topic Re: Where to donate handbags in Handbags

Where to donate handbags

CamilleP — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 18:00:08 GMT

What's the best place to donate a lightly used handbag that will get the best price for the agency who sells it? I have a Patricia Nash bag I carried for a few months, but it's just not working for me, it's just too "little", even though the measturements online implied it ought to have been fine. The tooling on the front of the bag is beautiful, but when I have to worry about stuff falling out if the bag tips over in the car, it just isn't worth carrying. I'd like to donate it somewhere that it will bring a good price for the shop that sells it, if at all possible. I'm guessing Goodwill isn't going to benefit as much as some other charities might, for instance, but I don't know, so I'm asking you knowledgable handbag collectors for advice. Thanks in advance!

Re: Where to donate handbags

sophiesofers — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 18:16:23 GMT

@CamilleP The local animal shelter by us has a thrift shop that is part of the shelter and they accept items of all kinds. Jewelry, clothing, purses, toys, photo frames, etc. All the money from that goes to the animal shelter itself. Check and see if in your area there might be a thrift shop whose proceeds go to an animal shelter.

Re: Where to donate handbags

Solar Is My Name — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 18:25:45 GMT

@CamilleP in our town we have a boutique-type thrift store that benefits homeless women. I give my good bags and shoes and coats there. Even small pieces of jewelry.

Best wishes!

-Solar

Re: Where to donate handbags

Carmie — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 18:31:13 GMT

Expensive handbags never sell for much when they are sold by donation centers.

I have a SIL who visits the thrift shops and buys expensive items for pennies on the dollar. She then sells them on Poshmark and makes her income that way.

Her sister has been doing this for years, but she specializes in costume jewelry. She told me she makes about $80k a year buying at yard sales and thrift shops and selling.

You could sell your bag on Poshmark or e-bay, Facebook Marketplace or similiar and donate the money to your favorite charity, or take it to a consignment shop.

Re: Where to donate handbags

Bookplate — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 18:35:10 GMT

If you have a Housing Works in your area I would donate it to them. I have given them good handbags in the past and I have seen what they ask for handbags; they seem to know what they are doing. Goodwill would not be a good choice for a quality item.

Re: Where to donate handbags

drizzellla — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 18:43:23 GMT

I donate to NOVA (Network of Victim Assistance). They have a very well run thrift store. They have lots of big ticket items and lots of volunteers.

When I retired I donated lots of "work clothes". Most of the clothes were designer labels (I worked in a fancy office in Philadelphia). They were thrilled to get the clothing. By my third trip up to the store to donate, they met me as soon as my car pulled in.

Re: Where to donate handbags

On It — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 18:48:14 GMT

I have two favorite thrift store charities in the town where we vacation. The first is the hospital thrift shop which I believe could get the best price for your handbag since it only carries clothing, shoes, and accessories. The ladies who work there are volunteers who know their stuff. The other is the shop associated with the animal shelter. It seems to be more focused on furniture and home goods, probably because of the tradition in the town of not getting into each other's area of specialty.

In my hometown, I prefer the Lighthouse for the Blind. The cause they help seems underserved in our community. It has a very large clothing, shoe, and accessory area. They seem to have a lot of traffic, and it could fetch top dollar there. They also accept furniture but it is a huge place.

Re: Where to donate handbags

jackthebear — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 19:48:13 GMT

@CamilleP wrote:
What's the best place to donate a lightly used handbag that will get the best price for the agency who sells it? I have a Patricia Nash bag I carried for a few months, but it's just not working for me, it's just too "little", even though the measturements online implied it ought to have been fine. The tooling on the front of the bag is beautiful, but when I have to worry about stuff falling out if the bag tips over in the car, it just isn't worth carrying. I'd like to donate it somewhere that it will bring a good price for the shop that sells it, if at all possible. I'm guessing Goodwill isn't going to benefit as much as some other charities might, for instance, but I don't know, so I'm asking you knowledgable handbag collectors for advice. Thanks in advance!

just donate to the place closest to you that will take it.

Re: Where to donate handbags

Sooner — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 19:51:39 GMT

I give everything to our church or a Salvation Army truck picks it up. I have evidence of the good both do, and I like that. A lot of people are in need now.

As long as I don't need the money I do not do resale now.

Re: Where to donate handbags

NYCLatinaMe — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 20:27:45 GMT

I have several thriftshops near me that I donate to. Like @Bookplate, my impression is that Housing Works can differentiate between good stuff and not so good, and display the goods to its best advantage. As to how much they get, that will be out of your control unless you choose to sell yourself, as someone suggested.

Re: Where to donate handbags

stevieb — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 21:44:03 GMT

I think the 'best' place to donate just about anything varies by locale. The group that benefits from the donation matters most to me, so regardless of the net, I try to donate to charities I like to support and in most cases those are animal charities.

Re: Where to donate handbags

Susan Louise — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 21:51:49 GMT

Over the years I have donated many to Goodwill

Re: Where to donate handbags

KingstonsMom — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 21:57:52 GMT

Our animal rescue has a charity event once a year auctioning off more expensive items, rather than sell from their thrift shop.

I've donated many Dooney bags, some still with tags and never used.

They seem to get very good bids on these types of items, through a live auction.

And they're SO appreciative!

That's how they paid for treatment of Kingston's burns rather than have him euthanized by Animal Control, because his burns required extensive treatment to save him.

Re: Where to donate handbags

Roni18 — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 23:30:45 GMT

Maybe donate to a women's shelter or to a program that helps women get into the workforce. I think any charity that benefits the people in your community is a worthy cause.

Re: Where to donate handbags

ECBG — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 01:16:08 GMT

I would call Hospice.

Re: Where to donate handbags

CamilleP — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 02:37:59 GMT

Thanks very much for weighing in, everyone! I think I will take the bag to the local animal shelter's thrift shop, they do sell some things online to get better prices on them. I donated a couple of pairs of my step-grandfather's old horseback riding spurs to them several years ago, and it turns out one pair was considered a rare collectable by a mid-century silver artist, and brought them about $350. Hopefully they can get a decent price on the handbag the same way. Or perhaps it will sell well enough at the local store, it is in a college town. I've tried selling nice gently used clothing through a local re-selling shop, but had very poor luck, so I don't want to use that route again.

Re: Where to donate handbags

Witchy Woman — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 23:17:21 GMT

@KingstonsMom

I do this as well and it makes me feel good rather than selling it.

I had a Patricia Nash Map bucket bag that I never used, and they did quite well putting it in their silent auction.

Re: Where to donate handbags

Witchy Woman — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 01:07:53 GMT

@CamilleP

As I mentioned in another post to @KingstonsMom , my local shelter conducts many "silent auctions" throughtout the year....online now more so than before.

Nice handbags are always a draw...and I'll bet those spurs were beautiful!

I always feel good with a donation like that...helping the animals is one of my goals in life!

Re: Where to donate handbags

KingstonsMom — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 23:31:24 GMT

@Witchy Woman

It makes me feel good too, I'd rather know that my donation goes to a good cause, rather than some people who scour Goodwill, etc, only to resell it on ebay or at swap meets.

Re: Where to donate handbags

jackthebear — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 12:52:56 GMT

@KingstonsMom wrote:
@Witchy Woman

It makes me feel good too, I'd rather know that my donation goes to a good cause, rather than some people who scour Goodwill, etc, only to resell it on ebay or at swap meets.

Goodwill still gets the money for the item

and things don't end up in the trash