TBH, I think it's a combination of 'branding' and the attempt to maximise revenue through their floorspace. Someone earlier on referred to the Mary Portas programme which I recall made the point about the junk that people 'donate'.

But not many steps beyond junk' is the sort of 'shelf clutter' stuff that might make 20p or 30p (and we immediately think, why wouldn't a charity be grateful for small mercies?) but it takes up space that could be better deployed on more valuable stuff that generates more cash.

I mentioned branding - and I think there's a case, too, that some charities would rather not become known for the sort of tat that would struggle to sell at a really bad boot sale. That doesn't attract the sort of buyers who will shell out more serious money for quality goods. Didn't Oxfam become famous not just for cheap clothes but for cheap, good quality clothes? Branding, you see...

Before anyone gets upset, I'm not criticising any of the things that people here have said they've donated or rescued or seen being chucked out - not least because I haven't seen them! But remember that charities are professionally financially managed - they have to be these days - and so they may make decisions that might appear ungrateful. (And of course they may make decisions that are simply bad decisions, if perhaps made with the right intentions!)

One thought does occur to me: those distance learning accountancy textbooks. Anyone who needs those kinds of books is, in my view, extremely unlikely to wander into the Red Cross shop looking for them. They aren't going to attract the interest of the casual browser. And if they are at all out of date, then they are worse than useless because they contain information that is no longer correct. I've often seen out-of-date legal textbooks and had the same thought: they should get rid of them to make space for something that someone will want to buy - and in doing so prevent some generous soul from buying them in the mistaken belief that their law-student cousin will find them useful.

Sorry - I seem to be bereft of any helpful, positive suggestions - other than to say that the Sue Ryder shop took our wire coathangers that the Red Cross shop didn't want.