Unemployed selling joke books in the street...

[Twogoats]

Does this happen in anyone else's town?

Every day there are two men who stand in our high street trying to catch the attention of people passing so that they can sell you an overpriced joke book (£3!)

Now, I don't have a problem with what they're doing, but I don't like the way that they do it. They hold the books like they're leaflets and try to make you take it before they explain that you have to pay for it. They hold it out in front of you, and say 'there you go love' (or similar). Once it's in your hand, they take their hands away and start their sales pitch about being unemployed and so on...

I fell for it the first time, but have managed to avoid it since. I just say no thank you and walk around them (their arm usually blocks my way!)

Does anyone else have this? Ainu to want it to stop?!?

Not recently, although it's usually for 'charity' around these parts.

This happens in my town (although could be the same town?!) It is super annoying and they only seem to target women too.

Is it the "Gag Mag"? They sell those all over the place - supposedly it's works a bit like the Big Issue in that the sellers buy the magazines and then keep part of the proceeds when they sell them on to the public. But it's not linked to a charity, and there regularly seem to be complaints about the sellers being rude, abusive or pushy and aggressive. I'd get in contact with your local council trading standards and report them.

This is what a trading standards rep said on a news article about Gag Mag sellers in another town: “If people have been verbally abused or if they feel they have been misled about goods bought or were pressured into buying – please report it via Citizens Advice Consumer helpline on 03454 040506 or their website and we will investigate."

I do find them to abuse the politics of politeness. On the other hand, they're just trying to make a living...

Gah! I'm too soft to report!

No, but we have a fella who pretends to be non-verbal and hands out crappy key rings with a sob story attached, then comes back for your money.

I had this and was sold two joke books by two different guys. When a third guy tried to sell me a first one guy 1 said to not do it which I found odd. Turns out it's the same content with different covers (basically to trick me into giving £9 for the same book three times). I had already bought two and was pissed.

not in my area but that must be well annoying

Don't they need a licence?

Might be worth contacting the council although I think Police should move them on if they are made aware. Assuming you can find any Police on the streets these days.

They do it around here, but they're polite and if you don't want to buy, they say it's fine and move on. I've never had them shoved in my hands either.

They stopped them doing it here as they got so aggressive. It did help half of the jokes were usually racist, sexist, etc

They shouldnt shove it in your hands and say 'there oyu go'. report them to the council, they can lose their licence to hawk.
That used to be a favourite tactic of the Hari Krishnas in my town, and they used to ignore the adults and target kids

I haven't seen the Gag Mag, but I was in Rome earlier this year and I was in a touristy area. One of those rose-sellers came and gave a rose to a woman tourist. She seemed to genuinely think it was a gift and thanked him with a big smile. It was so funny. He then had to explain that it was 5 Euros or whatever. She didn't really understand or didn't want to pay so he took it back.

Yes, it's the 'Gag Mag'. A quick Google tells me that they don't even have an official website... Hmmmm...

The Gag Mag, and its sellers are very dodgy. Very pushy in the small Northern city with a cathedral and two unis where I live. My mum bought one once, believing it was a student thing, and the jokes in it would have been considered disgraceful in the 1970s, let alone now.

Yeah. Report them to the Council for a momentary inconvenience. Not like life isn't hard enough for them already

FFS.

Thereisnofelange

I have said that I won't be reporting them, I just don't like them.

I know that life is hard for them. It's hard for all working-class people, myself included.

Comment was directed at those who suggested it. Not you. Apologies, I should have made that clear.

I was in that city the other day and saw one guy. We are on holiday and from down south. Just big issue down our way. We declined.

i am so angry i was in pudsey leeds this week i was stopped by a man he said would you like to buy a magazine for the homeless he put his arm out to stop me walking past i noticed the mag had £3 on i said im not giving you £3 he said can you give me a donation well charity i will donate he put the mag folded in to my hand while i was trying to find some change i gave him some money he handed me the folded mag i put it in my bag and got on with my day i took it out at home and put it on my side the next day i started to read it sorry for the words delete if not allowed it said premeture ijaclation fuck this fuck that i'm no prude but i was duped i am disabled with sticks if he can sell one to me who else can he sell it to i'm angry if he would have told me it was a adult magazine i would have refused it it's disgusting some jokes are mild other ones are bordering racism and using children as examples in a dirty joke shame on the vendor and who promotes this

Zombie beaumont