Major charity op shops have undergone a mass makeover in the last 10 years, and it’s reflected in the prices.
This comment was left for my favourite Dickson date night haunt, the local Vinnies: “Ridiculously overpriced for items that are donated … You should be ashamed.”
“$20 for a shirt … That’s pricier than some fast fashion retailers!” another commenter proclaims.
With Barbies on the roof, vinyl on the walls, and a slew of funky individuals outside the changing rooms on Thursday to Saturday nights, Vinnies Dickson doesn’t look like your average op shop.
Likewise, traditional op shop prices are a thing of the past in many charity shops today. Where previously an op shop dress would cost $7-$8, it now costs closer to $20.
It’s easy to point a finger at the charities themselves. However, Lindsay Rae, Director of Commercial Operations for Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn, urges locals to consider that while the items are donated, the expenses involved in sorting those goods are enormous.
“Vinnies receives tonnes of clothing donations in any given week… Because of fast fashion, the amount of goods coming in has dramatically increased.
“Three-quarters of the people we employ sort product.
“We are very grateful to the public who donate good quality, pre-loved items, as the proceeds from our shops provide a substantial source of funding needed to run our local programs and services.
“The rule of thumb that I tell people is if you wouldn’t lend it or give it to a mate then Vinnies probably won’t be able to sell it either.”
Even if op shops need to mark their clothes up slightly to keep up with the times, why are certain items priced in the hundreds?
Apps like Depop and Poshmark are specifically targeted towards selling unwanted clothing. However, the popularity of the apps has caused a spike in the number of resellers trading op shop clothing at a significantly higher price than for what it was purchased.
“It’s very frustrating when we see complaints about a pair of boots that originally cost $1500 selling at $300 in one of our shops, when we know they would be sold by an online dealer for $600,” said Lindsay.
“People say, why should an op shop sell anything for $300? They should sell it for 50 bucks.
“It’s important to remember why we’re here in the first place; we’re here to raise funds to give out to the most vulnerable.
“Second-hand dealers are running a business, that’s fair enough, but they’re making money that we could be putting back into the community.
“Our stores work very hard at trying to price things fairly, especially on high value designer goods and by increasing that price to somewhere in the middle, everyone benefits.
“And I say everyone, because raising the prices on the most popular goods has reduced the amount that goes to dealers, leaving exciting goods on our shelves for the locals to buy.”
Despite the complaints, the number of customers buying at Vinnies shops per day has more than doubled over the last 10 years.
“You just have to look around to see what we have done to improve stores. The offer is much better than it was 10 years ago.”
True to his word, the fashionable patrons who frequent Vinnies Dickson following the Friday night dinner rush are a stark comparison to the musty stigma attached to the op shops of 20 years ago.
“You would be hard pressed to find someone who isn’t proud to wear their op shop clothes today,” he smiles.
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