“I’ve even seen things in charity shops priced higher than they would be brand new in the actual high street store!”
That is Jordan Lee, a second-hand reseller who posts as @thecarbootguy, explaining in an Instagram post why he barely goes into charity shops now. He singled out the big, well-known chains. “I honestly don’t go into charity shops as much anymore, especially the big, well-known chains, simply because of the prices,” he wrote.
His complaint is one a lot of thrifters share. Charity shops have grown popular in recent years, especially with bargain hunters who buy to resell at a profit, and some shoppers say the shops have noticed and raised prices to match. Lee wrote that “it sometimes feels like the whole point has been lost,” whether you are in there to resell or just hoping for a deal.
He pointed to Vinted as the better option. On that platform, he said, you can often find the same brands in good condition, in a range of sizes, for a fraction of the charity-shop price.
He did not claim charities have no reason to charge more. “I completely understand charities need to raise funds, but surely out pricing your customers isn’t the way?” he added.
His followers split. One commenter told him he was missing the point: the shops had simply “clocked onto resellers and started to learn the worth of what they are selling,” so more money reaches the charity and fewer resellers clear the racks for people who might actually need the clothes. Another said they never get mad at a charity-shop price, and if it is outside their budget they just don’t buy it. A third said “£24 for an H&M jacket is robbery,” but added they would pay it because the money goes to a hospice.
Others backed Lee. “They are definitely more expensive,” one wrote. “I use to buy a lot from charity shops for myself but now I don’t really get anything from them.”
