Salvation Army Trading Company Superstore - Northampton

Tanisha B

Very over priced charity shop. The stock that is out is always the same stuff and not in the best condition either.
They even sell fake items, check out these mens Gucci trainers. Will set you back £50!!
There are plenty if good charity shops in Northampton, this is one to avoid.

Phil Halson

This is a very large charity shop on Abington Street in the centre of Northampton which sells furniture, electrical goods, clothes, fitness equipment, books, records, CDs, dvds, toys, bric a brac, plus probably all sorts of other things that you can think of. I think some things are donated by supermarkets because there will often be several of one item in brand new condition.

Whisperhead

Honestly, this review has nothing to do with the staff - anyone who gives their time and effort to help out in a charity shop, volunteer or otherwise deserves our gratitude, so 5 stars for all of the employees.

However, the charity as an entity is the subject of this review: it has clearly succumbed to a misguided notion that "what eBay says, goes."

A wide spectrum of items that are generously donated to the charity are hugely overpriced for second-hand goods. I have even overheard senior staff (usually the managers) telling customers openly that "we go by eBay prices." Those customers have then made the same argument I do here, before leaving immediately.

Why would anyone pay RRP for pre-owned (and often average-condition) goods?

The problem with this ethos is that anyone can list anything on eBay for whatever price they like: whether it sells or not. As a charity, I can fully understand wanting to get a good return on items for sale but on eBay, there is no limit to the price a person can ask, and that doesn't translate to 'selling' price, just an arbitrary figure entirely at the whim of the seller. The paltry few who don't understand the mechanics of selling online might fall for this but the majority are much more wise to it.

Poor show. You're losing customers because of it, which is a shame, as inevitably those who need the charity funds the most are missing out.

Kathleen Kelly

If anyone is less physically able beware the delivery drivers were awfull .they threw a chair down by a side roadside door before knocking . I can't use its not front door which is the other side of the house .They did not want to take them to my front door properly. Told me they're going in here aren't they they didn't want to put them in the room I wanted .they didn't like it. My son could see how bad they were and got impatient with me .
My son being ill would struggle to get chairs through the other door . It was my job to speak to him .but they dumped chairs in the side room .stormed off .
It was an incomplete order. He got very rude shouting the attitude stinks in this house wouldn't even help or give me the phone number to ring the shop saying not my responsibility .
They didn't like doing their job .I'll be in next week for a refund .

Tamsin Dolman

Extremely overpriced charity shop (Clothing). Stock is hardly ever rotated. Probably because the prices are so high nothing sells. I’m always happy to pay up for a good quality garment second hand but this shop is literally over priced tat, over worn, bobbly etc. Nothing worth more than £5/£6 max yet prices are in the range of £10-£25 for general high street low value brands. Even higher for more premium high street. Wouldn’t recommend a visit.

Dom

Absolutely stinks! Every time I come in I have to hold my breath. Something definitely needs to be done about it! And a lot of the items are very overpriced! Some items have been there for over a year without having any sort of price reduction. However the staff are friendly and helpful!

Michelle Smith

Drove quite a distance to visit. Felt very excited when I saw how big it was but left feeling disappointed. I trade in vintage. I totally get that they don't want to give away stuff but their approach of high prices leaving no room for a bargain for shoppers or any small profit for small vintage buyers means that the place is absolutely rammed with stuff but they would make so much more money for the charity if they turned over more stock. It is harming the reputation of what is a very long established charity. I am only 25 miles from London. In my local Hospice shop which is a tiny little place, the prices are less than half what they are asking in this shop and they regularly take more than a thousand a day so the hospice is able to look after more patients. I ,bought very little. Had the prices been reasonable I would have bought a huge amount .

Paul Robertson-Marriott

Furniture collection service very unreliable, disorganised and poor service. By contrast, the British Heart Foundation were excellent.