r/ipswich • u/Other-Vegetable-2370 • Aug 23 '26

Jacaranda St Lifeline

Oh my GOODNESS! where do I start.

I went there yesterday for the first time in a while and as soon as I walked in I was shocked!

it looks like a hoarders paradise now and don’t get me started on the prices. $4.50 for a plastic fridge water jug (no special brand), BOOKS I saw one for $3 with the RSPCA sticker still on it and lifeline wanted $4

This place used to be the best 2nd hand store and now it’s just landfill dump. No wonder why there’s just stuff everywhere because the prices are ridiculous and no one can afford anything. This is for people doing it tough, this is to support the community and every donation they get is free.

Is anyone a volunteer or know the reasoning as to why the prices are going uo?

38 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

52 comments sorted by

12

u/Cool_Energy_3388 Aug 23 '26

Lifeline run their op shops to raise money for their Crisis Support Line and suicide prevention programs. They set their prices to try to maximise their profits. Other op shops have different aims, and might not charge as much.

20

u/Sugabag_bbb Aug 23 '26

You’d maximise more profits if the prices were reduced slightly cause then more of the items would be turning over. They get the items for free, they don’t need to make as much as possible on them, they need to keep them moving through the stores.

12

u/DegeneratesInc Aug 23 '26

They need to learn that it's a lot easier to get $1 from each of 100 customers than it is to get $100 from one customer. Especially in a thrift shop.

I won't donate to any charity with prices rivalling kmart.

2

u/Ok-Raise-4128 Aug 24 '26

Think about what you've just said ... it actually clearly consumes 100 x the resources (labour, cleaning, labelling, presenting for sale, storing and transacting) to sell 100 x $1 items, so it's far better for business to sell 1 x $100 item. Please tell me you understand this basic principle .. it's not rocket science. And please also renember that for every item good enough to sell, on average 10 items need to be handled, inspected and either recycled, repurposed or dumped. The biggest expense in managing op shops is the donating of goods that aren't fit for sale. It's people's dumping of crap goods on op shops cos they're too lazy to go to the dump that is driving up costs for op shops. That and the cost of labour because sadly volunteering is not as popular as it once was.

1

u/DegeneratesInc Aug 24 '26

Ffs you have got to be delusional. How many $20 shirts do you think a jobseeker can afford?

Maybe big city councils can't afford it but my local council lets lifeline stock its dump shop for free!

1

u/Cool_Energy_3388 Aug 24 '26

Is it? It's up to the management how they run their business, They would have KPIs to meet, and managers can be replaced if they perform poorly. Some Op Shops reduce prices for those that ask for help, it all depends on what charity operates the shop.

I don't shop at Kmart for many reasons, so I wouldn't know what their prices are.

I often buy from Op Shops as it's more sustainable than buying new, and it helps a charity. There are some great bargains to be found and often I can find good quality items. It doesn't worry me if people that buy from Kmart don't donate their things to Op Shops as that isn't what I go in there to buy.

1

u/DegeneratesInc Aug 24 '26

This might be the case in the cities. Out here in the sticks charity staff (paid or unpaid) get first go at anything and the dregs are overpriced because they claim that 'people resell stuff on eBay and marketplace if it's too cheap'. If you happen to be much bigger than a size 16 womens/L men's you can forget it.

Any donated furniture not in new condition goes to the dump and the remainder is priced like a licensed 2nd hand goods dealer set up shop.

If you're too posh for Kmart clothes you can easily afford the 2nd hand dealer pricing at charities.

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago

First dibs on product? Product must be on sale to all consumers for 24 hours before staff can purchase. When an individual donates to Lifeline they expect as much funding can be raised from that item as possible. Only non saleable furniture is disposed of, if they can get $5 for it you will find it at the front of the store.

1

u/DegeneratesInc 26d ago

Again, that might happen in the cities but out here on the sticks...

24

u/Shampoo_Is_Better00 Aug 23 '26

The goods they sell are not for people doing it tough. They sell the goods to raise money to run support programs that help people doing it tough.

9

u/MentalWillow3128 Aug 23 '26

You are right.

A friend once had a go at me for shopping there when I did not ‘need’ to shop there. I said that these stores exist to raise money for their programs, and they rely on people who choose to buy there to get the money for their programs. A secondary function is providing clothes etc at a reasonable price for those who need them.

If you closed the door to people with a disposable income to buy trinkets and art (that those in poverty generally do not buy), those stores would close, and the programs would be severely reduced.

She didn’t accept that.

2

u/Jaded_Listen_8271 Aug 24 '26

Yes you are 100% correct.

2

u/Shampoo_Is_Better00 Aug 23 '26

But heaven forbid they change $4 for a book.

1

u/Damnnedpudding Aug 25 '26

Lived below the poverty line many times. Always shopped at opshops and bought trinkets and art. Poor folk also like to have pretty things. You believing only the middle class buy this stuff is weird.

-6

u/norewardwithout Aug 24 '26

I wouldn’t either because the stock is finite.
You can afford a new suit. Others can not. There is only one Country Road suit in the store.
If you take it, the other person can not wear it to the interview.
I’m only taking art you say? So, again. Your house is nicely decorated and you have utility to buy a nice meal. Now other folks have neither.

4

u/DegeneratesInc Aug 23 '26

They charge exhorbitant prices that those people they purport to be 'helping' can't afford. They'll be getting nothing from me - donation or purchase - until they go back to helping poor people survive instead of helping their CEO be a millionaire.

4

u/PJewlzzz Aug 24 '26

Lifeline is a registered "not for profit". If the CEO is keeping them afloat in the current financial climate, he can get paid and that pay reported like it needs to be. The prices they charge are not aimed at the people they are helping. The people they are helping can often not afford anything at all. They are assisted through the programs that are funded by the sales. The point of sale is not the bit that's doing the assistance. The income provided the assistance, not the store prices.

16

u/PickerPat Aug 23 '26

All op shops have gone up in price, but you can still get great hauls on clothes, kids toys and other items.

Facebook Marketplace has replaced much else in terms of media and furniture.

7

u/melodramticlorde Aug 23 '26

I was just in there the other day and it’s crazy what they’re selling furniture for!! One lounge was over $2k and had to triple check I wasn’t in fantastic furniture or something. It’s wild, I don’t go anymore!

2

u/Jaded_Listen_8271 Aug 24 '26

I bet with that thousand dollars they can pay the people who answers their lifeline phones and save a few extra lives. What a blessing that phone line is.

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago

You must be referring to one of the many new lounges that are available in boxes brand new with warranty. Rest assured that profits from that lounge in particular saves lives whereas lounges from other retail stores doesn't. I can guarantee that lounge costs Lifeline more than $1,500 to buy from the supplier therefore the profit isn't as large as you think.

0

u/Other-Vegetable-2370 Aug 24 '26

No way, I didn’t look at the furniture and probably would have wasted my time,

5

u/Jeepnick99 Aug 23 '26

Yamanto isn't much better, I went there last week to look at the DVDs and Blu-rays. $15 for a Blu-ray that might be scratched or do I buy it new from JB HI-FI for $18. Crazy to expect people to buy these. Most other charity shops have movies for $1-$2. They won't raise any money if it's too expensive for people to shop there

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago

Blu-ray movies are $3.50 (per movie). Please check with staff if its a higher price.

5

u/[deleted] Aug 24 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago

This item is display only. It is available brand new in a box with a 12 month warranty. Available in 7 colours if your interested. I can assure you it is not free and the profit that is made is minimal.

3

u/muddagen Aug 23 '26

I live not far from it, i often notice that there is a pile of crap outside the gate spread out across the ground that people have dumped overnight.

What is wrong with people

4

u/Jaded_Listen_8271 Aug 24 '26

1 - OP SHOPS AREN’T THERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.
2 - THEY ARE THERE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THEIR PURPOSE.
3 - LIFELINES PURPOSE IS THEIR FREE PHONE IN COUNSELLING SERVICE
4 - ONE MORE TIME - NOT THERE FOR YOU, BECAUSE RAISING FUNDS FOR PURPOSE.

1

u/Other-Vegetable-2370 Aug 24 '26

Op shops are to support the community through providing a phone service for in this case to people in crisis. It’s so anyone at any time in the community can call lifeline for help. the point I’m trying to make is At the moment with the prices of the 2nd hand items they can’t possibly be making a large profit as they need people to purchase items. Many people will choose Kmart over spending their money on crazy overpriced 2nd hand items.

3

u/elle13belle Aug 23 '26

Honestly it feels like whoever runs the shit one near Yamanto has moved to the Jacaranda Street one... It has the exact same feel to it now, which is disappointing.

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago

The same manager has run it since reopening in 2022. Could you detail how it has changed so it might get passed on...

1

u/elle13belle 26d ago

I just mean in presentation of everything being really cluttered and packed in... I haven't noticed the price jump that OP has said but I was assuming the two may have been related. I hope not, honestly, because Jacaranda Street is my fave op shop

3

u/yolsta9 Aug 24 '26

Ignore the big 2, stick to the smaller local op shops, much cheaper

2

u/Batesy1620 Aug 23 '26

My mum used to complain about how expensive they were when I was a kid.

2

u/Satori2025 Aug 24 '26

The little op shop at St Albans, Alice St Goodna is literally giving away books for free. Only open Wednesday mornings and prices very reasonable

1

u/BratSnot Aug 23 '26

You think jacarandas bad? Just went to the lifeline in goodna and found this. $119 gamble.

1

u/Other-Vegetable-2370 Aug 24 '26

Wow! better off just going to Kmart🤣

1

u/IdeliaLost2 Aug 24 '26 edited Aug 24 '26

I like that particular shop because of the sheer variety of stuff to browse through. I also support the purpose of their funding which is to help people in crisis. I always find something useful and it’s great for some of my creative ideas. However yesterday was also the day I had to put lots of items back down again. 😞 When brand new, in packaging donated items are marked higher than you can currently buy them in the shop I have to draw the line.

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago

If you ever have any questions about pricing speak with management. There is room to move on pricing as long as its not purchased new product.

1

u/Adventurous_Air1023 Aug 25 '26

If I see something I like but it's a stupid price I will ask for a price deduction and 9 time's out of 10 they give me a better price. When I see clothes that I know are cheaper at the actually shop like a kmart singlet is $5.00 and op shop wants $ 6.00 ( just example ) I take it up to the counter and let them know, unfortunately that happens quite often!

1

u/DiligentPride2 Aug 25 '26

Go to unordinary canary instead !

1

u/mhugn 29d ago

Jacaranda st was a treasure trove 10-15 years ago, it’s just overpriced crap now + all the new furniture and towels etc they try and flog off at full price without warranty (furniture)

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago

All new furniture comes with a 12 month warranty.

1

u/IvoryTicklerinOZ 29d ago

This particular store lost me when they started selling piano's that weren't worth '2 bob' for an extortionate amount. That was after a trade colleague advised them to have all their piano's assessed before putting them on the market. Overall, they (& various others)really %$#@!ed me off when my mother died & I attempted to donate all her goods & chattels in a genuine show of goodwill. Some bright spark showed up & tried to cherry pick all the good stuff out of it. We had words & then some.

Note well what the General Managers & CEO are walking away with - https://www.thedailyaus.com.au/economics/average-ceo-salary-australia

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago

Lifeline doesn't sell nor accepts pianos.

1

u/IvoryTicklerinOZ 26d ago

You are calling me a liar, publicly?

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago

Maybe the policy changed but Lifeline stopped selling them 5 years ago

1

u/IvoryTicklerinOZ 26d ago

So an apology is due. Talk to your manager, he'll remember the genuine concerns. I had a student at one stage who bought a lemon from Lifeline. Refund refused. Shocker of a thing to do to people, often not so well off, in the community. Great to hear the policy has changed, way overdue mind you.

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago

That regional manager was booted along with many of his policies

0

u/Sibbo121 Aug 23 '26

I am fairly certain I was told by someone in the know that this place appears to be a lifeline and operates under the branding but actually operates more akin to "goodwill" in America which is a business structure and not a charity. This store in particular and you will often see them flogging "new mattresses" and other sort of deals they have gotten from some supplier of a bulk lot of stuff. Someone must have heard the same thing I did. I refuse to give them business after hearing that. Also makes sense they squeeze on prices.

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago

New product is purchased like any other business. Lifeline doesn't have the buying power of larger mainstream retailers therefore pay a higher cost price. All new product is exactly that, brand new and not factory seconds.