Blame Vinted, eBay and Depop: charity shops hit hard as many donors turn to popular online sellers
Charity shops are under pressure as donors sell higher value clothes and goods through online platforms such as Vinted, eBay and Depop, rather than donating them, according to research from Rathbones, a UK charity wealth manager.
Its study, involving 100 senior charity executives and 1,000 donors, found both groups are seeing fewer of the best clothes and other items reaching charity shops as more people use online resale sites.
38% of senior executives at charities which run shops say they have seen a fall in the quality of donations they receive since the rise of Vinted, eBay and Depop. Around one in ten say the drop in the quality of donations has been significant. Around 42% note that the quality of donations is unchanged while 18% are receiving better quality items.
The squeeze on charity shops is also reflected in Rathbones research undertaken with people who give items to charity shops. 49% of respondents admit their use of online sellers has had an impact on what they donate. 21% say there has been a slight drop in what they give as they keep their best items to sell online, while 19% admit the quality of clothes they donate is significantly lower as they only give charity shops items that do not sell. Around 9% have stopped giving to charity shops and only sell online.
Charity shops make a major contribution to charity finances - data shows the profit contribution of charity retail organisations is around £300 million a year with more than 9,900 shops employing around 24,900 employees supported by more than 223,500 volunteers.
David Cox, Director of Charities at Rathbones, says: “Charity shops are an important source of income for many charities, so any shift in the quality or volume of donated goods matters for the sector. It is understandable that people may want to sell higher-value items online, particularly while household finances remain under pressure, but this research shows there can be a knock-on effect for charity retailers.”
“The good news is that selling online and supporting charities do not have to be mutually exclusive. Donors can still give a portion of what they earn, use platform donation options where available, or continue donating items that charities can resell. Small choices can make a meaningful difference to charities that rely on retail income.”
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Online marketplaces will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
