Why are op shops so expensive? Australian woman calls out charity stores for rising costs

An Australia op-shopper has been left shocked by the exorbitant prices of second-hand items at her local thrift store. 

Melbourne thrifter Jaclyn called out op shops for selling cheap pre-owned clothes at ‘ridiculous’ prices in a now-viral TikTok video. 

She said Australian charity shops are ‘losing their excitement’ and charging an ‘arm and leg’ for second-hand clothing will encourage people to turn to fast fashion retailers like Kmart. 

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Jaclyn rummaged through the racks at her local Savers showing items from budget fast fashion brands like Shein and Zara for as much as $60

‘Is anyone else getting completely over Australian thrift store prices these days and how they just charge and arm and a leg for absolutely everything?,’ she asked in the clip.  

‘I used to love the thrill of the hunt and finding a really special piece for a bargain price but it seems it’s getting kind of impossible to do that now.’ 

Jaclyn rummaged through the racks at her local Savers showing items from budget fast fashion brands like Shein and Zara for as much as $60.

‘I think thrift stores need to take a step back and remember what they are. They aren’t vintage stores, these pieces have all been donated to them,’ she said.  

‘I think if I’m going to be spending this kind of money, I might as well go to a proper vintage store where someone’s taken the time to pick and curate a really special collection of clothing.’ 

Jaclyn’s video amassed more than 40,900 views and many in the comments from both Australia and all over the world sharing her gripe with second-hand stores prices hikes.

She said Australian charity shops are ‘losing their excitement’ by charging an ‘arm and leg’ for second-hand clothing

‘This is a big reason why people turn to fast fashion instead of thrift stores, because it’s cheaper to go and buy 1/2,’ one shopper said. 

‘Omg yes! I’m so over it.. I’m not paying $90 for something second hand and donated’ another wrote. 

‘The US is doing this to! Goodwill be charging $9.99 for a $5 Walmart shirt,’ replied a third.    

I feel the same way…Especially with food and petrol so expensive people are struggling and need help with clothing and furniture,’ a fourth agreed. 

Jaclyn posted a follow-up video explaining she grew up shopping in charity shops and was bullied at school for wearing hand-me-down clothing. 

She said while she is now ‘lucky’ and in a ‘position of privilege’ to be able to buy new clothing and household items, she still shops second-hand to reduce her impact on the planet. 

‘These op shops and thrift stores try to encourage sustainable, recycled clothing but if they keep increasing their prices, it’s only going to force people to go stores like Kmart and buy cheap fast fashion which is the complete opposite of what they’re promoting,’ she said. 

Jaclyn said thrifting clothes ‘encourages individuality’ and addressed the impact fashion influencers and vintage stores can have on increasing prices in op shops. 

‘I saw a lot of comments about how influencers and vintage resellers are to blame for the prices going so high and while that may be true about the price, I don’t think that they’re to blame,’ she said. 

‘I actually think it should be encouraged for people to talk about buying second-hand and influencing others to do so. It will overall reduce the amount of fast fashion that is bought which will therefore reduce the amount of landfill there is.’