Op shops have changed drastically - here's why Aussies like me are furious

Just like the great Australian dream of home ownership it seems that going into an op shop and scoring a bargain has become a thing of the past. With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to bite, many Aussies like me have been forced to say goodbye to these once-affordable treasure troves for good.

A few years ago, op-shops were my go-to for picking up clothing for dress-up days for my kids, or costumes for parties I was attending. I was guaranteed a quality item at a great price, something that could often be worn again and best of all, it was an ethically conscious decision that allowed me to do my little bit for the environment.

Now though, despite many products at op-shops being great quality, fast fashion wins out for the simple reason that it’s often a third of the price and this just rubs me up the wrong way.

As an avid op-shopper from way back, in my university days, I would find myself regularly visiting Melbourne charity stores like the Salvos, Savers, and Vinnies hunting for a new outfit, or for a costume to wear to a themed party.

In the five years of rummaging through racks, I always left with bags filled to the brim, my goal outfit sorted with additional items deemed too good of a price to leave behind coming with me too.

These hauls would never be more than $50, the maximum budget I’d allow myself, to ensure that I could make rent, pay bills, and buy the cheap pasta and sauce that quickly established itself as my go-to uni dinners.

All I can say is I’m glad my reliance on op-shops is behind me because there is no chance that I could afford to do this now.

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• Aussie's Kmart shock in op shop: 'More than if you bought it new'

Many Aussies share my outrage at op shop prices

This cost increase hasn’t just been noticed by me, many Aussies have shared their frustration and outrage at the cost of items at op shops.

Melbourne mother-of-six, Nicole Preece said earlier this year that costs are far too high when they "claim to be there for the less fortunate and ones that need them the most”.

“Second-hand rugs here at bargain price,” she said, pointing to the $280 price tag on the back of a rug. “Full of cat and dog hair.”

Another furious shopper recently spotted a second-hand jacket for $850 at a Brisbane op-shop, questioning: "Who shopping at an op-shop could ever afford that?"

This is exactly the sort of thing that irks me and so many other Aussies because it is very obvious that the prices aren’t about providing opportunity, they are all about profit and a very tidy one at that.

Salvos director explains reason for price increases

National director of Salvos Stores Australia Matt Davis told SBS that “it's absolutely an accurate assessment by shoppers that things have changed when it comes to items that are higher in value".

"When you're talking about those more exclusive items that are worth a bit more … you're not necessarily getting those for $5 or $10 like you might have 10 years ago,” he said.

The rise in prices is being explained as a product of inflation.

“[Salvos Stores] are not immune from that [cost of living pressures], either. So you know, our rent’s going up, our waste disposal costs are going up, all the things that it takes to run the enterprise, are also under pressure as well.

Dr Andrew Hughes from the Australian National University, however, believes there’s more to it.

“I think they're taking advantage of people to be honest when they’re getting a lot of their stock for no cost or very little cost because people donate to charity bins or leave items out or give directly into their stores,” Hughes, a business and economics lecturer, told Yahoo.

“They’ve realised an item's value and are charging open market prices, not prices which might be more reflective of the fact that some of their customers might be people in desperate need and can’t afford to pay that price.”

And this is exactly why so many Aussies are angry, including me.

What's happened to the concept to the idea of opportunity?

The "opportunity" shop, was, and is still meant to be a place where those in need can go to secure clothing or other items that they cannot afford elsewhere.

But the reality is, that this is no longer the case. Instead, due to prices being out of reach, their local Kmart, or ordering online on sites like Temu, SHEIN allows more bang for their buck.

While many of us don’t want to buy fast fashion, cost-of-living pressures often mean that op-shop items get put back onto the shelves and these other options are chosen because very simply, they are far more affordable.

Surely, this difficult time is when op-shops should live up to their name and actually provide some opportunity for those in need? That’s the whole reason for them, right?!

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