brightspark

I have heard that recently a volunteer at the Hospice physically ushered a child out of the shop which was upsetting to the grandmother and child. I also meet another customer who goes to the Hospice same as me. He told of his recent experience in the shop. They had a book sale with notice saying three books for a ?1 so he selected three. When he presented them to counter the manager told him that these three books are as priced and not in the sale. This left him feeling perplexed and humiliated. I undersyand from others I have bumped into, who I know are regulars in the shop they have witnessed other such incidents of change in prices at the counter or selcted favourite customers who they pull stuff out from the back of the shop. Also some price tags are showing two different prices one crossed out new one put on the same tag. I even met a former volunteer who was met with same price change at the counter when they went to purchase records.

There is a sign outside the soon to be new St. Christopher's donations wanted. Take your donations here rather than be refused at the old shop or be humiliated at the counter by having your donation pulled out and told that is OK that is not etc..

In another area I saw a notice in the window of a charity all donations accepted/none refused. Admittedly it bigger than the Hospice Shop. Refusing donations causes stress and grief to the customer as well as the staff. The Hospice should have stored this problem from day one. Then it would be environmental of happy smiles ;) this shop.

For those who find the other priced Mind shop and the Hospice refusing to take take your toy donations or being to choosy on what they accept as a donation. The charity Shops in Peckham Scope and Sense are not so fussy. The Walworth Road shops especially Salvation Army will accept all donations. A little further to go but are far more happy to receive.

Lets hope the new shop has better trained staff. Thursday to Sunday at the hospice shop they can be rude, selective on who they are nice to. Those bringing donations are put through the rigger of looking at your donations, even taking some out and then saying the rest is not good enough. You have to accept donations or not don't filter them on the spot in front of customers. There also seems to be a different pricing on these days lack of communication with the other manager or just a disregard for her. Every weekend I hear fractured voices and unhappy donators not how a charity shop should be. Is a shame as the hospice is such a good cause but they are let down at times by actions of people representing them. I have also witnessed very poor treatment of a volunteer (the Spanish lady)by manager on the weekend.