Vinnies 25% off store wide.
The best deal would be the refurbished mattresses and bases. These are mattresses that are stripped down and with new coverings. Much better than the flimsy ones like the Big W mattress in a box or Ikea ones at this price range.
Queen Mattress $135.
Queen Base $135.
Double Mattress $120.
Double Base $120.
Single Mattress $90
Single Base $90
I would suggest a bigger store like Vinnies Oakleigh for more stock.
Think it might be Victoria/Melbourne only?
Look, I don't want to be a prick, but Vinnies and Salvos stores are traditionally meant for struggling people and/or families. I'm all about bargain hunting and finding the best price possible, but if you can afford to find and buy a mattress elsewhere, please don't take these mattresses from people who might actually be in NEED, not WANT, of a cheap mattress.
If you are actually on a low income and struggling, well, go right ahead. But c'mon guys, if you don't need to shop at Vinnies, please don't do it for the sake of the cheapest price. You might take one away from someone who truly can't go elsewhere.
Agreed, and on blankets and warm clothes etc, but please still go and buy the knickknacks/vinyl's/cutlery etc (the wants), the more people showing up and buying things, the more money they have to help those in need.
I disagree. I mean all the mugs, glasses, mattresses, clothing and electronics aren't for those who can't afford them from Myer. Vinnies is a great way to recycle unwanted products, donated from people who no longer require them and then they make money from these items and use that for their charitable work.
More people should shop at (and donate to) Vinnies and Salvos and in turn that money will be used to help struggling people and families.
The problem people are those who rummage through the donation bins at night and steal the decent stuff where vinnies and salvos could make some good money off.
These are bought in items, much like other Vinnies or Salvos branded items at their stores. They buy them in and sold at a profit. Profit which then goes to help the needy.
What you are thinking of is their traditional model where its donated goods -> needy directly. These days, its donated goods -> cash -> needy. Simply because you can't pay for housing, for food, and other necessity with donated goods, its a $$$$ world.
Mind you, you can still buy the discounted mattresses at 25% and donate the difference into the donation box.
Not how it works anymore. My local opshops will often have stuff priced as high as buying them new
I can pretty much guarantee you, the supply they have is far more than the demand. Shop away! You're doing yourself, the needy and the planet a favor.
Again havr to reiterate this isnt the case anymore. I dont know about Vinnies specifically but on war on waste they visited one of the charities who were so inundated with clothes that they either cut it into rags to sell or chucked it out or sent it overseas at a cost. You cant buy too much from these types of charities, every dollar counts to them. Also if the matteresses were selling they would just do what any good business does and make more
To be honest there prices are quite high, so while they were traditionally meant for struggling people I think a lot of their stuff isn' t that affordable, especially if you are genuinely doing it tough. It was my understanding is that at Vinnies secondhand goods are sold for profit, and the profit goes towards buying new things for people struggling.
please don't take these mattresses from people who might actually be in NEED
So you're saying people shouldn't spend their money at Vinnies?
How the heck are they going to help people without money ???
They help people… but not those who need help. Ah yes, the bleeding hearts who believe they are all too eager to help those in need. I have witnessed how they actually "help". Would rather give to a junkie, at least they don't hide behind a nice polished façade.
I was obviously very wrong about the way Vinnies shops operate! I thought they were more along the lines of shops for low income. I didn't realise they sold stuff for a profit and buying more stuff there = more money. It's obvious when I type it like that. I assumed the mattresses were for people who were struggling. Whoops!
I think it may not be understood that Vinnies provide all sorts of support to their clients who are in real need. (See: https://www.vinnies.org.au/findhelp/view/137). That includes providing them with clothes and furniture for free. I actually saw this when visiting a store once. I imagine the money raised in stores is needed for funding of programs like back to school or utility bills assistance or many other things.
As for mattresses, I would be a little uncomfortable buying a mattress second hand, just because of the difficulty of cleaning it of dust mites.
These are refurb ones, stripped of all the soft covering leaving the foam and springs which are then cleaned, its then re-covered.
Vinnies only do refurb ones, Salvos sell used ones (unprocessed) and new ones, but their new ones are pretty much the Ikea/Big W entry level ones which are flimsy as.
So unless you are paranoid, these refurb ones are the best bang for the buck.
Also, the source of these refurb mattresses are from people that are willing to pay 50 bucks+ to get them recycled.
The type of people that does this instead of dumping mattress on the nature strip or local park, or wait for concil clean up days are probably people with a bit of $$ and better hygiene.
Is this all Vinnies stores?