To think the Co op should not allow this?

They do it in the till area in our Tesco store too. I am socially awkward at the best of times and I hate it.

When I ignored one of them as I went past, he shouted after me "Are you ugly? " followed by "Yes you are!"
I was so annoyed I went back, found out on whose behalf they were insulting people, and made a complaint to head office ie some slightly older young woman.
I did get a sort of apology but was told "he was just trying to have a joke with you". I pointed out his sales pitch was flawed.
It's plain and simple harassment and puts me off the charities involved.

Just say "No thanks" and keep walking. You don't have to stop, you don't have to engage in conversation and you certainly don't have to justify yourself. It's only a problem if you let it be a problem.

There are usually some in my local shopping centre. I hate the way they walk in front of you so as to stop you in your tracks. One guy was working for the Cat Protection society and he stood in front of me and said "hello madam, do you like cats?"

I've never enjoyed saying the word "No" so much 😄

I hate feeling like i have to justify myself to a 20 yr old with a jaunty air

Just remembered I went to Asda and there were some Heart Research folk about. Now I am a large lady and when the young man asked if I knew the main cause of heart disease I immediately felt embarrassed . I just mumbled "yes thanks and shot off".

There is that and the would you like to donate to charity button when buying something in a shop. I give to charities of my choosing and also volunteer with a charity again if my choosing.

We’ve had these in the (small) foyer of our local asda recently, it really pisses me off. Headphones in, look straight ahead, still they try to engage me!

I have no idea why Asda allows it, it adds nothing to the customer experience.

None of the supermarkets should allow it but most of them seem to. It seems more intrusive in the smaller convenience shops than in big ones, but annoying either way.

I work in a Co op and it is the most aggravating thing ever. The patronising twaddle they come out with over and over again. "Have you heard of St Gemma's?" Yes thanks my friend died there recently and you've just reminded me in a jolly and patronising way.

As staff we've told management that the customers are pissed off with it because we have a lot of regular customers and they don't want accosting every time they walk in.

I had this at the Co-op today - I was trying to assist my elderly Mum to walk along and they obviously sniffed out a captive/ slow moving audience. Despite the fact that Mum and I were having a conversation the chuggers went on and on at us three times within half an hour - once as we passed the Co-op to go to another shop, once as we went into the co-op later and again as we came out. Not ok at all.

Yes, I don't like being harassed by strangers in public, or emotionally manipulated into making a financial decision on the spot.
Don't have a problem with them leaving some leaflets for people to look at

M&S in the foyer plus Morrisons here too.
I don’t want to be mean but I find it really awkward either standing and nodding or walking by …. I’m never going to give my bank details to anyone in the street or who randomly knocks on my door. I suppose it must work … or charities wouldn’t do it.

IF they are outside, on the pavement, not co ops responsibility.
I hate it too OP, there is a (lovely) young man outside my Aldi I feel.guilty about every day, my other supermarkets nearby are Tesco and Asda - both regularly have charity people using emotive language i.e. " do you love animals?"
I bloody hate it - and they have been given permission 😔

It's so bloody annoying.... you look friendly....my reply is...looks are deceiving and walk off.

It’s awful. The way they passively aggressively call after you too. You don’t owe them any engagement!

We have this at Tesco