Hierarchy of Charity Shops
After a comment from Rachel, on my last blog, I am totally in agreement with her, about the cost of books going up in some charity shops. For a while now I’ve noticed book only charity shops, which does allow for them to charge quite a bit more.

There is also I feel a difference between individual charity shops. Recently in a local town, one of the charity shops underwent a big refurbishment. It is now spacious, and well organised, leaving less opportunity for a good old rummage, and the price of the books seemed to double.

While looking for books in charity shops today, there was quite a marked difference in the prices according to which shop you were in. In the refurbished shop, I found a few books I was interested in, however I was reluctant to pay the price they asked. I found ‘Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance’ for £4.00, and Alice Walker’s ‘The Temple of my Familiar’, in hardback for £4.50. I didn’t buy them this time.

By charity shops charging these sorts of prices, they are competing with the sale of new books in supermarkets. I feel people are less likely to pick books up from charity shops, when they can pick up a new book for £3odd, when they’re doing their food shopping.

In contrast, I went to a local animal hospital charity shop, which was just like walking into an Aladdin’s cave. The books were no more than a £1 for paperbacks, and maybe a bit more for hardbacks. They had shoes, including some very new looking walking boots, unfortunately a size too small, for £2.

Bargains can be found in charity shops, depending where you go, the prices can vary greatly from one to the next, and it’s worth checking them all out.

Happy shopping folks.