British Heart Foundation Furniture & Electrical Stores Reviews 

I just had a very negative experience at my local BHF in Kingswood. I seen a settee i really liked. I saved up the £100and went to purchase today only to find the price had increased by £25 since I last looked at it 2days ago. I asked the assistant about the price increase and he said the sale was over. There was nothing 2 days before stating about any sales starting or ending. This furniture is donated which means local people can buy affordable furniture whilst raising money. I also showed the assistant a photo of a cabinet which he said was saleable but said they cannot collect as there isn't enough money in it for them. I've donated a lot of stuff to this charity but will now find another charity to support. Very disappointing experience

Last week, I spotted a delightful old DVD in a British Heart Foundation charity shop in Whitby. Unfortunately, only three of the words on its cover were in English – the rest was a mixture of Spanish and French. (Occasionally in the past, I’ve unintentionally bought DVDs from charity shops, later discovering that they were in foreign languages!) So I asked the woman at the counter if it had an English track. She wasn’t sure, but offered to call the manageress down.

This manageress radiated an inflexible “take-it-or-leave-it” drop-dead attitude, inconsistent with the shop’s status as a registered charity. At that point, it emerged that this shop (and probably others like it) doesn’t even have the equipment to test DVDs before putting them on sale though still willing to sell them to unsuspecting members of the public!

I offered to buy it IF, after returning home and finding there was no English track, I could return it with the receipt for a refund. The manageress totally refused to give a refund, even though her refusal was probably breaking Consumer Rights law! So I left, vowing NEVER AGAIN to buy a DVD from any British Heart Foundation shop in future.

Sadly, charity shops today have evolved into unashamed money-making scams, in which CHARITY has been replaced by the desire to make hefty profits! These “charity shops” are charities in name only, all ethical principles as to pricing and suitability for sale abandoned in their scramble to make money.

So be warned: BUY AT CHARITY SHOPS AT YOUR PERIL!

This review is about the British Heart Foundation Weekly Flutter Raffle. I was persuaded to sign up to a monthly donation whilst shopping in Asda and assumed that the majority of my donation would go to charity. Only when I looked into it did I find that 20% goes to charity and 75% to the marketing companies that run the raffle!! This seems like an extraordinarily inefficient way of raising funds, poor value for money, and against the ethos of charitable giving. It doesn't sit well with me when charities start operating more like a large corporate business and less like a charity. I think the British Heart Foundation have negotiated a really poor deal with the marketing companies running this raffle. If you want to make sure most of your donation actually goes to charity, just go to the website and donate there.

Horrendous collection 'service'. Rude and no empathy. Lazy. Scraped vintage valuable furniture that was my late mum and more recently,dad's, by not lifting it. Back chatting. Banging furniture like it was worthless and looking at it in the same way. Saying 'Can't take this' even though they'd had photographs and booking info of what it was and how old it was. They moaned about taking the rest and so left it. Wanted them out of the house asap. I was in tears afterwards.

I purchased all my furnitures from British Heart Foundation, Bristol in 2024. We had a great experience with the team and all the items were delivered with great care. We were extremely satisfied with the whole experience.
But, it is entirely different, when it comes to donating the same items to them after an year & a half. We decided to move abroad and chose BHF to donate all items we purchased from them (all items were in the exact same condition), hoping that we are being part of something great. Unfortunately, the whole system became more of a used furniture business focused on profit.

They agreed with the list I gave during booking and had a call to discuss details. However, the driver refused to take half of the furnitures saying that they are not up for the market and that he couldn't take it since he had strict orders to decline such items. Although the driver was kind, he refused to collect most of the good furnitures because of tiny scuff marks, which felt unreasonable considering the same was sold by them. Some of those furnitures were in very good condition and might interest someone for a cheaper price, even though it is not so popular in the market.
The overall donation process felt like dealing with a highly profit oriented business, rather than donating items with some quality to a charity. Not going to choose them again. I would rather choose a house clearance.

I have donated to this charity many times over the past twenty years being items of clothing, bedding and furniture and have never had any problem in having my items collected, after all as a charity you would expect that a collection service would be extremely beneficial. I rang my local BHF store at Bishop Auckland and asked if they would like a "bean to cup" coffee machine, practically brand new in its original box with full instructions but a large and heavy item, I was told I had to take it into the store, I explained that I am disabled and as such unable to drive and that the item is heavy and difficult to carry, again I was told no, you have to bring it in. I was absolutely astounded at the fact that a charity I have supported for years would refuse such an item and contacted the head office of BHF, the phone lines were switched off despite being well within the stated opening times so I left a message, a couple of hours later I received a call back by what sounded like a young woman who had an appalling manner, she literally talked without pause, not even attempting to let me speak, what I took from the call was that basically the BHF shops can do exactly as they please when it comes to collecting items, there is no rule regarding this and they can just refuse to collect items even if the donor is disabled and physically unable to take the items being donated to them. I will never, ever support this charity again, from their manner and attitude it appears that they dont need to depend on donations and can quite easily pick and choose where they get their stock from, about a million miles away from what my definition of charity means, tbh they are the most uncharitable charity out there, AVOID.

I purchased an item from the British Heart Foundation that was delivered damaged. While this was disappointing, what was even more frustrating was the poor after-sales service. Although they initially responded to my complaint, communication then became extremely slow and ineffective. Despite my repeated attempts to contact them and resolve the issue, the matter was never properly addressed. The delays continued until the return and warranty period had expired, leaving me with a damaged item and no practical solution. I expected much better customer care from such a well-known charity.

Got a great sofa from their shop in Norwich city centre but was damaged by delivery drivers. Furniture isn’t even wrapped in basic protective plastic lining for delivery.
The staff in the shop are all rude as well.

I wanted to donate a sofa, in pretty much new condition. Fire safety tags, no rips or tears etc.
The website kept crashing on my laptop and also my phone.

I called to enquire how i could help and donate as the website was down, but was answered by a lady who quite frankly couldn't care less and didnt really want a donation.

Gave it to a local charity who were really happy to help. I thought BHF were meant to be one of the 'good ones'?
Ill think twice about offering to BHF in future

I’ve donated a virtually brand new Bosch washing machine, numerous items of furniture including an IKEA table in pristine condition in the past. Now I’ve a virtual new Ninja air fryer I need collecting, I don’t have transportation so it needs picking up. I filled an online form in, got a reference number as well. Someone was going to call and ask for some information,………nothing.!
I called the Halifax store and was told to drop it off because it’s not cost effective to pick it up.
This is very heavy, and if they think I’m catching a bus and bringing it they can think again.
The guy in the store was so unhelpful and uncompromising I gave up.
You try and help charity shops but they get cocky and disrespectful. I didn’t have this problem at Byker in Newcastle.
Reading reviews only proves to me they want everything dropped off. Pathetic.

Great shops, but the new "not plastic" bags are hopeless. The lady in front of me had her bag break before she left the shop. Mine got halfway home before the handle broke and the bottom went through. A paper bag would have been a much better alternative.

Absolutely useless. Moving house and have some good quality conservative furniture we tried to donate to the store. Waited all morning for them to come and collect and then found it was cancelled. Apparently they had driven to the property, telephoned once (we just missed the call and phoned them back immediately but no answer) and drove off again. Didn't bother ringing doorbell and, given we were actually watching out of the window for them, we don't think they actually drove to the property at all. All lies. Don't bother. Donate elsewhere!

I walked about a mile with a bag full of items which is quite heavy to my local British heart foundation store in Wandsworth. I previously donated a lot of things to the store, including clothes and books and all sorts. They're welcome was never super friendly in the past but it was okay. This time around it was a very frosty and rather obstructive meeting. The lady was counting cash in the till when I arrived about 5:15 pm. I gave her a cheerful hello and said I have a few things here for you to sell. She didn't say hello back. She just said what kind of things do you have for us to sell - and I said all kinds of things. I showed a pristine Tie hanger. She said no we can't sell that. I showed her some ties. She said no we can't sell that. We only do electrical and furniture - I said okay I've got some electricals for you. I had an IKEA lamp. It's a desk workspace lamp. It just needed a bulb to go in it. And she said no we can't sell that its too complicated. She says we only sell those lamps over there and pointed it a range a very awful looking bedside table lamps. They were huge angle poise lamps in the window for sale not dissimilar to the IKEA one I had. She said no because you need a really complicated bulb for that and the condition is not very good. There was no Grace in the communication at all. No appreciation for me walking down there with all this stuff. Everything was rather blunt. I trudged home with my bag full of heavy goods. Some of it I'll try to sell on eBay some of it I'll probably throw in the local tip. There are some other items I was going to take to British heart foundation but I don't think I'll bother now - it's just not a very pleasant experience. I see others reported a similar experience from their own local stores. I understand that they can say they can't sell something - but they could at least show warmth and gratitude for the effort people put in to try and raise money for the British heart foundation.

Really rude collection driver. To one look at my wardrobe (a £500 double wardrobe with sliding full length mirrored doors) and said “not good condition, too big) and walked out of the bedroom. Won’t be getting y charity ever again. I’ve got a nearly new washing machine, a dining table and chairs, an American fridge freezer and an electric reclining sofa I was going to give to them when I move in with my other half. They won’t be getting those now due to rudeness of collection drivers. They have just lost about 3 grands worth of stuff they could have sold for at least £500 now

Booked a collection of a lot of goods from my mother in laws house - to the Widnes, Cheshire store. Had to cancel this one due to a family emergency so rescheduled. The rescheduled date - the driver didn’t turn up despite me waiting an hour and a half. I was informed the driver had an emergency with his grandson - but no one told me that - I had to call to find out after two hours waiting,then spoke personally to the driver and rescheduled another collection. This appointment was then cancelled by the shop stating they had no room for anything. The appointment was rescheduled to today and as I have said on previous occasions that the van should be empty as there is a lot of things to collect and I had taken time off work to attend at the property where the items were.
I attended at 10.15am ( appointment was 10.30-11.30) by 11.45 there was a no show so I made enquiries with the shop who told me he will get to me but he’s on his rounds- I told her that this was an appointment we have tried to make on three occasions now, I had gone out of my way to attend by taking time from work and that the van will unlikely be empty if he “is on his rounds” . The woman said - No the van won’t be empty. I said then there is no real point in him coming then - and asked her to speak with him to find out what was going on and let me know.
I explained that I’m trying to help the charity and that things are not being adhered to in order to get the items to the shop. She did apologise and clearly it’s not her fault but someone somewhere here is totally incompetent. On our side of things , these items are holding up the furtherance of a house being photographed and going on sale ( for nearly 4 weeks now) and all we are trying to do is help a charity to make money. At the time of writing I have once again left the property with no contact regarding this collection of these goods.
Poor service towards the public who are trying to help the cause. I still have the items at the house

Back again at this well presented branch of British Heart Foundation home furniture outlets.

Having donated and purchased previously, I find this shop and it's staff to be helpful and customer focussed; good for them and for their charity.

On this occasion I got a good condition teak-veneered bookcase for my music and reading room and a nice desk (to sink a broadcast mixing desk into).

Good prices and conditions with much variety brought to all by friendly and professional team members including Jack, Jamell and Janice.

Great service, great charity and great to do business with.

Thanks again team BHF, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich.

After visiting various charity shops I tried the Chatham branch. It had a wide vaiety of quality furniture. Samantha was very helpful and a pleasure to deal with. I found two sofas and she helped with options and arranged transport of goods. She made the visit to the shop a good one with her friendly and professional approach. Thank you again -

British Heart Foundation refused collection on my sofa has it had minor fraying apprently my cat did!!! Which I dont have. This is not the first time they refused collection. A month ago we cleared my mothers flat and they refused a microwave because we had forgotten to clean the filter. I offered to clean it while they were loading the other items and they refused, also a dinning chair because it one tiny mark.
I have visited their stores and seen items in worse condition. They have lost me has a customer.

I donate instore and like to support charities like BHF so hate to leave this review really. But they really gave us a lot of stress that could have been avoided. They have extremely unrealistic expectations of the condition of furniture being donated and they don't make that clear before booking a collection. They apparently overbook as they expect to refuse several bits of furniture. But what that means (it seems) is the delivery people use this discretion to just choose items that are close to brand new and leave everything else. Ask for pictures before wasting everyone's time. The whole of BHF's furniture collection operation is simply creating many disgruntled people trying to do a good deed donating very nice serviceable and very saleable furniture then being inconvenienced because BHF expect furniture that is in brand new condition with no (even hidden) cosmetic defects. If you want that fine - but at least design a more robust collections approval process beforehand. We were left with a high end suite in nice cared for condition the day before a new one was due to arrive because BHF suddenly decided they didn't want the sofa because of a hidden cosmetic defect that you would never see in normal use of the item. I am speculating but I think it was an excuse as they said they had a van 'full of sofas already'. Won't be donating furniture again - its a shame but there you go.

We want to give one TV cabinet and one chest bedroom cupboard to charity. We went to Kettering Heart Foundation on 2nd June show the pictures of the items we donate to charity. The staff in Kettering said they will not collect from our area and Corby Heart Foundation takes collection from our area and gave us the phone number of Corby store. When we called Corby they said to fill online form which are the items giving to charity. We filled the form of items giving them and booked collection on 6th June. And they send us email confirming that they will collect the items on 6th June.
On 6th June we took duty off and doing nothing and waiting for coming for collection. Upto afternoon there is no email or message from them. So we called Corby Heart Foundation. They said our items are not worth for collecting like that some nonsense.
We strongly believed or thought that the volunteers working for charity are helpful,friendly,cooperative,supportive, sincere, hardworking like that. But the truth or reality is not like that. They are rude, unfriendly,not cooperative, not showing any responsibility or show any passion in their work. They are coming only for timepass. Perhaps very few peoples are exemptional. They are doing volunteer work for helping others. 🙏🙏🙏.