fara charity shop a rip off! Post Reply

[2x2]

We live very close to Fara shop and every time we pass it my son runs in to check out the toys outside and I’m outranged with the prices they are charging! We also see how much stuff is thrown away. Mountains of black bags are piled outside the shop on the regular basis and big lorries come to collect them. My thinking is- if they were to charge less, people would buy more and therefore there would be less waste, more happy customers and the same amount of money for the charity.

[catboo1]

I'm glad this issue has been raised because I have been finding the prices outrageously high! I go to Fara in Barnes a lot at the weekend, used to get great things there for reasonable prices. Now it's just not worth it. They wanted £8.50 for a medium sized dinosaur which was of the cheapest quality and would be the same price in the Natural History Museum brand new!! Then there was a Ralph Lauren jacket which was worn to the hilt - £65! The trousers I was looking at from Jojo were also only £2 below the new price and very worn out.

For people with 3 or more kids like me who are happy to support charities but do shop there in the hope of saving a few pennies from the new price, it's just not viable anymore (at least at some of the Fara's I have been to, also overpriced when I visited the Northcote Road branch). I am better off buying clothes and items during sales, new in the shops!

[Mareli]

I worked for Fara for six months last year. The following may be of interest. Staff are paid the *minimum wage*. Elements of the work are physically hard - much of it taking place out of sight behind or below the shop: sorting through bags of donations; lifting and carrying bin bag size bags of bric a brac, clothes and shoes. Some donations are fantastic and full of lovely saleable items, but there are donations consisting of people's dirty laundry, unwanted torn, dirty holiday clothes, mouldy clothes from the garage/shed - and worse - occasionally it can be very unpleasant.

Clothes and shoes which are too old/holey/smelly to be sold are sold by weight as 'rag'.

Clothes and shoes which cannot be sold locally (because they are not in a good enough condition) are loaded into bags to be sold in another area.

Some donations (of every type) are sent to shops in areas where they get very few donations - usually because of low footfall.

Sometimes donations are put into 'rag' bags just to move them conveniently to the area where they are sorted - it does not mean they are being thrown away!

Prices were always checked where I worked - in catalogues; on our own mobiles; or in our own time at home! Occasionally, pricing mistakes are made - too low as well as too high. If a customer pointed out that an item cost less new or about the same as we were charging we often adjusted the price. However, prices are based on normal retail prices - not on sale/discount store prices.

Expert (but free) advice is taken in relation to antique and vintage items.

Vintage clothes are usually sent to Fara's specialist vintage shop in Victoria.

Every week the shop is checked for items which are not selling and prices may be reduced by a third or more - in effect a constant 'sale'.

[sezwedz]

Thank you for that insight on how the shop works. I'm not sure what catalogues/website checking is done, but from this thread you can tell any research done is well out of date, pricing is well out on what people are prepared to pay = stock is not shifted. Lower prices = people will buy more, simple really. It's not like any of these items have cost Fara a dime, surely moving stock is more important = happier customers = more money in Fara's pocket.

[Scottov]

I worked for Fara for six months last year. The following may be of interest. Staff are paid the *minimum wage*. Elements of the work are physically hard - much of it taking place out of sight behind or below the shop: sorting through bags of donations; lifting and carrying bin bag size bags of bric a brac, clothes and shoes. Some donations are fantastic and full of lovely saleable items, but there are donations consisting of people's dirty laundry, unwanted torn, dirty holiday clothes, mouldy clothes from the garage/shed - and worse - occasionally it can be very unpleasant.

Clothes and shoes which are too old/holey/smelly to be sold are sold by weight as 'rag'.

Clothes and shoes which cannot be sold locally (because they are not in a good enough condition) are loaded into bags to be sold in another area.

Some donations (of every type) are sent to shops in areas where they get very few donations - usually because of low footfall.

Sometimes donations are put into 'rag' bags just to move them conveniently to the area where they are sorted - it does not mean they are being thrown away!

Prices were always checked where I worked - in catalogues; on our own mobiles; or in our own time at home! Occasionally, pricing mistakes are made - too low as well as too high. If a customer pointed out that an item cost less new or about the same as we were charging we often adjusted the price. However, prices are based on normal retail prices - not on sale/discount store prices.

Expert (but free) advice is taken in relation to antique and vintage items.

Vintage clothes are usually sent to Fara's specialist vintage shop in Victoria.

Every week the shop is checked for items which are not selling and prices may be reduced by a third or more - in effect a constant 'sale'.

thanks, pretty much what I would expect to be the case in practical application. would say though, that Retail is hard, and that I wouldn't be happy if they were paying more than minimum. In fact, I would expect them to be using a mixed model of paid and volunteer staff.

they have an obligation to make as much money as possible for their charitable objectives.

I wonder if the difference of opinion here is one of principle use? for example, whilst there is going to many people who both donate and buy, the perspective is perhaps driven by what's most important to you.

Some would clearly like to purchase the goods offered for sale at lower prices than being charged, whereas we would not donate if they did that.

what I mean by that, is that we do not donate clothes, toys etc. for the benefit of the local community (though that is a happy occurence) but for the charitable purpose. i.e. to make as much money as possible. If they charged less than they could, the beneficiary is the customer, not the charity. At least that is the alternative perspective to consider.

If the prices are too high, then the goods won't sell, and people won't shop there. However, the shop seems to be doing a roaring trade.

And lets not forget, there are a number of other charity shops in the area, many of whom sell cheaper products at cheaper prices.

If, as alleged, it is possible to buy equivalent goods at better prices, in better condition, then I think you are morally obliged to do just that. i.e. buy from those alternatives sources. that would have a dual effect:
1. send the message that prices are too high, driving lower custom, and ultimately forcing a response from FARA
2. providing a better outcome for your family unit.

if those circumstances are true, then things will naturally change over time in response; if they are not, they won't change.

which is how it should be.

[Scottov]

pricing is well out on what people are prepared to pay = stock is not shifted.

that is not clear at all. that is what would happen in those circumstances, it is not clear that this circumstances are in existence.

I still note the traffic, and queues to purchase when we are in there. tehy seem to be doing just fine.

[lawrence]

Dear nappyvalley mummies and nannies
I have contacted Fara customer service today,pls feel free to do the same and highlite the issue.

http://www.faracharityshops.org/site/contact.html

[lawrence]

Correspondence from Fara customer services:
Many thanks for taking time to email me regarding the nappyvalleynet blog.
We are aware of the comments made on the blog and indeed the Area Manager responded with an explanation of our pricing policy to one individual in October of last year.
Our customers are very important to us as part of the local community around each of the shops and feedback is always taken very seriously. As the Area Manager pointed out her correspondence last year we working continuously to ensure that the quality / price mix is appropriate and that raising funds for our worthwhile programmes supporting disadvantaged children is at the core of what we do, we follow a structured pricing policy to offer fair prices to our customers.
As you will see from the comments on the nappy valley blog some individuals have commented on what they perceive to be high pricing in the FARA shop whilst nearly as many comment on their understanding of the purpose of raising funds for a worthwhile charitable cause through the sale of goods which have very kindly been donated to us. I am pleased to see that one comment recognises that ‘good charities should be run by good businesses’. We strive and have a responsibility to raise the funds required to give sustainable support to the beneficiaries of our programmes – this we do by carefully monitoring our expenditure and working hard to maximise our sales with respect given to both our
donors and customers.
On another note regarding affordability, we have a policy of reducing or half pricing stock after a certain period of time within the shop. This means that if someone sees a piece that they really want they can buy it at full price. Alternatively, they can wait to see if it is still there after a period of time when it is reduced. This means there is always half price and reduced price stock within every FARA shop. This has proved to be a very successful strategy ensuring that there is stock available at prices accessible to all.
I hope you continue to support FARA and look forward to seeing you in one of our shops soon.
Kindest regards
Emma Ashby

Development & Marketing Director

FARA Charity Shops

[Scottov]

a very reasonable, well thought out response from FARA.

Thanks for soliciting that Lawrence.

[Scottov]

A far from complete one though Scottov, don't you think? I'd still love to know how much FARA takes in, how much it pays to the people managing the business and what it uses the left over money for.

I don't have a grudge against FARA, it's just that I've donated loads of good stuff over the years to the Balham and Earlsfield branches and wondered what happens to the funds my good donations generate.

I've started giving my donations to the RSPCA because I was getting worried that FARA is a bit dodgey .

I don't disagree with the premise at all, to be concerned at how well the business is run. This is important

However do you have a basis for your implied accusations of prolifigacy, and are the same standards applied to oxfam, rspca, nspcc, comic relief etc?

[calliwally]

Charity shops have to remember they are raising money for charity and therefore, if they are putting people off buying from then then they are doing themselves out of money for their cause. I work in retail and we think very carefully about our pricing strategy. People like to think they are helping a charity and getting value for money, what's wrong with that?

[nanny1985]

http://www.faracharity.org/download/new ... r_2009.pdf

I have found this newsletter, that features a few children and the help they have received. The information is fairly vague, but I do remember having picked up a leaflet last year, and it had some information on a center for adults with disabilities that was based in eastern Romania, in Moldavia. My understanding is they are focusing on Roma children (gipsy), that represent a big social issue in Romania. There are also other government and EU programs on the issue. Also, they seem to help grown ups that have disabilities. I'd actually want to find out more and will write them an email to ask.

The FARA response is well thought and beautifully incomplete. Also, everyone is expressing their opinions politely, apart from Scottov, who seems to think that we are all a bunch of sillies that have no intention of helping the needy

[Scottov]

The FARA response is well thought and beautifully incomplete. Also, everyone is expressing their opinions politely, apart from Scottov, who seems to think that we are all a bunch of sillies that have no intention of helping the needy

1. Beautifully incomplete? What proper direct question to them did they avoid?

2. I only think *some* of you are frothing loonie tunes.

[clapset]

The fara website has little information on who runs or manages the business and what remuneration they receive. It seems to have been set up to help Romanian orphans but it doesn't say who set it up.

In my limited experience with charity - those that run the 'business' are invariably not on minimum wage.

Anyone know who is behind the organisation?

Scottie you seem to have plenty of time on your hands rather than abusing people why don't you do a FoI request and get some info for us...

[clapset]

My company used to provide free space to a charity that provided eye site services to less fortunate people in the 3rd world. The idea was great, the execution was poor. Basically it was run by some Tim Nice But Dim twits straight out of Uni who were bright enough to realise that as long as you were perpetuating the story about your growing success - they could pay themselves £100k +, have no overheads and get free IT and telecoms from us whilst travelling the world. Eventually the original brains behind the charity wised up, and we got bored of their £1k a month phone bills and so they all got the bullet. So what next - they set up a new charity and so started the sorry saga again ... genious.