[mylittletibbies]

Why on earth would you paint a beautiful wooden table white?

Why not?? I painted a jarrah TV unit white. To each his own.

 

[Jo Piper3]

Vinnie's are full of it!!
There are plenty of other op shops out there that are still reasonable prices

I was looking at a bag in Vinnies, that was marked at $120. I queried the price and the Manager said it was an original Prada. It wasn't it was a rip off copy.
It was new. Still had the handles wrapped.
I said to her why would someone give away a bag that sells for thousands.
In the end my daughter in law, who is pretty clued up on these things, proved to her that it wasn't an original.

She dropped the price to $20, my DIL took it up to the counter to pay for it
and bought me back the bag and $10 change. She said it's half price Tuesday so I asked for the 50% discount lol.
So the $120 bag ended up costing $10, which is probably about what it would cost in Bali.

How are Vinnies supposed to help the poor without sufficient revenue?

 

[Towing]

Our local Salvos is a lot more expensive than Red Cross or Vinnies. I know a MUM whose daughter asked for a new dress for a special occasion - she had definitely grown out of her previous season but still modern clothes. She chose one at Target for about $35.00 (not an expensive dress) Her Mum took the girls to nearby Vinnies. She got the same dress(which looked like it was new), a dress for another of her daughters and a jumper for their 3rd daughter for just over $35.00
THe Salvos are way too fussy what they will accept. People I know tried to donate a beautiful very sturdy old wardrobe in perfect condition and they wouldn't accept it. At the same time they were appealing for furniture for people whose houses had been damaged by some of the worst floods I have ever seen photos of.

 

[Jest]

I love op shopping, its a hobby of mine. Sometimes I walk out with nothing other times I find a bargain.

Last year I renovated my house including all new furniture. I purchased a 6 seater dining table and chairs and found out it wasn't big enough .
This is the set I purchased last year, way to small
View attachment 85528
I still have my solid large original table and chairs stored but it just doesn't work in the room
View attachment 85532

We were buying a gift from the good guys last week and popped into the Salvos store for a quick look and saw a table with chairs that were solid and exactly what we were originally looking for. Problem before was we couldn't find it in white and paying $2000 we were not going to repaint it.

This table is so heavy and solid and extends to fit 12.

We paid $165 for the table and 4 chairs. Hubby will now paint the table white as well as 4 of our original chairs which are very similar
This is the one we purchased last week with the four white chairs . Seats 6 people comfortably and extends when needed to sit 10 to 12

View attachment 85529View attachment 85530View attachment 85531
I do agree how so many op shops prices are ridiculous but there are still bargains out there.

My table and chairs I purchased last year I have now given to someone in need who my daughter saw on FB

how many tables does one need? also clothes.

 

[Suzanne rose]

how many tables does one need? also clothes.

One, which is why I gave the smaller one away to someone in need.
That large square one is in storage until I find someone who wants it. I paid $1,800 for it so Im not just going to throw it away.

I haven't seen you on here for awhile and was starting to miss your snarky comments

 

[Suzanne rose]

Why on earth would you paint a beautiful wooden table white?

I love it as it is, including the grain and I feel it works well with everything else. Hubby is OCD and wants it white.

Hubby changed our fish tank white and actually looked better. And replaced the knobs with new silver ones

We had a buffet n hutch which we have had since moving into our house in 1988. It was sentimental and didn't want to get rid of it so he cut it down ,painted it white and we use it for the TV in the family room plus added new silver handles

 

[mylittletibbies]

How are Vinnies supposed to help the poor without sufficient revenue?

They are loosing revenue from a lot of people.by putting ridiculous prices on things.
They would make more money keeping prices low and selling volume. I know many people who don't even go into Vinnies anymore. They are by far the dearest op shops.
I noticed someone earlier commenting about Kmart shirts. I've noticed the same and even mentioned it to them. That they were charging the same price for second hand tshirts as they were new.

I know two women who volunteered at Vinnies and left and went to Good Sammies as they got sick of people complaining about the prices.

Also if they are going to sell things at inflated prices they need to know what they are doing
You would think that common sense would tell you that no one is going to give away a brand new Prada bag.
If they don't know how to tell whether something is an original or a fake, then they should assume it's a fake. After all they got it for nothing.
Not very good for business, or their reputation, trying to sell a fake as an original.
Vinnies certainly aren't doing themselves any favours.

 

[Suzanne rose]

They are loosing revenue from a lot of people.by putting ridiculous prices on things.
They would make more money keeping prices low and selling volume. I know many people who don't even go into Vinnies anymore. They are by far the dearest op shops.
I noticed someone earlier commenting about Kmart shirts. I've noticed the same and even mentioned it to them. That they were charging the same price for second hand tshirts as they were new.

I know two women who volunteered at Vinnies and left and went to Good Sammies as they got sick of people complaining about the prices.

Vinnies certainly aren't doing themselves any favours.

I totally agree 100% what you said.

Last year when we renovated I took awhole lot of stuff to vinnies. As we were unloading at the back in the loading dock. The workers were helping us . I was amazed at how many of the items they put aside and stated that it would be going home with them.

I said to hubby in tge car, let's just think that they were volunteers who were also in need

 

[Suzanne rose]

They should give my daughter in law a job. She's bought quite a few bags off them for $10 and $20 which were originals and then they have knock offs at high prices.
Obviously they don't have a clue.
She also does the same with watches and vintage clothes and then on sells them.
I know some people object to that but I don't see a problem with it. If she didn't buy them somebody else would, at the price Vinnies put on it.
I say good luck to her that she has the knowledge to actually know what she's looking at.

She is paying the price they wanted so no one should say or have a right to say a thing.

I've also purchased wallets and bags that were authentic.

 

[Penny4]

One, which is why I gave the smaller one away to someone in need.
That large square one is in storage until I find someone who wants it. I paid $1,800 for it so Im not just going to throw it away.

I haven't seen you on here for awhile and was starting to miss your snarky comments

I thought the same thing ... people haven't been called dumb for a while until now.

 

[Suzanne rose]

how many tables does one need? also clothes.

Ah forgot to ask are bags included ? As Im giving away a few leather bags on here. Take a look in the notices thread

 

[Macarj]

I bought a watch at op shop for $5 it wasn't going so I took to a watch place he said it just needed a new battery looked the watch up on line they are $395

 

[Clancieblue]

When did Op shop workers start getting paid? I thought they were all volunteers.

Many of the church run stores have a paid manager to handle money and donations, like Anglicare for instance.

 

[RobbyNotTheRobot]

Why on earth would you paint a beautiful wooden table white?

To match the rest of the house, that's why.
I agree about its a beautiful timber table, it needs to match the rest of the house and paint can be sanded off later if sold to someone else.
I used to refurbish furniture.

 

[Clancieblue]

Why on earth would you paint a beautiful wooden table white?

Many timber tables in the stores are white, and they are beautiful. My daughter has a really lovely white timber table; it suits her decor.

 

[meighLeigh]

Our local op shop is realistic - they are given what they sell - no costs of goods, possibly some money spent on cleaning the product. Volunteers man (or, most commonly, woman) the shop, so no wages bill.
BUT
- rent goes up
- power costs go up
- telephone bills go up.

So what if people buy to resell at exorbitant prices? That's retail for you - the manufacturer makes it (i.e. the donor has it to dispose of), the distributor 'buys' it (accepts the donation and puts it on sale with the attendant costs involved), the buyer buys it. If the buyer then on-sells it, that's not the distributor's concern.

If I can (and did) buy enough wool to knit about 30 beanies for the Seafarers' Mission (Port Headland)'s Christmas hampers for less than $20, I'm winning. The op shop is winning. Who's complaining?

 

[Penny4]

Our local op shop is realistic - they are given what they sell - no costs of goods, possibly some money spent on cleaning the product. Volunteers man (or, most commonly, woman) the shop, so no wages bill.
BUT
- rent goes up
- power costs go up
- telephone bills go up.

So what if people buy to resell at exorbitant prices? That's retail for you - the manufacturer makes it (i.e. the donor has it to dispose of), the distributor 'buys' it (accepts the donation and puts it on sale with the attendant costs involved), the buyer buys it. If the buyer then on-sells it, that's not the distributor's concern.

If I can (and did) buy enough wool to knit about 30 beanies for the Seafarers' Mission (Port Headland)'s Christmas hampers for less than $20, I'm winning. The op shop is winning. Who's complaining?

That would be a lovely community there at Port Hedland.

 

[natalielocket]

When did Op shop workers start getting paid? I thought they were all volunteers.

Yes, I wondered that. For many years my Husband volunteered at the Helicopter Rescue op shop. I don`t think anyone was paid. All they got was a Christmas Luncheon. They loved him there. The only Male with all the Females.

 

[ninacat]

i would

 

[PepeLePew]

Don't understand why he is surprised by this price. I volunteer at an Op Shop & and often gobsmacked by the prices they put on second hand clothing, shoes and homewares. Way out of my price range. Prices of children's Kmart clothes dumb found me the most though when they are charging $5 & $6 for t-shirts when they are only $3.50 brand new. Yep I prefer to shop brand new these days cause at least most department stores have a guarantee on their clothing, Op Shops most certainly don't.