A woman was left gobsmacked when she found a bag in a charity shop that was worth a staggering £2,000 – as she managed to get it for a fraction of the price
Charity shops are the go-to destination if you’re hunting for a steal. They can be somewhat of a lottery, as each store will stock different items based on what’s been donated by locals, but strike it lucky and you might uncover some genuine treasures tucked away amongst the clothing rails and book displays.
Naturally, browsing charity shops also comes with the bonus of giving preloved items a fresh lease of life rather than letting them rot in landfill, plus a chunk of your spending goes straight to the charity the shop champions. But beyond the do-good element of secondhand shopping, the main attraction remains those incredible deals.
One TikTok user was absolutely stunned when she popped into a charity shop and spotted a handbag that was worth almost £2,000, noting that it was a rare find in a secondhand shop. However, when she picked it up and looked at the price the charity shop was selling it for, she couldn’t help but take it straight to the till.
The shopper, called Danielle, kicked off her clip by revealing the top tip she could offer bargain hunters is to browse charity shops in “rich areas”, as you’re far more likely to stumble across designer finds for a fraction of their original cost. While shopping in the affluent area of Hampstead Heath in London, a savvy shopper stumbled upon some high-end fashion bargains.
She revealed that she often targets “wealthy areas” for her charity shop hunts, as she knows she’s likely to find some hidden gems. She pointed out that “rich people give some crazy stuff to charity”, making it worth a trip to posh neighbourhoods if you’re after a treasure trove.
During her shopping spree, Danielle discovered a pair of barely worn Miu Miu trainers priced at a mere £84 in the charity shop. Despite them not being quite the right fit, she recognised their value, considering the lowest-priced trainers on the Miu Miu website retail for a whopping £690.
She also came across a pair of Yves Saint Laurent heels, which she didn’t even attempt to try on due to their towering height. These were on sale at the charity shop for £175, a steal compared to a similar heel on the YSL website costing a hefty £895.
Danielle’s keen eye also spotted a pair of Dolce and Gabbana safety pin jeans, which she described as “quite fun”. However, she decided against buying them due to their £250 price tag, even in the charity shop. While there are no longer any safety pin jeans available on the Dolce and Gabbana website, the cheapest pair of jeans they sell is priced at almost £600 – proving that even at £250, they’re still a bargain.
Then, Danielle spotted the bag she would eventually saunter out of the shop with. She initially thought the tag read £50 when she asked the staff member to fetch it down from the rack for her, but her jaw hit the floor when she realised it was actually priced at £250 – a sum she never imagined she’d fork out on a bag.
The fringed leather bag boasted gold snake detailing on the strap, and upon closer examination, Danielle discovered it was a Valentino creation. She also found that if you fancy buying one online, it would set you back a staggering £1,794.
One such bag even went under the hammer at Christie’s auction house for over $8,000 (£5,950) back in 2011 because it once belonged to Elizabeth Taylor and was sold as part of a collection of the late actress’s fashion items and accessories. Danielle reasoned that if the bag was good enough for Elizabeth Taylor, then it was good enough for her – so she snapped it up.
Danielle filmed herself clutching the bag in front of a mirror in the charity shop, and said she knew she “needed” the bag when she realised she couldn’t stop caressing the “soft” leather tassels hanging from it. She said even her husband gave it the thumbs up, so she dashed to the till to make “the most expensive charity shop purchase” of her life.
The post left commenters flabbergasted by Danielle’s discovery. Some were astounded that she’d managed to bag such a bargain, while others argued that £250 was still an exorbitant amount to shell out for a handbag – especially one procured from a charity shop.
One individual contended: “Sorry, but just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” Another queried: “What happened to charity shops being affordable?” A third added with: “A charity shop charging that much is ridiculous.”
However, another defended the purchase, stating: “Don’t listen to people. £250 for a Valentino is a bargain.”
And Danielle herself also justified her actions, commenting: “This is my Christmas and birthday present and I’m officially not allowed to buy any more handbags for the rest of the year.”
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