Charity Shops - less railway books there now?

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Are charity shops more savvy nowadays (selling stuff online), as I don't seem to find many railway books there (except the dire coffee-table type)?

 

 

However I managed to pick-up Simon Bradley's "Railways - Nation, Network & People) for £2.99 (RRP £25) at Oxfam in Purley.

It looked brand new - still having a Bradshaw 1894 map in the back too.

 

So I suppose there are some bargains still out there.

[RANGERS]

They do seem to recognise that they have a specialist market now, one local shop used to have a large turnover of railway titles but although they do still carry some, its much reduced whilst their Ebay site now has the bulk of the more interesting stuff.

[Jol Wilkinson]

Are charity shops more savvy nowadays (selling stuff online), as I don't seem to find many railway books there (except the dire coffee-table type)?

 

 

However I managed to pick-up Simon Bradley's "Railways - Nation, Network & People) for £2.99 (RRP £25) at Oxfam in Purley.

It looked brand new - still having a Bradshaw 1894 map in the back too.

 

So I suppose there are some bargains still out there.

 

I think that "worthwhile" railway (and modelling books) tend to end up in the hands of the specialist booksellers or the Ebay traders. I know I had some difficulty disposing of the books from the estate of a late friend. The final "unwanted" stock wasn't of interest to charity shops (my wife is involved with the local Samaritan's shop) as they were mostly seen as too specialist and slow selling. Only a couple of preserved railway bookshops were interested, but not greatly!

 

The cover price has little bearing on what a book will fetch S/H, that title is available as a new paperback from the works at £8.99 and from Abebooks (used) from £3:30.

[Andy Kirkham]

In my experience, if you go into a charity shop looking for railway books, you will probably find at least one of:

 

The Pictorial Encyclopedia of Railways by Hamilton Ellis

BBC Great Railway Journeys of the World

Stopping Train Britain by Alexander Frater

The complete works of Colin Garratt

Something by P.B. Whitehouse and David St John Thomas

 

Would anybody care to nominate any other notorious heart-sink volumes?

 

I've found there are certain branches of Oxfam that seem to specialise in transport, though. The one at the top of Park Street in Bristol for instance has sometimes had some real quality stuff; I got the Drummond volume of Bradley's LSWR Locomotives there, as well as both volumes of Edward Talbot's LNWR Mincellany

 

 

The Simon Bradley book is utterly fascinating, by the way. I got mine in the British Heart Foundation, but they recently had a lot of the paperback edition in The Works for a fiver.

Edited August 12, 2018 by Andy Kirkham

[DaveF]

One of my local charity shops quite often has railway books.

 

They have told me that second hand dealers often purchase from them so if you see a book you have to buy it quickly or it may end up with the dealer.

 

David

[Alex TM]

Hi,

 

I tend to agree with the thought of the OP.  That said, living in Edinburgh, I know a few charity bookshop managers (Oxfam and Barnardos), and they have become a lot more savvy in recent years.  The 'good' railway books tend to be a bit cheaper than the usual second-hand dealers however they continue to receive a great deal of the usual suspects.

 

Regards,

 

Alex.

[Owd Bob]

Sadly a i know for fact that a couple my local charity shops have their share of wheeler dealer regular visitors who ask the shops to keep certain stuff that gets given in at one side for them, the sort of stuff which never reaches the shop shelves like it should,   Typical items include any railway related stuff, books, records and C.D's and anything at all is kept at one side that is 1960's,70's & '80's related. Broke my heart two weeks ago when a big carrier bag full of 1970's looking Action Men and Dinky/Corgi toys was handed over from under the counter to one of these dealers.   I'm sure that they pay more than normal amounts of money, but no where near the full amount that should be really going to the charities concerned and instead only reaches the dealers pockets.

[Joseph_Pestell]

At least two of our local charity shops have volunteers who are railway enthusiasts. They make sure any good stuff finds a home before it goes on the shop shelf.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

Sadly i know for fact that a couple my local charity shops have their share of wheeler dealer regular visitors who ask the shops to keep certain stuff that gets given in at one side for them, the sort of stuff which never reaches the shop shelves like it should Typical items include any railway related stuff, books, records and C.D's and anything at all is kept at one side that is 1960's,70's & '80's related. Broke my heart two weeks ago when a big carrier bag full of 1970's looking Action Men and Dinky/Corgi toys was handed over from under the counter to one of these dealers.   I'm sure that they pay more than normal amounts of money, but no where near the full amount that should be really going to the charities concerned and instead only reaches the dealers pockets.

A different perspective. I have operated and still assist with charity shops. Now look at the typical picture: usually a physically small shop, no control over supply of goods, many staff of very varied capacity each putting in a few hours a week. Dealers who are willing to come on call and pick up lots of 'whatever' that will not move quickly through the shop or the group of shops are frankly invaluable. They produce the cash that the goods would likely have made if they could have been sold in the shop, and prevent all the shelf and floor space being covered in mounds of random 'stock' inside a fortnight. I am not exaggerating about this last, earlier this year two near simultaneous donations from house clearances would have filled the shop they came to pretty much solid! The families concerned were entirely happy that the donations were physically  'redistributed'; some to other charity shops, some of it by sale to dealers.

 

It is not a perfect process, and I am always happy to hear proven suggestions for better methods. But I suggest that the underlying principles are that the donors are satisfied with the process, and that the donated goods raise money for the charitable cause within whatever may be the practical constraints of the operation, and it matters not who provides that money.

[Pteremy]

Fewer books of any kind in (South) London. Must reflect the fact that a bibliophile can source almost anything via Amazon/eBay/other specialist sites, at sensible prices and good quality from reputable sellers.

[polybear]

I've yet to see any of the Wild Swan Modelling Publications in a Charity Shop

[Andy Kirkham]

I've yet to see any of the Wild Swan Modelling Publications in a Charity Shop

Nor anything from Lightmoor.

[railroadbill]

I'v bought stuff from 3 different hospice shops that sell via E-bay, 2 locomotives from one and model boat equipment from others. Not things they have regularly, but worth keeping an eye open for. I felt the auction prices I paid were actually low, so gave a donation as well. They did seem to be doing well, looking at how their other items were selling.

[Nearholmer]

We’ve got two charity book shops locally, and I’ve found ‘solid’ railway books in both, including a pristine copy of the ‘Red Devil’ steam loco design textbook by Wardale for £3, and i’ve donated good quality books to one when I ran out of space and got rid of my GWR sub-collection.

 

I think it’s a matter of chance, based on who is ‘thinning’ and when you happen to call.

[plarailfan]

Most of the charity shops in my area, are run as a business and they have a lot of "rubbish" donated so, out of necessity, they have to deal with traders who can clear a van full of unsold stock, such as the free DVD films that come with newspapers and a mountain of clothes, books and lego style parts, along with bits of other multi part toys, such as garages and airports.

It might not seem quite fair to a customer who can only view the items on display, but traders play a valuable part in the process, at worst, a lot of charity shops would go out of business simply paying for skips to clear the items of little value. You can easily track down this stuff in the rows and rows of boxes of 20p stuff at car boot sales.

[hayfield]

I thought most railway books have little value, I bought 3 hard back picture books of the local area/SR last year from Bodmin General station shop for under a tenner. There are exceptions but the likes of Russells Pictorial history series whilst still commanding decent prices seem less expensive now, and as for the internet sales some boos now are at knock down prices

[Oldddudders]

Living abroad, when Deb died I was left with literally thousands of folk CDs, mainstream DVDs and books. Every time Sherry returns to the UK, her car springs have been groaning, and one of the charity shops near her in Babbacombe - already a happy hunting ground for her - has accepted astonishing levels of stuff. Local folk music interests have generated over £500 in sales of the CDs - passed on to the local hospice, for which this is one of a chain of shops, supported by a network of specialists who sort things at a central depot, and use multiple sales media to maximise income.

 

The charity sector has thus been a great source of joy to me, but the fact that it is becoming more discerning in its operations is simply a sign of the times. And the way high streets are going they may soon be the only shops we will see, ‘Amazon tax’ or not.

[Happy Hippo]

Sometimes we are lucky.

 

I managed to pick up A Doughty's 'Central Wales Line' (OPC) from a NT second hand book shop for £5.00 which I considered a real bargain.

[Colin_McLeod]

The aim of charity shops is to bring in money fast. A definite sale now for £2 is better than maybe getting £5 in six months time.

 

How the money brought in is spent is a different matter!

[Owd Bob]

Just wish i could could divulge what really happens with a lot of the money, having seen and heard it first hand. Recent scandals by charity workers abroad need more digging into that's all i can say! The accounts of these charities need really-really digging into deeply as well.

[hayfield]

Just wish i could could divulge what really happens with a lot of the money, having seen and heard it first hand. Recent scandals by charity workers abroad need more digging into that's all i can say! The accounts of these charities need really-really digging into deeply as well.

 

 

Bob

 

In one way I am with you, but I am rather choosey who I give my money to. Local Air Ambulance works wonders, as does a local cancer care hospice, and things like the British Legion. I. now keep a wide birth of those collecting in shops unless I am 100% certain the collectors are volunteers, all the money goes to charity and its a charity I am happy supporting.

[kevinlms]

Sometimes we are lucky.

 

I managed to pick up A Doughty's 'Central Wales Line' (OPC) from a NT second hand book shop for £5.00 which I considered a real bargain.

The Northern Territory is a long way to go to get a book, no matter how rare/bargain price!

[Dunsignalling]

We’ve got two charity book shops locally, and I’ve found ‘solid’ railway books in both, including a pristine copy of the ‘Red Devil’ steam loco design textbook by Wardale for £3, and i’ve donated good quality books to one when I ran out of space and got rid of my GWR sub-collection.

 

I think it’s a matter of chance, based on who is ‘thinning’ and when you happen to call.

I've also noticed local charity book shops theming their displays according to what they have in plentiful supply.

 

One I regularly check out had quite a bit of railway stuff on offer up until about Easter, which I did my bit in reducing, but their current display seems to be majoring on art and classical music subjects.

 

They probably also "steer" items to other branches where subjects are known to be especially in demand.

 

John

Edited August 13, 2018 by Dunsignalling

[Owd Bob]

My life was saved by the Welsh air Ambulance last Summer, so you know where my stuff and cash go's to whenever i'm in Wales. I just gave £20 to them on a street stall they had in Barmouth the other week, i could never repay them enough for what they did and wish i could pay more, wonder how much a regional charity director or area manager earns...bet he do'snt do it for nowt!      

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

Just wish i could could divulge what really happens with a lot of the money, having seen and heard it first hand. Recent scandals by charity workers abroad need more digging into that's all i can say! The accounts of these charities need really-really digging into deeply as well.

 My going in position with any charity is let's take a long hard look at what you do with the money. My expectation is that any salaries are properly scaled to make the jobs a vocational choice done from commitment rather than a path to personal wealth. Anyone who doesn't recognise that the most important aspect of any charitable organisation is that the work the money is raised for is overwhelmingly and effectively deployed directly in that work, isn't fit for employment in the role. That rules out about 90% of UK charities, including some that on the face of it appear very sound. Dig deep and thoroughly.