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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want people packing my bags at the supermarket checkout to raise funds for their kid's football/ice hockey/ highland dance trip to Croatia?

268 replies

bleedingstill · 20/05/2011 00:34

My kids have hobbies. I pay for them.
Bag packing at supermarkets is a bit annoying, no?
On several counts.

I feel better now

OP posts:
shockers · 20/05/2011 00:44

Tell them you want to pack your own bags and keep the 20/30/50p for yourself... end of problem.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 20/05/2011 00:51

It is annoying; I have a system of packing and my heart sinks when I see 'bag packers'. I scan for a checkout where the packer has nodded off and make for it before anyone else spots it.

FurKnickersAndNoCoat · 20/05/2011 00:56

It is a bit annoying, IME it is annoying as I am on a very tight budget and then i feel guilty about saying no i can pack myself or ok pack but i cant give you more than coppers Blush

Sqee · 20/05/2011 00:59

Oh get a grip and give some change! No offence intended but I've always found these people to be really nice! (Although I'm not one of them I swear!) :o

Original poster
bleedingstill · 20/05/2011 01:01

yes it is partly guilt. ( I ALWAYS give them some money)
Partly annoyance at why THEIR child's hobby should be paid for by the general public (me)
Partly because they are slways so CRAP at it, using loads of bags .
last week the bag packer had accidentally left a couple of the previous customer's paid for items hidden under the mountain of fluffed up bags!

My son's scout leaders phone me every so often asking if I will do bag packing and I feel like such an arse saying I don't agree with it in principle Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
bleedingstill · 20/05/2011 01:03

I don't know when or how it became an acceptable thing.

Has anyone ever thought " oh good, some local schoolchildren are going to help me pack my shopping. That's got to be worth at least a pound. Yippee. SO good to have willing helpers for such an unpleasant and difficult chore"

OP posts:
IntotheNittyGritty · 20/05/2011 01:09

I actually wish I could just pay for the event and not have to fund everyone else as well. I dont expect anyone else to contribute to my childrens activities. I dont have spare money, money is really tight and I hate being made to feel guilty when I dont have coins in my pocket to donate to hundreds of different fundraising activities.

elmofan · 20/05/2011 01:13

I actually pay them to leave my shopping alone Grin
Dh hates anyone else packing our bags at the tills.

PiousPrat · 20/05/2011 01:14

I often see bag packers and think "oh good, those children are being taught the value of work to raise money towards their trip/activity" or "how nice to see so many children involved in an organised activity, it reminds me how not every child is out causing mayhem and muggings on the street"

It is not often round here that they will be at every single till, so you still have the choice to avoid them if you are miserly that way inclined, but bag packing can often be a really good way of groups raising funds for special events which they otherwise wouldn't be able to do. Last week there was a group raising money for a trip to Italy to do watersports. These are kids from an urban area who only see the sea a couple of times a year if that, let alone have a chance to go canoeing and the like, so this trip is a big thing for them yet there is also a high incidence of unemployment round here so for many families, the cost of the trip would be prohibitive. I don't think it harms the kids any to know that if they want something, they have to earn it.

Original poster
bleedingstill · 20/05/2011 01:15

nitty gritty that's it exactly.
Money is tight for me, I pay for my kids' (minimal ) activities . If one of them wanted skating / riding lessons I could not afford it. I certainly would not expect it to be subsidised by the general public.

In sainsbury's here last week the local childrens' ice hockey team were bag packing to raise money for a trip abroad. I really don't get it !

And what a bunch of sullen brats they were too!

OP posts:
Original poster
bleedingstill · 20/05/2011 01:20

piousprat, I don't see bag packing as work at all. I see it more akin to begging. The kids collect FAR more than they would legitimately earn doing proper chores. It teaches them nothing about proper work . It's not proper earning .

My kids are from an urban area and I would not dream of expecting others to pay for them to do water sports in Italy. We can't afford it. They understand that concept 100%

OP posts:
saffy85 · 20/05/2011 06:53

I pay them in my loose change to not pack my stuff. Smile Learnt my lesson after a couple of well meaning 12 year olds packed the 4 pints of milk in with the eggs. Oh god the mess when I got home and realised! Yuck! My mum says it's stupid to pay them money for doing sod all but I'm not- I'm giving them money for doing as I asked. I appreciate that alot more than ruining my shopping.

ZZZenAgain · 20/05/2011 06:54

just say you prefer to pack your bags yourself.

coastgirl · 20/05/2011 06:55

I don't mind it - but round here they are often kids I know or teach! It's better than being harrassed for endless sponsor money for pointless things like sponsored silences - at least they have to get out there and devote the time.

Tee2072 · 20/05/2011 06:56

I've never seen kids doing it here. Just adults for charity. To whom I give 50p and say I'll do it myself, thanks.

Sirzy · 20/05/2011 06:58

Organisations NEED to fundraise. Good on anyone willing to give up there time in order to do so.

That said, I always pick a till with an adult helping the child pack, or I help pack to reduce the chances of finding milk on top of the bread!

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 20/05/2011 07:06

i felt a bit fleeced when the Very Expensive Public School were doing it for their netball tour

although that particular group of girls were exceedingly good with the packing

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 20/05/2011 07:06

What a mean-spirited bunch of Victor Meldres most of you lot are!

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 20/05/2011 07:07

*meldrews

greenrock · 20/05/2011 07:14

I would prefer them to do something useful like offer to wash my car while it sits in the car park. I completely agree with those who say it isn't really doing much for the money.

beesimo · 20/05/2011 07:15

Ilove to see see the bairns with their happy smiling faces waiting to joyfully pack my shoppping. The look of avarice on their mugs as you reach for your purse is wonderful to behold.

Just don't rattle the blooming bucket at me!!

beesimo · 20/05/2011 07:17

Greenrock

You seriously want a bunch of random kids near something of yours that is worth thousands of pounds GET AWAY FROM MY CAR!!!!

StewieGriffinsMom · 20/05/2011 07:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lesley33 · 20/05/2011 07:30

YANBU I totally agree. If they were raising money for charity I would support it, but its always for" my very expensive trip abroad to X". I have lived in well off areas and poor areas - IME you only get this happening on well off areas.

MaryBS · 20/05/2011 07:33

Personally I think YABU. You don't have to give any money, you don't have to accept their help. I LIKE seeing kids fundraising rather than expecting their parents to pay for everything! Round here its generally not the rich kids doing it either, but scouts, youth groups etc.