Charity Shop Rejects Massive Donation Box Over Absurd 1 PM Rule, Then the Woman Opened Their Reviews: ‘He Saw Us Come and Walked Off’
It’s like they are turning their backs on their own mission.
Taking the time to clear out clutter and pack up a heavy box of donations is supposed to be a win-win for everyone involved. But what if your community thrift store decides to treat willing donors like an unwelcome nuisance? You’d probably be back home with your box and wonder why your day went south when you just attempted a good deed.
For UK creator Holly Laing (@lowkeyhollylaing), the scenario allegedly played out in real life. For her, an afternoon donation run resulted in an absurd confrontation over an unposted midday curfew. She opened up about the frustrating experience in a viral TikTok video now sitting at over 36,000 views.
In the video, Laing carefully unpacked the bizarre customer service breakdown she allegedly experienced after hauling a large box of items across town. What should have been a seamless drop-off ended with a dismissive clerk citing an unwritten rule that sent her back across the town in no time.
Laing’s donation faced instant refusal due to the charity shop’s 1 PM cutoff
Having stored a bulky box of assorted donations in her home for several days, Laing explained that she finally drove over to the local charity shop around 3:00 PM that day. This was reportedly two full hours before their scheduled 5:00 PM close.
Upon walking through the doors, Laing claimed that the employee stationed at the till made direct eye contact with her. However, he then immediately abandoned the counter, and retreated to the back room. “He saw us come in, and immediately he walked off. We could still see him, but he was kind of like out the back,” Laing explained.
After leaving Laing and her companion waiting awkwardly for five minutes, the clerk finally wandered back out. Laing then politely asked him if they were accepting donations. To this, he allegedly peered inside the box and flatly refused the donation. According to Laing. The clerk claimed that the store refuses all drop-offs after 1:00 PM because that is when staff finish sorting.
“He said, ‘No, we’re not taking any more donations today ’cause it’s after 1:00 PM. We don’t take donations after 1:00 PM.’ Keep in mind, this place is open till 5:00. This was at 3:00 PM,” Laing noted. But, stunned by the unapologetic brush-off and the complete absence of any posted signage outlining donation cutoffs, Laing had no choice but to drag the heavy box back to her car.
Reading Google reviews exposed a pattern of hostility
Frustrated by the encounter, Laing decided to look up the business on Google to see if other locals had experienced similar treatment. To her astonishment, the location allegedly held an abysmal 2 out of 5-star rating. That’s a nearly unheard-of score for an organization built on community goodwill.
According to Laing, review after review on their page detailed the exact same grievances. Everyone complained about rude customer service, dismissive attitudes, and the arbitrary 1:00 PM cutoff. Laing argued that the 1:00 PM rule turns away donors who work standard 9-to-5 shifts.
Thrift stores rely entirely on public generosity to fund charitable operations and stock sales floors. While sorting inventory requires time, turning away donors hours before closing creates needless friction. Treating donors with hostility ensures they will simply redirect valuable merchandise, clothing, and household wares to competing organizations, like Goodwill. Recently, a mother donated her daughter’s clothes at Goodwill, that weren’t even for donation.
For Laing, she left with her trunk still full and questioned how any charitable operation expects to sustain itself when staff treat basic community support with blatant disdain. After all, running a secondhand store requires welcoming the very people keeping your inventory alive, in the very least.
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