It’s Okay To Throw Trash Away

We regularly donate to our local charity shop, and if we take the kids, they can pick out a cheap toy or book while we are there.

My youngest picks out a battery-powered toy car. We think nothing of it and go home. It’s only much later that we realise that the car is actually remote-controlled, but there is no remote.

I head back to the charity shop a few days later.

Me: “Hi, sorry to ask, but we bought this car a few days ago and didn’t realise there was supposed to be a controller.”

Cashier: “I’m sorry about that. Maybe check the shelf?”

Me: “I did. Nothing there.”

Cashier: “Again, I’m so sorry. We keep all remotes or missing items by the desk and nothing is here. Probably someone just donated it like this.”

Me: “Wait, people donate missing items?”

Cashier: “Oh, all the time; it’s a big problem for us. Broken furniture, odd shoes… Some people know they are doing it, too. A woman donated a dozen jigsaws and each one she had counted and labelled how many pieces were missing. We have to throw it away. Their donations actually end up costing us money in rubbish collection and countless hours wasted for our volunteers.”

Me: “Wow, I didn’t know that.”

Cashier: “Do you remember how much you paid? I can refund you.”

Me: “No, it’s okay. He still plays with it. Just checking, really.”

Cashier: “Again, really sorry about this.”

A bit defeated, I left, only to see another woman arguing with a volunteer about why they couldn’t take a damaged electrical item. Honestly, why do people think they can ditch their rubbish in charity shops?