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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think supermarket charity collectors should be banned

93 replies

ohtobemoanproof · 04/03/2012 09:03

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.?

OP posts:

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 04/03/2012 15:23

ilovesooty... I don't know if your group has spare carrier bags knocking around but from the recycle banks, there are still a lot being recycled rather than re-used. What about if your volunteers brought carrier bags from home and offered them at a nominal charge to those who'd forgotten them? I can't think of any shopper who wouldn't support the charity over a bloated, profiteering supermarket.

ilovesooty · 04/03/2012 15:25

When you have people saying "Are you sure?" after a polite "no thanks" excuse me for getting peeved

I'd be peeved too - we don't do that.

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

That's adding an extra task on the operator though.

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

I think people ought to be able to make a considered decision re donating. I honestly think "in your face" is a bit strong - in my experience anyway.

ilovesooty · 04/03/2012 15:26

Lying we do bring a stock of recycled bags for people who want them. We don't even charge for them.

ILoveDinosaurs · 04/03/2012 15:30

I think people ought to be able to make a considered decision re donating. I honestly think "in your face" is a bit strong - in my experience anyway.

So, why precisely, do you think bucket collectors aren't allowed to do certain things? Its because its been proved to pressurise members of the public and to make a decision that has been in someway emotionally influenced.

Same tactics banned for one group, but not for another.

ReindeerBollocks · 04/03/2012 15:31

YABU.

Having done this type of collecting it is draining. I did it for a charity close to my heart. I met the sweetest of people, and some of whom had me in tears with their stories. I never harassed anyone or was rude, neither did I shake the tin. However I had a fair few comments about 'bloody charity collectors' and how I should be banned from doing that.

I helped raise nearly £400 that day with a friend I'd roped in. I was not paid for it and it was a long day.

However I agree with OP, people should not be shamed or guilt tripped into giving money if they don't want to. The man shouldn't have retorted to OP and was actually doing a disservice to the charity he was working for because it created a bad impression.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 04/03/2012 15:32

ilovesooty... now if I'd forgotten my bags, I'd pay you a pound at least for one or two. Even if you were only at the door - and I would have thought that was a far better place to give out bags anyway.

ILoveDinosaurs · 04/03/2012 15:47

The Poppy Appeal did some awesome reusable bags for our local supermarket. We didn't need one, but they were really nice so we bought one - putting in more than the suggested amount.

There are definitely ways in which charities can be involved with supermarkets, and I don't object to bucket holders - provided they stick to the rules. The ones that don't are the problem - which is why it annoys me so much - and why I now longer donate to them.

There are plenty of ways to donate to charity. I happen to be careful about the way I do it, both to ensure that as much money goes to charity as possible and also that they aren't harassing people.

It infuriates me how often we get charity donation bags through our front door. I know how expensive these things are to produce. I currently have a Helpmates Ltd, TWO AgeUk, a north west air ambulance, a british heart foundation and a childrens cancer & leukamemia fund one sitting by the door. Thats in the last six weeks alone! Honestly, I don't see how they can make money from them and it does make me seriously question how they are spending their much needed funds.

RuleBritannia · 04/03/2012 15:52

ilovesooty The trouble with bag packers is that we don't know they are going to be there so we can't prepare badges and they are so close to us that there's hardly any escape. Those standing at the door can be ignored if that's what people want to do. We can't ignore the bagpackers.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 04/03/2012 16:02

ilovesooty... asking the shopper if they want help with their bag packing isn't an extra task for the checkout operator - they ask it anyway. All the supermarkets I've been in do anyway.

sportsfanatic · 04/03/2012 16:06

ILoveDinosaurs re charity bags. My charity (which is a regional - not national one) gets over £100,000 a year (profit) from them.

BTW, it's worth noting though that there are scam bags around so you do have to be careful. Legal charities have to have licences from the local authority. They cannot collect door to door without them. Local authorities will limit the number of licences they grant and I believe most will rotate the licences so there is not a monopoly by one or two charities.

ILoveDinosaurs · 04/03/2012 16:12

Its good to hear they are profitable. I just find it hard to believe when I get so many of them! I couldn't possibly give something to everyone.

I wish we weren't getting them weekly. I don't like throwing them away - I'd rather return them - but we don't appear to have that as an option. I can't even recycle them either. I'd be more inclined to give to any charity who can come up with a solution to the recycling thing!

Frontpaw · 04/03/2012 16:13

You can't ban the old soldiers collecting for Poppy Day! I love to see them standing there all proud in their uniforms and medals. It brings a tear to my eye and reminds me of my grandfather.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 04/03/2012 16:17

Me too, Frontpaw, I love them. Everytime I see the poppies it reminds me just what they gave for me to be free my life long.

I also like the RNLI, Marie Curie and Dogs Trust, but the poppy appeal is my favourite of all.

Mrsjay · 04/03/2012 16:21

oh ok , those people who run after you on the shopping precinct with the DD forms and sob stories are chuggers then ?

RuleBritannia · 04/03/2012 18:37

ILoveDinosaurs You can recycle charity plastic bags that come through your letter box. Use them in your kiktchen waste bin! I do and I haven't bought a roll of dustbin bags for several years now.

minikimmi · 04/03/2012 18:42

A charity collector had me in tears last weekend. I recently lost my mum to cancer and a Marie Curie volunteer practically shoved the collecting can under my nose in Sainsbury's and yelled 'can you help us beat cancer'. I just crumbled. She didn't look as if she even cared about the charity or anything, she looked bored and disinterested. I find this sort of thing offensive and tactless. They should NOT be allowed to approach people or vocally engage with them. I admit most are not like this lady was, I just think you need to respect what others may have been through.

IUseTooMuchKitchenRoll · 04/03/2012 19:10

I'm torn on bag packing. It's usually scouts or guides and most people with a heart don't want to disappoint the child that is politely standing away but looking eagerly at you to see if they can get a go. But they don't neccesarily want their bags packed either. I don't, and if I need that service the cashier will do it anyway. Ime, they usually ask if you need help packing.

I don't like being made to feel like I should donate to anything, but I can see why it's good for the children doing bag packing to get them involved in raising money for something their group wants or needs.

I do supermarket collections for the poppy appeal every year, I meet lovely people and I usually get a couple of veterans come up and tell me their war stories and tell me how pleased it makes them to see 'young uns' collecting for the poppy appeal. You see the best and the worst of people while doing charity collections!

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 04/03/2012 19:57

I'm a bit cynical about the child bag-packing too sadly. There's a reason why children are used for this and I really don't like it as they're being used to coerce donations because they're children.

As a poster upthread said, it's the vulnerable shoppers who will suffer if they feel compelled to give what they cannot afford to.

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