posted on December 2, 2000 07:46:34 PM
Our church has a great thrift shop, but since we've started going to our church I'm embarrassed to go in there and shop. Most people know what I do. Anyone have any advice on how to do this? Most of what I've bought there is books (mainly homeschool) and character items (like from 1980s that kids nowdays would have no idea what a He-Man is, that kind of thing). The best I've thought of so far is take in a bunch of stuff to donate and "while I'm here I might as well look at the books". The teens are made to run it, and I taught VBS with some of them, so its rather embarrassing, esp. since its really aimed for the people who can't afford stuff. (Of course, the stuff I buy isn't what they would want anyway. I doubt anyone on welfare homeschools, etc.) But I don't want to be obvious either as they have it as a "ministry to the poor" (but like I said, I don't think any of the clientele that go in there would ever homeschool.) So any advice on how I can continue to shop and not be embarrassed / made to feel like I'm taking things away from the poor? Our church is very small so everyone knows me.
posted on December 2, 2000 07:54:36 PM
Its stuff for resell. The way I see it, the stuff gets moved so they can accept more donations to get stuff that the needy can use as well as helps me out, as well as helps my church (through more money I can give to the church). But there is the issue that the thrift shop is there for the needy.
posted on December 2, 2000 08:00:14 PM
Most of the Thrift Shops I am familiar with don't care who buys, they just want customers. They are able to help the needy not just by providing merchandise at low prices, but they use the proceeds from sales to do charitable work.
Are you certain that the other church members really mind that you buy for resale? Why don't you talk to a few members of the church, perhaps including the minister, and find out exactly what their attitude is; they may not care at all.
posted on December 2, 2000 08:06:07 PM
Actually, my pastor knows what I do. He popped in for a visit one day (like I said small church). He found it facinating that I sell full time, and said that as a minister he often knows of people who have an item that is worth a lot but don't know how to sell it for the money they need. He said that he may point some of them to me. The thing is, the shop is run by a different part of the church, so I feel a little weird with everyone knowing I sell, esp. since it is advertised as all the stuff being priced so the poor can afford it.
I have a friend who doesn't tell anyone she sells on ebay, which in some ways is a good idea, but then again, everyone I know knows I sell (and I just had an offer the other day to take anything I wanted out of a one room schoolhouse that closed in 1950 before it was torn down by a friend of mine who is in the construction business. Unfortunatley, others knew when it was being torn down, and people went on to the property without permission and took everything good. Oh well. My friend tears down 10 or so old buildings a year, and is going to notify me before each one because he just burns the stuff.)
Makes me wonder, is it good or bad to let people know you sell on ebay?
posted on December 2, 2000 08:24:27 PM
Would it be possible for you to pay a small commission back to the thrift shop/church? Kind of like tithing. That way, the shop/ church gets more money than it ordinarily would so everyone's happy and you don't feel guilty. Frankly, I tend to agree that these sorts of operations usually just want customers----unless they decide to get really enterprising and sell directly on eBay themselves.
________
I never had one, and I didn't want one, and I don't, so now I do...
posted on December 2, 2000 08:33:33 PM
I've felt the same way on occasion, but the bottom line is that it takes money to make the thrift shop "thing" work and money is all the same no matter who spends it. I'm guessing that very little of the goods sold at church sales actually go to the poor--most of the stuff goes to the thrifty, to those who know how to find a bargain and are not too proud to do so. Where does the money go that the thrift shop collects? That's more important than who buys the stuff. Turn over is the name of the game--and don't forget, church shops are competing with all of the other venues--they want to keep the stock fresh. Trust me, they value you as a customer. And you are educating them as well, since they see what you buy and at what price. Christian guilt. Bummer.
posted on December 2, 2000 08:37:15 PM
The local small church my wife and family go to has a thift store.
And they have no problem with my going in to there store to look and buying Item they know I sell stuff online in fact If I dont show up now and then I get a personel invite.
I dont Find alot of Items in there but what I do find is all a donation to the churches pantry and other comunity activitys.
My buying at there store not only supports the church it helps feed people my small bussiness helps the comunity even helps some familys who have less send there kids to camp for a week in the summer.
Where is the shame in this
look at the good buying to sell can honestly do for the comunity in a indirect way.
[ edited by dman3 on Dec 2, 2000 08:48 PM ]
posted on December 2, 2000 08:47:05 PM
jendiggy, there is nothing wrong with shopping at a thrift store. Also there is no personal defect in being poor. After all, Jesus was born in a barn. You've got to hold your chin up and stop worrying what others might think, if they even think those things about you at all. Since you know the teens that run the store, shopping there would be an opportunity to set a good character example for them.
The idea of selling things for the thrift store for a commission on eBay sounds like a good way to raise money for the church. If you do, make sure you let the bidders know what the sale is for, so there are no 'Jews for Jesus' surprises. Blessings!
posted on December 2, 2000 08:49:39 PM
Maybe it IS Christian guilt. The money goes to help build houses for the homeless in Bolivia (our church sponsors a missionary down there and often has trips down there to build, so the money goes for supplies), but also they want to help the poor at home with the thrift shop. Thanks for the opinions. I've found some great stuff in there -- homeschool items, character sheets, even current college texts and a 1790 U.S. census book. Its a place I don't think any re-sell people know about and usually I sell for 10 times what they have marked on the item. (sometimes more -- my record in that store was buying something for $2 and selling at over $50.) Of course, I donate money back to my church, but the whole issue is the poor in the community and what to say if they mention that. One thrift shop a couple blocks from ours that says "If you buy to sell, you are not welcome here." (That thrift store can't even pay for electric and rent from their proceeds. They ask local churches to help out since they are providing a service to the poor -- some service too. Baby t-shirts that are stained are priced low -- $4. Get real!)
Guess I'm paranoid about the other "Christian" thrift shop in the area's policy on buying and reselling!
I would cut to the chase, and tomorrow, ask your Pastor if you could speak with him for a moment after services.
Then, JUST ASK HIM!
Tell him your position, and ask his advice.
Let him know that you do this for several reasons.
1) To help make extra money for your family.
2) To help make extra money so that you have more to donate to the church.
3) To help the thrift shop meet operating expenses.
4) etc.
Don't be afraid to talk to your Pastor, jenn.
After all, the worst he could do is tell you that the church frowns on this, and if that's the case, do you really want to do something your church doesn't condone?
Ask him jenn.
I am sure you will be surprised, and get a favorable answer.
posted on December 2, 2000 09:37:38 PM
jenndiggy, pocono has some good advice. Anytime you have a question about something in your heart you can talk to the pastor about it.
That's great about the church building homes in Bolivia. I'd be spending lots of money at that store for that reason alone! What a worthwhile ministry.
The other store that has the "if you sell, dont' buy", that is a strange policy--and it seems they will be out of business soon. We have thrift stores here in New Orleans run by churchs. At many of them the poor don't have to pay for the clothing. They get to come in so many times a year with an allotted store credit. Everyone else has to pay cash money. That seems to work pretty good.
posted on December 3, 2000 12:30:05 AM
Are those items going to be sold or given to the less fortunate? Does selling those items raise money to help the poor?
I think the idea of their thrift shop is to raise money to help out the cause (whatever that may be). If you are purchasing items in that shop (no matter what the reason may be for purchasing) you are actually furthering the cause by purchasing the items. So if you believe in what they are doing. Buy as much as you can and be guilt free!
posted on December 3, 2000 07:03:59 AM
The philosopy of the store is to help the poor by selling used items. But your point of the money then being used to build homes in Bolivia is a good one, and maybe I should be buying there. After all, most of what I would buy would just be sitting around for ages since its not stuff that most of the poor people in our area would need.
As for the "resellers not welcome" thrift store, they get thousands of dollars a year from area churches to continue this "ministry" to the poor. I think it is a waste for the churches to support that thrift shop. There are others in the area that have lower prices, and cater to the poor. One store in the area doesn't advertise this, but if you buy clothes as well as "stuff" you get a discount on ALL your purchaces under the philosopy that usually only poor people will buy clothes there. (I love those 1970s housecoats, and I found a couple at that store once and my total purchace was almost 50% off what I expected it to be.) Since the money there go to the Eposcipal church (not my church), I would never buy clothes just to get the discount, but I am wanting to go look for some more of those warm and fuzzy housecoats. To me that is more of a ministry than asking churches to donate money to pay expenses!
Thank you all for your opinions. Its been interstring to see what everyone has had to say!
posted on December 3, 2000 07:04:15 AM
In 40 years of life I have learned that anyone can justify anything. It's OK to shop there because the money is used for good causes etc. The bottom line is that you feel uncomfortable buying there, so don't do it. Leave the church thrift store items for the poor people who have no other choice.
By the way, I like your justification that "people on welfare don't homeschool their children" so it's OK to buy homeschooling books there. Like I said above, anyone can justify anything.
posted on December 3, 2000 08:07:10 AM
I agree with the previous folks. The money you spend there goes to help the church and it's programs. The more money they get, the more they can help.
But, If you feel too guilty about it, then don't shop there, it's not worth the angst.
Make money for your school with www.School-Auction.Com
posted on December 3, 2000 10:45:39 AM
I have shopped at thrift stores here and in the UK ever since I was old enough to get on the bus by myself.
I think the idea of thrift shops being intended as places for only those with limited incomes to shop is based on a fundamental understanding of how these places work. With rare exceptions, these shops' primary purpose is not to sell to poor people, but to raise money for whatever cause the shop's management espoused.
The Salvation Army (of which my uncle was a senior official), St. Vincent De Paul, and Methodist thrift shops in town here and in Boston accept donated items, which they provide FREE OF CHARGE to the needy, usually through referral through a social worker or directly through their shelters. The leftovers are what you see for sale in their shops, proceeds from which fund other programs (at St. Vincent de Paul this includes a social worker and a fund to pay for fuel and food for the suddenly destitute).
In the '70s I toured Goodwill's Buffalo NY center, including its sheltered workshops which provided employment for the disabled, who refurbished the materials donated. Sales of those items paid the workers' wages and funded outreach programs. The more $$ they could get for the items, the more funding for the entire program, and the more disabled people they could employ.
posted on December 3, 2000 11:03:18 AM
Shop away at the thrift store. If you make a truly big sale, donate a little back and donate the things you buy that do not sell on Ebay. Don't be made to feel guilty because you are out there working to help your family. If you are paying the asking price--go for it.<p>The idea of talking with your pastor does seem like good advise.
