'I almost fell off my chair' – Shopper buys £2 toy worth £200 from charity shop

A WOMAN who bought a toy car from a charity shop for a few pounds was left stunned when she realized its true value.

Amy Fenton found an antique Matchbox collectible in Aladdin's Caves charity shop in Rossendale – and bought it for just £2.

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At first, Amy thought the antique collectible would be a good addition to her collection of showpieces.

She said LancLive: “While visiting my favorite store, I was immediately drawn to this Matchbox collectible that imitated a newspaper delivery van.

“At just £2 it was a no-brainer for me to buy it.”

What Amy bought was a mini Moko Lesney car decorated with A3 size posters that were part of the original Matchbox family.

And her piece, created in 1958, was number “No.42” in the collection.

Amy soon realized that what she picked from the charity shop could be much more valuable than she thought.

If you're willing to do your research, and enjoy browsing as much as I do, you can find a hidden gem in an antique store. And if you are lucky, you can make a profit.

Amy Fenton

“I was intrigued to find out how much the Evening News van, which was made in 1958, was worth,” she told the news site.

Amy then did a quick Google search to discover that a similar hidden gem, complete with the original box, was selling on eBay for £180.

Delighted with her discovery, Amy said: 'It seems I have inadvertently spotted a hidden gem.

“Similar items, complete with original box, are selling for up to £180 on eBay.”

Amy, who has a knack for collecting newspaper-themed pieces, also bought three knock-offs of the original Corgi vans.

“Just like her [corgi vans] They are reproductions, they are worth nothing as the originals would have been, but still proudly display in my home,” she told the news site.

Amy added that good digging for antique items and doing thorough research can help people find hidden gems in such stores.

“If you're willing to do the research and enjoy rummaging as much as I do, you can find a hidden gem in an antique store.

“And if you're lucky, you might be able to make a profit.”

Meanwhile, a woman was left buying a ring from a charity shop for a few pounds and was stunned to learn its true value.

The lady thought it was just a small piece of jewelry and bought the ring for just £5.50.

However, she was soon told that the ring, containing a huge 2.30 carat diamond, was far more valuable than a charity shop – and could fetch up to £8,000 at auction.

When she heard the big news, the delighted woman said it was the “best windfall” she had ever had.

She added: “I'm over the moon. You hear about these things happening to other people, but you never think it will happen to you.

“I've only worn the ring a few times. Now that I know its worth, I wouldn't be able to wear it because I would be too afraid of losing it.”

Ways to make money from charity shops

While many people love charity shop thrift shopping, only a few know how to turn it into a profitable side business.

Charity shops usually sell things donated by other people – sometimes very rich people giving away expensive things.

And they can be a treasure trove when it comes to picking up high-quality items at affordable prices.

People who shop at thrift stores at such stores can resell the items to make a profit for themselves.

One of the best platforms for selling goods bought from charity shops is eBay, where you can easily earn a few hundred pounds by putting in some part-time hours.

Luke Hadley says he earns an extra £500 every month by reselling items from charity shops.

He turned to resale last April, when millions of households were feeling the pinch of rising bills from energy to food.

The father-of-one searches his local charity shops for women's clothes from high-end stores and sells them on eBay for a profit.

Hadley, from the West Midlands, says it is worth it as he was able to give his 14-month-old son Harrison and partner Catherine Saunders, 25, a Christmas to remember.

He also took the family on a week-long holiday to Butlins and has started building up his savings and a separate emergency fund.

Meanwhile, a charity shop guru has shared his top three tips that could help you make a fortune.

According to the expert, people should look for shoes from brands such as Nike and Adidas because they sell quickly and generate the highest turnover.

The second tip to make good profits is to buy seasonal clothes from charity shops as they are always in high demand.

And finally, people should always check for vintage and antique items as these may prove to be very rare or valuable.