The op shops costing you more depending on suburb
A Daily Telegraph investigation has uncovered the places in Sydney where you can get the cheapest - and most expensive - items in op shops.
NSW
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Charity shops are meant to offer affordable preloved options but Sydney bargain hunters are paying vastly different prices depending where they live.
An investigation by The Daily Telegraph across nine Salvation Army, Vinnies and Red Cross Australia op shops around Sydney has revealed price gaps as large as $40 for similar products in the eastern suburbs, inner west and western suburbs.
Alex Morse, 20, and housemate Harry Dear, 24, checked out Vinnies Maroubra this week to do some thrifty shopping.
Ms Morse said she loved thrifting but was unsure why large price differences separated stores.
“I don’t really understand why you’d pay more for the same item, maybe shop running costs are a factor,” Ms Morse said.
“I got this blanket for $14 here but it’d be like $4 in a thrift store up in Forster.”
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A women’s coat made by up-market retailer Sheik cost $45 at Salvos Maroubra, but in Sydney’s southwest, Salvos Moorebank priced the same coat at $60.
A black jacket at the Moorebank op shop was priced at $65 while a similar piece at Maroubra was just $25.
Women’s black high heels were the most expensive at Salvos St Peters, with a pair selling for $25 compared to $10 and $5 at Maroubra and Moorebank.
Vinnies Paddington was home to the most expensive jeans out of four Vinnies stores visited, with a pair retailing for $20 unlike similar pairs for $12 at Vinnies Bankstown and $14 at Vinnies Leichhardt.
Mens trousers were $18 at Red Cross Randwick but another pair was three dollars cheaper at Newtown, where jeans were the most expensive of all the charity stores at $30 a pair.
Household essentials like kitchen plates were $4 each at Vinnies Bankstown but just 50 cents at Salvos in Moorebank.
Salvos representative Aoife O’Loughlin said prices for items like the identical jackets were decided on a store by store basis.
“Items within our stores are priced to ensure all our customers can come and shop with us and get great quality items at reasonable prices while also ensuring we can continue to raise vital funds,” Ms O’Loughlin said.
“We try to ensure pricing is as consistent as we can throughout our network, we acknowledge that from time to time we can get this wrong.”
Australian Red Cross Head of Retail Richard Wood said prices are reduced if a product hasn‘t sold within a month.
Mum of three Danielle Sardelic, 48 from Alexandria, paid $35 for two bowls and three pieces of clothing at Salvos St Peters but said she was willing to fork out a little extra for something special.
“I love op shops, you never know what you’ll find,” Ms Sardelic said.
“Looking for bargains is fun, but I don’t mind spending more money on something if it’s unique and no one else will have it.”