General Chat

I don't want anyone to think I am mean but I am a bit fed up with being asked if I want my shopping packed for me at the checkout in exchange for a donation.

The latest was the Guides asking for donations for their next camping trip. Another was a young man wanting funds to go abroad on a field trip.

As I am unemployed at the moment I find this rather embarrassing as how can you refuse?

Birdi

Oooer, never had this asked here. Anyway I have my packer with me all the time...lol I would be a bit miffed TBH, we have the tin rattlers at the entrance more times in a week than I can remember. OH and I support certain charities only and we tend to stick with those so only a few of the collectors get a significant donation.

i always make a donation

but always insist i pack my own bags

We get the cubs doing that here in our local sainsburys. To be honest, I'm unemployed too, but I do offer 50p and tell them that's all I can give on my benefits. Every little helps, even in Sainsburys lol

It's not like they are there that often.

I do my big shop online now, but have given to them in the past.
It's the amount of charity collection bags that come through the letter box every week that does my head in.
My g.kids school have now started asking for donations of clothing etc.

Are we expected to be able to afford to dispose of our clothing EVERY WEEK ??????

It's not giving that I find irksome; we have a direct debit to our favourite charity every month but Guides going camping? When my girls were Guides and needed funds we held little sales of plants from our own gardens or held a Spring or Christmas Bazaar.

I appreciate it's everyone's choice whether to give or not but I don't like being made to feel obliged!

Thanks for all your input.

Birdi

I agree Lassie; if I filled every sack that came through the door, my husband and I would be naturists! Chilly ones at the moment.

Anyone who bought my old clothes would be in dire need!

Birdi

but think no more washing and ironing

Oh Joy!!!! The thing is, half of the bags are for registered charities, but for some unknown one.

as a checkout operator, we all groan when we know that there will be some youngsters helping our customers pack.
you get them stood at the end of the checkout chewing gum/eating/talking to their friends instead of doing what they are there for.
when they do pack you are very lucky if you get the packer to do it as the customer wants.
when we serve people we have rules that we have abide by (meet, greet, help and thank, all commonsense stuff) how can you say hello when someone else is talking over you?
some of the children are barely big enough to see over the packing bay! (usually they have an adult with them, i must say)
also we have to be careful about how many bags are issued these days, very often the packers rudely demand you put out a pile, where as we get into trouble for putting out more than the customer needs.

as for paying them, take it from me alot of people DONT give them money, for what ever reason, so i wouldnt feel bad about it.
you havent asked them to be there, just be polite and say thankyou.
you cant do anymore than that.
tina x

I alway's just give to what ever charities I want to. I leave the other one to other people. We cant all give to them all so i dont feel guilty in the least.

I sent a big cheque to cancer research a couple of years ago..money collected at my Dad's funeral. The other week I had a letter from them asking if I would consider leaving money in my will to them. I put it straight in the bin.

Marion

Its getting to the point where people are being swamped by requests for charity donations,its time the Supermarkets cut back on it and only allowed the genuine ones,if Scouts/Guides etc want funds ,Bring back Bob a Job Week ( Supervised ) and let people shop in peace.People give to the Charities they want to,but its getting more like proffessional begging lately.**M**.

Like you Marion,I sent a big cheque to Cancer Research when my mother died,and I have left them quite a sizeable amount in my will as I had cancer 60 years ago....but I keep getting letters asking me to send at least £55,which I think is unreasonable.Let people make up their own minds what to give.
I only support the charities I want to and don't like to feel obliged to give into everyone's tin.
Brenda x

Tina - you have given us the other side of the view of 'packers' and I didn't appreciate before that they would be a hindrance to the check out operator who is already working very hard!

I like to pack my own goods so I know where everything is when I get home, anyway. Our check out operators (in M*rris*n's) are brilliant and I take my hat off to you all.

BTW the self service checkouts seem to be more trouble than they're worth. What is you view on them?

Birdi

I never pass a cancer,kidney or animal charity.

We have had a the charity packers in the past but we like to do our own packing in particular bags. I always say no thank you to them and give them a small donation if I think they are worthy of it. I never let a charity make me feel guilty as I support as many as I can.

Did feel a bit concerned yesterday evening as we were going for the bus around 7pm. We were approached by a couple, Mum had baby in buggy and 'Dad' had toddler carrying her. He approached us and said something along the lines of 'I know this is going to sound extremely stupid but we find ourselves stranded in Gloucester and we are basically trying to raise enough money for my partners fare home with the children', he was extremely well spoken but had a look about him that I didn't like, couldn't put my finger on it. So I said, 'no I am sorry'. I would put money on it that they were just begging for money and it may have been for drugs, I am 99.9% certain they were not stranded but there is always that little niggling doubt. And I was disgusted that they were using the children. I noticed that they didn't approach any younger couples as well.

Ann in Glos - I would have done the same thing. I am sure your instincts were right. Some people may have found this approach rather intimidating.

We used to have a 'beggar' in town who approached older people at the cash points; if they did give him money he wasn't above snatching another note from the purse or wallet if he could. He's been given an ASBO and I haven't seen him around lately. No doubt he's pestering someone else in another town. He used to travel here, a police officer told me, on the TRAIN!

Birdi

Birdi, yes I've heard of that..traveling to another town, so they are not known.

Marion - this one was spotlessly clean so it was obvious he wasn't sleeping rough. We were told he had a flat in Milton Keynes!

The cheek of the man!

These were moderately well dressed and clean, plenty or ironmongery around his face but that is not unusual these days. I would have been wary at producing my purse, had the feeling it might get grabbed. And where they were is not far from the train station!