Fed up of businesses aligning themselves with politics!

[thehorsehasnowbolted]

I was about to grab a turkey and cranberry sandwich yesterday at a major retailer when I noticed on the package that 5% of that purchase would go to Shelter.

Why are we being increasingly forced nowadays to contribute to causes we may not necessarily agree with in this way? Why don't businesses stick to selling goods? Why the constant virtue signalling? It's annoying

I do not intend to comment on this charity in particular, but I have seen my fair share of pensioners being out of pocket to evict problem tenants who were in a position to pay the rent and look after properties but simply didn't want to and just played the system.

The results of charities activities are not always 100% positive, so customers shouldn't be forced to contribute in this way.

Why do businesses assume that their customers agree with the charities they pick? The constant virtue signalling is patronising and insulting.

Or the sample size is minuscule, hence useless

I was about to grab a turkey and cranberry sandwich yesterday

Why were you going to grab it?

Perhaps you're unaware of the variety of research methods OP but orgs like Ipsos Mori and Yougov have regular 'sentiment' tracker surveys which are very transparent about methodology. It is very easy to add a couple of questions about say ethical shopping decisions without ending up entertaining a group of activist unemployed under 40s without the wherewithal to buy a £3 sandwich for a many hour(ed) focus group (apparently your favourite type of research method.

The surveys are neither here nor there, as those taking the time to respond are more likely to be already engaging in activism.

What’s the difference between that and you then?
Is regularly donating to your church not defined as activism then? 😂
Or are you trying to use activism as a dirty word and it’s only activism when you disagree with the agenda? (Preventing homelessness being the agenda you quite passionately disagree with)

You come across quite nasty really

Why am I nasty? Because the least I expect from a business I'm spending my money on is to value me as a customer, don't try to second guess causes I want to support or impose their morals on me?

It's not too much to ask if you think about it

have regular 'sentiment' tracker surveys

Like when they wrongly predicted the results of the last election you mean?

I'd rather my money goes towards a charity that helps homeless people than a business that does not pay it's taxes.

I'd rather my money goes towards a charity that helps homeless people than a business that does not pay it's taxes

Fair point, but we are not talking about a tax dodging conglomerate here

Wow.

You seem very triggered by this.
Again, do you scrutinize your church's spending in this manner?

Sentiment trackers are quite different from political polls in terms of methodology, OP. As a YouGov user I see the former in pretty much every survey I get sent - those little 'random' questions slipped into the main content of a survey on brand loyalties or perceptions, for example.

And if you think a massive business like M&S bases its charity donations on one single survey with a sample of about 1,000, you're very naive. This is complex, data driven marketing.

And lastly for the nth time - if you don't want to support the cause or disagree with the morals of the company, you can take your business elsewhere. It's really not hard to do.

Or toward a "church" that does not pay its taxes.

Don't like it then pick another product where 100% of the profits go to shareholders instead. .

PS supporting a charity is not aligning with politics.

I agree op, I hate it too. Just sell the sandwich. My first though was when Lush got on board with giving chest binders to children and that defund the police nonsense. Not for me. And I really liked their bath bombs too but won’t buy them anymore.

I agree 'triggered' is the right word here

It's all so narcissistic. M&S isn't trying to impose anything on you, people who politely ask for a donation don't need to be 'brazenly' resisted, no one cares if you buy a turkey sandwich or not.

This is complex, data driven marketing

Exactly, I would advise you to be sceptical of 'complex' issues you don't understand

They are not though are they? They have offered to support a charity, they have told the customer which product the donation relates to, giving you as a consumer the choice as to whether buy said product or not.

That's not second guessing anything. That's giving you, the consumer a choice.

That's giving you, the consumer a choice.

What if you had to stop on the motorway for a sandwich and it was the only place available with a few sandwiches which you liked left on the shelf. You wouldn't have much of a choice, would you?

So you’re fine with religious indoctrination but draw the line at giving charity to the homeless?

Sounds very Christian indeed.

My heart absolutely bleeds for the wealthy retired landlord pensioners you know, who have had to lower themselves to rent their assets to the less fortunate.

Exactly, I would advise you to be sceptical of 'complex' issues you don't understand

Well, data is kind of my line of work, but go you and assume I don't understand how it works.

OP resorts to whataboutery...

😂😂😂

Tell me you know nothing about consumer research without telling me you know nothing about consumer research.

Many churches are indeed huge conglomerates that don't pay tax...

Fucking hell, so Christian to begrudge a few pennies from your pre-packed sandwich (that you are privileged enough to be able to afford), going to support someone with no home that you actually put it back on the shelf. Because of some weird gripe on behalf of landlords? (who clearly can afford more than one home…).

All businesses have mission statements and values. You’re not forced to buy anything, as you proved.

That's called clutching at straws.

You still have a choice - buy or don't buy.

If it was a charity you felt very strongly against, you wouldn't even give it a thought - you wouldn't buy.