AIBU to expect change from a Big Issue seller

[TheBigIssues]

So yesterday when out in town, and feeling the need to do something good I bought an edition of the Big Issue from a homeless woman, but asked for change.

The magazine was £4 and I paid with a £5 note. She didn't offer any change so I asked for it. She seemed a bit surprised, but quite happily handed over £1.

I mentioned this to my partner and he said it was a bit mean and unreasonable, and ultimately better to let her keep the fiver as she needs the £1 more than I do. He even said it might even be priced at £4 to encourage this behaviour.

What do you all think?

😆

Big issue isn't what is was, looking at their website, anyone can sell it. So, unless you definitely knew they were homeless, then no you weren't being unreasonable.

Wtf have I just read. Of course it’s ok to ask for your change! The whole point about Big Issue is that’s it’s not a handout. And I say this as someone who regularly gives buskers fivers.

I thought the idea of The Big Issue was to allow people to feel that they are doing a job, being paid for something worthwhile. The sellers buy the magazines to sell. Then they sell them on to customers. Is the model not the very opposite of charity?

If change is due, give the customer their change! If they want to tip you, it will be their choice. If you want charitable donations, that ought to be separate from the job of selling The Big Issue. OP, your money is yours to do with what you want. You are not unreasonable to expect to be given your change.

Ah we must pass through the same areas. They say the same. I'm on a low income so four quid is a meal to me. I've stopped doing it now and just donate to the food bank when I can.

I think it's stingy to expect change. If you had paid with a £10 note that would be different

I always let them keep the change but yes, in principle, I suppose there's nothing wrong with getting the change.

Why do you think it is stingy? The product has a price and OP paid the price. One can expect to be given change when purchasing any other product, but The Big Issue is an exception?

You asked for change ?

Of a £1

Wow

Esp as a homeless /big issue seller

What do you all think?

I think it's a complete non event.

They are not homeless. It's an organised group that sell them now. Doesn't work like it used to

This. Shameful behaviour from you OP

I've seen one Big Issue seller at the same pitch for at least ten years now. He can't still be homeless.

They already have that. It's called first class.

YANBU OP and this is precisely why I don't buy the Big Issue, give to chuggers or anything of that sort. Especially as a lot of this seems related to organized gangs.
I'm a regular supporter of carefully chosen charities that's enough.

There was a long thread on MN about the Big Issue. Quite an eye opener. The takeaway was that it's been taken over by Eastern Europeans who are not homeless.

It’s no longer an organisation for helping the homeless, so it was good of you to buy one at all.

NOT shameful at all. Maybe OP could spare £4 not £5. Or maybe that was what she wanted to donate - it’s pricey for a magazine anyway.
Totally unreasonable of the seller not to give change. A price advertised should be respected .

The Big Issue seller in one of my local towns has been there for well over ten years.

She's a permanent fixture now.

Hahahaha at 'Oh it's my last one'...

a/ It isn't there's more in your bag hidden behind that bin over there.
b/ (more so for some pitches than others of course) - go and pick up some more!

Age old trick that, just have one or two in the plastic sleeve and hide the rest. Ditto the not offering change unless it is asked for, though to be fair there, most people do say 'keep the change' to the point where you pretty much expect people to say that.

Also, giving your badge to someone else (hide the photo on it under a scarf) to sell your mags whilst you go for a wee/food/drink/hit of whatever round the corner (which is how I know the above, ahh, my misspent youth.)

I don’t buy Big Issue anymore because it’s not worth £4 a copy.

Long time lurker here, came across this post and decided to make an account as I can probably answer a few questions.

I used to sell the big issue around 4/5 years ago when I was homeless.

I had to pay a deposit for the red vest that you are required to wear, it cost around £20.

You need to have the big issue photo ID, if you don't have it you will be I trouble.

you buy the magazine for half the price its sold at, so i paid £1.25 per copy and sold them for £2.50.

The magazine changes every Monday to a new issue, if you are caught selling last week's issue you will be in trouble, if you haven't sold the copies you nought by the next Monday then you need to bin them.

There is a map of pitches, you get given a pitch to stand at and you must stay there, you will get in trouble if you go to someone else's pitch to try and sell.

.

There is a rule that you don't take any tips or keep any of the money offered apart from the £2.50, but the people who ran the big issue in my city never gave people trouble for it.

And lastly I always gave change straight away, I never assumed I could keep it no matter how big or small, but yes if someone told me to keep the change then I thanked them and kept it.

Oh and I also always gave the magazine but it did pain me when people took the magazine and then instantly binned it.

Agreed. I cant get worked up over this, if I buy something from a charity shop I accept the change they give me. Doesnt make me some kind of heartless monster.

If they want to get a fiver then they should raise the price to £5. NBD.

@CherryPie09 Thanks for posting. How are you doing now? I hope things are better for you.
If you don't mind me asking, how did you move on from selling the Big Issue?
No worries if you would rather not say, just hope you are doing ok.

£2.50 to £4 - massive jump!
I'm glad you're no longer homeless and presumably, the magazine sales served their purpose?

R.e binning. John Bird aimed to create a high quality magazine that people would actually WANT to buy. Edited by professional journalists etc.
However many people now IME just think the Big Issue is solely filled with article about homelessness etc and you only buy it as a donation. Hence the binning.

Magazines themselves are a dying breed, most people read digital editions these days.