A mother-of-two and full-time reseller experienced the ultimate charity shop thrill when she uncovered a designer two-piece set originally valued at a staggering £2,900 for a mere £8.50. Emily, who regularly scours secondhand outlets for profitable finds, documented her astonishing discovery at the Mercy in Action charity shop in Saltford, Somerset, sharing the haul on her TikTok account.
The bargain hunt that yielded extraordinary results
Emily approaches charity shopping with a professional eye, seeking items she can purchase at low prices and resell for profit. During this particular visit, she assembled an impressive collection of discounted designer and quality high-street pieces that demonstrated just how valuable charity shop finds can be.
From Ugg boots to Barbour jackets: A treasure trove uncovered
Before discovering her star find, Emily assembled several noteworthy bargains. She secured a pair of Ugg leather cowboy-style ankle boots for just £15, a fraction of their typical retail price of over £100. A Barbour jumper marked down to £7 due to minor fabric imperfections joined her basket, alongside a £10 Monsoon top she predicted would "sell so quickly" in summer months.
Further discoveries included an Anthropologie striped jumper originally priced over £90 that she purchased for £8, and a Marks & Spencer alpaca wool blend jumper for £6.50 that she described as consistently good sellers. Emily also found a Modern Rarity jacket for £15 that she later regretted not buying after discovering similar items selling for £75 on eBay.
The crowning jewel: Hermes for less than a tenner
Emily's most remarkable discovery came in the form of a two-piece set consisting of a turtleneck and matching cardigan from luxury designer brand Hermes. Priced at just £8.50, the set would have originally retailed for approximately £2,900. While the exact design is no longer available on the Hermes website, comparable two-piece cardigan sets currently sell for between £1,400 and £1,900.
"This is my find of the year," Emily declared, despite it being only early February. She described it as the "best find" she had encountered since beginning her reselling career.
The complete haul: Hidden gems in plain sight
Emily's successful charity shop visit yielded an impressive collection of discounted items:
- Ugg boots for £15
- Barbour jumper for £7
- Monsoon top for £10
- Anthropologie jumper for £8
- M&S alpaca wool blend jumper for £6.50
- Modern Rarity jacket for £15
- Barbour wax jacket for £25
- Harrods top for £15
- Peloton shoes for £15
- Hermes matching set for £8.50
Mixed reactions from the online community
Commenters on Emily's TikTok video expressed amazement at the retail values of her discoveries, with many inquiring where she sells her finds as they hoped to purchase items like the Ugg boots themselves. However, the video also sparked debate about the ethics of reselling from charity shops.
Some viewers argued that resellers "ruin" charity shops by purchasing stock intended for those with limited budgets. In response, a former charity shop employee offered a different perspective, suggesting resellers play a valuable role in the charity retail ecosystem.
"I don't have any qualms with resellers," she explained. "All of my favourite regulars at my old job were resellers. I think resellers serve an important purpose in the charity shop cycle of life. At the end of the day, they're still buying the items and helping the charity."
This remarkable discovery serves as a powerful reminder that charity shops can occasionally yield extraordinary finds for those willing to search diligently. While such high-value discoveries remain relatively rare, they demonstrate the potential treasures that might be hiding in plain sight among the clothing racks of local charity outlets.
