Photo-a-Day  (Sunday, 5th November, 2023)

It’s good to see the store being used for a good cause. I’m pleased to say I have managed to get some good bargains from there.

Fully agree Veronica, all the goods I think are brand new, either surplus or bankrupt stock or donated by major Stores.
I bought a pair of M&S black shoes, leather uppers and soles with the label at £85 for £25 and a Laura Ashely duvet cover and pillow cases for £20.
A veritable emporium of things you did not know you needed or wanted at bargain prices, I would highly recommend a brows and all profits go to charity.
Also it has brought a bit of life and footfall back to that part of the Grand Arcade which other traders must welcome.

My sister was working here and told me that its a rip off this company are opening these places up all over the country, pretending that they are doing it all for charity.
There's another company who have come up with a gimmick and they come to Manchester cathedral on Saturdays, they charge you £2 to get in and then charge you £20 per kilo of clothing that you buy.
If you want bargains visit you local hospice shops.

Tommy, I hope you are wrong and hope that this charity or one of their employees will respond.
Regardless there are some good bargains to be had whoever pockets the money and its good to see the store in use and there's no charge to get in. Sounds like Manchester Cathedral should be free to get in and charge to get out!
We visit charity shops all the time, the ones in Chorley are particularly good, we have had some good stuff from a variety of shops there. Tuesday being best for Market day.

The only thing I wasn’t impressed with was the fact that I wasn’t given a receipt, when I questioned that, the assistant said they don’t give receipts.. which was strange I must say. Plus they don’t take things back. The temptation was too much because I really liked what I had bought. Perhaps they do give receipts now as I can’t be the only person who questioned why no receipt…..” because it’s a charity”.

So it is the sort of shop, which after you have bought something from there, you end up saying "I know why it was so cheap" that being after the thing has fallen to bits.

Veronica, I am the "Charity Shop Queen", believe me! I am always buying from Charity Shops and they ALWAYS ask if I would like a receipt, and are willing to take goods back as many of them don't have a changing room to try things on. I have been in the above shop only once, for the simple reason that I rarely go to Wigan these days due to the dreadful, depressing state our town is in at the moment, but shops should always give a receipt and be prepared to take things back if they are unsuitable.

Great to see the place being used.

I don’t bother about bits of things for a receipt but I had spent about £70 Irene and paid with my card. . Everything sold is new not second hand so I don’t understand that. I haven’t been to Wigan for a few weeks now so whether that has changed with till receipts I don’t know.

Veronica, if you are happy with the things you have bought there should be no problem; I was just thinking of the people who might want to return things.

I'm a bit puzzled by the 'it's a charity' excuse for not giving a receipt - most of the charity shops I buy from insist on producing one, even if I don't want to take it. It provides a check for their admin (and on the honesty of staff, to be frank) to require each sale to be registered through the till. Many charities price stuff at - 99p to ensure the till has to be opened to give the 1p change. Smaller local charities may not have the resources to pay for such a system - but I don't think that applies here.

I am baffled about it Reverend. It just does not sound the right thing to do. I haven’t been to Wigan for a few weeks I will make sure I go in there again and see if it’s still the same when purchasing anything. I felt apprehensive about it until I got my bank statement following. I always check them nowadays as I got done with Prime at Amazon a while back.