Look what I've got . . still can't quite believe it!

[Tarzan]

No you are correct Tim- good luck to you, Charity shops are ever so slightly beginning to take liberties with their pricing and curiously are springing quicker than Tesco Express ( and believe me that is quick), nice to find a bargain.

[DaveK]

I just compiled a 'well done, no problem' post and then it disappeared when I tried to post it. Not going to do it all again so good luck to you with the project.
Dave.

[MartinT]

You have been more than fair, Tim.

[Marco]

Enjoy it tim what ever you got it for..no buisness of anyones.

I completely agree. Besides, has anyone seen the ridiculous prices that Oxfam are charging for Max Bygraves [insert your other chosen old pap here] records these days? Someone's got to fight back!!

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

Having worked once for well below minimum wage (my choice as I saw this as a year of community/good cause work and that was more important) for a year as a stock collector, driver etc for a cancer charity my thoughts on this are different.

Yes one can make all sorts of complaints re bad organisation, poorly laid out shops and occasional price hiccups where items are over priced etc but the bottom line in my view is these charities do a great deal of good in the community and beyond and supporting them, aiding that is vital and in away that is more important.

I knew my opinion would be at odds with others expressed, and I would be raining on Tim's parade to a degree and the comment would be about as popular as a fart in a spacesuit but I felt this needed saying.

[Kember]

No you are correct Tim- good luck to you, Charity shops are ever so slightly beginning to take liberties with their pricing and curiously are springing quicker than Tesco Express ( and believe me that is quick), nice to find a bargain.

Hmm. This is a difficult one. I'd better pick my words carefully. I don't want to be cynical but many of the biggest charities, I suspect, exist simply to continue existing and to provide employment for their staff. I stopped giving to Amnesty, for example, when some petty internal squabble left them paying a senior member of staff several hundred thousand pounds of donor's money to get shot of them/compensation for unfair dismissal.

Worse, in many cases, these charities are not terribly effective in improving the lot of the people they claim to serve and the effects of their fundraising are often detrimental to the communities in which they operate. In the case of things like the Oxfam bookshops, they use the goodwill, their subsidy and free labour (they don't pay rates and don't need to pay many wages) to drive small businesses (other second hand and small bookshops) out of business. We lose genuine and worthwhile resources in small country towns and suburbs every week but it's OK because it's charidee. I know Amazon et al are doing a good job of applying competitive pressures anyway, and we need to move with the times, but it seems bloody odd for charities to use unfair competition to deprive people of their livings here in the name of providing them elsewhere.

But then, when you see how much of their income actually goes on good causes and how much is swallowed up on admin, adverts and swanky offices, it rather suggests that many of the big charities in this country lost sight of their purpose some time ago. I'm very careful which shops I use and which charities I support.

P

[Spectral Morn]

Hmm. This is a difficult one. I'd better pick my words carefully. I don't want to be cynical but many of the biggest charities, I suspect, exist simply to continue existing and to provide employment for their staff. I stopped giving to Amnesty, for example, when some petty internal squabble left them paying a senior member of staff several hundred thousand pounds of donor's money to get shot of them/compensation for unfair dismissal.

Worse, in many cases, these charities are not terribly effective in improving the lot of the people they claim to serve and the effects of their fundraising are often detrimental to the communities in which they operate. In the case of things like the Oxfam bookshops, they use the goodwill, their subsidy and free labour (they don't pay rates and don't need to pay many wages) to drive small businesses (other second hand and small bookshops) out of business. We lose genuine and worthwhile resources in small country towns and suburbs every week but it's OK because it's charidee. I know Amazon et al are doing a good job of applying competitive pressures anyway, and we need to move with the times, but it seems bloody odd for charities to use unfair competition to deprive people of their livings here in the name of providing them elsewhere.

But then, when you see how much of their income actually goes on good causes and how much is swallowed up on admin, adverts and swanky offices, it rather suggests that many of the big charities in this country lost sight of their purpose some time ago. I'm very careful which shops I use and which charities I support.

P

Fair comments to a degree and I agree in part but to tar all with the same brush is wrong as is a 'F the charities, slap it up them attitude' being expressed (not by you). Many charities do need to refocus, improve but to be honest this sort of thinking takes away from the core which is helping people, saving lives etc.

I work in a S/H bookshop, with staff who need paid, we pay rates etc and we do to a degree suffer at the hands of the charity shops who also sell books but that doesn't stop us donating overstocks (not tat) to local charity shops and redirecting unwanted books to charity shops.

There is such a thing as the greater good, over and above self.

[Kember]

Fair comments and I agree but to tar all with the same brush is wrong as is a 'F the charities, slap it up them attitude' being expressed.

There is such a thing as the greater good, over and above self.

Neil,

I don't disagree with any of that. There are lots of good, effective and worthwhile charities which should be supported. I just think people need to be careful who they trust and what good is actually being done. I don't give my stuff to Oxfam but I do to Barnado's, Hospice charities etc.

Re books, my gripe was not about charity shops selling second hand books but specialist second hand bookshops being set up and destroying the competition by unfair means.

P

[snapper]

Looks great Tim. Enjoy your purchase.

And don't ever feel guilty about getting a bargain from a charity shop.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/poli...an-100000.html

[Spectral Morn]

Neil,

I don't disagree with any of that. There are lots of good, effective and worthwhile charities which should be supported. I just think people need to be careful who they trust and what good is actually being done. I don't give my stuff to Oxfam but I do to Barnado's, Hospice charities etc.

Re books, my gripe was not about charity shops selling second hand books but specialist second hand bookshops being set up and destroying the competition by unfair means.

P

Charities get tens of thousands of books and the only way to deal with that is to set up bookshops and yes its not a level playing field re what I am involved in re rates, tax etc but I won't begrudge charityshops raising as much money as they can to help others. I buy in charity shops regularly, clothes, bric a brac, books etc and I have from time to time paid a bit more (I weigh up what I think a thing is worth and either buy or not) than might be ideal but I have viewed this as a wee extra donation and I am happy re that.


Regards Neil