This weekend just gone I donated 7 bags of good quality goods to this store, from clothing to soft toys - all in good condition and well cared for. On the Sunday I realised I had also accidentally put in a bag of school uniforms that had been given to us for our daughter who was starting secondary school to go through and purchase to save us some money, what we didn't keep, was to be returned. Gutted at the thought of throwing someone elses good clothes in the drop-box, but also knowing the bag was easily identifiable with just school clothes, all with logos/emblems etc that I would inform the people at the shop and see if they came across them and be able to return them. I spoke with a lady first thing Monday morning - she was less than accomodating, told me she wouldn't be able to find them and pointed to a storage room full of bags. Then told me to put my number down on a piece of paper and she would call me if she found them. Less than ten minutes after leaving the store I recieved a phone call informing me she had found the blazers. I asked if I could pick them up tomorrow as I was on my way to work, and she stated 'No you will need to get them today, too many people work here and they will go back on the shelf' A little shocked I arranged for my husband to pick up the bag.
He was also greeted by a less than pleasant volunteer and who then made him BUY back the blazers. The rest of the items from the bag - allegedly all missing. He explained this was an accident and it had been put in there with large DONATIONS to this service - only to be told - 'She's (referring to me as I'd made the mistake) lucky to get anything back'! He paid his $5 for the blazers and left.
Today (Tuesday) knowing that these clothes are not mine, I entered the store to see if I could possibly find an item or two, not expecting to find anything, and instead I found a whole section dedicated to school uniforms and one by one, 15 items from the same school, that came from the exact same bag as the blazers appeared in a neatly hung line on the shelf! At no point the day prior did the less than pleasant volunteer inform us that they may be in this school uniform dedicated area, however somehow managed to find just the two blazers. I picked up all the items that are rightfully mine, explaining the same story again, and my unpleasant experience with the lady yesterday. I was nodded at. A young man volunteer - stated that is not very good, and the lady said 'Was that really what she said' then proceeded to charge another $10 for my own accidentally placed goods!
In total I have dontaed thousands of dollars to this opshop over many years. We are a young family-struggling to make ends meet. My husband and I both work long hours a great distance from our home and we have two rapidly growing children, and I have always chosen to donate our pre-loved goods (some brand new), as I work in community services and feel it is something more people should do, rather than trying to make a quick dollar on ebay etc. However scenarios like this have me questioning it's worth. At no point was it explained to me there was a policy and I would need to -re-purchase my own accidentally donated goods, or even a donation for finding the bag would have been acceptable! The treatment that both my partner and I recieved was disgusting - a grumpy old lady, who was put out, and annoyed someone had made a mistake. I hope no-one puts anything in this place by accident again, as getting it back is more trouble, and expense than it is worth, I will never donate here again due to this experience. It was appalling! So much for Community Minded. read more
