Be Excellent To Each Other

I can't help but chuckle and support this cause.

I fully endorse this cause

me too

haha, they were selling christmas tat on those shopping channels about a week ago

I like it, but it's a bit shite that it's charity shops who's locks they're gluing.

Agreed. I'm going to kick some serious heads in if I catch people messing with the few decent establishments left in Headingley.

Good point about the CS.

Surely the letter first, then a follow up letter, then a final letter THEN glue the locks!!

In all seriousness.. that's not on! I don't mind shops selling Christmas cards, they can do it all year round if they like.. but I strongly object to shops putting up decorations and other such things too early.

Besides, I didn't see them at the start of summer, threatening the big chain stores about Back 2 Skool campaigns.

Christmas > Skool

Bah! Humbug!

I know I've probably said this before, but stores here seem to start their Back To School sales the same time as stores in North America... which can mean the sales start before the kids have even gotten out for the summer.

Charity shops should be the first to be glued, specifically Oxfam.

yes boo to them for helping people..

Bollocks. You get some ace second hand books in them.

That's the problem. Charity shops get set up, then under the mindless banner of (un)fair trade they pay less business rates than their competitors, get staffed and stocked for free and nowadays the book prices are often little different to those in shops. Local independent book stores are disappearing because of it and this is why most little high streets now have a ton of charity shops and far fewer indie places than before. Same with record shops.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/au ... ooksellers

I suggest everyone goes and takes a look round the car park of the Oxfam head office, to see where this money is going. The assumption that the C word means they are helping is a dangerous one. Besides you can't even get to these shops because some cunt in an Oxfam vest is getting in your face to set up a direct debit even though they've not got the first clue about whatever charity it is they are representing this afternoon.

HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES AND THE CROWD GO WILD!!!

yes they are evil for selling stuff to people that cannot afford new stuff. And how horrible for the money going to help folks and animals. I must go and burn down the charity shop on the high street, the nazis

I did hear a further GY rage inducer somewhere though, some Oxfam bookshop has been found throwing away a lot of lower-value books that they get in, but firstly ripping off the cover to make sure nobody dumpster dives them and gets them for free or resells them to make a few pennies. That is very poor IMHO.

They *may* have to do that for tax reasons, same as Gamestation with retro games.

Yes, that's exactly what he's saying.

He's not for example, saying that them selling for full price is putting actual independent stores (who would be selling for the same 2nd hand prices) out of business and he's certainly not implying that they have huge admin costs meaning surprisingly little of your money is helping anyone.

I heartily endorse this event or product.

ah so teh money that is made goes to help, rather than just profit like a normal store.

of course there will be admin costs, you would be an idiot to think other wise...

978 Bananas.

BTW that link is the same story I linked to a few weeks back that was in a local paper. So I had to take 10 bananas off for me getting there first.

Likewise go to the WRVS head office in Abingdon and see the huge stately home (complete with spa and training facilities) set in acres and acres of posh parkland. Surrounded by brand new company cars.

Another person sucked in to the charity shop myth. Most of those shops make so little money it's barely worthwhile. Charity shops are mainly about PR. The likes of Oxfam get their money from grants, large donations and appeals.

The charity industry is a cynical one. Chief execs rolling in driving Mercs and being paid 100 grand a year, plush HQ's with works of art worth thousands. You'd sometimes think it was more about keeping people in jobs that raising money.

A little late to the party my friend...

I better warn my old workplace, Headingley library!

Also, are you around there? Is the Dare cafe still open? They had a gorgeous waitress, and a superb soup and sandwich offer. The soups were usually something delicious and mushy like leek and potato or mushroom and the sarnies were a variety of class baguettes like coronation chicken. Only £3.50 they were, and the music policy was good too. Miss that place.

I currently live in Headingley, yeah. I think Dare is still open in as far as I didn't hear about it closing. I'll check for you. I try to avoid going out in Headingley, but if you worked there, I suppose it makes sense.

Were you there while Arc, the Box and Trio were there? Dark days.