To dislike the supermarket charity token thing?

[sniffle12]

I was asked today at the supermarket to place a token in a box as I left - to vote for my preferred charity project (presumably to receive some of the proceeds from the 5p bag tax?)

Is it just me who feels uncomfortable being asked to pick a charity (i.e. not to pick the others and therefore deny them funds they probably need just as much?) They were all for wildlife projects so it's not like it even comes down to what causes lie close to your heart. Would it be so unreasonable to just split the money evenly between them?

I ended up putting my token in the one that seemed to be the least popular just to even it out.

[piddleypower]

Obviously it's great that charities are getting money. But I have two problems with the token thingy.

Firstly I am not a child, I find it patronising to be given a little token for the thrill of posting it in a box, like a sticker or something, so I always say no thanks. I guess if you have kids with you who enjoy it then fine.

Second these are big businesses who would really like to put all local independent companies out of business, but they like to pretend they are part of the local community (by making a thing about these local charity donations and bringing it to your attention with the tokens). In my village when a local independent sweet shop was being successful Tesco introduced a pick and mix by the door, when a local butchers was opened they introduced a meat counter. It's a deliberate policy. They do not care about local community but try and pretend they do with the token thing.

Plus who gets the job of counting them anyway? Why not just donate the money - oh yeah because then customers probably wouldn't know about it.

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

I'm interested in how many people go by the "underdog" approach and put their token in the box with least tokens - I'd always assumed more people would go with the existing majority and those with more tokens already would attract more additional tokens.

I genuinely want to set up some social experiments on this. What if you don't start with empty boxes and give one a 'head start', would this charity get more or less tokens than if they started out even? What if the boxes aren't clear so people can't see which is the most popular, would the distribution by affected?

[SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace]

I base my decision on 'which of these is most likely to be damaged by/ more urgently necessary as a result of Tory cuts', if they're all worthwhile.

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

though wonder if it is done by supermarkets to try and get good publicity

Of course it is! . It gives customers a feel-good factor about their visit and makes big monolithic supermarkets seem more community-oriented.

[Botanicbaby]

Goodness OP you do realise it's not compulsory to post a charity token I hope?

"They were all for wildlife projects so it's not like it even comes down to what causes lie close to your heart. "

Wildlife projects are close to my heart. I post tokens to animal charities as my first choice every time

[ForalltheSaints]

I partake in it, though wonder if it is done by supermarkets to try and get good publicity.

[mirime]

The charity I work for got about £300 from Waitrose from this a while back. We're not the sort of charity that gets donations but one of the carers we work with nominated us which was lovely of her.

[FiveMinutesAlone]

There was a choice between 3 different community gardening projects last time I was at the supermarket.

I quite like that they give the customers some say in where the money goes. And I don't see it as "denying" money to the charity I don't pick. These are presumably charities that wouldn't be getting any money at all from the supermarkets if this kind of scheme didn't happen (unless supermarkets donate lots to charity behind the scenes?)

[2014newme]

Life's a bitch. Don't know how you get through the day op.

[madein1995]

I work for Tesco, and I think the chrities must be different at each store because mine is for the local school, a homeless project in nearest city, and a work scheme for the unemployed so all good charities. From a customers POV I don't mind it, it only takes a second, from a cashiers POV it can be a bit annoying especially when customers don't want them/insist on having more than the alloted 1 per customer.

[lokisglowstickofdestiny1]

The biggest problem with this is that the exit gets blocked by those dithering over which charity to choose. I just choose the one with the least amount of tokens and get on my way.

[thecatneuterer]

I can't see the problem. Our charity got a few hundred pounds from one last year. Not only does it raise money, it draws people's attention to the existence of local charities they may not overwise have heard of.

[BagittoGo]

I find them good at raising awareness for local charities that don't have funds for promotion. Often there will be things like a wildflower planting charity or an oap music hall charity etc.

[ILikeBeansWithKetchup]

I think its fine. I can see it can cause a bit disquiet like when it's local school's drama department and a children's disability charity but they are all beneficiaries. Its not a 'versus' situation.


I agree but , at my branch at least, the disability charity would actually get more tokens

[flossietoot]

Haven't read all the posts but is is a type of 'participatory budgeting', a model from Brazil originally I believe, and the idea is that it gives the community the chance to influence where money goes. It is becoming increasingly popular and local authorities are using this model now too.

[ILikeBeansWithKetchup]

Waitrose doesn't choose the charities : charities approach Waitrose (although they do turn them down sometimes). Charities have to go through quite a process to be in the running.

We have had loads of mental health charities at ours by the way- and they invariably 'win'.

If I don't really like the charities, I don't put a token in.

I also quite often put in in the one with the fewest tokens. That is quite often a little club .

The only thin that I find frustrating is that the bigger charities with more money in the first place often get more tokens.

Otherwise I think the principle is great. It's gets customers thinking on the way out of the shop.

[CantSleepClownsWillEatMe]

I don't understand how anyone can manage to turn this around in their head and see choosing one as "denying" other charities, such an odd take on it.

Each of the charities will get some money. Not even your money, you are only being asked to pop a plastic token in a box. Whatever sum they get by taking part in this it will be more than they would have had by not being included. I don't see a negative.

[sandgrown]

Has this happened because bag packing is not as popular because people bring their own bags?

[histinyhandsarefrozen]

The first time I ever went to Waitrose I was given a token, and handed it back saying I don't need one thank you.

Ha!

I think its fine. I can see it can cause a bit disquiet like when it's local school's drama department and a children's disability charity but they are all beneficiaries. Its not a 'versus' situation.

I was involved in one a couple of years ago, and it was fun telling everyone to put their tokens in 'my one'. Good marketing all round really.

[SoulAccount]

If you agonise about how to allot a plastic token that represents 0.01% of a decision to award a charity £300 or £250 it must be awful getting through other areas of your life!

[RNBrie]

I really like them. My children like putting the tokens in but my eldest asks me about each charity and we talk about what they do and make a decision who to support. It's made us more aware of the charities in our local area and it's giving her an awareness that life isn't always peachy for everyone.

[Eminybob]

The first time I ever went to Waitrose I was given a token, and handed it back saying I don't need one thank you.

I thought it was to get out of the car park! It was only on my way out I clocked the charity thing and realised. The cashier must have thought what a heartless bitch

[BigGreenOlives]

The charities have to apply, our local Waitrose didn't get many charities applying so the charity I applied for was picked again. It is not well known so didn't get much either time.

[Squills]

Surely it's the same whenever you give to charity - you obviously pick a charity whose cause is close to your heart/one you feel deserving. I can't see why you have a problem.

[AlmostAJillSandwich]

I go to both Tesco and asda at least twice a week, never been given a token to put in anything