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

You pay for your childrens activities? Maybe you need to pay more, in lieu of not packing other peoples bags when asked to do so to raise money....

redpanda13 Fri 20-May-11 12:45:03
Supermarkets normally operate a system where the bag packing is allowed on every second till. Both my local supermarket chains do this and it is a nationwide policy. So why dont you just open your eyes and go to a till without them?

But those queues are the very longest ones, stretching all around the shop. [deadpan not serious emoticon]

redpanda that certainly doesn't happen at my local sainsburys - if bag packers are in they are at all the tills.

I would normally put money in for local clubs/charities/anything vaguely worthwhile but I refuse to contribute to trips to Australia.

YANBU I hate having my bags packed by staff when it is free, let alone paying for the privileged of having the washing powder in with the bread. Having said that I get around the issue by having all my shopping delivered nowadays (& hence having to go online to whinge at them about the rubbish packing )

YANBU and in fact I almost started a very similar thread a few weeks ago.

I don't care for having my bags packed really but if they are raising money for a worth while cause then I put up with it and contribute.

However, a few weeks ago there was a bag pack (mostly adults doing it not children) and it was the local independent school raising funds towards their cricket teams summer tour in the Caribbean! I declined their services. Frankly if they can afford the school fees to send their kids to that school then I don't see why they should expect the general public to subsidise their childrens' expensive holiday abroad.

"Id rather give money to charites who do not emotionally blackmail you into giving out of sympathy to a child who has to spend his or her weekend packing bags out of obligation."

Well, out Sea Scouts bag pack. twice a year. This helps the troop to keep their boats repaired, and to keep subs to 2 quid a week so that practically any child, regardless of means can go. And the children don;t do it out of obligation, they do it because they realize that the activities they love and learn so much from cost money, and many of their parents wouldn;t be able to let them go if the subs went up.

So think about that when you are so self righteously refusing to put 20p in ther collecting bucket because "I pay for my children's activities"?

I'd have no problem with saying no but for shy people it could be awkward because they are just not comfortable with being put on the spot like that. If it happened at my supermarket (doesn't . overseas) and I was annoyed or unhappy about it, I'd write to the management. If enough people complained about it, it would stop

You'r not actually obliged to put up with everything you don't like, you can say no, you can complain, you can pick and choose which packers you accept

I'd have no problem with saying no but for shy people it could be awkward because they are just not comfortable with being put on the spot like that. If it happened at my supermarket (doesn't . overseas) and I was annoyed or unhappy about it, I'd write to the management. If enough people complained about it, it would stop

You'r not actually obliged to put up with everything you don't like, you can say no, you can complain, you can pick and choose which packers you accept

droves that is awful but I don't think it's the norm. I have done bag packing to pay for courses, uniform for cadets (all given to them for free) and other essentials for the organisation.

DD's youth club does this with the older kids so they can have trips.

OK it's not essential that they go to the zoo/museums/ice skating/camping but most parents round here, including me struggle to pay for it at full price.

Last year DD went camping overnight, plus did two full days (so four days in total) of activities for £15.
It wouldn't be possible without bag packing.

Sea Scouts, youth clubs - all fine and dandy.

Local private school's trip to the Caribbean - absolutely not, particularly if they're taking a fundraising slot from someone more deserving.

I was also rather when approached for large donations for private schools' raffles. You need a new IT suite? Put the arsing fees up!

Totally agree with Seeker - can't believe any Mumsnetter really hasn't a spare 10p to give - those who say they don't carry cash (are you the Queen ) - what about car parking etc?

And I would genuinely like to know why people find it so hard to say 'no thanks' - why feel guilty?

I enjoy giving to most charities but I do not give to animal charities, I always smile and say 'no thanks' to a animal charity collector, but I don't feel at all guilty about not giving even 10p.

YANBU I agree. I don't think it is fair to be put in that position.

My DS did this for a trip overseas and made about £150 over about a week. It was over Christmas and the tills were busy and he says people actually seemed pleased to have some help with their bags.

I can't see the harm as long as the kids do a good job and are polite and smile.

DS did this for funds for his football team. The team is run by volunteers, subscriptions are only to cover pitch hire and referee costs. They did it as the majority of parents didn't have 40 quid to spend on a much needed new strip and the coach did not want to embarrass the kids or parents concerned.

I always give to kids collecting money at the checkout they are invariably polite and helpful.

Oh dear - my DD did this for guides, but she is privately educated - did she take the money under false pretences

"YANBU I agree. I don't think it is fair to be put in that position."

What position? Having to decide whether or not to put 20p into a collecting bucket?

You know, I hate other people sometimes!
At our Sea Scouts, the kids get 2 hours a week of outside activity. They learn sail and canoe, they learn how to read maps, to take responsibility for themselves, their group and their equipment. They learn life saving, first aqid ans self reliance. And they have huge amounts of fun. For 2 pounds a session. Two measly quid.

And you lot begrudge putting 20p in the bucket when they try to raise money to keep the troop going by bag packing because it's 'emotional blackmail" Pah!

Kitten not if it was just a normal guide troupe

And you lot begrudge putting 20p in the bucket when they try to raise money to keep the troop going by bag packing because it's 'emotional blackmail" Pah!

I don't think people begrudge 'giving' as much as it being sprung upon you when it's your turn in the check out - "please give us money NOW." It's the way it's done - you're cornered - and you feel obliged to go along with their scheme of things or you're a rotten buggar. It's bloody cheeky!

Our Scouts do it for fundraising and they split the money with another charity - last time it was MacMillan. The parents help as well and the money is going to try and rebuild their hut. Sometimes we get people through the till who don't want their bags packed and that's fine, we smile and stand back. Sometimes we get people through who don't have any change with them and we still pack their bags, with a smile on our face. Some people give us a few pence and some people give a few quid. The important thing is we are teaching our young boys that nothing in life is free and if you want to earn some money then you need to work for it.

OP YANBU but don't feel obliged to give, I'm sure most groups are like ours and not judging you in any way :)

"those who say they don't carry cash - what about car parking"

Ragwort, have you never walked to the shops and back?

Not everyone has a car, you know!

(Not that I'm implying I even want one as I don't drive, and mostly hear about the cost of fuel, insurance, and so on, from local car drivers, and see threads about the costs on MN!)

its not really about subsidising other kids activities.

its about teaching the kids that if you want something special you need to work to get it. Hopefully they will appreciate the treat more if they have worked hard to earn it

I hate bag packers, I always try to avoid them to the extent of joining a longer queue in order to do so.
My lastest ploy though is to ask them to unload the trolly whilst I pack.
I always give them some money though, the amount dependant on what they're collecting for.

I haven't read the whole thread, but I'm really disappointed that people think it's begging. No one is forced to put money in the pot and no one is forced to put hundreds of pounds in either!

DD has been fundraising like mad, for the last 18 months, for children in Armenia and Papa New Guinea to go to the World Scout Jamboree this year. She needed to raise £2200.00. She is going, because we have paid a fair amount in. Admittedly, some of the fund raising has been for her, but much of it is for those in Scouting who would miss out. They have been raising money for a massive and amazing opportunity for themselves and the less fortunate youth of the world.

How is this begging? Surely this is showing and teaching our young people about the value of things and showing them that not everyone is as lucky as people in this country is.

She will be at Sainsburys again next weekend, from 8am - 6pm and it's bloody hard work! I too will be there for her. The notion that it's not really work, is a bit daft and young people of this age, can't earn money, other than from a paperround or such like.

If you don't like it, say no thankyou, but OP, I note that you say your DS is in Scouting. I hope he doesn't want to go on any internationals, because you will rue the day you turned down the opportunity of doing bag packing.

Animation whenever I have done bag packing we have NEVER expected to be given something, and always make sure the Cadets ask before hand and smile and say ok if someone doesn't want help.

There is no obligation to have your bags packed, or to put money in but if you want to then it is gratefully accepted.