Vinnies customer shocked after finding Proenza Schouler t-shirt priced at $350 in Sydney

A shopper at a second-hand charity clothes store has been left stunned after finding a t-shirt priced at an exorbitant $350.

The designer t-shirt from luxury brand, Proenza Schouler, was found at the St Vincent De Pauls Society clothing store, known as Vinnies, in Summer Hill, in Sydney’s inner-west.

The shopper who discovered the item posted a photo of the price tag on Facebook, writing: ‘I don’t know much about high fashion… is this reasonable?’.

The shirt’s pricing was reportedly a mistake by a new employee and has been changed to its intended $100 price tag. 

Shirts from Proenza Schouler cost between $265 to $610 off the rack. 

The St Vincent De Paul Society state on their website that they’re ‘committed to actively and passionately speaking out against the causes of poverty and inequality’.

Vinnies clothing stores have long been a place for impoverished members of a community to find second-hand clothes and goods at a bargain. 

However, Facebook users who saw the post of the originally $350 shirt said that the prices at some Vinnies has skyrocketed in recent times.

‘I don’t shop there [the Summer Hill Vinnies] anymore, I used to love it,’ one Facebook user commented.

‘Their prices on even branded stuff is higher than at retail.’

Another said: ‘This Vinnies is ridiculous, the children’s clothing is highly priced at times which is more expensive than say, Kmart.’

‘I shop in there for children’s clothing and the price of children’s clothing is ridiculous. Even the toys can be ridiculously priced.’

Many other users stated that other second-hand charity stores have also increased prices.

The store apologised for the pricing of the garment stating that the item was incorrectly priced by a new staff member, then dropping the price of the shirt to $100

While the high price was a shock to the shopper and Facebook users, CEO of Charitable Recycling Australia, Omer Soker, said there’s a reason behind the high price tag.

Mr Soker told Yahoo News that over 90 per cent of the 3,000 charity shops in Australia offer ‘super cheap, affordable, everyday items for millions of Australians on lower budgets’.

‘The select few vintage/boutique higher-priced product shops are doing the right thing and raising the best funds for charity,’ he said. 

‘It’s the higher income people who would shop at these places, and they can afford the prices.’