Creativity Costs !

[tracey]

Heck, when did World of Wool implement another price increase? Last time I looked 100g of Merino was £3.15, now it's £3.45 !

You turn your back for two minutes.........

[lyn]

.....and a lot of charity shops have increased prices too! Yesterday I bought some odd balls of yarn and I was quite surprised at how much they cost especially as they weren't even whole balls of yarn and they were without labels so were therefore unidentifiable.

I realise that the charity shops are there to raise funds, but a bit of realism is called for. I've seen t-shirts that have seen better days with price tags that match the price of new ones. And I don't mean that they match the ridiculously low "Primarni" prices but those of standard high street shops.

They will lose custom if the price of their secondhand goods isn't appealing to the public.

[tracey]

I know what you mean Lyn. I was trawling charity shops the other day looking for a 'vintage' tea cup and saucer - that word puts the price up - to maybe put a needle felted pincushion in. I saw a pretty example but could not see the price as it was in a glass case. The assistant came over and said it was £8 !! for one! I said oh no that's too expensive, she said it was Royal Albert I thought yes and he can keep it.

I wouldn't get much return on that kind of investment.

[Shepherdess]

The same thing is happening here. prices going up in the second hand stores. It's crazy when they are shipping millions of tons of clothes to Africa every year. I have seen things marked at $2 that still have ther $1.50 sticker form the dollar store. Fancy tea cups are a dime a dozen though. No one wants them.

[carole aka craftywoman]

I've just donated quite a bit of furniture and electrical goods to a second-hand shop, and in the van, I saw a singer sewing machine set into a table (electric machine) but an old machine - mint condition, so I have contacted the shop to put my name on it after it has been electrically checked but I haven't a clue how much these things are - does anyone have an idea?

[tracey]

That sounds a potential treasure Carol! Have a look on Preloved and Gumtree to see what others may be going for, and ebay of course. Good luck, hope it becomes yours depending on the checks.  The shop will be charging whatever they think it is worth of course.

[lyn]

Good luck Carole! Even though it's a charity sale, don't be afraid to haggle.

A few years back I bought a cabin bed from a charity shop and I thought they were asking a bit much so I made an offer and it was accepted.

[tracey]

Ha ha, I like it Lyn! I am all for haggling, I am never afraid to ask, I even wish I could do it at a supermarket!, but I would not have thought of doing it at a charity shop, game on now though!

[pamster]

I frequently look in charity shops [we call them Op shops, short for opportunity] and find there is so much difference in their prices. In areas where houses are cheaper the op shop prices are cheaper, so it pays to check them out. I use books as my gauge, if they are charging more than $1 for a book it's probably not worth looking at their other items.

[Shepherdess]

Here we have a chin called Value Village, it seems to depend more on the manager. The big one in a lower rent area is the most expensive one in town.

[zed]

I was surprised by that incraese too, Tracey, it seems like it'd only just had an increase not so long ago.

I'm amongst the first to sing the praises of World of Wool, but since their site got a 'Facelift', their prices did too and they went all 'instagramy'. They don't need gimmicks, they're already the top of the pyramid scheme of fibre selling.

I can't agree more about charity shops either. I've bought most of my clothes for the past 35 years from charity shops, but some are so expensive now I even bought a brand new pair of jeans the other day. I mostly stick to a Barnardos where everything is 99p and coats are £2.99 or a Sue Ryder where everything is £1

Even the bigger ones which do bikes and furniture are so overpriced, it's cheaper to get brand new from Ikea or not much more to go to Halfords!

[tracey]

I think I will have to re-name this thread Grumpy Corner !  What everyone is saying is right though, unfortunately.

I thought WOW's prices had gone up not so long ago too Zed.  Wingham Wool and Adelaide Walker are dearer however...