To be annoyed about the blingy poppies?

[tracypenisbeaker]

At first, I thought it was a good idea that they were available, as they may encourage more donations and younger people may be drawn to them, thus creating more awareness, which can only be a good thing. Plus people would be donating a larger chunk of money at a time if they wanted to.

But having seen an article about them, I was pretty shocked to see that a 'Kleshna poppy brooch,' which retails for £49.99, donates just £7.49 of this to the British Legion! I'm shocked, if I was to pay this much for a brooch, I would have thought a bit more would be going to them than that! That just proves that they're more of a fashion statement/ status thing than anything! The same goes for the poppy earrings, a tenner for them, just £3.33 going to the cause... Well I for one would rather just pay £2 (which is near enough the price of the earrings) for the paper poppy, which is low cost to produce in high volumes but still shows the same sentiment.

What do you think?

Well, it's like people who buy charity cards from say M&S, rather than the charity pop up,shops from which the charities get much more.

It's not compulsory to give to RBL at all, let alone a particular amount in return for a particular object.

And as RBL sell the things, they can't be that concerned about them.

I'm more annoyed at H4H muscling in on the main Poppy Appeal with those crochet ones. I thought there was a COBSEO agreement that other military charities stand clear during the 2-3 weeks of the Poppy campaign.

Spikey- Well, I cant speak for everyone, but I was personally surprised. I googled looking for the bling poppies, thinking it would be nice to contribute a bit extra this year and get something jazzy out of it, but after looking at the article (not a nasty one, just giving info) I just thought 'fuck it, ill bung them 20 quid straight into their tin, pick up a couple of paper ones to do me this year instead of paying the same price for a bling one when only a fraction of that goes to charity.' im not that arsed about diamantes.

Scaevola I didnt know about that- is there no sort of copyright issues there?

Can I just say to anyone put off by this that the RBL (yes I am a member) are very grateful for any donations and that they fully endorse the merchandise sold through the Poppy Shop.

How much of the money from those M&S poppies (£15 and £25) would get donated to the RBL. I quite fancy one.

Spikey im not trying to put people off. Im so offended by that, I dont know where to begin.

You are potentially putting people off the 'bling' poppies. I'm just telling people the legion's stance.

People would only be put off them if they didnt want to spend so much on something that donated relatively little, meaning they actually care about the cause and are willing to support them in a more practical way? What youre effectively saying is people should NOT be aware in case it puts them off?

the fragility of the paper poppies seems like part of their symbolism to me.

I'm saying people should be aware that the poppy shop supported by the RBL. I think they should donate however they choose. I just hope they choose to donate.

No, it won't work like that because you can't tell by looking if the item was purchased from a third party or directly from the Legion. It might put off people who are concerned, after reading things like this, that people will be hoicking up judgy pants because they buy and wear items bought from RBL.

Owning (or not) a bling poppy is no reflection whatsoever of your charitable activities or your attitude to Remembrance. And I think it is a pity when it becomes so.

There is an agreement that none of the other service charities will collect/fundraiser during the two weeks of remembrance, but H4Hs has no control over its supporters and doesn't appear to really care what they do in the charities name.

Amothersplace, 30% x

I saw the blingy £15 ones in m&s and was shocked to see how little the legion receive from the sale. I gave £15 for a paper one instead (can't afford to do that every year). It's crap that they don't get more proceeds from the fancy poppies but at least they get something I suppose.

I like Errols point, hadn't thought of it like that.

Many people who buy the bling Poppies do buy one every year as often they have ones with slightly different designs each year.

Last year no leaf this years has a leaf

Yabu

It's about supplying items that people want to buy. I don't like the rubber wristbands that are on offer by some charities, but I like when I can get a pen. I would choose a 'bling' or enamel pin over a plastic or paper one. Having a variety of items on offer increases the chance of people that may want to buy something, or may buy more than one item.

This makes me sad. I know ms Handel and know how much this means to her and why. She has raised a lot of money for this cause. Her jewellery is expensive to make because of how it is manufactured.

Even if someone buys a blingy poppy and wears it every year, they are still raising awareness! Better than someone with no poppy.

Ms23 valid point there.

BuzzardBirdsBigBangers instead of spending more because it is expensive to manufacture, do you not think you should spend more so that the charity receives more? The more I think about it the more glad I am I didn't buy the blingy poppy. Remembrance to me is a sombre affair, not one that should be glamourised. It is not a 'fun' occasion. I think that Errol was spot on.

But! That is simply my opinion, and it is different for everyone. As others have rightly said, any money raised is a good thing, and people can choose to raise money and commemorate how they wish.

The main point of my post was to make people aware that the charity are not necessarily benefiting more if you purchase the expensive ones, as opposed to the paper poppies. Someone paying £5 for a paper poppy is donating the exact same amount to the charity if they pay £15-20 for a diamanté one. Nothing wrong with that if you like the jewellry!

Well, as the RBL endorses these items by selling them, then I think it is going too far to say they are inappropriate for Remembrance.

I don't buy a paper poppy. I give a (usually paper) donation and the poppy is a gift, a token of thanks, of recognition of our shared losses and memories. I can see how the blingy poppies would work well on a smart outfit. Actually, I have a brooch in my black wooly coat pocket which usually reminds me when I put my hand in.

I always get a paper poppy and will continue to do so. tracey's got a perfectly valid point.

YANBU

I don't support the british legion anymore.I was happy to support those who served in the world wars , ordinary boys and men conscripted.
I don't feel I need to support people who have chosen the army as a career knowing the risks and taking the salary , who are fighting largely fighting so that Americans can have cheap oil.
I don't buy all this hero crap
tWhy are they more worthy than say a fund for highway maintanance men knocked down at work or police officers attacked in the line of work.They are serving this country's interests much better.