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?

[bleedingstill]

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

I feel better now

And it is good that they are doing something to earn money, be it for something they want for heir group or for another cause, I don't disagree with that. But there are other ways of doing it than by putting people on the spot.

I have to draw the line at the HIghland Dance Trip to Croatia. I feel the protective of the Croatians

bubblecoral... I think that's why it is children who are sent in to be bag packers, not adult. Perhaps it has the added benefits of involving the children in an activity but I personally think that it's calculated to generate greater revenue in the shortest time, through the 'emotional' pull of a child asking for money.

I have a particular soft spot for special needs schools and I'm always happy to help them if I can. We all have our pet charities, as Joan says. :)

Standing in an entrance is all well and good but by law the children aren't allowed to hold collection buckets so it can be very boring for them.

I never give to anyone jangling a bucket either no matter what the charity its not needed.

"they could always put in for some kind of grant to pay for their trip, then every tax payer would have no choice but to pay up"

No they wouldn't get a grant for a holiday abroad from the Government. If they were disabled children taking part in something like the paraolympics maybe - but just to go on a holiday abroad, no chance!

And I do know, I spend half my life filling in grant applications.

Collecting money may be boring for children, but if they are asking for money to go on an exotic holiday I don't really care that they aren't having fun.

bubblecoral we pack bags in exchange for a small donation because we would rather give someone a service in exchange for their small change (we're meant to be being helpful ffs) than merely shake a tin.

We do not have children helping, only adult volunteers who all happen to be more or less able bodied and we are not trying to guilt people into giving.

We always ask if the person wants help, never presume that someone is going to donate and its meant to be good fun and in a good cause.

If you don't want to give, just say no. Why the hand wringing?

lyingwitch why don't you read my post properly before you comment?

I don't mind at all, saves me having to pack the bags, but need to make sure they don't put eggs at the bottom. I think it's good for children to earn the money for their scout group/football team whatever.

Now what does annoy me for some reason is the Big Issue seller that is always outside our local supermarket. I'm quite happy to give him money and pleased that he is building his confidence and life back but our house is already awash with papers that we don't have time to go through and I find the Big Issue to be a poor read aimed more at those who are selling it rather than those buying it. They aren't allowed to accept money, so I end up buying it then dumping it in the nearest ( out of sight) recycling bin.

Yes it is a bit annoying, it seems you cant go ANYWHERE noadays without people pestering you for money weather it be sales, charity or other. and i think you feel bad if you dont give them money, bit annoying cos if we gave money to everyone that asked we wouldnt have any left. rant over lol

rookiemater, there is no rule that Big Issue sellers cannot accept money. They are prohibited from begging by using a bowl, etc, and they are required to hand over the magazine.

My Big Issue seller takes my £2.00, hands me the magazine and I hand it back. She then makes £3.00 instead of £1.00 by reselling my copy, and I am not left with something I have no interest in reading.

^TheFlyingOnion Sat 21-May-11 09:34:31
you miserable gimmer.

I bag pack for Riding for the Disabled. We collect so that we can continue to give disabled children and adults riding as physiotherapy and for some its the only chance they have to move around independently of a wheelchair or aid. When you have seen a child go from not being able to sit up to running around, simply because of the therapy he has received at our centre, you would give your last tuppence.

Not only are you BU, you are being spoiled, uncharitable and thoughtless. Your OP is selfish and arrogant.

Congratulations. Your life is wonderful. Others aren't so lucky. How dare you.^

FlyingOnion I did read your post properly. I read the insults to the OP and your general tone. I thought it was disgustingly rude and you seem completely ignorant to what people have posted throughout this thread.

JoanofArgos makes a good point about the kids that knocked on her door actually.

Years ago, Scouts/Uniformed organisations used to do Bob-a-job. Knocking door to door, asking if people wanted any jobs done. Sadly, what with child protection laws and all that, they are not allowed to do that anymore. It's more than the leaders life is worth, to let them.

Bag packing is the only thing left to them. It's the same principle. They offer you a service (however badly they do it!) and you reward them. If they were at your front door, you'd say yes or no. Same difference at the till, surely?

I wonder if people would feel more comfortable if bag-packing were an 'opt in' practice, whereby the packer is not directly at the end of the checkout but a few yards back? At the request of customer, they could come and pack? That way, customers would have the option and wouldn't feel that they were being manipulated into accepting a service they didn't want.

Thanks Waltons, I didn't know that I'm sure I read somewhere that they had to give you the magazine, I'd be much happier handing it back rather than contributing even more to my vast paper usage.

"If they were at your front door, you'd say yes or no. Same difference at the till, surely?"

I see your point, but if they come to the door you can say 'no thanks' and it's over and done with.

In the supermarket if you refuse you're left at the mercy of the disapproving glares and stoney faces of others for 5 minutes while you pack your own shopping in front of the 'helpers'.

I really do think it's more about putting you on the spot and forcing you to come across as mean in front of others if you refuse, rather than the fact that there is some service of value being offered, for which you might be willing to donate.

Is it not just the same as having the 'helpers' stood in 2 lines at the exit, shaking their buckets while you have to walk between them to leave the store?

I have literally no idea what this thread is about? Bag packers? Hobbies? Eh?

Teenytiny - that is what charities need to do to survive. Nobody is forced to give and everyone has different charities they are willing to give to thankfully as this mean hopefully all charities will manage to make enough to carry on providing the services they do.

As I posted earlier, our Scouts stand several feet behind the checkout, and the checkout operator asks if the customer would like help with packing. The Scouts are taught to never ever react other than with a pleasant smile to someone who refuses.

Customers often tell us that they are glad when they see it is us bagpacking because they know that they aren't going to be intimidated into accepting help. They also know that our Scouts are very well trained and that their bags will be packed extremely well.

Instead of blaming charities, maybe the supermarkets need to apply a few more rules? It really doen't take much to get it right.

Yes Sirzy if it is a charity. But many people, myself included have posted about being unhappy to be asked for money to fund exotic foreign holidays like a safari to Kenya for a class of 11/12year olds or a bike ride round China.

These are luxury activities. I couldn't afford to do these activities or to pay for my children to do them, in spite of living in a middle class area. Why should I be put under pressure to contribute for others to do them?

Genuine charities I have no problem with.

The difference between bag packers and bob a job week is that people could give the scouts genuine jobs they wanted done - lawn mowing, etc. I would be quite happy to pay someone to do a myraid range of jobs that I can't be bothered doing. I have NEVER thought - oh if only there was someone I could pay to packmy bags for me.

Yes I think you are right Waltons. But I also think some stores need to be a little bit more discriminating about what "causes" they accept to do bag packing.

I wish we could still do bob-a-job as well, but you could never send an 8 year old Cub Scout knocking on the doors of strangers these days. It's a shame because some of them are bloody marvellous at ironing and polishing shoes!

I so agree with Waltons. I'd be delighted to pay a scout to wash our car or pick out some of the weeds on our path

Yes, 'Bob-A-Job' would be great. I understand why it's not possible now though. Do scouts still do the christmas card run? I seem to remember that from a few years ago. We've now moved as I didn't check last christmas.

well this is where I opt out of this thread.

I never thought giving people a helpful service in exchange for a few measly pence would cause so much bloody upset.

How silly.

I have never encountered anyone fundrasing for a holiday tbh and certainly never bagpacking for it. If I did I wouldnt donate to that.

I have encountered people fundrasing to go overseas to do charity work which on the whole I will happily do.