After facing criticism over soaring prices at its charity shops, Vinnies has opened its biggest store in NSW, promising thousands of second-hand bargains for $10 or less, and even offering a drive-through service.
The enormous 1000-square-metre warehouse-style outlet opened in Auburn, in Sydney’s west, on Saturday, October 31, attracting bargain hunters keen to rediscover the days when op-shopping meant genuinely affordable prices.
The new store offers everything from clothing and accessories to homewares and furniture, with most items priced at $10 or less. Furniture and electrical goods are excluded from the price cap.
And while you can’t quite order a second-hand cardigan from your car window, the store does have a drive-up donation service, allowing customers to drop off unwanted goods without leaving their vehicles.
The opening follows growing criticism of pricing at Australian charity shops, with some shoppers accusing organisations such as Vinnies and the Salvation Army of losing sight of their original purpose.
In recent months, customers have taken to social media to share examples of second-hand clothing and household items carrying surprisingly hefty price tags, sometimes approaching or even exceeding their original retail prices.
Earlier this year, Tasmanian mother-of-four Cassandra Eagling launched a petition calling for greater transparency and more affordable pricing at charity shops, arguing that people already struggling with the cost of living were being priced out of stores they once relied upon.
“Are op shops still meeting the needs of the people they were created to support?” she asked.
Vinnies has previously defended its pricing policies, explaining that proceeds from its stores help fund essential services for vulnerable Australians, including homelessness support, emergency food relief and financial assistance.
However, its new Auburn outlet appears to be a welcome move towards the bargain-basement prices that made op-shopping popular in the first place.
Gemma Presley, Vinnies NSW Retail Experience and Brand Manager, said the store was designed to make second-hand shopping accessible to everyone.
“We know many families are looking for affordable ways to shop, and this store makes quality pre-loved items accessible at prices that work for everyone,” she said.
The Auburn opening follows the launch of similar low-cost Vinnies outlets in Surry Hills in December 2025 and South Nowra in January 2026.
Together, those two stores have already sold almost 54,000 second-hand items, helping keep usable clothing and household goods out of landfill.
The organisation says its 220 NSW shops and six distribution centres raised more than $90 million last financial year, with the money reinvested into services supporting Australians experiencing hardship.
For shoppers, however, the biggest attraction may simply be the chance to walk out with a bag of clothes without spending a small fortune.
And for anyone with a wardrobe full of unwanted clothes, the new drive-through donation service makes clearing out the cupboards easier than ever.
Just remember, though – it’s donations at the drive-through… not shopping!
