Monday 4 April 2011

Overpriced Charity Shop Item of the Week or Sock Horror [sic]

I rarely go in one of my local charity shops as it's just packed to the gunnels with BRAND NEW stuff that is mainly horrid.  Anyway, last week I had time to kill before collecting Little Miss J and P from school, so I wondered in and went to the back of the shop where there is a small rack of donated items. 

There was nothing special in the donated items, however, I noticed a large basket full of brand new socks (excess stock stuff) - cotton knee length ones from "Urban Outfitters".  Original price was £10, guess what the CS price was?  Go on.....  What do you reckon?  Five whole pounds!  £5.  For one pair of socks.  From a charity shop.  I know it's for charity but it's not representing good value for money in my opinion, especially when, a few doors away, M&S are selling two pairs of knee length socks for £6.

I'll be stalking the charity shop next week to check whether there's been any takers for its £5 socks.  £5!  My foot!  That just came out, sorry.  I could also say something about being "a heel" or "it's toe joke" or "sock it to me" or even "Darn it"" but, I'll spare you dear readers (I'm good like that) and instead, show you what I've been buying recently.

A near perfect leather satchel for £5:


Nice lining, doncha think?:


A very ordinary looking "Accessorize" purse - from the outside:


But get a load of the inside:

Scrumdiddleyumptious floral lining.  99p.

A baking tray for 99p.  It's not Pyrex, as you Pyrex afficionados out there will no doubt know, but Arcopal - a French make (long defunct):


Sweet huh?


Mr J and P (he's on the right of the photo) is modelling my final buy, a rather hideous, furry smiley cushion (99p) which I plan to crochet a round cushion cover for - one day.


Well,  I'll put a sock in it now and bid you Auf Feetdersehn (oh, that was bad...).  Sorry, dear readers, it's all been a bit toe much.....

47 comments:

  1. That was funny about the socks. One of the charity shops here has tried to go all posh. Instead of two big wire trolley things full of lovely bric a brac down the middle there is a wooden thing with a pair of shoes with a scarf and a necklace draped over them !!I have stopped donating to that shop as its getting silly !! rant over he he
    Your other bargains are good though
    Sue x

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  2. Ha-Ha very funny Loo! and I'm glad you pointed out your husband in the pic above...glad AND relieved!

    I've got to tell you that my daughter bought a pair of knee-high Urban Outfitters socks while she was in Melbourne (not available in Perth) and she paid $25 for them! (she does buy alot of clothes from op-shops so I suppose
    that balances it out ?)
    They seem to have shrunk in the wash btw.

    I absolutely love your new satchel...what a comparison to the socks for the same price!

    x

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  3. I love the lining in the purse,deserves to be on the outside more.
    We have one charity shop that has started stocking all new wooden furniture and dolls houses,the other prices are starting to creep up to match the new stock.
    x

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  4. I'm very envious of your satchel x

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  5. Love the bag! I have that purse in a teal colour and it was the interior fabric that sold it to me too!! Think I paid about £12 so you got a good bargain.

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  6. Groan!! Love the bag and purse though, you must smile every time you open them! xx

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  7. Very jealous about the satchel! Keep us informed on the sock story :)

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  8. i think charity shops are forgetting one thing ...all their stock is donated and the people who shop in them are not millionares they just aren't being fair.
    love you new items i think if my kids saw that smily cushion there would be no way it would be allowed to be recovered
    xx fee

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  9. Only £5.... the charity shops in my area would have charged £15! the number of times I see things more than the original price.... Love your other finds though, lucky you :)

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  10. You still managed to find nice bargains though, well done.
    In my local shop I've seen second hand Primark t-shirts for £2, when they are sold new for £1.50 in Primark.
    I look forward to the new cushion cover x

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  11. I love the pic of Mr and the smiley cushion - spot the difference haha!

    Great satchel - I'm in love. x

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  12. The bag and purse are great, the baking tray will be fab for those domestic goddess moments and your smiley cusion is very 1990s ..accieeddd!!!

    I've noticed that a lot of charity shops are charging over inflated prices for stuff. Who is going to buy a second hand Primark top for £4 when you can buy a new one for the same amount or so?

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  13. love the bag and purse and the baking tray is fab :)
    omg tho at £5 for a pair of socks :0

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  14. I adore the satchel and purse, so cute!

    Bee happy x
    Have a delicious day!

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  15. Charity shops are getting rather cheeky aren't they. I seem to be coming away empty handed more and more after looking at the prices.
    I got talking to a lovely fella who runs one and he was saying the same. I don't think they are doing themselves any favours.
    You did make me laugh with your sock jokes. Who would pay that much though. I dunno.
    Great finds, especially the satchel.
    x

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  16. Please stop 'ribbing' us with the sock jokes Loo!
    I lurve that satchel and am also rather liking the purse, all the ones I've ever seen in my local charity shop are more deserving of the bin than being sold, all cracked and battered and filthy.

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  17. Blimey those socks will be vintage one day nobody in there right mind will pay that for them. Im loving the the baking try really cute. Have a lovely week, dee x

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  18. I love the satchel and purse and such a good idea for the round cushion. Yes, I get a bit peeved too when the oppies sell stuff at new prices ! Have a great day xxx

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  19. Love the satchel! - know what you mean about prices, the ones round us sell donated primark clothes for more than they cost in Primark. I was in one recently when an old chap came in and asked how much a painting was in the window - he almost passed out when they said £150!

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  20. Love that satchel and the jug and the cushion made me smile!

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  21. love the satchel, it's beautiful and a bargain too. :)

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  22. Loving the bag and the Pyrex, great finds, shame about the socks. :(

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  23. I'm envious of the bag!
    Don't get me started about charity shops, ones where I live are so expensive, and sell expensive horrid stuff which can be bought cheaply else where. One local to me will not deal with childrens clothes because they are "waste of time"! and I was in another charity shop recently where there was a man trying to donate his late wife's clothes they would not take them because they were crimpiline and "old fashioned" talk about being picky!
    Julie xxxxxxx

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  24. Your new satchel is gorgeous, what a great find.

    CS's really do seem to be taking the biscuit, £5.00 for one pair of socks. Wonder how long they will sit there? x

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  25. Me again Loo, thanks for your OTT comment...loved it!

    We have ALOT of work to do to our home before it's ready to be seen in its entirety BELIEVE ME! I'm working on it though (doing lots of nagging too!)and will show you one day. Promise.

    ps you are a darling!

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  26. Wow!! I love the satchel it is gorgeous. I cannot believe charity shops and how expensive some of them have become. Our charity shops round here are just full of new rubbish. Have a great week.
    Jo xx

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  27. LOVED this post, lovely Loo. Loved it, I tell you. I guffawed out loud.

    I am *so* with you about overpriced CSs. Grrrrrrrrr. But what fab finds you got. The satchel is GORGEOUS.

    I'd love to hear if they've SOLEd (geddit) those socks. Five squidderoos? That's crazy.

    And YOU, sweeet pea, are scrumdiddlyumptious!!

    Sarahxx

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  28. Ay no, Thats what I been noticeing Charity shops and boot sales are putting up their prizes because of the whole new wave of vintage style and brand names.
    I really think its not fair.I collect pyrex, and I would buy that, so pretty. waht a deal on the satchel,love the flower lining.

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  29. I don't know why you are so unkind to the smiley face - I love it and it would cheer up any 'Having a bad day'....Day!!
    Take care, keep safe, be happy
    Beverley xx

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  30. I had a knicker incident this week like your sock one. Charity shops do need to keep their eye on what new shops are offering these days.
    The lovely insides of your items made me think of how our blogs are more interesting and diverse than anyone would think if they saw some mums in the street.
    Well done.
    My finds are a bit saucy this week at http://gigglingatitall.blogspot.com

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  31. HOW much? For a pair of socks? In a charity shop? Words fail me.

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  32. Great satchel - terrible puns xxx

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  33. I do so love my village charity shop, the wee auld wifey's keep all the prices low but are a bit haphazard at times. It seems they like to price things in increments of 20p or 50p. :)

    Loving your new satchel and purse ;)

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  34. I love the satchel bag and the smiley cushion! Can wait to see how you make it your own!

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  35. Your satchel is lovely and a great find but I agree with what you say about charity shop prices. I often see things in charity shops that you could buy cheaper in antiques shops! I still find the odd bargain but it's certainly getting harder.
    Ann x

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  36. Hehehe I've heard a few stories about men not being able to wait to drink the beer before it's ready and making themselves rather ill! Do you need much equipment for wine making? Do you use demijohns?

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  37. When I started going into charity shops 10yrs ago I could buy name brand stuff dirt cheap now they are nearly the same price as new :(
    I love the satchel, a great find :)
    Sue x

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  38. I hate when charity shops over price things. There is a charity shop near me who sells secondhand Primark clothes for much the same price as brand new, even their bric-a-brac are stupidly expensive. I very rarely go there.The Oasis Charity shops are my favourite, they are always well priced and have a 50p rail selling womens tops. Often you can pick up lovely tops from Next, H&M, Zara and Top Shop. I always give them donations.

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  39. Great finds!

    I love your blog btw :-) x

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  40. Cute post!! Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm going to try the white paint and hope for the best! I LOVE your little baking tray with the dainty blue flowers!!! I've never seen one like it before.

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  41. haha i look fwd to the socks update!

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  42. Some charity shops just ask too much for some things. I was in one the other day that wanted £3 for basic kids books. Lovely satchel! X

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  43. Was Mr J and P happy to pose for the shot with the cushion? He has a hard-to-read expression - very Mona Lisa!!

    Sarahx

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  44. As much as I love my satchel - you have provoked envy in me with yours! It is lovely!!!

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  45. Hay, thanks for your lovely comment on my blog, 'Mr Owl' is rather cute.

    I've noticed CS putting there prices up but don't think I can beat the £5 socks :) x

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  46. Love the satchel- wow a bargain for just a fiver. Why do I never seem to find things like that?

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  47. five bliddy pounds?!!! OMG they are sooooo going OTT on the pricing these days in the old Charry shops. I'm not impressed at all!! Makes me cross. Love that satchel tho - the lining looks a bit like LV doesn't it?! Fab find! xx

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