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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,016 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17949 Posts |
I was browsing the Oxfam website and noticed that they now have an online coin and stamp store! However, the descriptions of the coins leave a lot to be desired, and some of the prices are rather fanciful! http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/stamps...hd_100456991I would have thought that a charity of their reputation would have got an expert to ensure that their coins were accurately described, graded and realistically priced - surely they would be more likely to sell that way? |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
As a charitable organization, I am not impressed with Oxfam.
Their operating staff paid overhead costs are too high for my opinion.
In the U.K. many years ago, I used to do 'coal face' unpaid collection work for them, and at least, that is what I felt from my experience.
Otherwise, a very honest hardworking international charitable organiztion, with great respect.
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Pillar of the Community
Germany
1064 Posts |
Well, it is a charity, so imagine you want to donate some money to them, this would be a way of doing it, you spend over the odds for coins, but you get some coins and give to charity. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/memora...hd_100451822THat's got to be the bargain of the day! Edited by augsburger
02/15/2015 5:19 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Feel free to purchase with a completely clear concsience.
The profits of the sale WILL go to charity.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
701 Posts |
The way these so called " charitable " organisations are run is an absolute joke and a complete smack in the face to anyone who donates. A high street shop has to pay Rent Rates Manager Deputy Manager Electric Gas Water All of these have to be paid first before any money goes to the so called " needy " Whilst several " volunteers " give their time for free the so called managers pilfer all the valuable items and always have a " special " person that collects precious metals & jewellery to be " sent " off for valuation. None of it makes it way back to the shop or indeed to the charity coffers. Then you have the pricing on the used/2nd hand items which are so high nobody buys them ! I always thought it was meant to be charitable to all not just a chosen few parasites who feed off the back of the starving and dying. SHAMEFUL  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
In the best of charitable organizations all of the standing charges are provided free, and everyone who works for them, does so for free.
Such international charities are rare, but they DO exist. They work in some of the most risky of environments and amongst some of the most needful of people on the Planet.
I still maintain that if you wish to buy coins from Oxfam DO SO, and know that you are achieving at least SOME charitable good.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
701 Posts |
Not the truth unfortunately SEL, the charity never owns the premises they operate from and NO council gives free rates or a reduction !
The manager/deputy are paid roles because no one does it for free, the volunteers are generally made up of good Samaritans and people on benefits who are forced to work there.
It may be perceived differently in your country Sel but I know how they operate so my opinion will never change.
My mother recently quit as a volunteer after 3 years, in that time period the manager was paid over £80k and the deputy over £70k !
That's £150k the shop has to take just to pay wages ( is it a charity ) not taking into account a further £100k on rent/rates and utilities.
That means £250k taken from the charity before any money reaches the pot its all supposed to go in to.
That particular shop only reached its break even in 9 months out of 36, yet they can still stay open when running at a ridiculous loss, makes you wonder what percentage of money taken actually goes to the cause they are begging for.
Lots of managers get there money but does that mean they are charitable or parasites ?
Too many people walk around with blinkers on in todays modern society, delve a little deeper and you find all kinds of nasty truths.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2881 Posts |
Quote:
and NO council gives free rates or a reduction Here in Northern Ireland all charity shops operate rate free. According to this site http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/article/...rganisationsNon profit businesses can claim up to 100% rate relief in the UK Edited by Bacchus2
02/16/2015 2:42 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
701 Posts |
Very interesting wording in that Bacchus, I was aware they could claim a rebate but didn't think it could be 100%.
I will have to go and check on the local council site to see what their policy is.
Still doesn't justify that people make a profit under that rule whilst running a " non profit " company.
P.S I do stand corrected on that statement above, the reason the shop had to pay rates was just explained by my elderly mother ( bless her) not entirely clear but the shop failed because it shared the property with a dwelling above,
not sure how that works out but I will check later.
Edited by tenbobbit
02/16/2015 3:29 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2881 Posts |
The thinking here is that "foot traffic" is better than no traffic through town centers so charity shops are given a by-ball in regards to rates.
It does mean that landlords will shoehorn in any old charity to avoid paying rates on what might otherwise be an empty property (and therefore rates are due).
It's probably a policy that will be reviewed if it gets out of hand :)
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Bedrock of the Community
 United Kingdom
17949 Posts |
Wow! I hadn't expected my topic to stir up so much controversy!
I hadn't intended to be critical of Oxfam or Charity Shops in general, just about the way they describe and price these coins on their website, in the case of foreign coins, not even appearing to know want they are (check out the Icelandic ones!) Not all charities are like that. In the town where I used to live, the local branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution regularly had a stall at Boot Fairs, and they sold coins, stamps and banknotes that were sorted out properly and fairly priced. I bought quite a lot of coins from them myself.
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New Member
United Kingdom
35 Posts |
I have bought a few coins and notes from Oxfam but as you point out the pricing is all over the place. They have a 50% or 70% sale every now and then and this brings a few of them back towards some sort of reality.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,016 |
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Posted 02/15/2015 5:16 pm
