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Original poster

AIBU to expect change from a Big Issue seller

57 replies

TheBigIssues · 07/07/2024 12:35

So yesterday when out in town, and feeling the need to do something good I bought an edition of the Big Issue from a homeless woman, but asked for change.

The magazine was £4 and I paid with a £5 note. She didn't offer any change so I asked for it. She seemed a bit surprised, but quite happily handed over £1.

I mentioned this to my partner and he said it was a bit mean and unreasonable, and ultimately better to let her keep the fiver as she needs the £1 more than I do. He even said it might even be priced at £4 to encourage this behaviour.

What do you all think?

OP posts:
mydogisthebest · 07/07/2024 15:49

I think it's stingy to expect change. If you had paid with a £10 note that would be different

Sam0Neil · 07/07/2024 15:49

LutonBeds · 07/07/2024 15:36

This is the reason I stopped buying it. There was loads of sellers in Manchester (my office was near their office) and quite often I’d go to buy one and the seller would say “Oh, it’s my last one. If you let me keep it I can sell it again.” Should have reported them really as they have rules they’re supposed to abide by to be able to sell.

Show quote history

Ah we must pass through the same areas. They say the same. I'm on a low income so four quid is a meal to me. I've stopped doing it now and just donate to the food bank when I can.

uhOhOP · 07/07/2024 15:44

I thought the idea of The Big Issue was to allow people to feel that they are doing a job, being paid for something worthwhile. The sellers buy the magazines to sell. Then they sell them on to customers. Is the model not the very opposite of charity?

If change is due, give the customer their change! If they want to tip you, it will be their choice. If you want charitable donations, that ought to be separate from the job of selling The Big Issue. OP, your money is yours to do with what you want. You are not unreasonable to expect to be given your change.

paywalled · 07/07/2024 15:42

Wtf have I just read. Of course it’s ok to ask for your change! The whole point about Big Issue is that’s it’s not a handout. And I say this as someone who regularly gives buskers fivers.

RubySloth · 07/07/2024 15:39

Big issue isn't what is was, looking at their website, anyone can sell it. So, unless you definitely knew they were homeless, then no you weren't being unreasonable.

GingerGeorgia · 07/07/2024 15:37

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Previously banned poster.

Thedayb4youcame · 07/07/2024 15:36

DojaPhat · 07/07/2024 15:07

If they ever think about updating the 5 personality type test they should definitely add this as a hypothetical. 'Do you think expecting change from purchasing the Big Issue from a homeless person is basic common knowledge?'
I'm with you OP, I'd even go further and say when you take a product to a food bank it should be common practice to receive an item back in return. Why not go even further - different transport for people depending on their salary - if you earn 100k you get priority* access and seats, anything under 20k you stand in a tin box secured to the top of the train.
*priority in that if you need to get on a full train and there's no seat available you get to have someone who earns less than you removed from the train.

😆

LutonBeds · 07/07/2024 15:36

Sam0Neil · 07/07/2024 15:32

I used to enjoy reading the Big Issue. A few times now I've actually had to ask for a copy of the magazine when I've handed my money over. The vendors near me seem a bit reluctant to part with their mags.

This is the reason I stopped buying it. There was loads of sellers in Manchester (my office was near their office) and quite often I’d go to buy one and the seller would say “Oh, it’s my last one. If you let me keep it I can sell it again.” Should have reported them really as they have rules they’re supposed to abide by to be able to sell.

TheHateIsNotGood · 07/07/2024 15:35

I rarely buy the Big Issue now because of its cost and the 'profit' made by the vendor isn't that great. Although, thank fuck for the Big Issue and it's probably cheap to more wealthy areas than mine.

However, like many others, I give our vendor other things and assistance including just a quid or 2 in the hat without a mag. He's a local man with problems that are difficult to solve but he is very well liked in spite of them.

Sam0Neil · 07/07/2024 15:32

I used to enjoy reading the Big Issue. A few times now I've actually had to ask for a copy of the magazine when I've handed my money over. The vendors near me seem a bit reluctant to part with their mags.

NewNameNumber43 · 07/07/2024 15:31

Aside from anything else… it wouldn’t even occur to me that a Big Issue seller would actually have however many £1 coins they’d need to be able to give change every time…

AtomicBlondeRose · 07/07/2024 15:30

I thought the whole point was that they aren’t begging, they’re selling something that people actually want - they’re not allowed to take the money and you not take the magazine, for example. So you’re perfectly within your rights to ask for your change! But you’ll find on MN everyone is very free and easy with someone else’s money.

MereDintofPandiculation · 07/07/2024 15:27

I don’t think charity and commerce should be mixed. If you’re raising money by selling something, you shouldn’t expect a donation on top. Therefore if you’ve priced something at £4, you should offer change.

BiscuityBoyle · 07/07/2024 15:26

craigth162 · 07/07/2024 15:23

Missing point of thread but £4 for the big issue?! Holy fuck

That’s what I thought. I used to buy it when I was a student as it was a good ‘what’s on’ magazine. It was 75p in those days. (I’d always pay £1).

Ioverslept · 07/07/2024 15:25

My local vendor prefers card payments and that would obviously be for the exact price. If they state a price that is what you should expect to pay. Ths whole point of the big issue is giving a hand up, not a hand out!

Cattery · 07/07/2024 15:25

yellowsmileyface · 07/07/2024 14:29

Did you honestly not feel a bit embarrassed asking a homeless woman for change?

This. Shameful and missing the point

craigth162 · 07/07/2024 15:23

Missing point of thread but £4 for the big issue?! Holy fuck

JMSA · 07/07/2024 15:22

It's the entitlement. It's not her money to keep!
And chances are if she offered it to you, you'd have told her to keep it anyway!
YANBU.

Spinachandcheese · 07/07/2024 15:20

If they want a fiver charge a fiver. Their circumstances might be worse than yours but maybe not by much who knows. Bit rude to presume.

DojaPhat · 07/07/2024 15:07

If they ever think about updating the 5 personality type test they should definitely add this as a hypothetical. 'Do you think expecting change from purchasing the Big Issue from a homeless person is basic common knowledge?'
I'm with you OP, I'd even go further and say when you take a product to a food bank it should be common practice to receive an item back in return. Why not go even further - different transport for people depending on their salary - if you earn 100k you get priority* access and seats, anything under 20k you stand in a tin box secured to the top of the train.
*priority in that if you need to get on a full train and there's no seat available you get to have someone who earns less than you removed from the train.

Wowzel · 07/07/2024 14:58

This happened to me, he refused to give me the change. I saw him about 3-4 times a week so that was shortsighted, as I never bought a copy from him again

raspberryberet7 · 07/07/2024 14:57

yellowsmileyface · 07/07/2024 14:29

Did you honestly not feel a bit embarrassed asking a homeless woman for change?

This tbh. I agree it's probably prices that way to encourage the tip

Createausername1970 · 07/07/2024 14:53

You weren't unreasonable, but probably in a minority.

ruethewhirl · 07/07/2024 14:50

I think you have to be all in or all out with something like this.