Minnesota attorney general sues Savers thrift store chain
Source: Strib
Minnesota is ratcheting up its fight with Savers, the international thrift store chain accused of pocketing public donations.
State Attorney General Lori Swanson sued the for-profit retailer in Hennepin District Court Thursday for misleading the public, claiming eight separate counts of charities law violations. The suit also names Apogee Retail LLC, the fundraising subsidiary of Savers, as a defendant.
The lawsuit follows a scathing compliance report Swanson released last November that took both Savers and several local charities to task for mishandling the used-good donations people make through Savers.
Swanson accused the company of concealing its identity as a for-profit fundraising company, soliciting donations using the names of charities but keeping most of the proceeds for itself. Only a small fraction of the money it makes from selling used clothing at its stores actually goes to a charity, and in the case of household goods such as furniture, Savers pays charities nothing at all. Plus, donations are commingled and proceeds may wind up at a different charity than the one intended.
Read more: http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-attorney-general-sues-savers-thrift-store-chain/304582931/
Elmer S. E. Dump
(5,751 posts)I've never seen any sign talking about charities. I was always under the impression that they were there to make a profit. Goodwill and Saint Vinnies they are not.
But they have really CHEAP second hand clothes, which my kids (being fairly poor) take advantage of regularly.
I f you want to give to charity - try a charity.
Mosby
(16,168 posts)and I paid 50 to 65K per MONTH to our non profit partners.
That's not a "small fraction" by any stretch of the imagination.
eta - I managed a Goodwill, they suck, all the money goes to upper management in the form of salary and perks.
geardaddy
(24,924 posts)Mosby
(16,168 posts)The worst chain of all is Epic Thrift, they don't give shit to their so called non profit partners.
geardaddy
(24,924 posts)Probably in the last 10 years.
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)I remember them from the mid to late 1990's at a South Mpls East Lake street location, I was never impressed thought they were a bit over priced
eta according to this the store opened in 1992
http://stores.savers.com/mn/minneapolis/thrift-stores-minneapolis-mn-1032.html
geardaddy
(24,924 posts)I only first heard of them about 10 years ago. I just never went there before that.
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)I moved to the Hiawatha area in about '94
jwirr
(39,215 posts)that our money was going to veterans. We also thought that most of the things dropped off at DAV boxes were going to Savers. According to the article this is true. They just don't get most of the money.
So okay who are the private partners that are getting most of the money from this for-profit charity?
Many of the other charities do not take a lot of things - especially furniture - because they do not have room. That is one of the reasons we donate.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)I've been dropping my donations there as it's easy in and out plus the folks at the drop off door have been ultra nice.
Only been inside once, just to see how it was set up (inside an old Ralph's store...Los Angeles area)...the parking lot is always full.
Sigh...creeps and crooks at every turn.
Mnpaul
(3,655 posts)In Bernie's administration. She took on the mortgage fraudsters. She took on the ripoff annuity sellers. She's a fighter for the public and knows how to win in court.
christx30
(6,241 posts)about 5 miles from my home. We have dropped off a lot of toys and gently worn kids clothes, and have seen that show up on the shelves and racks of that store. I like them a bunch.