Chuggers and "leading questions"

[HellomynameisIcklePickle]

I've had quite a few on the phone/at the door and I honestly don't mind them trying. I like to be polite and will generally wait to say "not interested" at the available opportunity.

But what really, really winds me up is when they do really staged "Yes" questions.

"This is just a terrible problem, isn't it?"
"£2 a week seems reasonable to help, doesn't it?"

Oh fuck off. Is it just me who gets so annoyed and thinks these "leading questions" are really them saying "You're so stupid, if I just get you to nod your head and agree with me you'll do anything I suggest."

I know that it's a recommended selling technique and lots of people use it, but the main people who pitch to me are chuggers and it's only them who I notice it with. It just gives me the rage.

[UnicornCrisps]

Everything about chuggers is annoying. It winds me up when the ones in the street try and block your path as you walk.

[formerbabe]

Why are you even entertaining them?

I don't open my door to them...if they call, I put the phone down.

[ISeeYouShiverWithAntici]

It's a lot of fun to reply no, not really. They don't quite know what to say to that

[whodrankallthemilk]

i hate the... what do you know about us.. leading questions.

NO matter what, as soon as they have identified themselves , i say 'im not interested, thank you' and hang up.

just becuase im home to answer the phone it doesnt mean im not busy, or interested, and in fact if i am interested in giving money to save the whales and baby kittens then i'll jolly well phone you and wont sit at home waiting for the phone to ring on the random chance you will phone me!!!!!!

[whodrankallthemilk]

when on the phone obvs!

[whodrankallthemilk]

in the street i say... sorry, no time!....

in fact i think it was one of my little ones first sentances!

[EverythingsDozy]

I can't say no to them
I have started obviously avoiding them because I've already signed up to one because I just couldn't say no. It was for deaf children, which is a perfectly good charity but not one I would have chosen to support myself. I can't really afford to be giving £8.50 a month when that money could be going the nappies for the month.
I need advise on how to say no to these people!!

[ShatnersBassoon]

I always cut them off, saying "I don't want to give anything," to give them nowhere to go. Works every time, I never feel harassed by them.

[formerbabe]

Them 'do you want to help children with....(insert illness/condition here)'?

Me: No!

[EverythingsDozy]

Advice, not advise! How

[formerbabe]

Everythingsdozy.....if you can't afford it...STOP the payment!

[TheWanderingUterus]

I just say no. If they say anything else I say 'I'm just a horrible person, sorry' in a really sweet gentle voice.

[daisychain01]

Is it a London/'big-city centre' thing, this chugging? I'm almost feeling left out because I haven't been stopped or asked awkward questions or forcing me to give my bank details feels hard done-by

I think I'd be tempted to say "d'ya know what, you are absolutely right! 2 a week is hardly anything, that's why I already donate much more than that to several charities of my own choice - thanks for the info!"

[EverythingsDozy]

I know, I will. I would much rather just give a few pound in a tub as and when I can rather than signing myself up for a direct debit. I really tried to get out of it, asked for advice on how to do it online but still found myself giving over my details!!
I'm so rubbish

[littlebluedog12]

Had one at the door yesterday: "your neighbours are all chipping in 2 to help end child poverty" as if it was a bloody whip round in the office!

[ShatnersBassoon]

Not just a big city thing. I was approached by an Oxfam chugger in my small town today.

[Sovaysovay]

They're following their training. They wouldn't get far just asking a closed "Will you donate?"

If you've started a conversation with them, it's practically saying you're going to donate. Don't give them a chance. Close the door and let them get on with their job. They've got a lot of people to bother.

[Sovaysovay]

Remember any charity that employs a chugger obviously has used the donations that someone gave in good faith for a good cause to hire a chugger.

[kentishgirl]

I've worked in sales so I find it hilarious when I'm subjected to this technique, either by chugger etc, or at work from a wannbe supplier. I can happily agree yes yes yes until the final 'closing' question, when I just say 'no' and watch them gape and eyebulge trying to process what on earth just happened.

[WillieWaggledagger]

if pushed i say 'i only donate through Give As You Earn', which isn't entirely true because i'll obviously give cash donations through Just Giving etc, but my employer will match-fund my donations given via pre-taxed salary

[specialsubject]

remember that chuggers don't work for free.

the best way to give to charity is direct debit via their website, or send a cheque direct to them. Do not give to chuggers, and do not use justgiving etc to sponsor stupid things, because 6% disappears straight away. Plus all the costs of organising the sponsored stupidity.

[SunnySon]

I had one tell me today that it 'costs less than a pound a day to help, only £35 per month'...

[Weegiemum]

I really pissed one off at the door this week when I said "no, we prefer to give to charities which support people, not animals" (which is our main preference though as we have both a cat and rabbit from the SSPCA we do give to them).

She didn't know how to respond without being offensive, so just said "ok!" And left.

My main sentence is "our giving is fully committed and we never give on the doorstep or on the street or over the phone" and then a firm "Goodbye".

[vladthedisorganised]

Have a jar by your door with a 'HELP ' label stuck to it.

Explain that you're asking everyone who comes to your door to donate 5 (or whatever) to the favourite charity. Pester until they leave or donate: if by some small chance they do donate, a bright smile and a 'As you can see, I'm focussed on collecting for at the moment. Thank you for your interest!"

Favourite charity gets money, and I would wager that most chuggers and door-to-door salespeople would leave rather than give.

[Bookaholic]

My standard reply to any and all of the 'do you like ...?' questions from chuggers is 'no, can't stand 'em'. So animals, puppies, children, old people ... you name it I've said I hate them. My proudest moment was having 'weirdo' shouted after me in the street by a chugger.

I think the exchange that prompted that was "Do you have a moment to talk about Good Cause Charity?" to which I replied "Gods no, not Good Cause". I may have added a theatrical shudder of revulsion....