AIBU to think supermarket charity collectors should be banned

[ohtobemoanproof]

I was in tesco yesterday, feeling ill, getting a BIG shop for my family of 4 boys (dh included) and my mind was occupied (lots going on and racing to another kids party deadline ) as I pushed the heavy trolley of groceries from the till through the usually busy part between when you checkout and leave the building. Some magnificent trolley manouvering is usually required.
I spotted an old bloke sitting at the side, holding a charity bucket unenthusiastically. As I passed, he muttered something about whatever charity it was. I passed by with a quick, sorry. I am a card only gal.

Then, he said quite clearly.."yeah, thanks for nothing". I was a bit shocked.
I really dont think people should be accosted by charity collectors, big issue sellers, electric and gas or phone companies or rac at the supermarket.

AIBU in just wanting to be left alone to shop.?

There are some charities that I will always make a beeline for - and wait in a queue to put some coins in the collecting tin if necessary. I value them very highly.

I don't like bag-packers. The ones that I've seen are usually school children and they're collecting for some activity/group that benefits them, not society as a whole. I would like to see them out of the way and called to the till on an 'opt in' basis, not underfoot and in the way. This is a relatively new convention and it's just annoying. If people want to donate to whatever club, society, etc., they WILL. There's no need to stake out supermarkets as a 'shooting fish in a barrel' opportunity.

We are not talking about chuggers though, we are talking about an old man with a bucket. He will make nothing from the collection, though possibly it might help a charity he benefits from, who knows. (As indeed, any of us might one day need the support of a particular charity!)

Bucket holders are not allowed to ask for money, shake bucket, to say the name of their charity or otherwise approach people as its considered harassing people......this does not appear to apply to bag packers. It should.

So how do you suggest bag packers approach their task, if they're not allowed to communicate with people at all (for fear of a simple offer to help with packing for their charity being construed as "harassment")?

ilovesoooty. I imagine you're right about chuggers, but I doubt the collector with a bucket collecting cash receives anything.

Indeed we don't. The opposite is the case. Volunteers tend to spend many pounds (never mind giving up free time) in expenses for the privilege of collecting money for a cause that benefits everyone.

I don't like bag packers because I like to pack my own bags, not have some well-intentioned but over-enthusiastic Scout put the eggs at the bottom. I am always polite to them of course but I wish they'd find another way of funding whatever it is they are raising money for (always seems to be 'the Scouts' as far as I can see).

I'd like to add to lying's post about being an opt in thing. Bag packers stand there and jump in before you get chance to say no half the time. You have to be pretty forceful to get them to fuck off... I no longer care who they are collecting for - I find the principle offensive and far too intrusive. I'm forceful but a lot of people are not, and feel obliged to use them even if they don't want to.

As i said up thread, the last lot we came across had the nerve to say "are you sure?" when we said no we didn't want help.

THAT IS HARASSMENT.

The ones that I've seen are usually school children and they're collecting for some activity/group that benefits them, not society as a whole

As I've said: ours are all adults and get no personal benefit from any funds raised. I doubt people would just pop into our office to donate. Often people don't know about us until they've suffered a bereavement and their doctor is able to refer them for free counselling - and due to our fundraising activities we can keep the waiting list down.

And we are happy, of course, to respect a polite refusal from people who don't want their bags packed.

I will also donate cash to a lot of the charity collectors standing in the pouring rain, and, I do normally use the bag packing if its an organised kids group. But,as another poster said, the chuggers are putting me off donating at all, and they must lose out by not accepting cash donations .

ilovesooty... Can you not do a supermarket door collection like the other charities? Why does it need to be bag-packing exactly?

edam

Yes, around here, we have Scouts, school football teams and others as bag packers. One was a local private school wanting donations for a trip abroad. In this case, I suggest that they just don't go if they can't afford it. The bucket at the packing end of the conveyor belt has a label on it saying what it's for except the private school one so I asked the boy what he was collecting for.

Lying why do you think it is better that people just stand and do nothing for a donation rather than put some effort in and try to work for it?

Good question, Lying. I imagine because it's perceived as actually doing a service for the cash, and a chance to chat with interested people about what we do. It means volunteers who turn up work in a team rather than an isolated person holding a bucket. As I said, we must be working politely and non intrusively in respecting refusals as we've not really encountered much, if any, negative reactions.

I got frustrated the other day going into a charity shop, literally in the doorway a young lad with a tin, asking me to donate. Im in your charity shop....I will be donating by buying.

I think we know the answer to that Lying. Because you make more money by accosting someone directly, than standing by the door as you can't avoid a bag packer as easily as a bucket collector. Again, more in your face - and displaying all the behaviours that bucket holders were banned for...

... and imho nothing to do with providing a service.

People are generally polite. They do feel obliged. They are unlikely to made negative comments, especially to someone holding a charity box as its socially unacceptable. It doesn't mean they like it or they don't feel harassed.

jenfraggle.. because people who want to support that charity will do so for nothing in return.

ilovesooty.. I understand what you're saying but the supermarket door collectors that I've seen are always in pairs (one at either door) and there's more room and less shoving for those who want to talk to them. I'd say that the supermarket conveyor belt is the most stressful time of all for the shopper; not conducive really to finding out about a charity. I wouldn't engage in conversation certainly, there are less checkouts now with the 'self checkouts' taking up a lot of room and those with staff can be very busy in terms of queues of people waiting.

As to 'service'; I'd say that I never want that service. It's been artificially created. If I want to give to a charity, nothing but nothing will stop me and they don't have to do a thing other than let me pop my coins in.

Oh well, ILoveDinosaurs - you're obviously determined to express hostility about all bag packers. I gave a rationale above but you seem to have your own agenda.

Perhaps you should plant a large badge on your front saying "Please don't offer to pack my bags". Or even better - start producing them for all the poor downtrodden people who can't manage a simple "No thank you" - which we always respect.

And I hope you never have need of any of the charities such as the one I volunteer for.

IloveDinosaurs... yy... I think UK people don't complain much except under their breaths - and on chatboards, of course.

The bag-packers are taking advantage of a captive audience and I really don't think supermarkets should allow it at all - except as in 'opt in' with the waiting packers not less than 3 metres away from the tills.

All fair comment Lying - it does seem to work for us, but it's food for thought. I wonder also whether people are keener to volunteer for bag packing as you can be busy rather than just standing around with a bucket where people might just walk past you all day.

If we were 3 metres away I don't think people would notice us - let alone "opt in".

ilovesooty... my comments may be clouded by the fact that it is always school children/youths, leaning over the checkout, doing some kind of strange dance with their feets whilst so supported and generally making a big performance out of a very simple task.

How I'd feel about adult packers for a charity might be different... it would certainly be calmer - and less stinky.

Yes, we like to think we're calm and pleasant. And not stinky of course.

ilovesooty

For the THIRD time.
When you have people saying "Are you sure?" after a polite "no thanks" excuse me for getting peeved. I have never ever been rude. I just find the practice intrusive all round.

Not everyone is respecting limits or a no. And instead, in my experience, are either rude, pull faces, stand around getting in the way, or irritatingly just stand gawping at you pack when you ask them to stop. I don't want an audience whilst I'm packing thanks.

And I just LOVE the guilt trip you are trying to lay.

You clearly don't get my point about harassment. It has nothing to do with me or my personal feelings about a charity. If I want to give to a charity I will because I believe in it, not because they are pressuring me or others too.

What I am concerned about is the little old lady who can't afford to put money in the tin, but does.

ilovesooty... your bucket could be there and the checkout operator could ask the shopper - and you'd be quickly on hand to help.

What you've said in your post though is exactly why it's done - it's meant to be 'in your face' with the plain understanding that most people won't refuse - and if they do - they'll still give. That's wrong, it's based on sheer tactics and that's unfair.

I feel pressured by door side collectors waving tims at me