L Andrews, Lennox Head
Rebecca McNaught says op-shops are ‘opulent shops’ because they charge more than Kmart for a t-shirt. How can she expect op-shop prices to compete with Kmart?
While they may be charity based organisations op-shops still have to pay market rates for their shop premises and award wages to the non-volunteer staff. And then there’s the cost of infrastructure to purchase and maintain, such as trucks and warehouses, and the disposal of goods not fit for sale, all of which has to be financed from the sale of $5 dresses.
And yes, it is lamentable that there is so much cheap, fast fashion in op-shops these days, but that is overwhelmingly what the public is donating.
Op-shops can only sell what they are given.
