Charity shop with fine art prices!!

Greaney

I was driving twards the Westside today when I spotted a well known charity had a second hand furniture shop opened. Delighted and ever the 'bargin biddy' on my way home I called in to see if there was something I could pick up for a couple of Euro. Well blow me down and bring a checkbook!!

I picked up an old plastic picture that was falling apart (no glass, half falling apart) because I liked the kitch frame and thought I could re-pupose it (fancy word for taking out the picture, sticking some cork on the back, spray it silver.... you get the drift), there was a sticker for €20 on it and obviously I thought it was a mistake so I approached a staff member and asked 'is this sticker the actual price?', he said it was, then he said 'sure, make an offer', to which I replied 'er, actually, I was thinking about €3', he pooh hoohed my price and I put the pic down and had a good look at the stock.

Now if I'm not mistaken, most second hand charity shops are full of stuff folk have donated and don't want, however in this shop there were a lot of prices around the three figure mark and I'm sure if they were worth it, they'd be in the original owners home!! For example, after the shock of the picture quote I started looking at the rest of the pictures and blow me down if they weren't a bunch of naff 'Constables Haywain' type reproductions with chipped frames and all and the prices ranged from €30 to....wait for it €250!!!!

So why am I ranting on boards??? I just want to know, is it me or is that over the top?? And has anyone been in this shop? (I don't know how much info I can legally give on Boards). Has it been open long? I'm thinking of sending the charity a wee email to let them know the prices are silly because I browse charity shops and antique shops all the time and I think these prices are waaaaay off.

inisboffin

If it's the same one I'm thinking of, you are not alone! Their furniture prices are crazy. Some stuff was even dearer than a NEW equivelant at say EZ living or some of those shops.
I saw a wooden locker in there once, overpriced but unusual enough that I wanted to pay. I asked if they could hold it for a half an hour while I cycled home to get cash. I walked back and was going to have a friend give me a lift on their way home, once I'd paid.

Well, I got back, within the half hour and the woman said "it's sold, it has been reserved by someone else for a ten euro more than that price"

A little dodgy, and most uncool at best. I never went back.

squonk

That's a bit rich alright considering you'd buy a nice picture for 250 yourself! Heck, you'd get a picture and get it framed and all just how you want it for that. I wonder if all the money is going to charity at that rate.

Greaney

That's the thing, I saw a reproduction of a mid 20th century picture, the kind you buy in Athena or Debenhams homeware and it was priced €50 in this charity shop, it's usually about €50, first hand in Debenhams!!

The shabby print of a horse, (not an original) for €250 still blows me away, who do they have priceing these pictures, a fine art specialist?? Seriously, this is a charity shop not an antique shop. The 'goods' were not the kind you find in an antique shop.

And yes it is a charity shop and the money does go to the charity I've no doubt, (okay okay, it's the Simon shop on Rahoon road in Shantalla), the mods can delete this if they think it's too much info. I was going to write to them because it's got the same kind of stock as the curiosity shop but it's a hellavah more expensive. I'm not moved to return.

SimonGalway

Thank you very much for your feedback about our Shop. We very much value the comments and we are always looking at ways of improving our service. This shop is a crucial way for us to raise funds and 100% of the proceeds from this shop go directly towards providing food, accommodation and support services to men and women in the West of Ireland who are homeless. Supports include things nursing service, addiction counselling and mental health nurse services, which are vital for those who are currently homeless or for those who are trying to break the cycle of homeless. We are very grateful to everyone in Galway, city and county who have both donated and purchased items from this shop, without whom we could not survive.
We genuinly take on board your comments and we will certainly review all of our prices, but in particular our art prices. Just to give some additional information regarding the piece that is priced at €200.00 - this is a limited edition signed Peter Gray original. When we recieve items of this calibre it is our policy to seek independent expert advice with regard to the value of such items as we do not have this level of expertise amongst our staff, most of who are volunteers. We were advised that the four pieces we received - all signed limited editions were worth in the region of €200 - €300 each. We therefore priced each of the items at €250 and have sold 3 of them for €200 each. Obviously this is a significant amount of money and we are very grateful to those customers who have purchased these items.
I do hope that your initial experience in our shop will not prevent you from visiting us again. We really do value your comments and we will immediately review all prices, particularly those items you mentioned.
Regards, Galway Simon Community.

Greaney

Thank you for your reply to my comment. I have to admit to being lazy that I did not write to the charity in person. I will return to the shop. I am aware of limited edition prints but the picture was hung in such a way that I could not examine the number of prints.

Judgement Day

Greaney - I'm inclined to agree with your thinking in this as a frequent buyer from charity shops. Oxfam and their overpriced books are another case in point. I have worked in this type of operation and anybody with half a brain knows the key to success lies in turning over your stock fast. Free stock + quick sale = profit and a good reputation with buyers. If people want to buy books and antiques at regular prices they will go to regular outlets. I wrote to Oxfam about the matter some years back but nothing has changed.

inisboffin

@Simon Galway. Thanks for replying on here. My issue that I posted was not with price per se, but as I mentioned, I found the generic furniture prices very high. I *did* point that out to a staff member about one item before (it was a modern book case, priced at 4 euro less than an identical new on at ez living, and it had a loose shelf). The member of staff was (truthful but) a little abrupt in the reply of 'well that's the price of it, whoever wants it will buy it'. While I understand a possible grey area of pricing antiques and fine art, I honestly feel your pricing structure for household items etc, is doing a good organisation such as Simon, no favours really. Things may have changed for some items, it is nearly a year since I have been in myself.

pseudonym1

They must have taken comments on board(s) and adjusted prices went into day for a look some prices were reduced ... saw an awsome 60's style unuique large 3 peice garden set for €130

barbs84

the st vincent de paul furniture shop sell better condition stuff for half the price of the simon shop in westside, you would think if they had lower prices they would sell more stuff then in turn make more money, so please lower you prices to second hand prices the simon shop

squonk

Yes, and in fairness as the stuff is being donated to them in the first place, all the money goes straight to helping their work so, while they shouldn't be giving it away for a song, it seems particularly pointless charging almost the same as for an equivalent new product. As was said earlier, quicker turnover = a more sustainable money supply!

Greaney

pseudonym1 wrote: »

They must have taken comments on board(s) and adjusted prices went into day for a look some prices were reduced ... saw an awsome 60's style unuique large 3 peice garden set for €130

That's good you spotted a difference. I went back myself too. I still think they're way overpriced. I noticed they had baby's cot's for 100 euro, Ikea have them for as little as 39 euro this week (the sniglar), they had only one cot over 100 euro, all others were less than that, so I think the charity shop still has a long way to go.

I visited Dunnes in Westside straight after the shop and similar things like new picture frames, were a lot cheaper there.