September 2023 by TheObviousChild77
I feel torn about this one. It's a beautifully merchandised shop with a lot of lovely stock, a bit pricey but they're doing that boutique thing, most of the items are fancier brands, so it makes sense. Unfortunately the customer service hasn't always been great when I've been in. Like another reviewer, I've struggled to engage a member of staff in order to pay for my items, as if I were being wilfully ignored. I also came in here a while back with a friend who is transgender, the volunteers misgendered him and then didn't stop after he corrected them :/ I want to like this shop, I really do...
February 2023 by anne
Unhelpful
November 2022 by C Lynn
Rita and Fiona were so helpful and absolutely delightful. they?ve got a wonderful selection and the shop was quite busy. I stopped by here to peek in the window over a holiday weekend and returned to grab a shirt that I saw and ended up purchasing even more simply because they were so helpful and the store is so impactedly kept.
November 2021 by Katya I
Very unfriendly and not welcoming staff unfortunately. Won't come again.
November 2021 by skatty ska
I phoned to enquire about a dress in th window & asked if- firstly- could I try it on and secondly - would they hold it for me till I could visit an hour or so later, she answered yes to both questions. The lady dealing with me (Rita) was an absolute delight & very helpful. The dress is gorgeous & a bargain. Id highly recommend this wee shop.
November 2021 by Maddie Burnett
Went today (Sunday 6th June) and a volunteer inside the store wasn't wearing a face mask properly the whole time I was in the store. I walked past the store later in the day and saw that he still was not wearing a mask properly. It was around his chin/neck, not covering his mouth and nose. Super inappropriate, especially as he was an older gentleman who would be at risk to the current pandemic. Felt super uncomfortable in the store, and won't be returning. Putting not only himself but the visitors and other volunteers at risk.
November 2021 by Phil Halson
Another bright and interesting charity shop
November 2019 by Susan Andrew
There are at least a dozen charity shops in Stockbridge, and nearly all of them are friendly and have a brilliant stock. this is the exception: I almost never go in because I don't feel welcomed: I feel invisible. Today I decided to try again. I found something, brought my purchase to the till, held out my £20 note, and instead of selling me my item, the woman at the till decided instead to have a bit of a chat and a laugh with a colleague behind me. I had to say 'can I please pay for this' before she interrupted her chat to sell me my item. She never said a word to me, and I almost walked out without buying my item. I won't be back.
June 2018 by Kathleen H.
This shop I visited last week was surprised as other reviews gave it such a high rating as I looked around they had premark new look and such shops clothes nothing very good. The clothes in size were all mixed up I did spot a Hobbs Dress which had dirtiest hand marks all over it and the hem was filthy. Lots of tiny sizes 6&8 in woman's one row if men's wear very little at all. I won't be giving this shop such a high rating as for me it did not merit that.
November 2017 by Leslie Jones
A charity shop supporting a worthy cause. Some interesting and varied items for sale, often of good quality.
November 2017 by Mum Mackie
What a lovely shop. Friendly staff.
November 2016 by Evina Karasavva
Probably the best charity shop in Edinburgh. All of its items are in excellent condition. The place itself is like a boutique shop and the volunteers are always happy to help you! It can be slightly pricier than a standard charity shop, but most of the items are of very high quality.
August 2015 by Jonathan N.
As far as the charity shops go in the area, Mary's living and giving is good for womens clothing, but falls short in choice for mens. If I was female, I would be giving this shop 4 stars, but I am not. The prices in here are similar to the general price in Stockbridge (Stockbridge is known for expensive charity shops compared to other areas in Edinburgh), so if you are looking for an absolute bargain I would recommend leigh. There is not much to make this shop stand out if I'm being honest. A regular charity shop, with assorted clothes and random items. To be more interesting, there was a woman called Mandy who is very talkative. She is a lovely lady and seems very popular with the community. So if you fancy a chat, head over here.
March 2015 by Nicola C.
For me, there was nothing that set Mary's Living and Giving aside from other charity shops, including similar boutiques nearby. Whilst the shop is pretty and it has a whole load of clothes around the edges, there wasn't a great deal of browsing to be done in the centre of the shop. The shop is so spacious, so it would have been nice to see some mannequins or displays, or even some additional more accessible rails. - I was a bit overwhelmed by the vast amount of clothes which went from wall to wall all around the shop, hence why I didn't spend too long in the shop. Living and Giving's door was open. I know many charities and companies have an open door policy - including the charity I work for - in order to attract customers and keep up an inviting exterior. But it really didn't make sense to have the door open as there were clothes hanging on the wall directly behind the door which were inaccessible as a result. Unfortunately, this put me off browsing from the onset as many of the smaller sizes were out of reach. It's really nice to see staff on the floor doing their thing and also to receive a friendly welcome and an offer of assistance if need be. Unfortunately, there was only one lady standing behind the till but perhaps they were short on volunteers that day. On first impressions, I was a little dissapointed, but I wouldn't rule it on my next run-around of the charity shops in the area.
November 2014 by Denise McCaig
Stockbridge has some excellent charity shops and this one is no exception!Made famous by Mary Portas in one of her TV series, this store does not feel like a charity shop. Clothes are arranged beautifully, there's lots of space and the decor is cute too! The items tend to be designer, so prices are a bit higher than your average charity shop, but you can pick up a bargain if you have a proper browse!
