A woman who loves charity shops has told how a common issue seems to be putting people off buying secondhand items. Danielle outlined what shoppers need to know09:16, 06 Jul 2026Updated 09:23, 06 Jul 2026Lots of people love visiting charity shops, but some have admitted they've been put off buying secondhand items. It comes amid claims that some thrift stores are actually "dying".‌Now a charity shop lover has explained exactly what she thinks is going on, and just why some shops are struggling and many people may be deterred from snapping up pre-loved items. According to Danielle, known as Charity Shop Life on TikTok, there are a few reasons why people aren't using them as often, no matter how much the idea of thrifting and avoiding fast fashion may appeal to them as an idea.‌It's not the first time the topic has been raised either. Previously, another shopper said people appear to be put off buying pre-loved items.‌What is happening to charity shops?In a clip, Danielle explained: "Charity shops are dying. Secondhand fashion has never been so popular, so why can't charity shops capitalise on this?"What is going wrong? I am the biggest fan [and] supporter of charity shops, but the number one comment I am getting time and time again from people who have stopped shopping in charity shops, who don't go as often, who don't go at all anymore, is they are put off by the pricing."I could give 1,000 examples. This is just one recent one. This Armani Jeans jacket was £100 in this condition. It literally looks like it's mouldy.‌"The number one theme I'm seeing across all of these articles is that charity shops are blaming online marketplaces. They are saying they can't compete with Vinted."My opinion is that charity shops are putting themselves directly in competition with Vinted by pricing their items too high."Content cannot be displayed without consent‌She also suggested a lot of people may find it easier to scroll through Vinted and get items delivered straight to their doors, as opposed to looking around the high street trying to find things. She thinks people need to feel like they've been "rewarded" for making an effort to visit shops.Danielle noted charity shops are a bit of a "labour of love", but she thinks people have fallen out of love with visiting them due to the prices. She did admit that they are there to raise money for their causes, and not to offer "bargains"; however, she believes they'd raise more money if they offered more bargains.Why are they so expensive?While every shop may differ, reports suggest charity shops have raised prices to cover soaring high-street rent, utilities and the costs of disposing of unsellable donations. They also increasingly check platforms like eBay and Vinted to price items closer to their market value.Article continues belowThese days, some also say that the shops operate more like commercial businesses, and make use of online pricing tools to boost profit per item rather than just clearing stock quickly.Not to mention, while stock is donated, charities must still pay commercial property rates, electricity and wages for core staff like managers.They also incur significant expenses to throw away stained or broken donations. Therefore, a number of factors can contribute to the rising prices.