Emmaus UK Avis 

Having just dropped off a lot of decent stuff at Emmaus Cambridge , I left feeling very disappointed at he way I was treated . The tall guy wearing a cap , was rude , ungrateful and didn't even manage a thank you . I don't expect a lot , just a smile and a thanks will do .

I sent them photos of a fully working riser recliner chair I was willing to donate after my mother died. I spent over an hour shampooing it with a machine for them and some marks under the arms looked worse on the photos than when you looked at the chair. They called to say they would collect on a Saturday morning between 09:30 and 12:30 but never queried the marks. When men arrived at 11:10, they just took one look and said "sorry it's a no". I wouldn't have minded if they had rejected it from the photos but why waste my morning? I've got enough to do getting ready for a funeral. Needless to say, I'll never offer them anything else.

The staff member was miserable, didn’t even make eye contact. I had a couple of hundred pounds’ worth of clothing and he didn’t even say “thank you”, he just told me to leave it at the side of the counter. I won’t be donating to Emmaus again.

Not impressed. They treat their homeless as slave labour and most of them are too ill to work. Any refusals are met with if you don't like it get back out on the street. They have to pay out of benefits for stuff in the shelter ( 80 a month for"wifi" )but get nothing for working full time in their charity shops. Food is poor and on a week end they all have to fend for themselves. I'd not give them a penny.

Emmaus St Albans came to view our mother's house. They said they could either take the items that they felt they could sell or we could pay and they would take anything we wanted. They quoted to clear the house and we agreed the price. They arrived on time were very helpful and respectful of the emotional situation. They were very efficient and careful moving furniture and were finished quickly. We were particularly pleased to hear the story of one helper who had been homeless but was now housed and working thanks to Emmaus. It was reassuring to hear a success story and know that her belongings would go to good use.

One of my favourite charities, however I attended an interview some weeks ago at the Bolton branch and they never got back to me to tell me I was unsuccessful. Unprofessional at it's best.

The lads in Coventry are good lads I got on well with all of them when driving with them companions
Only problem was there phones was always crap and you had to use your own because there’s was flat or not working Emma wood asked to see my phone because of a picture of items we could not collect which was in my WhatsApp there was a picture of my wife in the background in her bra which she found inappropriate bless her she wouldn’t have had access to my phone if there crap thing worked in the first place anyway good riddance to her

I got told off and threatened to take my phone off me because i was allegedly filming when I was just taking photos to send to my partner to see if I should buy it or not. Then they showed me some sort of badge saying they can take my phone away so I just walked out and felt very unsafe, I didnt even know if it was a security guard or not. There was no sign saying no photography, I was looking at new furniture and clothes to hopefully buy but experience has been ruined now.

Wanted to give some units to Emmaus which is a homeless charity in Oxford they said apparently they aren't up to Standard.

Thought they were suppose to be cheap and take donations doesn't matter what condition. If it helps a family out then that's a job well done

We donated to the Hanley Stoke on Trent branch of this charity. The older man (presumably "training the two young men who were both very pleasant) was rude and off-hand when collecting the chairs etc. He is a poor "role model" in his attitude and a poor reflection on the charity. Would rather take stuff to Lycett Recycling than to donate to this charity again! No phone call as advised when arranged collection.

I sent these people (the team from their Oxford Branch) an email asking if they accept tv donations: sent them the pictures of the tv and the plug and I got totally snubbed, extremely rude people- don’t waste your time, if you can’t find another competent charity organisation or somewhere to sell your item if you desire to sell, it’s best to recycle your television than deal with incompetence: rude + unprofessional behaviour, I read a few reviews about people’s orders not being delivered prior to writing this review- I looked up the company and its reviews because I was wondering why I hadn’t gotten a response to my enquiry, anyways when I was moving 3 years ago, a lady from Emmaus told me they sell second hand goods because I had to furnish my flat, the only reason why I didn’t go with them was because I wanted brand new so I went to ikea and Amazon instead, hindsight 2020 right- thank GOD I didn’t waste my money and time, mostly my money on them. AVOID!!!! N.B. they are similar to another company referred to as Amber Arch Ltd- if you are looking for a mystery shopping company, please look elsewhere: read their negative reviews and their disrespectful responses and you probably will agree with me.

A company that is disfuncional, illogical and needs to be held to account.. Do not donate or volunteer as your time and money could be spent in a better way.. My dad's 3 bedroom property is a 2 minute walk to the shop.. I have visited them and suggested they come to the house and take what they want for free... We don't do that I was told.. So through Coventry city council.. I had items removed to be taken to the tip.. Guess who turned up emnaus.. Two men a large van,, to take the items to the tip.. I said to the bloke.. Remember me.. Come inside and take this stuff to the shop.. It's free..
No mate,, can't do that it's a different van... Ffs I thought

I've been going to Emmaus Cambridge for over 20 years and furnished most of my house with amazing, really good quality bargains from there.
I now live in Kings Lynn.
Today I brought two friends to visit.
We had tea and some wonderful cake in Joan's Cafe.
The gentleman who served us was a master of banter, so funny, very polite and an amazing Front of House person.
The gentleman who cleared the tables was very polite, helpful and professional; both a massive credit to Emmaus as were all the other companions we had dealings with.
I've seen this place change over the years.
The gardens are so beautifully kept and the personal touches bring a smile to people's faces.
My friends couldn't believe how much there was to see; sadly, we don't have Emmaus in Kings Lynn.
A wonderful place to spend the day and an amazing worthwhile charity.
I'm sure we can find somewhere in Kings Lynn for an Emmaus........😄
Thank you for a lovely day
Shelagh van Heerden ( Kings Lynn)

What they're selling is the antithesis of their name. It's not worth the peanuts homeless people get if it's propagandising against them.

I dropped off a TV and reclining chair at the Cambridge store. Both items were quickly assessed and gratefully received. Unfortunately my car failed to restart due to a flat battery. Several staff quickly offered assistance by using one of their vans and jump leads to get me going again. I am very grateful for their help.

My mum had bought a sofa from them didn't deliver it and have kept her money when confronted the manager she spoke awful to my mum and said she wasn't going to give her money back as they don't do refunds but this wasn't stated on the receipt or anywhere in store so they still have my mum's money and sofa plus had a delivery driver shouting in my mum's face hope he is proud of this doing that to a pensioner

Really easy straightforward process to arrange a collection. Donations collected within a week by very friendly efficient people.

I tried to organise a furniture collection but 2.5 days later I just got an email stating they're not doing collections at the moment - no explanation, no indication if this is a permanent scenario or anything. Don't bother with this organisation

I popped in to your shop in Cheltenham, and was served by the kindest, most helpful gentlemen. Such exceptional customer service. Thank you so very much 💗💕💗

Went to check out the Hanley Branch half an hour ago, and despite it saying they close at 17:00, to our surprise, the automatic doors opened as we approached them, we only wanted to have a look through the window but found ourselves in the open doorway.

I thought great, I could perhaps ask them a quick question, boy was I wrong. Upon stepping in and the one way entry doors closing behind us, before I could even formulate a sentence, three staff (I presume) immediately stormed towards us, pointing at the door and repeatedly yelling “we’re closed, get out”.

Now A) We didn’t force our way in, the doors automatically opened… We only wanted to look through the window, and when the door opened, we thought maybe we could ask a question before leaving.

B) The consistent patronising tone they were displaying got me so angry that I had no choice but to shout back at them, like lock your doors on time and then don’t make people feel like they forced their way into your “charity” when they didn’t.

C) The way one of them came up to my face and tried to intimidate me, screaming and throwing a tantrum over the fact that we were walking further into the store, but you can’t exit the way you came in, you have to walk in and around, and although that’s what we were trying to do, I kid you not, “get out, get out”

Absolutely disgusting behaviour from the three individuals inside, one woman with red hair, an old man with a very long beard and a young kid who was doing the absolute most.

The woman starting arguing with me telling me I’m rude and that I’m “barred”. All because the door that they should’ve locked, opened by itself, because it’s automatic…

So I doubt I want to go back there anyways, but I still needed to get this out there, incase other people have had similar experiences with these so called “volunteers” or whatever they are, these are not friendly or helpful people in the slightest, lock your doors on time if you don’t want anyone coming into your public establishment, don’t start mocking and patronising people who are there to seek help.

Update 18th Dec : So I had also emailed Emmaus Uk on the 24th of Nov, and was told by a Debbie Prince that my complaint was passed onto Emmaus North Staffs.

I also left a google review for the store in question, I can confirm now three weeks has passed and nobody has returned to me, acknowledged either this trust pilot or google review, so I called up Emmaus North Staffs today (whom I was told my complaint was passed onto) and was told that they’ve not received anything… Which says it all really.