The Salvation Army UK & Ireland Avis 

Miserable woman serving in Alnwick charity shop. I was looking at book from the window and she moaned at me for taking it "your not suppose to take things out the window" No signs to saying I can't. She then snatches it out my hand aggressively. Why work in retail if you have no customer service.

If I could give minus 11 stars I would I used to work in charity shop for them I was down on my luck in 2009 time lost really close members of my family lost my home and split up with then my boyfriend I wanted to do some volunteer work for them told them that I needed help with income and housing they would not help me at all they was awful really awful to work for they had real staff working for them stealing money from tills. An older lady shouted and screamed at me for weeks until I left while I was working there a lot of bullying went on my the management and by older staff. I've never worked for them since or have I ever donated to them the way they treated me I cant forget or forgive. Horrible company horrible staff dirty and really horrible shop they never once helped me at all. Horrible company the worst ones out there honestly. They don't help when people are in need and really genuine need help I've never asked for help from there again. Dreadful they should be ashamed of them selves

I am surprised to see so many negative 1* reviews here about the dear old Salvation Army that most of us oldies have sort of grown up with. I have been involved with this quasi military style organisation for 73 of my 78 years. During those years I have also taken an interest in the whole of religion, not as a true practiser of a 'faith' at any time, but, I realise now, as a 'Truth Seeker' which is how I now describe myself if anyone asks, but of course nobody does.

As a young boy at Primary School in Plymouth I went to a Roman Catholic church school and I was also happily learning music and how to play a brass instrument at the Salvation Army Corps in Devonport, Plymouth. The music I learnt stood me in good shape for my audition later for the Royal Marines Band Service (RMB). I was accepted and thirty three years later I was 2nd in seniority in the RMB as a Captain having graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London.

To be in the Armed Forces it was originally assumed you were of the Christian FAITH and the only question was what did you want on the ID TALLIES you always wore around your neck so that they knew who to summon when you were shot dead ! 'Excuse me. I did not join up here to get shot!' 'Tough mate… too late now.' Fortunately for me I am still here and somewhere I still have the tallies to prove it.

Anyway me and religion go back a long way and the Sally Anne/Barmy Army (SA) has always been with me, not only because my wife has two SA sisters who benefit from a long career which I now know to be a well-established RACKET based on FAITH i.e. 'nonsense for personal gain'. If you want to go down that road further then please check out my recent 5* REVIEW of YouTube and do read my last paragraph before I sign off at the bottom.

THE GOOD
William BOOTH started the SA in July 1865. He started it to assist those in desperate need, not welcomed in traditional churches, and mainly destitute women in the east end of London. I believe that was a good thing to do. The SA continues today with that beginning very much in its heart and mind. But do note just above that I point out the attitude of the 'traditional churches'. No CHARITY there, and what was the Victorian Government doing to let things get in such a state? Pity the poor children. Unusually for me but I think it good that I provide a brief Christian Bible quote here: 1 Corinthians 13:2 '…and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains , and have not charity, I am nothing.

THE BAD
So much of the bad lack of charity is comprehensively reported in the many REVIEWS here giving the SA 1*. Taking the more balanced view you will see that I give the SA 3*.

I have seven grandchildren and I love them all dearly but because of RELIGION and bigoted prejudice where their parents cannot tolerate a wider humanist world view and CHARITY based opinion beyond their creepy little Christian Church delusion I never see my Grandchildren.

Mental abuse of children by telling them lies about a God, for which there is absolutely no evidence, is the worst example of bad parenting that I have personally experienced. Telling lies to children, rather than the truth, is an abuse also practised by the SA since its foundation.

The central problem for the current members of the SA is now that recent science in the etymology, archaeology and lack of cohesion in the CHRISTIAN BIBLE exposes what that BIBLE really is. Last year several new sites appeared in YouTube telling anyone with an open mind about religion and what the Bible really is and who wrote it.

If you are interested in this reasoning just put any of these titles below into GOOGLE for some amazing facts, like Josephus (leading Jewish historian in the 1st Century CE) never mentioned 'Jesus of Nazareth' neither did Tacitus, leading Roman historian at the same time. 'LOGIC OVER FAITH' 'SECULARIS' 'THE RATIONAL PATH'

Thank you for reading this and my thanks to Trust Pilot for this useful platform. If you could spare a quick 'like' I would be grateful.

As any charity that acts to help people by raising funds, I salute them. Further to my call to head office customer services, I'm again here to inform that I received several Salvation Army Christmas Appeal 2025 envelopes with my post today. I am concerned why one house address received several same envelopes? Isn't it wasteful? Please raise this with the courier service. More houses could have had your promotional material.

Awful experience with banbury uk SA. One Thai woman ordering me around, as if she is a superior being who hated working there, so she takes it out on customers, with simple nastiness and insulting behaviour. i am 69 years old with a disability. This is twice now from the same woman. You are losing customers. owing to her snobbish behaviour. A very heavy item, she ordered me to take back when i can barely keep my balance due to my disease. She is simply a nasty person who believes that she is better than someone else, including her colleagues. She should be severely reprimanded but knows she can get away with it, so repeats it. Last time that I will shop there, and many people are saying the same thing.

My friend has just said good bye forever to her husband 57, lost to cancer has been fined £300 for donating his clothes to a salvation armarny depot. They failed to clear space so she carefully placed his decent clothes nest to the dumpster. She was then fined £300 for fly tipping. Shame one you. What would Christ have done.

Very disappointing experience with the staff.
I tried to return an item according to the shop’s return policy. The staff first told me I needed to bring the receipt, so I did. Then they refused to take the return because the tag was not attached. I even brought the original tag and reattached it, but they still refused and kept arguing instead of helping.

I followed all their instructions, but they were uncooperative and unprofessional. I expected better customer service and respect for customers’ time. I will not be shopping here again.

I have been shopping at the Salvation Army donation centre in Shrewsbury for a couple of years, I have also found the place reasonably organised, and the prices were fantastic, I guess they received the donations and wanted them sold asap to allow new donations to come in to the store. About 4 months ago I noticed a change in staff and since then the prices have increased a lot and I have since learnt that they are now selling items on eBay. I have been regularly to the store and it’s really gone downhill in terms of the quality and the price increases and I notice stock that people won’t overpay for just sitting there week after week. The whole feel of this store just changed overnight and it’s such a shame as it was by far the best charity shop that I have ever been in. I’ve looked on eBay and unless you have some good products they unfortunately will just sit there and people will not pay over and above for second hand items. I understand these shops need to make money but increasingly I see that this store is asking too much for items that you can get at a cheaper price brand new. I commend the staff at this store and the volunteers for their work, but something is going wrong with this store and changes that have been made have made the store worse and not better, it’s a real shame and I need to start looking elsewhere for my charity shop fix.

Went into my local salvation army shop, King St, Kilmarnock on a Wednesday a few weeks ago to offer my services as a volunteer. Sign also displayed outside the shop advertising for volunteers.
I spoke with the manager who told me she was desperate for volunteers. She took my name and phone number and told me she would phone me on the Saturday as she would have a better idea then of what days I would be required......No phone call ever received.
Shop can't be that desperate for volunteers. If this is the way a manager treats a prospective volunteer then its no wonder the people who work there are leaving.
Not good enough.

Usually a very helpful gentleman who’s served me before. Unfortunately he felt it was acceptable to bring up very political views regarding the British flag and it was extremely uncomfortable as we had very different opinions on the matter. He didn’t stop talking. I tried to end the subject twice but had to walk away. Not professional at all made for a very awkward exit.

I took 6 bags of Clothes and approximately 10 coats all of which were nearly new and had only been once at most into the Goole drop in centre. Most of the clothes had labels and tags still on them. There was also 2 digital TVs that worked perfectly. They blatantly just said we don't want them
Given how many bags I get posted through my letterbox for charity donations. I have to say I was taken back by their staffs response.I ended up taking these to the local tip

I have already submitted a review but I have no idea how I forgot to mention the infestation of bed bugs, mold and serving the clients slop for meals. This is the Salvation Army in Galveston, Texas.Max who was a absolute angel cared for the clients with dignity and respect. Now he would definitely step up and put his foot down when needed to maintain order but at the end of the conversation the client wasn't left feeling belittled, disrespected and less than. Jeff Taylor( current house supervisor)however feeds on it. No client is allowed to speak up for themselves because all he does his kicked them out. Unfortunately this man's name is all over Galveston Texas with negative comments right after. The Salvation Army should be ashamed of themselves. Then they have the nerve to wonder why donations and volunteers have plummeted. It's just pitiful. They can't deny any of this because I actually had to take pictures of the filth and recordings of Jeff Taylor's deplorable behavior towards clients.He actually told me to keep my business to myself since I couldn't keep my mouth shut when I contacted HR, Corporate and the Major. They are pitiful here in Galveston, Texas.

The Salvation Army furniture store in Dumfries is a absolute disgrace to such
a venerable and worthy charity !
My wife was treated in extremely rude and disrespectful way by both the manageress and a member of staff whilst attempting to buy a item of furniture for a £100, the customer service is non existent the manners of the staff are negligible at best !
You really think that a woman on her own trying to load a heavy piece of furniture would have been treated with a little bit more respect than being told she was being rude to them because the customer service she was receiving was so appalling! Are these the sort of people who should be front of house for a charity of such high Christian values !?
I seriously think not !! I’ve donated regularly to the Salvation Army and I also had left a bequest in my will to them I will be revoking this ! Saddened and heartbroken at this disgraceful service!!!

I love the shop based in Shipley. The staff are helpful and friendly. The clothes and furniture are nice and they have a good range of styles, sizes and the pricing is good.

I picked some furniture from them previously and paid for delivery, I wish I had been informed prior they would not carry the furniture in and would leave it at the door.

Yes, it can be frustrating not knowing exactly when collection will be for furniture donations on the day however be mindful this is a free service, the furniture must have a fire label attached and must be in resellable condition which is fair in my opinion, they told me over the phone they would have to assess it before they would take it.

All in all a positive experience and the staff/volunteers are always friendly.

I'm glad they offer this service and I'm grateful for the Salvation Army and all the valuable work they do, thank you 🙏

Well first thing . They sent 1 man and a woman to lift a rather heavy sofa ???. But Adam and nikki were brilliant luckily he knew how to solve the problem. Thanks guys

I have wholeheartedly supported Salvation Army monetarily and with donations in the past. My experience with their donation pickup today was horrible. Two guys with attitude and a flashlight pointed out my furniture wasn't up to standards for resale; turned around and left. This caused me monetarily to reschedule a delivery and pay for a pickup. I can find other faith-based organizations who will accept my charitable contributions without judgement.

I went to the salvation army in penzance to my local poetry group,run by suzette Reed, david and Susan were excellent there, they were so mannered, david made carrot, coriander and orange soup for five of us, I said thank you very much to both david and Susan and they both said your welcome.😃

I would give minus one star if an option. This shop has totally changed since opening from a welcoming and friendly environment with affordable prices and helpful approachable staff to a chaotic and dismissive charity shop. This is such a shame as I would want to continue supporting the Salvation Army for personal reasons. When this shop opened it was the brightest and best charity shop in Chippenham. My family and I always found clothes and household furniture and items that we could not otherwise afford. The first manager Emma and all her team ( yes I know they change that is the nature of volunteers and managers ) were all wonderful. It was a happy shop and I would go out of my way to visit as I do not live in Chippenham.
Since Emma left there has been a sense that EVERYTHING is too much trouble. Customers are dismissed. Often while actually at the checkout and being served. Talked over, blanked and patronised. I am not alone in observing and in-fact experiencing this. ( just look at other reviews ) There is no inclusive engagement. I have stayed away, gone back, stayed away again and returned hoping that yet another change in management and volunteers would mean that I would feel more comfortable. But it sadly hasn’t.
I wanted to continue supporting this shop, and charity for many reasons.
Unfortunately with the Chippenham shop I am sad to say that this shop is not the shop it was. The volunteers seem flat and sad and the management and wanna be managers are either/or abrasive, dismissive, rude and disrespectful. I will stay away again. You have lost a donater, a customer and a charity supporter in this shop.

I chose an item and took to the counter to pay but queried the price tag which was confusing as it had been altered and was not clear. The very young assistant was just about to speak when the female manager quickly approached and I again queried the price tag. She grabbed the item and while ripping off the tag spoke to the assistant saying "give it to HER for £2 but no returns". This woman was abrupt and rude and spoke as though I was invisible even though I was standing next to her. She didn't even look at me. She then walked away without acknowledging me whatsoever. I have visited many charity shops and made many purchases as well as donating hundreds of items and with the very occasional exception have always found the staff at least pleasant and helpful. This woman was neither!

Went to Brookvale Sydneystore to donate a brilliant range of art,biographries and many perfect condition general literature 'hardback books.
To be brief the attitude was everything other reviewers have mentioned,,,,condesending,didn't bother to look...talked about yellowing pages...what?? these were as new,which would have been obvious if the patronising manager had looked.
Went straight to the nearby LIFELINE charity shop,who saw the books and immediately said "these are great,we'll take the lot"
OK,mission accomplished,but I looked at the google reviews and saw how bad the Salvation Army stores reputation was and thought I should bring this to their attention through their "complaints"
First an anonymous call,not stating who was calling.then when I questioned,the caller said he had received a "convoluted" message....Good start ?
Asked where I had read the reviews i mentioned,when I replied on GOOGLE ,he said "I never read reviews,I'm too busy"I've got ten shops to look after"
More general moans on how hard it is for him/
Obviously,nothing will be done,all that will be achieved is I will never step in a Salvation Army store again and mention this to anybody I meet who either wants to donate or shop there as well.
I was amazed at the depth of complaints regarding this organisation