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?

We are all free to make our own judgement calls on the effectiveness of how we donate to charity.

Personally, I won't ever put money in a box as it's not as effective as when you get the chance to gift aid. You won't catch me sounding off about those that do put money in a tin on the street though, just explaining my decision if I feel I need to because I feel my why is more beneficial to the charities I support.

intitgrand "Why 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."

No one is saying that they are (although you could argue that the Police join up knowing exactly what they're getting into too!!). I personally have no problem with donating to the RBL & so I do.

But do you donate to the Police & Highway Maintenance (?) charities? Probably not methinks....

I love my blingy poppy as does dh and dd1&2 we all have one, but we do also buy paper ones every year too.

my dds also take extra money to school to donate

we also buy the wooden crosses with the poppys on every year and put one one all the forgotten soldiers graves in our local cemetery. it's something our dds enjoy doing.

Actually I can't afford to buy the 'blingy' poppies anyway but I don't begrudge other people's right to contribute the way they see fit.

scaevola

Whether you buy them from the RBL or not, only a small amount goes to the RBL.

If you go to the Jewelers sites you will see how much actually goes to RBL. For Buckly the £19.50 poppy, "Buckley London will donate a minimum of £7.50 from the sale of each poppy to The RBL."

I agree as long as RBL is selling them they don't wees to have a problem, I do think they should say how much they actually get though. I did check their website FAQs and there is no mention of the % or amount they get.

I agree with intitgrand

I bought my blingy poppy 3 years ago from the British Legion website, bought one for my DM & DS too. I still put money in the box every year. I'm ok with this as my brooch came from the RBL website, so they must be happy with the conditions of sale. I wouldn't buy any poppy brooches not endorsed by them though.

I like the actual broaches rather than the crap paper ones that fall off with a few hours of putting them on. Having a nice broach doesn't preclude you from being able to chuck a few £ in the collecting tin as you go past anyway.

There is the COST of producing the bling poppies and all the other expenses associated with such to consider.

The benefit to the charity is the same whether or not it is bought from M & S or directly from RBL site.

Personally, I love them and have bought new each year (they change!) plus bought the enamel pins for kids.

Previously, we just put a pound in the tin for paper ones.

So, in our case, RBL is winning hands down

By the way, bought a crochet one from IWM last year and realised at home it benefited NO charity at all.

They do.

There is a DIFFERENCE between PROFITS and PRICE paid.

Duh!

Tilly333 but the 18 pounds poppy you bought isnt actually 18 years worth- maybe a fiver of that would go to the charity. However if you bought a paper poppy every year, for say a quid a pop, the charity would make far more money! I'm honestly not trying to piss on your parade, but im sure youre not the only one thinking the expensive poppy will be an investment, so to speak. They should make it more clear. I honestly dont know why they dont because the website says ALL profits go to the RBL

They do. ALL profits to RBL.

There is a DIFFERENCE between PROFITS and PRICE paid.

Duh!

Buckley say they donate all their profits to the RBL. They sell the M&S poppies, they donate at least £5 on a £15 poppy here

I am an old bag but to me, the paper poppies were important because everyone had the same, rich or poor- you couldnt go, as it were, business class and have a posh one. Part of the levelling of war. And agree with the fact that they were fragile and simple being for me part of it.

In terms of cash, I guess the Legion must have done the sums, perhaps more people overall donate if there is a wider range? as it makes poppy day a more fashionable cause? I can remember it being pretty unfashionable in years gone by.

I'm in two minds about the blingy poppies. On the one hand, I think they're a good idea if they get people donating and wearing poppies, as any donation is better than none.
On the other hand though, it's scandalous how much of the money actually goes to the cause (also read an article on it the other day!)
Peanuts. That's what goes towards it.
I'd rather stick to the paper ones as you know a 'proper' donation is made.
I like to buy mine from the old soldiers in town out with their collecting tins.

I reckon what the RBL should sell is a nice holder for a paper poppy - a straight bar with a proper fastening pin IYSWIM.

YANBU. I wouldn't necessarily look into the amount that went to the charity until after the purchase (although maybe for the blingy poppy retailing at £49.99!) and I'd expect it to be more.

I bought a ceramic pin Poppy a couple of years ago. I wear it every year and just make a donation to the RBL. After the first year I can then be confident that 100% of my donation goes to the cause and not to the manufacturer. It is also better in the long run for the environment than buying half a dozen paper ones each year because they get lost or broken.

I bought a ceramic pin Poppy a couple of years ago. I wear it every year and just make a donation to the RBL. After the first year I can then be confident that 100% of my donation goes to the cause and not to the manufacturer. It is also better in the long run for the environment than buying half a dozen paper ones each year because they get lost or broken.

Why not just make a donation and not take a poppy, if you already have a pin?

That way the rbl get all the money.

I don't wear poppies although I do occasionally donate to the charity. I hate the peer pressure around it and think the govt should foot the bill for troops injured in their oil wars.

I thought as the OP at first, but I honestly don't think it matters. I don't think the shop should profit from selling the poppy, but they should be allowed to cover their costs on developing, manufacturing, marketing and selling the jewellery poppies. £8 from M&S going to the Poppy Appeal from a £25 product is pretty good I'd say.

The British Legion have licensed their product - if you don't like the deal they have struck with the individual stores then I suggest you get in touch with them.

Also people that spend that much on a brooch might well stick a quid in a collection box as well I'd say.

I'm always aware of how much is donated to a charity from a particular product. Waitrose donate 10% of the purchase price to charity from their charity Christmas cards- I'd say that was a massive amount. Purchase price is turnover not profit. Don't forget large stores have a huge amount of fixed costs.

NB you can also donate to the BL when you purchase something on eBay and 100% goes to the BL. Or indeed you can choose to support them or any charity when you sell an item as well.

"Waitrose donate 10% of the purchase price to charity from their charity Christmas cards- I'd say that was a massive amount."

But if you went to one of those Charity Cards at Christmas places, it would be 80%.

I think it doesn't really matter, for cards or poppy merchandise or anything else, as long as the charity has endorsed it. None of this is compulsory, and it's good people make donations and wear the symbol of their choice.