Church rummage sale charging admission fees !!!

chic

chic

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I went to a local church's annual spring rummage sale this morning. I got there just a few minutes after they opened. There was a family of several members waiting by the door and in the foyer, but they weren't going in. I wondered why not? I saw another couple of seniors go in, so I went up the stairs to go in myself. There was a table tucked in a corner with a man sitting at it with a collection box and a sign that read there was a mandatory $4.00 per head admission fee. Basically, the rummage sale is just like an indoor yard sale. It's a collection of stuff nobody wants and I rarely spend more than $3.00 or $4.00 there when I go.

I was really surprised at this. Their webpage said nothing about an admission fee. I've been going to this church rummage sale for years. I would've paid a dollar, but not $4.00. I turned around and just walked out. I felt sorry for the family still in the doorway. I guess they were not expecting an admission fee either and as there were between six and eight of them $4.00 a head would have been substantial.

Since when do churches do this? Charge admission fees to their rummage sales? Is this something new I've been unaware of? It seems contrary to the principles of Christianity, but the church is always about money anyway. It left me with negative feelings though.
 

They are charging a "door" fee at church trash and treasure sales in Australia as well,I won't pay an fee to look at " trash"
 
Kadee46 said:
They are charging a "door" fee at church trash and treasure sales in Australia as well,I won't pay an fee to look at " trash"
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Really? This was the first time I've ever seen them do this. I felt bad for the family with so many members. There were kids there and maybe they need to shop rummage sales for knock off prices on clothing for the kids? Sad.

I agree that NOTHING they could have had was worth a $4.00 admission fee. In the past, I bought a spoon rest for the kitchen stove, a small compact mirror for my purse, and a pair of earrings. Never spent even $5.00 there at one go so what they were asking is ridiculous IMO. :mad:
 
I've never heard of that in my area.

My first thought is that it is wrong to charge admission but the whole idea of the sale is to raise money for the church so I guess I really don't see anything wrong with it. I do think it was wrong not to prominently advertise the fee. Would I pay an admission fee for a run of the mill rummage sale, no!
 
I recently called into a church fete ,they wanted a gold coin donation to go in the door ,I said no I won't worry thank you and walked away
 
It wasn't unusual for church sales in England to charge a token entrance fee (maybe around 25 cents), but $3 or $4 - that's far too much. The money mostly came from the stall holders who paid a few pounds each.
 
I never heard of such a thing. We hold a twice yearly market day at our church and everything is rock bottom price including the home made cakes. We are always happy with whatever money we raise but we also see the event as something of a community affair. We want people to have a good time and go home happy.
 
No way would I pay to enter such a sale, at least not $4, maybe .50 $4 is outrageous for a garage/junk sale entry fee, there better be some gold up in that place they're parting with.
 
Terrible,I never heard of it but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before they do it here also. We have a fantastic Salvation Army store that just opened here so no more rummage sales for me. The place is clean,everything marked well, try on room, cheap, and they have a seniors day. When you check out you get a scratch off card for something off your next purchase. Every time I go I drop off a box or bag of items I don't need or want and then go in and shop till I drop.
 
Warrigal said:
I never heard of such a thing. We hold a twice yearly market day at our church and everything is rock bottom price including the home made cakes. We are always happy with whatever money we raise but we also see the event as something of a community affair. We want people to have a good time and go home happy.
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That's the way I always felt about it. It's a community thing and by charging a $4.00 admission fee, I feel separated from the community. It doesn't exactly spread goodwill to those so poor they need to buy preowned goods either.
 
I would not pay to get in. I would guess the sale is to raise money for the church, why charge admission? I mean my church has an annual craft sale, with vendors and they do not even charge admission for that. If I attended the church, and did not buy anything, maybe give a donation when I leave, especially if they are raising money for something specific, but not an admission fee.

 
I've never heard of a church doing it, but-those large "Flea Markets" have been doing it for many years.

The first time I went to one and had to pay to enter I thought-"huh, they want me to pay for the privilege of buying their merchandise?"

But a church? Talk about trying to make a fast buck!
 
I never attend church rummage sales because most of them charge an admission fee. I think that is unfair to the shoppers.
 

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