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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate charity bag packers at supermarket checkout

215 replies

DameEdnasBridesmaid · 10/08/2014 15:25

I want to pack my own bag.
I want to choose who I give my charity donations to not feel obliged.
I think they are a bloody nuisance.

OP posts:
flipchart · 10/08/2014 15:26

Just say 'no thank you'
A complete non issue.

VerucaInTheNutRoom · 10/08/2014 15:27

I hate it too. They have no rational packing system and use far too many bags.

I just say no thanks and give a donation anyway.

2madboys · 10/08/2014 15:27

So just say no? Our Scout group do this and some people say no and no one is offended. It is the single most effective form of fundraising they do during the year, so obviously not everyone feels the same as you.

wanttosinglikemarycoughlan · 10/08/2014 15:27

Agree OP
I like to pack my own bag and hate any charity collectors in supermarkets
I don't want to be guilt tripped into giving
I won't use Morrison's because they always have collectors in the entrance

ilovesooty · 10/08/2014 15:32

I'm Chair of a local bereavement charity. Our adult members volunteer for this in order to help us to continue to offer free counselling by unpaid counsellors. We do have to find money to pay the office staff, the rent and the Supervisors as well as for training. The bag packing helps us a lot but people are always free to say no.

I can't see what your problem is. Just decline.

Hurr1cane · 10/08/2014 15:38

Yeah it annoys me, only because my child is autistic and it distresses him them being stood there. Then I put something in the box but say no thanks I'll pack my own bag, then they stand in DSs space and I have to ask them again to move away from him. It's just a massive faff.

And sometimes causes meltdowns.

Which is an even bigger faff.

tryingtocatchthewind · 10/08/2014 15:39

Oh I love it! I have no packing system so provided they don't drop my eggs I'm easy. It gets unpacked in 5 minutes anyway. I used to help at a scout group and 3 hours bag packing would raise £1k whereas a whole morning doing coffee and brik a brac stalls got a £100 if we were lucky.

ICanSeeTheSun · 10/08/2014 15:44

I would love trolley loaders instead of bag packers

HumblePieMonster · 10/08/2014 15:45

Not unreasonable.
I hate them too.

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 10/08/2014 15:47

oh I love it! I do have a packing system, but I'm sooo slow. Anything that gets me home faster is a good thing in my book.
If its kids, I give direction on how I want it done. Otherwise, I take pot luck.

CarbeDiem · 10/08/2014 15:54

I'd rather pack my own so will give them a donation to not do it but appreciate they're just trying to raise a little cash.
I do sometimes wish they'd move out of the way though while I do my own packing

I8toys · 10/08/2014 15:59

YABU - let it go.....

DrewsWife · 10/08/2014 16:01

As a kid I used to pack bags. As an adult. I love it. I can stand back whilst a kid learns to pack shopping and donate their time and work hard to help others.

If you don't want it just say no :).

FraidyCat · 10/08/2014 16:02

^Just say 'no thank you'
A complete non issue^

It is an issue, because one has to say no, which is unpleasant for us.

Our Scout group do this and some people say no and no one is offended

Some of the people who are asked are offended. It is an imposition.

PlacidApricots · 10/08/2014 16:04

Try telling that to the bag packers who come to my local supermarket, I told them no, and they ignored me! I had to physically remove my shopping from them, it was outrageous!

LRDtheFeministDragon · 10/08/2014 16:04

I'm fine with them when you can just say no. I do get a bit ratty when they crowd you while you're packing, though, or when (as happens in our Sainsbury's on occasion) they don't actually ask but step forward to grab while saying 'I'm here to pack your bags for you!'

Er, no, you're not.

tilliebob · 10/08/2014 16:05

I used to hate them, put up with it with a smile, until my poor dc were bag packing for their scouts and the abuse they got! They were both pretty traumatised by the time the day was over, so now I make a special effort to be appreciate and chat to them. Still get a twitch in one eye about how my bags are packed, but it's not the end of the world.

I8toys · 10/08/2014 16:06

Can just imagine the cub scouts wrestling with someone to pack their sanitary towels - that would be entertaining - I said no!

ilovesooty · 10/08/2014 16:07

If you have difficulty declining politely that is your issue. Once the service is declined packers should step aside and not be a nuisance.

I'm glad most shoppers in the supermarket we use appreciate our efforts to keep our charity viable.

FraidyCat · 10/08/2014 16:07

The only time I had this, somehow half my shopping was mislaid. I think they put it on the floor as they packed and I walked off without it. The one time someone packed for me is the only time in decades of supermarket shopping I left anything behind. I was back at the hospital I had walked from when I realised I had lost everyone's supper. However I would have hated the bag-packers intervention even without this.

FraidyCat · 10/08/2014 16:10

If you have difficulty declining politely that is your issue.

If a stranger walk up to you and asks you politely for sex, you just decline politely. If you're upset by being asked, that is your issue.

It doesn't matter that this "isn't the same." It's not for other people to say what people are entitled to be upset by.

hugoagogo · 10/08/2014 16:10

I hate them too, the reason it is such a big earner for them is that people feel guilt tripped into giving to them.

Dotty342kids · 10/08/2014 16:13

As others have said, this is a major fundraiser for groups of children / young people and is one of the few things they can actually do to raise money. I'd rather give to these, than buy a cake I don't really want, handled by who knows what grubby mitts Grin.
I also regularly help at bag packs for the various clubs my kids are involved in. It's drummed into them to ask politely if people would like their bags packed, I supervise to make sure that they don't put eggs and bread rolls at the bottom of bags with tins on top Grin and if people say "no" they politely step back and keep out of their way.
Given all of those things, I can't see what people's issues with it are!

ilovesooty · 10/08/2014 16:15

It's hardly sensible to compare an offer to pack bags with being propositioned for sex.

If someone simply asks, politely, if you would like help with bag packing it seems reasonable to assume that you can accept or decline.

Skivvywoman · 10/08/2014 16:18

We do them regularly for dd dance troupe as it does raise loads of money for outfits and shoes for them but I don't like them packing my bags so I just say "no thanks" politely and drop a donation in the box