Is it acceptable to haggle in a charity shop?

A question about : Is it acceptable to haggle in a charity shop?

Poll started 17 Feb 2014

Haggling sits up there with comparing prices, vouchers, codes and deals in the MoneySavers' shopping skills arsenal. However, is it still permissible when it's decreasing a charity's take?

Is it acceptable to haggle in a charity shop?

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Best answers:

• nope they are struggling as well - the charities that is
• No. Did used to volunteer in a charity shop and though it was plain rude.
• I think it is totally wrong to haggle in a charity shop. especially a Hospice one. well no infact any charity shop regardless
• When money is tight every penny can make the difference and for some haggling is a necessity
• Many charity shops are running the shops as full businesses.They buy stock from auctions and get reduced or free rent/rates. They compete with businesses that have to pay these costs. The staff at the top of the chain get very high wages. I have noticed brand new items from shops like primark, where they are marked up higher than the original prices. I have haggled and would do so again. However if it was an individual shop aimed at a local cause, I wouldn't.
• The stores operate as profit centres, often buy in products in order to compete with other local businesses. Some of the larger chains sometimes charge absurdly high prices (to the extent it's cheaper to buy new than to buy their second hand goods.) Why not haggle? particularly if you're supporting the charity in other ways.
• I have been to car boot sales where charity shops have had a stall or someone is selling their stuff in aid of charity. Generally I have haggled but have found that the stall holders point out that it's for charity and don't enter into haggling. I've never haggled in a charity shop, but if I think a price is too high then I would walk away rather than haggle. If I haggled then the charity would get the money for the item sooner, the turnover of stock would be faster and that would entice more people in. However a lot of charity shops are run by people who probably would not like to have to haggle with the customers so it's not really fair to them
• I wouldn't dream of haggling, you're giving to charity. It's like if you were to throw Ј1 into one of their collecting tins and ask for 50p change.
  I remember talking to one of the volunteers in a local charity shop and i was surprised when she told me that had a problem with shoplifters taking 2 items innto the changing cubicle but bringing out one.
  Expanding the thread a bit, can you believe shoplifters target charity shops.
• i volunteer in a well known charity shop and we dont mind haggling on some items ie bric a brac as that doesnt really have a set price however our clothing prices come for head office and have to be stick too , most peple try there luck some are genuine the others trawl charity shops to stock up ebay / collectables cabinets we get to know whos who and generally answer accordingly
  also we have a LOT of people who steal from us !!!
• I wouldnt haggle. Ive also volunteered in a charity shop and people did steal stuff or attempt to. If an item is overpriced as far as Im concerned I'll go to another cheaper charity shop, in my local barnardos everything is priced at 99p and Ive had some really good bargains from there.
• Personally I don't have a problem with it. The charity shop can always say 'no' and given the choice between something sitting unsold on the shelf or getting a few pounds less than hoped for for it, I would have thought a sale is better - especially as most of the items have been donated for free.
• I think it depends on the item. It's rude to do it on clothes IMO but if they are already on a reduced rail (charity shops in my area often knock stuff down once it's been around for a few weeks) then that's fine. Why would a charity shop let you haggle down the price of a dress that's just come in when they know someone else will probably pay the asking price?
  Also if something catches your eye and it's been hanging around for a while I don't think it would be out of order to say "I notice X has been around for a while would you consider taking ЈX for it?"
• So they have a price tag on something, refuse to take offers, and it ends up going in the skip. Marvellous.
• I just couldn't do it, I'd pay the full price or not buy it. Someone commented about things being sometimes cheaper elsewhere than in charity shops, simple solution, buy it from the non-charity shop and donate the difference to the charity shop.
• I don't see an issue with it, if the item you want is obviously overpriced. Similarly, if something is clearly underpriced, then give more.
• theres on particular charity shop i go to and nothing is priced , depending on who is serving the prices vary , sometimes its way too much and sometimes not enough
  i do question if you get asked for Ј2 paperback book but will give extra if i am asked for 50p