Op Shop FAQ

An op shop is short for opportunity shop — a secondhand store that sells donated goods, often to fund charities or community services.
Op shops are common in Australia and New Zealand and usually sell clothing, homewares, books, and small household items.

The term op shop comes from “opportunity shop,” a name first used in Australia to reduce stigma around secondhand shopping and focus on dignity and reuse.
The term later became standard across Australia and New Zealand.

Yes. Op shop is the Australian and New Zealand term for what is internationally known as a thrift store or charity shop.
The concept is the same — secondhand items sold for reuse — but the terminology differs by country.

Thrifting means shopping for secondhand or pre-owned items, usually at op shops, thrift stores, or secondhand markets.
The term “thrifting” is more commonly used in the United States, while “op shopping” is preferred in Australia and New Zealand.

No. While many op shops are charity-run, independent and privately owned secondhand stores also exist and operate commercially.
Both charity and independent secondhand shops may be listed on opshops.co.

Op shop pricing varies based on:
* the charity or business model
* operating costs
* item condition and quality
* location and demand
Each op shop sets prices independently to remain sustainable.

Most op shops accept clean, reusable, and undamaged items, including:
* clothing and shoes
* accessories
* books
* homewares
Donation guidelines vary by shop, so it’s best to check before donating.

Most op shops do not wash donated clothing and rely on donors to provide clean items.
Items that are dirty, damaged, or unusable may be discarded or recycled.

Most op shops do not offer returns or refunds, as items are sold secondhand and often final sale.
Consumer laws still apply and all op shops must abide by them. Policies vary by store.
In Australia, this includes the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), and in New Zealand, the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA).

The best day to go op shopping is often:
* after new donations are processed
* during weekday mornings
* or following weekend donation drop-offs
Stock rotation varies by store.

Yes. Op shopping helps:
* reduce landfill waste
* extend the life of goods
* lower demand for fast fashion
Secondhand shopping is one of the most accessible sustainable choices.

You can find op shops near you by browsing listings on opshops.co, which includes:
* Charity op shops
* Independent secondhand stores
* Repair and reuse services
* Secondhand Markets
* Online resellers
* Waste recycling locations
* Recycling and reseller events
* Op shop tours
Listings can be searched by location, making it easy to discover secondhand and circular shopping options near you.

A paid listing helps your op shop or secondhand business reach more people who are actively searching for places to shop, donate, or support.
Paid listings are designed to provide:
Greater visibility in search results
Improved placement within your location or category
More space to showcase your shop with photos and details
Better exposure to new shoppers, donors, and supporters
Paid listings also help support the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the opshops.co directory.

A paid listing helps your op shop by:
Making it easier for people to find you
Reducing incorrect or outdated information
Highlighting your shop among similar listings
Supporting long-term discoverability as the directory grows
For many shops, improved visibility leads to more foot traffic, donations, and community awareness.

No. OpShops.co works on any device through your web browser. You can save the site to your home screen for quick, one-tap access — similar to an app — and updates happen automatically, so there’s nothing to download or update. We have a post with instructions if you need help here Do I need an app?