Picky

A question about : Picky

We phoned three charities who we felt may appreciate a red leather sofa.

Me Would you be interested in a red leather sofa in perfect condition

Charity shop No1 How old is it?
Me Three years old
Charity shop No1No we only accept up to three years old

Charity shop No2 Does it have fire safe label
Me I don't know
Charity shop No2 Not interested

Charity shop No3 Where is it, can you deliver?
Me We have placed it outside ready for your collection
Charity shop No3 If it is outside, we cannot collect for health and safety reasons

Me ............... advertised on Gumtree and sold it for Ј10.

Best answers:

• Had the same thing this week.
  I've got a new sofa being delivered this week so need my current ones gone by thursday. Phoned 4 charities, all would not take as I showed the pictures that 1 is ever so slightly sagging in the middle and thats the downfall! Anyway, ended up selling them on Gumtree for Ј100!!!! and get to keep them until wedenday so we don't have to do without sofas!
• The need to be up to the latest fire safety standard
  Plus , if the item isnt good enough for you ( why else are you getting rid of it ) why would you assume others might want it
• I believe by law that the sofa must have the fire label attached whether the charity is going to take it for resale or to donate to housing schemes and such.
  People are always looking for items like sofas on Freegle / Freecycle for future reference.
• I have already referenced the appropriate regulation.
  I have already sold this sofa on Gumtree. In future I will not be wasting my time trying to give stuff to charity shops
• Yes, charity shops are picky. But then, so are their customers. And they do have legal restrictions on what they can and cannot sell, and they have to pay to dispose of anything they cannot sell.
  We recently had two wardrobes to dispose of. One was too large to be easily sellable, and the other too flimsy. I don't blame the charity shop for declining them.
• One thing that annoys me is the charity shop near us that will quite happily do house clearances (they say they will only take things that they can sell) but will charge you for it.
• Totally agree with you PICKY
• I am sure most charities do provide a much needed service. I do not feel it appropriate to name the charities I contacted. However:
  FYI, one of the charities I contacted recycle goods (for free) to the needy. In my humble opinion this sofa would have been very much appreciated by someone in need and it is a shame the charities I contacted did not share my view.
  PS: The lady who bought this sofa was delighted with her purchase and was very surprised it was so cheap. I only asked Ј10 which I subsequently donated to the Macmillan coffee morning which I helped to organise for our church.
• I know when we got our present leather sofa we gave our last leather one to a place that does them up which employ disabled people who then sell on to customers and those on benefits get a slight reduction. Hardly out wrong with old one just wanted a different colour, it was old around 9 years but did have safety labels. We were pleased some one would benefit they even came to collect it.
• The charity is being asked to commit to the wages of two strong men and a van for an hour, so say at least Ј30 plus the cost of storage space for a large item. Not surprising they are picky.
• But I bet all the charities who take any sofas, put there hands done the back to what money / goodies they can find though.