Outrage over $400 Salvos find as 'ridiculous' charity shop problem worsens
Some Aussies say even op-shops have become too expensive to shop in as the cost-of-living crisis reaches new heights.
The high cost of some secondhand items in charity stores, including Salvos and Vinnies, continues to outrage shoppers with many Aussies already struggling to make ends meet amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
For some time, avid op-shoppers have noticed significant mark-ups on donated items, particularly if they're branded or have a steep recommended retail price if bought brand new.
Previously, a $350 designer T-shirt at a Vinnies store in Sydney left many furious. As a result, shop workers corrected the price, they confirmed to Yahoo News at the time. And now, the item that's caused a stir is a pair of R.M. Williams boots being sold second-hand at Salvos, thought to be in Tamworth, NSW, for a whopping $400.
The item retails for roughly $649 brand new. Despite this, many shoppers agreed the $400 asking price is "very greedy". An image was shared online after being snapped by an op shopper recently, and many agreed it speaks to a larger problem facing charity shops in Australia.
"Daylight robbery. They get everything for free and sell for ridiculous prices. Sometimes it’s cheaper to go to Kmart, one person argued.
"They are a business now, they have forgotten people actually go there to shop because they have little money to spend. I give to the smaller charities now, they need it more," said another.
"As an avid op shopper, you can find loads of bargains but that definitely is not one of them," a third agreed. "Salvos are getting very greedy these days," said someone else.
Industry expert defends high prices in charity stores
Previously, Andrew Hughes, a business and economics lecturer, agreed charity stores are "taking advantage of people", considering "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".
Globally, and in Australia, the secondhand economy is booming. There are a few reasons for this, Omer Soker, CEO of Charitable Recycling Australia, previously told Yahoo News Australia. A growing interest in sustainable shopping is contributing to increased demand, he said — but more importantly, the costs of goods have become unbearable for some.
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When asked about the high prices noted in some charity stores, Soker claimed 'resellers' are to blame for price increases and said charities don't increase the cost of goods.
"These resellers buy from charity shops and then put on huge mark-ups to sell on commercial platforms like Depop, and others and commercial markets," he argued. "In these cases, charity shops are acting like wholesalers, so the charity shop prices are still great value."
Justifying the high prices he said "it’s the higher income people who would shop at these places, and they can afford [these] prices" often found in more expensive suburbs. He claimed the overall average cost of items across charity stores in Australia is just $5.
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