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Bin-divers outside charity shops
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nottinghillbilly


Posts: 653
Joined: Dec 2010
Post: #1
25-02-2013 10:18 PM

Tonight walking home I was disgusted to see a decently dressed woman picking through bags of donations outside the Sue Ryder shop on London road, and then syphoning them into her own bags. Often when I leave for work in the morning I see bags of donations outside both Sue Ryder and the Red Cross that have clearly been sifted through by passers by.
This really sickens me, so all I ask is-if you have a donation to a charity shop PLEASE dont leave it overnight, wait until you can get in when the shop is open, because otherwise you are not benefitting the charity at all.

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Anotherjohn


Posts: 376
Joined: May 2005
Post: #2
26-02-2013 08:53 AM

Until I put my glasses on I thought it said 'Ben Dover's outside charity shops' and I thought blimey even he's fallen on bad (I was going to say 'hard') times now.

Seriously though, it's a shame that most of the people who donate are probably working during the charity shops' opening times so they have no option than to drop-off like this.

A really good, albeit a long-shot, solution would be to have a local scheme whereby, say once a month, an honest and genuine person with a van could spare a few hours on a Saturday to make pre-arranged collections from local residents with their stuff going to their chosen charity shop in the town centre.

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nottinghillbilly


Posts: 653
Joined: Dec 2010
Post: #3
26-02-2013 10:17 AM

yes the man with a van would be a great idea, however I work full time and long hours and I can still find 10 mins on a day off when the shops are open to drop things off, or I ask my boyfriend to drop them off for me.
I really feel that if we genuinely wish to donate to charity as opposed to perhaps donating to an individual's car boot stall or ebay sales we can find a slot someway somehow to pop in when the shops are open.
And I also hear of donations that have to be thrown straight out because a dog has peed on the bag.
I dont have any connection with any of these shops its just a personal bee in my bonnet that upsets me!

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Bel101


Posts: 13
Joined: Sep 2010
Post: #4
27-02-2013 01:16 PM

I don't think that charity shops are alllowed to accept bags left overnight for the reason that they might have been pee'd on by dogs and the such, or contaminated/tampered with.
So its a total waste to leave the donations outside as they are binned immediately.
I maybe wrong but i'm sure I've heard this somewhere!!

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Applespider


Posts: 285
Joined: Feb 2006
Post: #5
27-02-2013 07:25 PM

I'd love the option of an 'honest man with van' to collect and deliver stuff to a charity shop. Even if there was just a volunteer with a car who could pick stuff up if you called and said that you had a decent amount of items. It's not just finding the time; not all of us have access to a car or a helpful boyfriend with one. Wink

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rshdunlop


Posts: 1,111
Joined: Jun 2008
Post: #6
27-02-2013 07:58 PM

The British Heart Foundation run a collection service - you just need to give them a call to arrange a date and time.

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P1971


Posts: 816
Joined: Feb 2009
Post: #7
27-02-2013 10:25 PM

Anotherjohn think you might need a visit to specsavers! Jokes aside why can't all on this post arrange an odd hr to take stuff to charity shops. I can do an odd hr on Mondays but I only have a small car. Anyone else?

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nottinghillbilly


Posts: 653
Joined: Dec 2010
Post: #8
28-02-2013 08:25 PM

I wish I could but I work shifts so its very hard for me to commit to anything as I'd be highly likely to let people down, and sadly I dont drive so I can only carry a limited amount-

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Andy Nak


Posts: 15
Joined: Jan 2011
Post: #9
01-03-2013 12:09 PM

Sue Ryder are open all over the weekend, including Sundays so not really any excuses people Thumbup

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john-f


Posts: 85
Joined: Apr 2008
Post: #10
03-03-2013 10:32 PM

Another reason to leave them in the shop is that you can gift aid your donation (the shop can claim back tax on the selling price).

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nottinghillbilly


Posts: 653
Joined: Dec 2010
Post: #11
03-03-2013 11:19 PM

Thanks for Gift-aid tip....I wasnt aware of this.Thumbsup

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Londondrz


Posts: 1,538
Joined: Apr 2006
Post: #12
04-03-2013 12:25 PM

Package of kids toys scattered all over the pavement outside the Red Cross shop this morning.

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