I Desperately Need Your Help!

[Deleted]

Hi everyone,

For over a decade now, I've spent most of my spare time supporting the TF community running Auto Assembly and not asking for anything in return - no payment, not seeking any "glory" or anything - just wanting to make sure that all of the fans who have attended have had a great time at each of the conventions over the years.

However, now I need your help... many of you know that I lost my job straight after Auto Assembly 2010. I'm still trying to find something at the moment, but to help keep me sane and to try to learn some new skills to transfer to another job, I've become an active volunteer for Oxfam working in one of their bookshops here in Lichfield. Within a week of when I started at the end of November, I was offered my own section of the store to look after - dedicated to all aspects of science fiction, fantasy, DVDs and computing and video games (including retro games) and to my knowledge we're probably one of the only charity shops in the country doing this!!

Anyway, the section has been something of a hit with the manager and customers alike and that's where I now need help as I'm starting to run a little low on stocks! I'm after donations of absolutely anything connected with sci-fi, fantasy, gaming etc and if any of you can help, I'd be eternally grateful. I'm after books, comics, graphic novels, magazines, DVDs, games (on ANY computer or console format no matter how old including import titles). Films on VHS don't really sell too well so I try to limit the amount of those that I take in, but I still won't turn those away either!

If you are able to donate anything, you can send it to me care of the shop to:-

Simon Plumbe
c/o Oxfam Books Lichfield
32 Market Street
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS13 6LH

For obvious reasons, everything needs to be sent to the store rather than my home address to keep everything "above board".

Feel free to pop in any time if you're in the area or happen to be in the Midlands for a forum meet - Lichfield is only about 30 minutes from Birmingham City Centre by train. If you can't make it but you're interested in what we DO have, I've got a list of the stock that we have as a spreadsheet and I can email it to any of you and we can do mail order (in a fashion!).

We've had Transformers DVDs and graphic novels, Star Trek, Doctor Who and Star Wars books, DVDs and magazines, loads of current and classic sci-fi / fantasy novels, a massive range of comics covering everything you can imagine, and currently about 300+ games ranging from the Commodore 64 right up to the PS3 and XBox 360 and everything in between!

If there are things you want, I can take them off the shelves for you, get them weighed up for postage (anywhere in the world) and send them off. All you need to do is send me the total amount via PayPal as a gift and I will buy the items myself as the store itself isn't set up for online sales yet. The charge for postage will be EXACTLY what I will be charged by the postage (or as close as possible as I'll weigh them at home so if you want a list, drop me a PM with your email address.

Thanks for reading and I hope some of you will be able to help out and may be interested in buying as well.

Simon

[Dave]

I think I've got quite a few relevant things lying about so will gladly send some stuff along.

[Kingoji]

I shall have a nosey around for stuff to donate.

[blueshift]

As shall I, I am sure I have some stuff that I don't need!

[Deleted]

Thanks guys - it's much appreciated. I haven't been into the shop since my last shift on Sunday and I'm dreading to think what state it will be in! We started a big promotion for my section with a big window display including showcasing some of the stock and in the space of about 5 hours we sold half as much SF/gaming stuff as we did in the entire previous week!

No-one else touches that area though in terms of pricing / re-stocking the shelves so I'm hoping that I'm not going in tomorrow to empty shelves! lol

[Kingoji]

A cursory look tells me that I have a handful of X-Box games and some anime DVD's I could send you. It'll have to wait until the weekend, though, but that just means I may find more before then.

[Deleted]

That's fantastic dude. The PS2 games I have in stock currently outnumber the XBox ones about 5-1 and I do keep getting asked by people if I have any more in so I know they'll go down an absolute storm!

[Shockprowl]

That's great work you're doing. Good for you. I'll have a look round for some stuff to send you.

[Hero]

I've got a box of TFs, Retro gaming, Gi Joe, etc uptogether. Will hopefully get it sent out this afternoon. Its mainly toy stuff, but I hope that's ok.

I have a trunk of well kept Star Wars and Star Trek books in the attic which was given to me a year ago to sell on eBay. I will ask the person first if its ok to just pass this stuff on (it belonged to thier late dad) to Oxfam Sci Fi.

This has encouraged me to help out a specific independant charity shop down my way as well. Keynsham has loads, but this shop isn't a chain like the others and I feel could do with the support a little more.

I don't blame you about the VHS Tapes. The charity place I want to support has to pay to get rid of the bags of tapes left outside despite the NO VHS TAPES sign on the door.

===KEN

P.S I would'nt mind seeing that Spreadsheet of stock too.

[Deleted]

Cheers for the stuff - it's much appreciated. Normally toys etc. go to our other store a few doors down but we do exchange items between shops if they are more suited to the other one better so I usually manage to intercept anything sci-fi related!

Here's the latest list anyway - to make it easier, I've uploaded it to the Auto Assembly server and I'll be updating it a few times a week:-

www.autoassembly.org.uk/Oxfam_Lichfield_Sci-Fi_Stock_List.zip

The next update to it will be made some time tomorrow night!

[Hero]

Thanks Si.

I should get an answer by tonight whether I can pass on those books or not. If so, a second box will be on its way from me.

===KEN

[Deleted]

Cheers dude - this really means a lot to me.

[Deleted]

Feb 10, 2011 11:36:24 GMT Hero said:

I've got a box of TFs, Retro gaming, Gi Joe, etc uptogether. Will hopefully get it sent out this afternoon. Its mainly toy stuff, but I hope that's ok.

I have a trunk of well kept Star Wars and Star Trek books in the attic which was given to me a year ago to sell on eBay. I will ask the person first if its ok to just pass this stuff on (it belonged to thier late dad) to Oxfam Sci Fi.

This has encouraged me to help out a specific independant charity shop down my way as well. Keynsham has loads, but this shop isn't a chain like the others and I feel could do with the support a little more.

I don't blame you about the VHS Tapes. The charity place I want to support has to pay to get rid of the bags of tapes left outside despite the NO VHS TAPES sign on the door.

===KEN

P.S I would'nt mind seeing that Spreadsheet of stock too.

Cheers for all of those dude - the box arrived this morning. Haven't had the chance to have a full sort through yet as some other stuff arrived and I spent most of the morning cataloguing more comics and other books but I'll be able to go through it all on Sunday!

Thanks again though - it really is appreciated.

[Hero]

More stuff to come. And books this time.

===KEN

[Deleted]

You guys have really left me speechless by your support and generosity. I had another parcel arrive at the shop today but unfortunately there was no sender's name on it so I can't thank the donor personally

[Deleted]

New list has just been uploaded and I've had more stuff delivered to and dropped off at the shop in the last day or two so I'll have a lot more to add in the next couple of days! Got a big bag of books to sort and loads of other stuff!

Cheers again everyone for your support.

[Hero]

Glad to hear it Si.

Sorry I've not sent you that stuff yet. Still trying to find a good box to shift it out in. I have so many books that I may have to do it in stages.

===KEN

[blueshift]

I'm in the process of making up a decent sized box, I've found stuff which I forgot I ever owned!

[Deleted]

Cheers guys! Had even more stuff today when a woman came into the shop with a bag full of PS2 games... AND a PS2 with three controllers! Just got to test it now and work out the best way to sell it but it's going to have to be done online as we can't sell it in store.

[Hero]

How come you cant sell those? That is a great turnup though.

I got my first books box up together and its heftier than it looks. They are all Star Trek books that I have sorted through. Will see if I can send it off tomorrow.

===KEN

[Deleted]

Cheers for that dude - I'll keep my eyes open for them!

We're not officially allowed to sell any electrical goods as we're not approved for electrical testing. There are only a few charity shops in the country that can sell electrical goods and these are the larger ones that also sell furniture and larger household items.

However, if I do ever get any consoles donated, I will be working around this one by testing them myself and then selling them directly outside of the shop and then putting all of the money from the sale to the shop that way. It's not an idea way of doing things but it works so if anyone wants a silver-release PS2 with two controllers and leads, let me know! lol

[Philip Ayres]

On a related matter:

goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2011/02/23/committed-oxfam-is-a-good-comic-shop/

[Deleted]

Yeah, I read that - some interesting thoughts and it's refreshing to see people who have a more mature view on charity shops. Even around here, there are still some who look down on them.

[Deleted]

Ken,

Had the Star Trek stuff arrive during the week - great stuff and I had a buyer for some of it the day it arrived! I have a few regulars who come in for Star Trek books, videos etc. several times a week and they were pretty excited about them!

I was running low on Trek stuff apart from a load of magazines so I had to remove my Trek-themed display (I try to dedicate a shelf to a particular show / author and it was Star Trek's turn) but thanks to your parcel I put them all back up!

Thanks again dude - much appreciated! ;D

[Hero]

I have lots more where that came from. When I get round to it, I will take out all the Trek books and send them first.

Glad my last parcel was helpful .

===KEN

[Deleted]

It was great and some stuff has already sold within hours of hitting the shelf! Sorry I hadn't got around to replying to your text yesterday - spent most of the day arguing with the dole over a few hundred pounds that they owed us! :S