To boycott any charity sending out unsolicited Christmas card packs

[DyslexicScientist]

I seem to be getting one almost everyday at the moment. What a waste of paper and three of the companies doing it I have supported for many years (British legion, Isis and shelter).

I just hate waste and worry that my money has gone into this waste rather than something useful.

[StrawberryTeaLeaf]

You're not telling us, arethereany that sending out unsolicited free gifts is the only possible marketing wheeze that works? Or that marketing that fails to win people over is good marketing? So many people hate the thing OP is complaining about.

[chumbler]

Yanbu, we should definitely boycott Isis Christmas cards

[arethereanyleftatall]

Of course not. There's plenty of ways to market, all of which are annoying, but all of which make money for the company. (And if they don't, then they won't be repeated. But we're talking here about repeated post, which thus must be effective in generating money for the charity).

[fredfredgeorgejnrsnr]

No arethereanyleftatall "making money for the charity" is not the sole reason people should be happy with whatever a charity does. A charity is also expected to have strong social responsibility - indeed so should all companies, but a charity perhaps more than any.

It would be very wrong to complain about junk mail or packaging waste from a supermarket and then say it's fine for a charity, waste is waste, marketing waste is no different.

OP, YANBU for boycotting a charity, and encouraging others to boycott on the basis of wasteful marketing crap or chuggers devaluing the brand.

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

well the Red Cross sent me THREE lots recently, so I have enough festive coaster for a set and enough cards for the neighbours.

Isis sent me nothing, selfish shites

I just think they must have more money than sense and resolve to use my free pen and to carry on supporting the charities I do like.

[StrawberryTeaLeaf]

I actually particularly dislike the free pens/cards/coasters thing arethere because I suspect the people it does 'work' on are all over 70 or 75 (or older than that). It sets up a sense of obligation, I think, in the 'neither a borrower nor a lender be' generation.

Which might explain why the 'free gift' seems to be growing since the negative publicity about telephone fundraising and the especial susceptibility of the elderly to THAT.

[StrawberryTeaLeaf]

Isis sent me nothing, selfish shites

They're famously a bit grinchy about xmas, amongst other things

[SlaggyIsland]

I've become more and more pissed off with the large charities for various reasons over the last few years, and no longer donate to any of them.
I donate directly to small, grass-roots charity - with time and goods as well as money.

[IoraRua]

Yanbu, I do think it sets up a sense of obligation like a pp said.
I don't want envelopes full of tat being mailed to my house (and it's happening with charities I don't support so they're not even going through a supporter list, just mailing here, there and everywhere). It really turns me off ever giving them money.

[GloGirl]

They do it because some people will feel guilty and feel they should 'pay' for their crap coasters. That's why they do it, it's unsolicited and generally takes advantage of vulnerable people. The likes of whom they're purporting to help in the first place. Makes me cross.

[Dowser]

All charities have paid workers ...don't they?

Maybe in the past people volunteered their services for free but I'd be hard put to think of any that doesn't have at least one paid worker.

Our local hospice has paid workers.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I'm in fits of giggles trying to imagine what an ISIS christmas card would look like.

YANBU. my donations always go to MSF now and because of their lack of hassling me I give them far far more that I have any other charity. I've never had random crap off them, they never send me begging letters or emails. So much better than other organisations I've donated to.

[Krampus]

Send the charity an email asking them to take you off their mailing list. Or specify that you want info and donation requests but no free gifts, or email only, their databases should be able to handle that. Somehow you have got on their systems and unless you say something it will keep happening automatically.

I have worked for a couple of charities and hardly ever get anything from any charity, even ones I donate to.

[kerbs]

coffee, please don't. I actually check my DH's mail before he gets it, otherwise we would be drowning in souvenier coins and all sorts, the odd one gets through however. I actually have to hide the intercepted mail, because he suspects I do this and checks the rubbish for clues.

Yes, we do have a problem.

[Roonerspism]

Best typo ever

YANBU either. I stopped giving to the Red Cross after they phoned me constantly from their expensive call centre. I also hate the waste.

[Krampus]

When i rule the world anyone who refuses to support a charity because they have paid staff will be forced to donate their own time. If charities had to rely on what a few jolly pensioners can raise holding buckets in the street many services that people rely on daily would rapidly disappear. Not that people often have money on them these days. How many buckets of loose change would it itake to pay for the life time of one Guide Dog? I don't know if it would be possible to breed, train the dog, train the owner, support both, pay for vets purely on volunteers.

I don't think charities are perfect and yes they do get things wrong.

[Oysterbabe]

This thread is now being watched by the government because of the number of mentions of ISIS.

[Krampus]

The OP is going to be followed down the street by men in suits and dark glasses trying to work out the collection point for ISIS cards.

[StrawberryTeaLeaf]

What?

Krampus and dowser why are you talking about paid staff? Did I miss a bit? Of course charities need staff. Free gifts aren't staff

Has the site gone weird again?

[Krampus]

Strawbery

I am going off on my own little Sunday tangent, someone mentioned not supporting any charity that has paid staff. Shoukd have directed my response to them.

[StrawberryTeaLeaf]

Oh, okay as long as I'm not going Sunday mad

[AuntieStella]

"Has the site gone weird again?"

No they're simply responding to the poster who said they wouldn't support any charity with paid staff.

[AuntieStella]

Slow x-posting. Sorry.

[coffeetasteslikeshit]

at Kerb

Krampus, thanks for the tip, I will try and get myself off their lists. I have already told the charity that I donate most to that I don't want any mail or calls from them other than my updates and it seems to have worked.