we had is what we were standing in.
It only took the police a day to find it, and thank god it wasn't torched, it was the second time I had that car stolen and got it back in one piece.

Having said that we also use to love going op shop shopping but we stopped going to the Salvos and ST Vinnies for the reasons above.
We found a little out of the way shop run by Vietnam Vets that sold everything, they were the nicest guys you could meet, I brought some cat trees from them at a massive knock down price that they had built.
They like to fix things up so any computers we get that are no longer needed we donate to them and the guys fix them up and practice their computer skills on them.
Although we lost touch with them years back and I don't know if they are still there.
 
I love op shops , not that I buy much . I look for certain old wares to add to my collection.

I picked up a few bargains on my recent trip down the coast.

As for salvos you can buy it cheaper in the shops.

I usually donate alot of clothes and bags .I wished their was away to give straight to those in need.

I've just gone from a size 14 to a 10 and have a huge ammount of clothes to give away.
If anyone needs clothing message me.

I can send photos and I will pay the postage
Thats generous of you Suzanne and if no takers try F/book your bound to find someone there in need.
 
23 years ago I brought my partner a pair of RM Williams boots for 50 cents from a swap meet and they are still going strong.
We use to love going to those until the last one which was very traumatizing. We'd just come over from Perth to Adelaide and were staying at my mum's house, we hadn't unpacked the car yet bar from one computer tower. We went to the swap meet at the local drive-in and when we left we found the car had been stolen, every single thing we owned was taken, my deceased sons birth certificate, my wedding and engagement rings from my ex husband, my partners very expensive camera equipment and all of our clothes, all we had is what we were standing in.
It only took the police a day to find it, and thank god it wasn't torched, it was the second time I had that car stolen and got it back in one piece.

Having said that we also use to love going op shop shopping but we stopped going to the Salvos and ST Vinnies for the reasons above.
We found a little out of the way shop run by Vietnam Vets that sold everything, they were the nicest guys you could meet, I brought some cat trees from them at a massive knock down price that they had built.
They like to fix things up so any computers we get that are no longer needed we donate to them and the guys fix them up and practice their computer skills on them.
Although we lost touch with them years back and I don't know if they are still there.
A great story. I would have also given stuff to the Vietnam vets but I never knew they did this.

I would have got rid of that car after the 2nd theft
 
A great story. I would have also given stuff to the Vietnam vets but I never knew they did this.

I would have got rid of that car after the 2nd theft
I loved that car, I had a bad accident in it one New Years Eve and although the other car was at fault and was a total right off my car survived with a little dent in the back. She also caught fire in the Maccas drive-thru, people were running up with fire extinguishers to put her out, she was meant to be mine, the poor old girl.
We finally sold her to a friend to use on his mates property to do rally driving, I had videos of her going up and down jumps and doing wheelies, it was a true highlight and the perfect retirement for her.
 
Basically, if you don’t like the price, don’t buy it. No one has to have a pair of RM Williams boots! Don’t pay the prices and they won’t be able to sell them, so will have to lower the prices.
I still have a pair of RM Williams, Sante Fe boots I bought in the Army and Navy shop in Puckle St Moonee Ponds back in the sixties, (which If I remember was the only places you could these boots?) for 16$. Now the same boots are over $600!!
 
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