02/10/2026
Hi Everyone.
I'm sure many of you have seen the unfortunate post and accompanying photos posted by an anonymous person on the facebook site of PE Name and Shame, accusing Bargain Box of throwing away donated goods. As we are unwilling to trade comments or in any way engage with someone who hides behind the pseudonym of "Anonymous ", we would like to set the record straight on our own platform.
When goods/donations are received from our many generous patrons, it is taken to the sorting area at the back of the shop. Our dedicated band of (unpaid) volunteers spend many hours sorting through the goods, deciding what is kept at Bargain Box and what goes to Bargain Box Too, washing and ironing or mending clothing and linen as required, washing cutlery, crockery, toys, polishing or cleaning metal, cleaning and fixing jewelery. In fact, whatever needs to be done before the items can be priced and displayed
in the shop.
However, as I'm sure you are aware, not every item donated can be sold. Some clothing, shoes or linen which is the worse for wear is donated to churches or given to Beverley, our clinic manager, to disburse between various feeding schemes. Some items though are in such a way that we cannot, with a clear conscience, pass it on to any needy person.
Books are sold in our shops - both at Bargain Box and Bargain Box Too. However, no-one wants books that have pages missing, and we are not prepared to insult anyone by offering those to them. Neither can we sell puzzles that have 10 pieces missing (by the way, puzzles pieces are counted by our volunteers - this takes time as well).
Metalware that cannot be used or sold is kept until there are enough pieces to warrant us taking it for recycling.
Many of the other items we cannot utilize or sell are donated to places like Aurora or the Greenbushes squatter camp. Things we cannot sell/utilize/donate or recycle is put into a storeroom situated at the back of the centre and is removed once a week by someone to take to the tip. This area is unlocked and anyone can go into the storeroom and help themselves to the contents (or to take photos).
All the tenants make use of the same storeroom for their refuse, so unless our name is displayed on an item it may perhaps not even have come from our shop.
Should the "Anonymous" person who posted in PE Name and Shame happen to see this post, we would like to take this opportunity to cordially invite her to volunteer at our shop for a week or two so that she can see for themselves what goes on behind the scenes. Maybe then her concerns can be laid to rest.
Thank you to our many loyal customers and donors who have either phoned or visited us to reassure us of their continued support - we sincerely appreciate all of your kindness.
Management
Bargain Box and Bargain Box Too.
