Random bits of glassware, maybe a mannequin next to an old doll’s house and a few celebrity biographies, the usual type of stuff you tend to see in a charity show window.
But of all the weird and wonderful bits and bobs you come across, there are some key things you certainly don’t expect.
For example, sex toys. And yet a charity has responded to embarrassed shop workers who displayed some in the window, thinking they were doorknobs.
Yeah, sounds like something out of a sitcom, right?
She put on some rubber gloves and binned them. (Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
These unfortunate volunteers had neatly laid out a pair of ‘his and hers’ silver butt plugs in pride place for the bargain price of £2.
And they were sitting there for all to see, laid out neatly in front of a ceramic vase on the shelf of an RSPCA shop in an undisclosed North Yorkshire village.
It wasn’t until a more, well, I guess street wise, customer walked into the shop and pointed out that they’re certainly not doorknobs.
A shop assistant in her 70s was left pretty mortified by the revelation, immediately withdrawing them from sale.
The unnamed customer told the Daily Mail: “I was looking through the bric-a-brac when I spotted two items of an adult nature priced at £2.
“I asked the shop assistant if she knew what they were, and she said she thought they were ‘tiny little doorknobs or knobs for a draw or a cabinet’.”
She explained to the volunteer what the silver things actually were ‘not without blushing bright red’ before giving her some key advice.
The customer advised the shop assistant ‘that it would be a good idea to put on rubber gloves and put them straight in the bin’.
“Her colleague, who was quite a bit younger, came out of the staff room, saw the items, and shouted, ‘Oh my god!’ which made us all laugh,” the butt plug spotter added.
Probably not something you’d expect to see. (BNPS)
“I suppose if it raises awareness of the need to educate volunteers in these shops then it has done some good.”
And the RSPA responded to the rather unfortunate mishap as a spokesperson said: “We’re glad this good faith mistake has given people a little laugh and hope this goes to show there are some brilliant bargains – and unexpected surprises – to be found in charity shops.
“We’re enormously grateful to everyone who supports RSPCA charity shops by shopping, donating or giving up their time volunteering.
“It all helps to make a huge difference to help animals rescued from cruelty and neglect. Even if we do occasionally find some slightly unusual delights among the items we receive.”
Featured Image Credit: BNPS/Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
