Pros and Cons (Oxfam in general)

Member Name: jennikitten

Product:	Oxfam in general
Date:	18/12/08 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Helping people, good range of stock

Disadvantages: Commercialised, is what they do with the money right?

Having volunteered in an Oxfam Books and Music shop for a year or so, I'd have to say I'm a pretty big fan of Oxfam.

I think the general concept of charity shops is still quite dated - people never expected us to have carrier bags (although they're phasing them out now), they didn't expect us to be able to accept cards, selling new products etc. etc. It also confused people that we specialised in books and media, although these specialist shops are becoming more widespread. Our shop was also very clean and new, with beech effect floor and bright lighting and modern displays. A lot of people complain about how Oxfam spend a lot of money on their shops but it's unfortunate that it has to become more commercialised in order to attract people. I think the government should subsidise rent of shops or perhaps their running costs like electricity etc. because that would make a big difference.

What used to annoy me the most was people asking for discounts - if anything, you should be even less likely to ask as you're getting a good price anyway and your money is going to a fantastic cause. People seem willing to fork out more than double (or in the cases of clothes, several hundred per cent) to a greedy faceless corporation, but helping others in need seems to be ignored. This is upsetting as it shows that people are thinking of themselves and what's in it for them, and not about the charity part of it which is the whole point. This is one of the dangers of becoming so commercialised I think.

Oxfam does give out a lot of information about projects, news, etc. detailing how you can help and what problems they are currently tackling. Hats off to the people directly involved because it must seem a mountain of a task.

One bad thing about Oxfam itself is the harassment of people in the street getting you to sign up for stuff. I did it once and then got a phonecall a few weeks later asking if I would contribute £30 a month to the cause! I was a student at the time and I thought it was pretty rich considering WaterAid etc. asks for about £3 a month. I guess the idea was that you'd suggest a much lower amount and they'd settle for that, but I'm not about to barter with a charity, and it makes me so indignant that I will refuse to contribute full stop.

Summary: Good luck to Oxfam