This was my first time donating furniture to this charity shop, and it will definitely be my last.
The collection window given was between 7am and 1pm. By 12:30pm no one had arrived, so I called the shop. I was then told the van was full and there would be a delay — first an hour, then half an hour — and that I would receive a call half an hour before arrival. I was also told twice that once the drivers left the shop, they would come straight to my address.
In reality, the drivers arrived an hour and a half later and did not come directly to me, as promised. They went elsewhere to deliver items first, causing further delay. By this point I had spent the entire morning and half my afternoon waiting, with the furniture moved into the middle of my room to make collection easier.
When they finally arrived, they refused to take the item. Photos were taken and sent to the manager, who rejected it due to defects. This was extremely disappointing, as a week earlier I had visited the shop in person, shown photos, fully described the item, and was assured it was suitable for donation. It is a vintage piece, and its condition was clearly explained in advance.
I would have been disappointed but understanding if the item had been refused promptly. What is unacceptable is waiting all day, being repeatedly reassured, and only being told after a very late arrival that the item would not be collected.
This was a donation — given for free to be resold — and ironically, I originally bought this very item from the same shop years ago in worse condition than it is now. The lack of communication, organisation, and consideration was upsetting and left me feeling completely let down.
I will not be donating to this shop again
