Salvation Army store suck

[edible_hat]

Yesterday I bought some "new" jeans from a Salvation Army store. (They bear a suspicious resemblance to some jeans I donated 9 months ago but that's another story).

Anyway, after I paid and while I was waiting for my fiance to decide whether or not she wanted some costume jewellery that was near the register, I hear:

SC: "These [a DVD and a vinyl record] have scratches, and I just don't like these any more."

Yes folks, she was trying to return stuff to a charity shop because she didn't like it! (The DVD and record are fair enough, they weren't "fit for purpose" as specified in local fair trading laws).

How sucky can you get? It's a charity shop that relies on donations, if you buy something and decide you don't like it, re-donate it and make better choices next time.

[Evil Queen]

Wait, she returned a DVD and a vinyl? What's that cost? 2$ for the DVD and a quarter for the vinyl? Good god, why not just re-donate them back?

[edible_hat]

Wait, she returned a DVD and a vinyl? What's that cost? 2$ for the DVD and a quarter for the vinyl? Good god, why not just re-donate them back?

They were apparently faulty and so under the law she's entitled to a refund. The thing that got me was she returned a bunch of other stuff that she just "didn't like any more" at the same time. (Or at least she tried to, I didn't see how it ended)

[candyshopgirl]

I understand the economy is shit but my salvation army store has had enough. They had to put up a sign that says prices are final.We WILL NOT lower prices.Yes people would hold up a entire line to get something took off a .20 book.

[Misanthropical]

Who does that?!? Have they no shame? No morals? GEEZ!

[morgana]

Who does that?!? Have they no shame? No morals? GEEZ!

Mis, anybody who frequents this website should know the answers to those questions . . .

[Becks]

Even when times are "good" people pull that kind of bs at second hand shops.

Trust me.

[tollbaby]

geez, are you KIDDING ME!?! EVery time I have a bit of disposable income (2-3 times a year), I go raid my local Value Village's book shelves (similar to sally ann). Paperbacks are a dollar each, hardcovers, depending on their release date, are $2-$4. And you know what? I am THRILLED to get my books for that price. I have once or twice bought clothing there for my children, but I can't bring myself to wear stuff someone else has discarded, unless I know the person quite well (comes from personal experience. Once got a decent case of scabies from second-hand clothing, which was enough to put me off it for life). I do donate all my used stuff to them though (few months ago, I brought them 38 boxes of books - the lady who ran the store looked like she'd just won the lottery - I'll go out on a limb and guess she's a reader LOL). I can't imagine haggling at a garage sale, so doing it in a store is even more distasteful, imho.

[Misanthropical]

Mis, anybody who frequents this website should know the answers to those questions . . .

Sorry, I forgot for a minute that there are people who would sink lower if they thought they could get a buck out of it.

[PhotoChick]

I really wanna hear the store of these "new" jeans. Why did you donate the orginal pair? And why did you buy them back?

[Becks]

Once got a decent case of scabies from second-hand clothing, which was enough to put me off it for life).

Did you wash the clothing before wearing? Not all second hand stores have their own laundry facilities.

[edible_hat]

I really wanna hear the store of these "new" jeans. Why did you donate the orginal pair? And why did you buy them back?

Got rid of them and a bunch of other stuff because I was running out of closet space. I've just thrown out a pair that were too worn to donate, and needed to replace them. The ones I bought are the same size (of course) and brand and have a similar wear pattern to my other jeans, and are missing a tag that I used to be in the habit of cutting off.

[the_std]

Most of the big second-hand stores (Savers/Value Village and Sally Ann's) don't have laundry facilities, if only for the simple fact that there is no time to wash all of the stuff they get. The average-sized big name second-hand store processes around 10,000 items a day. You'd need an enormous bank of industrial sized washers and dryers going all the time, which is both expensive and wasteful. Most stores won't put out anything that has been dirtied/soiled beyond the capability of a household washer and dryer, so the best way to get some love out of your second hand stuff is to wash it before you wear it. And if you notice excessively soiled stuff on your next trip to a second-hand store, bring it up with management. Chances are it's an employee who isn't stringent enough on their inspection duties, and they'll be whipped into shape right quick.

[Jack7957]

I always make sure to wash anything I donate, and wash anything I purchased before wearing it.

[PepperElf]

and apparently she had no ability to check them for damage before paying for them?

Did you wash the clothing before wearing? Not all second hand stores have their own laundry facilities.

Oy. I've always been told that. "Always wash it first" when buying from a used clothing store. And Mom's always told me to wash new clothes first too, cos you never know who else tried them on.

Now when I donated clothes, I tried to wash most of them first, but... can't guarantee what else they'll get mixed with.