Does anyone else think its ridiculous how the Salvation Army

[BatmiteReturns]

I know we all hunt the thrift shops looking for a good deal but does anyone think the Salvation Army over charges for their items?

 

I was in one earlier today and saw an X-box controller sell for $39.95 and 3 Gamecube games sell for $39.95 each.

 

They had one Sega Genesis boxed game that sold for $10.

 

They also had a Monsters Inc. toy sell for $10.

 

Considering they get most of this crap through donations don't you think they are over priced?

[liquid_sky]

They kinda do have to overcharge.. they have to make a profit of some sort to help fund thier charatible workings.

 

I pay a little more when i find something there or at goodwill, its a given, but your also helping someone else out in the process.

[Nukey Shay]

...after the mob gets their cut, of course. j/k

[liquid_sky]

don' be-a tellin our secerts, capishe?

[weaselbrains]

I don't think there's anything noble about the Salvation Army's work.

 

The organisation is based on puritanical, right wing, whack values and is more concerned with winning people over to christianity than doing anything genuinely charitable.

 

I would much rather support community organisations who do charitable work because they want to rather than because their god or cult commands them to.

 

...but thats just what I think

 

Also, I agree that sometimes thrift stores overcharge like crazy. I was in Savers yestdrday and they had a Sega Master System behind a glass case and were charging something like $15 for it.

 

mitchell

[Inky]

quote:

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Originally posted by weaselbrains:

I don't think there's anything noble about the Salvation Army's work.

 

The organisation is based on puritanical, right wing, whack values and is more concerned with winning people over to christianity than doing anything genuinely charitable.

 

I would much rather support community organisations who do charitable work because they want to rather than because their god or cult commands them to.

 

...but thats just what I think

 

mitchell

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And I have to disagree with that. I for one don't see anything wrong with what they are doing. They are doing good work, and many, many people would still be on the streets starving if it wasn't for them.

 

And what do you mean by 'whack values?' I think most left-wing organizations have 'whack values'

[ubersaurus]

I prefer my mixed left/right wing values. I'm weird like that ;p

But seriously, they do good work. have to give them that. Their prices for the Xbox and GC stuff all seems to be in following with how the market seems to be.

 

And I believe that they've done much for the less fortunate. Doesn't matter what religious beliefs one may have, you have to give them that ;p

[liquid_sky]

Religion makes no matter when you are trying to help someone.. why did you play he Religion card? It makes no difference, be him Christian, Agnostic, Hindu.. if he is helping his fellow man out, then he is a noble man.

[weaselbrains]

I probably shouldn't have started ranting about the Salvation Army in the first place, but too late now and I feel the need to further explain myself.

 

Here are a few of the reasons why I have a problem with the Salvation Army.

 

[*]they were active in removing Aboriginal children from their families in Australia and placing them with white families

 

[*]I called them right wing because they have lobbied against drug reform in Australia, such as heroin decriminalisation.

 

[*]The Salvation Army member-charman of a drug reform committee in Australia on anti-drug advertising has steered policy away from a harm minimisation based approach and towards demonising drugs approach which has consistently failed in the past, and has sacked a number of members who favour a harm minimisation approach

 

[*]On a more personal level, my uncle was sexually abused by Salvation Army members as a child when he lived in a Salvation Army orphanage

 

Anyway, as I said, I probably shouldn't have started ranting about the Salvation Army. Its not really the sort of light conversation thats suited to a message board and besides, its WAY off-topic.

[Mindfield]

I've never been a big fan of the Salvation Army stores. And, not being particularily religious, I don't much pay attention to whatever it is they do as an organisation. I do know that I've rarely come across anything good or useful there, particularily in the field of retro gaming. The most I've ever seen there is the occasional VIC-20, or a few joysticks with frayed cables and trigger buttons that rattle alarmingly when you shake the stick.

 

I've seen more in upper-crust pawn shops like Cash Converters or Cash Busters -- though they charge outlandish prices for old games. One place I went into wanted $160 for a Dreamcast at a time when they were selling new for $140.

 

It's rather depressing. I just know there are troves of great finds out there that are unfortunately stuck behind glass cabinets with price tags on them that feature warnings to those with weak hearts about sticker shock.