Op Shops Admit They Are Charging More than Ten Years Ago

cannedhams on 30/05/2023 - 21:12

Interesting article from SBS where op shops admit that they are hiking prices because op shopping is no longer for the povvos and all the cool kids are doing it:-

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/as-the-cost-of-living-bi…

Article references the below tik tok video:-

https://www.tiktok.com/@cherry_berry_pie/video/7232507881755…

It checks out for me. I was an avid op shopper from ten years ago, and the deals back then were way better than now. I remember seeing a copy of the Spy Alley board game for $6.00, and thinking that was too expensive and $3 would be more reasonable. But that would seem like an insane deal now.

Completely agree that it is commonplace to go into an op shop and see secondhand Kmart crap priced for higher than it is at Kmart. Also commonplace for them to turn down donations if they think it is too povvo for their swanky non-povvo op shop.

I remember buying a shoe shelf from Newstead Vinnies (now insanely gentrified) - when I moved house and tried to donate it back to them they said no, saying it was "too dirty". I said well its the same shelf I bought from you, they said "yeah well we have moved upmarket since then".

I see prices going up in the povvo food shops as well - there used to be a serious stigma about shopping there but again that seems to be going by the wayside.

Fashion & Apparel

Comments

  • Clear on 30/05/2023 - 21:25
    +14

    When you have organisations like Vinnies that need to pay their administration/management staff high salaries with company cars and all that it makes sense why these 'businesses' need to hike prices. Whether or not it's right is another thing.

    • Benoffie on 30/05/2023 - 23:06
      +9

      Absolutely. Started in the mid 90s when management changed from long term volunteers to paid, centralised staff.

      Everything after that just went downhill.

  • Kongzi on 30/05/2023 - 21:31
    -2

    Op?

    • EightImmortals on 31/05/2023 - 06:54
      +4

      'Opportunity' shops. Like LifelIne, Vinnes, the Salvos that sell used clothing, toys, furniture, books etc etc

      • DiscountForThee on 31/05/2023 - 08:21
        +13

        In all my time decades in Aus I have never once questioned what the "op" means in "op shop". Thanks for the knowledge

  • buckethat on 30/05/2023 - 21:40
    +9

    Well, they're businesses after all, you think their costs hasnt increased in 10 years?

  • JimmyF on 30/05/2023 - 21:49
    +10

    Op Shops Admit They Are Charging More than Ten Years Ago

    What business isn't charging MORE today than they did 10 years ago?

    • kipps on 30/05/2023 - 21:58
      +2

      CPU processors per mhz. Internet providers per megabit. Mobile carriers for minutes and gigabit. Find a raspberry PI 10 years ago.

      Not all things get more expensive over 10 years.

      Ps didn’t neg you. Legitimate point of view.

    • Protractor on 30/05/2023 - 22:00
      +2

      This place is amazing. Someone negged you for stating the obvious.
      With your comment, all the way

  • iridiumstem on 30/05/2023 - 21:52
    +21

    I got paid the minimum wage at one of the op stores as a paid staff. So before anyone asks, I hated those pencil pushers more than anyone and there was a pencil pusher who came over to breathe down our neck who I thought was an idiot who I would not mind if I never see him ever again. Last day of my work, I had my petty revenge by not acknowledging his presence and basically carrying on with my work as he was an idiot who didn't know how retail front really worked on the ground and my preference would have been for him to not bother me and do something that's meaningful.

    I have seen fights about how the pricing was wrong and half the time, it was a genuine mistake by someone who did not know it was low end kmart stuff (and the managers who did the pricing didn't know the entire kmart catalog unfortunately). Most of the the price was kept as a non negotiable because we used to get a lot of people who tried to haggle.

    The fact of the matter is that the cost of living became huge. Donations come in, most of my time was basically spent on processing items that we couldn't sell. The logic that I frequently heard was, people in need could fix it up and use it. I did feel like that was slightly insulting to people in need, as some of the stuff I have seen were absolutely disgusting like unwashed laundry, items that had bits broken, items that I would not feel comfortable giving to my friends.

    I think that's why most of the time, we didn't give away items to people in need, normally they'd be provided vouchers to purchase items in the shop.

    Amount of expectations people had for op shop was insane. They expected us to repair, clean, fix, all the items and the expectation was that we accept everything or we were being greedy when in reality, we couldnt spare a person to go through all that and maintain what we did.

    It's a catch 22, you hire more people because you need someone to be there for set period, they cost money, you don't hire people, you have things pile up that managers have to stay behind and fix.

    Most of the times, I don't think it was greed. Those op shops look so downright expensive to run that I would not be surprised if you can make more money if you didn't have the op shop. Keeping the logistics going, having the storage space, having a few permanent staffs, dealing with having a business, probably not worth the headache. I had a sneaky suspicion that the only reason they kept some of these shop fronts were because they needed to have a warehouse and item distribution points and anything they made on the side was kinda bonus.

    I have seen some really wonderful people who I can tell spent time to make sure that everything was clean, that I could tell that were given away with all the good intentions. That said, it's probably not a job I want to go back to.

    • cannedhams on 31/05/2023 - 04:10

      Thanks for this input, very helpful. I remember when I was at university and people would volunteer at op shops to pad out their resume. Their feedback was that there was a fair bit of aggro and high expectations even back then.

      I accept that these places are businesses, and need to be run accordingly.

      • iridiumstem on 31/05/2023 - 23:29

        My work in a charity definitely is up there in terms of making me lose faith in humanity. I think it's up there in terms of how taxing it was for both my body and for my mind.

        At least where I worked, the people there were either trying to make an honest living with minimum wage, or were there to help others in their spare time. I am perfectly OK with the perception that the charities are greedy and whatnot. It's difficult to understand what goes on behind the scene without actually seeing it in person. I think all I will really ask is, be nice to people on the ground at least.

        They probably are not rejecting your donation just because they feel like it.
        They probably are not charging you ridiculous amount just because they want to extort money from you.
        It could be a mistake, it could be that they have so much donations that they have to sort through that they cannot accept anything that they can immediately display on the shopfront. Whatever the reason, it's probably not out of spite or malintention.

  • mskeggs on 30/05/2023 - 21:54
    +4

    What is the purpose of an op shop? To raise money for the charity operator. Not to offer bargain clothes for those that don't need them, but like to get a deal.
    If you are in need, you can approach the charity operators for help.

    • cookie2 on 30/05/2023 - 22:12
      +4

      Actually I always thought that the purpose was to make a profit buy selling goods to people at a cheap price, allowing people to source goods that they may not be able to afford otherwise. People in need is how I think of it (need used pretty loosely). I don't feel I'm earning double to then pay double for a second hand jumper than what I would've paid 10 years ago.
      And consumer brand awareness, that's the other purpose of OP shops ofcourse.

    • AustriaBargain on 30/05/2023 - 22:55

      Meh, some churches run op shops and offer no discernible charity, other than making the pastor's house bigger than his parishioners.

      • EightImmortals on 31/05/2023 - 07:04
        +2

        Most Churches are very small and exist only on donations from the parishioners, most of them also help the poor and needy in some way.
        And then you have the crazy televangelistmegadollar enterprises that set a bad example so that a lot of people believe all Churches are like that. :)

      • cookie2 on 31/05/2023 - 12:55

        Church op shops give back to the parish and parishioners it serves.

      • moar bargains on 31/05/2023 - 14:04

        Yeah, you shouldn't believe everything you see on TV.

        • AustriaBargain on 31/05/2023 - 14:07
          +1

          No I've seen these churches in person. Pastor is a charismatic guy who shows up, rents a warehouse in the neglected industrial district, sets up a brand new church and even enough space for an op shop. You don't need to get a church degree and go through church certifications and inspections to run a church. You could be a pastor of a church if you wanted, I could be if I wanted. I could convince your mother to join my church and to give me 10% of her pay or pension.

    • markathome on 30/05/2023 - 23:22

      I can accept that sometimes they just misprice stuff. But it's tougher to accept when I hear stories of them making harsh demands of those doing work-for-the-dole there.

  • Wiadro on 30/05/2023 - 21:55
    +5

    op shops?
    you mean over priced shops

    • AustriaBargain on 30/05/2023 - 22:54
      +3

      Opportunity shop, opportunity to be ripped off.

  • Protractor on 30/05/2023 - 21:57
    +1

    OMG>Fancy any retailer charging more now than a decade ago.
    The reality is since social media arrived, parasitic opportunists have scoured op shops to "steal"items to sell as retro for a massive profit. Humans have lost all redeeming features.Future eaters abound

      • jackspratt on 30/05/2023 - 22:39

        Let me help you with your spelling - it's actually spelled Zoomers.

          • Benoffie on 30/05/2023 - 23:10
            +3

            @Switchblade88: Snore. Get a new tune already.

          • Protractor on 31/05/2023 - 10:07

            @Switchblade88: How did you manage to skip an entire generation? Or were you an immaculate conception?

            All hail the heartfelt sermon of altruistic, charitable, benevolent Buddhist,David Koch.

        • Protractor on 02/06/2023 - 09:59

          You mean the "ever so productive" "work like Trojans" , "no-one has had it harder" , "I can't afford rent ,but got nine big screen TVs and stream around the clock" , zoomers?

          https://tinyurl.com/zoomerspuds

  • tsunamisurfer on 30/05/2023 - 22:36
    +4

    Why are people treating op shops like they owe you a bargain?

    They are already significantly cheaper than retail places.

    Do people actually expect next to zero prices for eternity?

    • suzley on 31/05/2023 - 18:03
      +1

      Kmart is cheaper on average.

  • AustriaBargain on 30/05/2023 - 22:53
    +1

    Well it's been about 10 years since Macklemore's Thrift Shop, so it makes sense.

    • MS Paint on 30/05/2023 - 23:28
      +2

      Now $69 for a t-shirt

  • Some Human on 30/05/2023 - 23:34
    +4

    I know of about 6 small ones that charge 1990s prices. I can get a whole new outfit including shoes for less than $10.
    At the salvos, you can't even get a pair of kmart pants for that.

  • SydStrand on 30/05/2023 - 23:50
    +2

    It checks out for me. I was an avid op shopper from ten years ago, and the deals back then were way better than now. I remember seeing a copy of the Spy Alley board game for $6.00, and thinking that was too expensive and $3 would be more reasonable. But that would seem like an insane deal now.

    Only ten years? Try 20-30. Growing up in inner west Sydney, my local op shop (Vinnie's on King St) always knew what its stuff was worth, even back in the late 90s. You could occasionally find hidden gems at less-trafficked op shops back before everyone could check eBay prices on their phones, but the price creep and gentrification caught up quick. I had a walk through my closest one earlier this year, and it was all Cotton On or Country Road-type stuff priced at borderline new RRP.

    • cannedhams on 31/05/2023 - 04:18

      I think this is part of it. I used to pick up stuff they had obviously just missed:- a Marc Jacobs tote for $2, a Mimco clutch for $5, full Playmobil sets for $2. Now any numpty can just check it on their phone without necessarily having any idea of what theyre looking at.

      They are still good places to kill 20 minutes with the kids, but I agree with a few of the other posters that the "non-name" Op shops are where its at - managed to pick up a full bucket of Tomy playrail for $2 recently.

      The suitcase rummages that I see in the CBD seem to be drawing more interest than the op shops now.

  • JIMB0 on 31/05/2023 - 08:10
    +2

    If you don't like the prices just stick to hard rubbish shopping.

  • virgo76 on 31/05/2023 - 08:36
    +3

    I work in an op shop. We aim to price itens 1/3 of retail prices. Our clothing starts at $1, books mostly 50c-$2. Some customers think everything should be 50c !!!

  • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2023 - 08:39
    +3

    The problem is also professional and amatuer resellers. A former flatmate made a real good earn trawling OP shops and deceased estates for items to resell at Lawsons Actions before ebay and retro was a thing - made great money. The old biddies would see him and jack-up the prices - he would get so pissed and felt he was entitled out-compete the needy to buy all the good shit cheap.

    People like my flat mate ruined it for the needy but hey there are no real needy now for 'things' - land here as a refugee and get new everything and a hotel paid for by the government - times have changed.

    The big OP shops send the good stuff to auction directly and the items dont even pass through stores.

  • Protractor on 31/05/2023 - 10:08

    "The problem is also professional and amateur resellers."

    Nailed it

  • ColtNoir on 31/05/2023 - 10:53

    I think it depends where you are.

    When I was in Sydney and looked at op shops around my area and Newtown and was gobsmacked at some of the prices of things.

    I’ve recently gone up here on the CC and things are more normal compared to Sydney at least. Found some books for $1 each etc. plenty of crystal at good prices.

  • doctordv8 on 31/05/2023 - 16:31

    10 years agoooo! Inflation is everywhere.

  • hazzad on 31/05/2023 - 17:09
    +1

    About a year ago i was invited to peruse the back room of a localish op shop. Had jsut been walking the floor looking one day one one of the staff came up asking what i was looking for which i advised her of. She said, come out hte back and have a look at the stuff not put out. This went on for a good 3-4 months but during this time i got the impression that some people werent happy i was back there looking through stuff. Turns out a lot of the stuff was being cherry picked by the staff/volunteers before it ever got out on the floor. Specifically i saw most of the video game and movie related stuff that was donated was either gone through by the staff or taken home and never came back. I get the feeling that with some Op shops a lot of the stuff ends up in the staff's hands and never sees the shop floor. I eventually got told i wasnt allowed back there anymore as i think some people got put out by me getting my hands on stuff before they could. Was an intesting insight into how at least one of these Op Shop charities work.

    • jackspratt on 01/06/2023 - 00:38

      Were they paying for the stuff they were cherry picking?

      If so, I can't see the issue you seem to be talking exception to.

      • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2023 - 06:01

        Me neither,
        Politicians insider trading - I can't see an issue
        Staff buying 'broken' computers - I don't see an issue
        Not declaring cash income - I don't see an issue

        Here I will explain it to you, when my mother died we gave alot of good quality very resaleable items to charity stores - the donation was for the charity and the needy NOT for staff to divide up amongst themselves at 'mates' rates. It was bad enough the guys running the dock were on work release were rude assholes until they saw the truck contents and suddenly became motivated - I have no doubt stuff went out the back door. Other items I later saw on Lawsons (fair enough - but was it the charities or a reseller like my mate) - it was a donation to charity not to enrich or benefit staff - sheesh the entitlement.

        My grandmother used to handmake beautiful quilts for Banardos and stopped after many years when she heard the drivers doing the pickup dividing her quilts amongst themselves and putting them in the front of the cab.

        My grandfather stopped raising money for Red Cross when he finally bothered to look at how much actually went to administration.

        These seemingly, to the shortsighted, 'victimless' crimes by people like yourself or supported by people like yourself result in a low trust society and in my family's case a general FU to help because it tends to support the grifters and those who support them intermediating in the poverty and disaster industry.

        But hey, you do you.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE4W6DegHqg&ab

        • jackspratt on 01/06/2023 - 10:40

          It's a pity you didn't read what I said before your rant.

          Or perhaps you did, but comprehension ain't so good.

  • virgo76 on 01/06/2023 - 07:58

    There are def items that end up with op shop staff that dont make it on the floor.

    • Protractor on 02/06/2023 - 10:07

      I'm OK with that (Caveat, if the staff member was a volunteer.) and as long as the process did not involve staff deceiving the person who donated it in the first place (eg knowing it was valuable but made it ,it wasn't).

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