...to think that charities shouldn't do this as its a waste of money?

[NorbertDentressangle]

In todays post there is a postcard for DP from a lifeguard that we met whilst on holiday recently. Sounds odd I know!

Whilst we were on the beach the (handsome young muscley very nice, friendly, obviously dedicated) lifeguard signed DP up for a monthly direct debit for the RNLI/Lifeguard charity.

DP was keen to do it as he was born and brought up near the sea so appreciates the charity for what they do.

Anyway the hand-written postcard ("great to meet you, thanks for your support" type thing) must be part of the follow-up for people who signed up.

Am I being unreasonable though in thinking that the cost of the specially printed RNLI postcards, stamps and lifeguards time could be better spent elsewhere? DP has signed the forms, is paying monthly so why the extra thanks.

Sorry I meant to add that this isn't an attack on this particular charity but just the way charities seem to do often unnecessary endless mail-outs, send pens etc etc

I presume research has been done that shows these tactics maximise long-term contributions . Almost has the opposite effect on me, though!

One of the charities I support appeals for yet more money in the guise of pretending to want me to sign this or that petition (but there's always a prominant box I can tick to increase my monthly contribution or send extra donation in for the current project).

Gets on my nerves a lot, too, makes me feel like cancelling my monthly subs entirely.

Presumably the extra follow up reduces the number of change of mind cancellations which must be reasonably high when people sign up on the spot on holiday.

They do their research I promise you. Loads of people hate the pens, but results from mailings with pens are generally higher.

As a fundraiser, I can definitely say there is sound reasons for them doing this.

Lack of personalised communication, and failiture to thank donors are two major factors in donor attrition. I can't remember the exactl figures but I think around 40% of people who sign up to give monthly in the way your husband did, cancel within the first year - so building a relationship early on is crucial for charities. It sounds like a really nice way of doing it too (even though I normally smoulder with resentment at RNLI and all their money...)

Why do you smoulder with resentment at the RNLI? If it was my dh out there at sea risking life and limb to save someone from a stricken ship in gale force winds and high seas , I'd want him to have the best equipment possible.

YABU. Personal contact and fund raising is what keeps charities going.

The ones who come to the door and say 'hi, how are you doing today' and behave like your best friend REALLY annoy me.

I usually say 'thanks but I support x, x and x regularly as my chosen charities.

Sorry YABU.

No-one more than me bloody DETESTS with a passion, the pens, clothing plastic bags and stickers through the door to people who probs shove them in the bin. However your DP's postcard was from someone who personally met him, and knew he had signed up.

Saying Thank You is nice,

Becuase fundraisers for small charities are always jealous of the big well-supported ones - it's nothing to do with their actual work!

Yes, why do you smoulder with resentment - are you saying they don't put this money to good use then?

No, I'm not saying that at all! It's just jealousy

I don't mind them saying thank you but I get the same feeling when I get posted stuff from Cancer research, I wish they would spend the money in research. I donate because because it's such a devastating disease and am unlikely to cancel becasue I didn't get a thank you letter - I would like to think most people would do the same.

I do get annoyed thoguh at the constant prompts for me to increase my donations, this made my DH cancel his standing order to the same charity.

TBH I realise that there must be method in their madness to do this type of follow-up but it just seems so unnecessary. I just get annoyed at all the stuff like this that goes straight into the recycling bin.

The lifeguards 'sales pitch' to us on the beach was so good TBH that I'd defy anyone not to have been impressed.

He told us how many rescues they'd done that Bank Holiday weekend (can't remember now but we were ), he also told us how many are now trained and have access to defibrillators, how lifeguards in very remote areas respond to other emergency service calls (eg. car accidents in local lanes, heart attacks in the village etc) as they can get there before ambulance crews .....

Do they have to by law confirm the sign up in writing?

I'd guess they do as its kind of like cold calling if you were asked on a beach. If this is the confirmation it sounds like a really nice one.

I do agree with what you're saying though. I wish there was an optional tick box - I'm happy to make this agreed contribution but don't want loads of correspondence or constant bombardment for more money, Thank you.

I worked for a charity where we had a optional box for contact. Or you could write or ring up a charity saying that you do not want any correspondance.
Also the charity may specifically fund raise for donations that are for publicity. If they do they cannot spend that money on anything else than publicity.

Antagony -a tick box would be a good option.

I always look for this on any website I need to give my details too as I also hate getting loads of emails.

Maybe I'm just a grumpy old woman who wants to be left in peace and not have people wasting their time and money on sending me stuff

i just got stuff in the post from the red cross and i havent even signed up to anything!

i got a bookmark and two cards with envelopes (they are nice cards) and then a letter asking me if i would donate. there was the obligiatory pen included as well, i think its a complete waste of their money but phaps they have done market research etc and found it to be cost effective?

i kept the pen and the cards and put the rest in the bin!

They will have tried this out with a test audience and counted up how much money they get from people they do send postcrad/pens/etc and how much money they get from people who don't get the stuff, and worked out if it pays for the time/effort/pens.

You may think that the one card sent to you was a waste of money, but overall it will make them more money.