I have a new gripe. It's in the grocery stores where the check out clerk asks if you want

[shraby]

to donate a dollar to some charity the store is backing..they ask every customer. We checked on the charity and the CEO of the charity either is making mega bucks or it's impossible to find what his salary is.
This is happening in many stores, not just the grocery store, but many other types.

It's unfair to the checkout girl/boy who has to ask (beg) for the charity and is unfair to the customer who either has to give a dollar or say no and feel like a piker.
A can at the check out is sufficient and the customer is not pressured to put anything in it if they want to collect for a charity.

I tell them no and why and that it should not be done and why. We even called the manager to complain about it but it appears he is either getting a kickback or doesn't care what the customers think.

[monmouth4]

1. I get that at Publix. I just say "Not today." I don't trust any of them...n/t

[randome]

2. The manager probably doesn't have a choice if it's a large corporate chain.

I would think most people decline so you shouldn't feel badly about doing the same.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

[Sherman A1]

3. Precisely

If it is something that is directed by the main office, the store manager has little choice but to comply as do the checkers and baggers. If anyone wants to make a difference they should call the company's consumer affairs department or post something to their FaceBook page (which I guarantee are monitored like hawks).

[randome]

5. A Facebook posting. That's a good idea.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]All things in moderation, including moderation.[/center][/font][hr]

[PeaceNikki]

4. I appreciate the power in numbers that they have and can always spare a buck or so for a good one.

It seems petty to be irked by this. Say no thank you and go on with your day.

[shraby]

6. Which I do, but for the clerk who has to beg for them, it's wrong to expect them to do it. They

don't earn enough to have to do that.
I don't think it's petty at all.
If the ceo of the charity wants the money, he can beg for it.

[PeaceNikki]

8. Meh. Life is too short to be *bothered* by anybody's efforts to help others.

Carry on.

[sabrina 1]

13. I said no to a clerk after reading how much goes to the CEOs of these 'charities'. The clerk THANKED

ME and said they are FORCED to make the request or possibly lose their jobs.

Anything that is coerced like that is suspect.

I totally agree with you, it is wrong to make the clerks ask for money.

I knew it was not her fault, and told her so.

[Golden Raisin]

7. Nancy Reagan it. Just say no.

[n2doc]

9. I don't feel bad saying no

I give to whom I want to, when I want to.

[NJCher]

10. easy, true answer

I say thank you, but my practice is to donate only to animal charities. I don't feel I need to explain why, but I will tell my friends at DU that I have a greater empathy for animals than humans.


Cher

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. They're just doing their job and aren't going to be hurt if you say no.

Complain to the organization, don't tell a cashier (who's just trying to eke out a living) why. That's an unfair burden on someone who has nothing to do with it. It's like when I worked at MCDs and we had to say,"Would you like anything else with that" and/or "Can I interest you in pie for dessert?" to every customer.

It's not worth it.

[sabrina 1]

14. I was told by a cashier, who thanked me for saying no and explaining why to her, letting her know

I knew it was not her decision, that they are being FORCED to make the request or suffer consequences. She thanked me for explaining and agreed with my reasons. Iow, so much of that money goes to the CEOs of these 'charitable' organizations, I would rather give to REAL charities, not Corporate 'Charities'.

If enough people complain about this despicable practice, it will help the workers who mostly find it embarrassing to be asking for money from customers.

They don't get paid much to begin with, now they are being forced to help already wealthy morons make even more money.

At least pay them for the work and give them a choice as to whether they want the job or not. Free labor stinks.

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. It's not something I'll ever do because cashiers take enough crap from the average

customer.

Otherwise, I agree with everything you said. As long as we're complaining to the right people. The cashier will never be one of them, even if she agrees with me.

[sabrina 1]

22. Actually there isn't any reason to 'complain' to the cashier. I said 'no' and didn't want her

to think she had not done a good job. So I explained why. She thanked me and told me they are being forced to ask the question and they do not like it.

[BlueJazz]

12. I give once in awhile but usually say "I just gave on my last trip here"

[2naSalit]

18. I tell them it's against my religion

and "No, thanks".

[BlueJazz]

38. That wouldn't work with my cashier. I need to quit shopping there.. :)

[2naSalit]

40. !!!

Yeah, I'd be looking at shopping elsewhere too if I had to face that along with beg-a-thon type questions.

Eeeesch!

[BlueJazz]

42. Wouldn't it be fun if we could elect left-wing-intelligent Werewolves ?

Talk about kicking ass!

"The Republican Senator Billy-Bob won't be with us today"
"Did ol' Billy-Bob eat something that make him sick?"
"Ah...the eating part you got right..."

[HassleCat]

16. I Like It

It gives me a chance to turn them down and show them I'm a grumpy, stingy, old man who sits at home and curses liberals while watching Fox News. A couple times, I said, "No. I don't like that particular charity." Whooo... boy! You should see the looks I get with that one.

[Skittles]

19. STOP IT HASSLECAT

YER KILLING ME

[bedazzled]

17. i work at goodwill and they MAKE US ASK

not only that, they have implemented a tracking system.

guess they'll fire you if you don't collect enough.

[bigwillq]

20. I usually just say no

and then get on with my life.

I sometimes give, if I have enough money on me, but I normally say no and never give it a second thought.

[progressoid]

21. Ugh, K-Mart does it.

And then spits out about a half dozen coupons with the receipt.

[PeaceNikki]

30. They've raised over $37 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital "doing that".

It's really sad that people see that as annoying.

[pintobean]

33. +1

[PeaceNikki]

34. I have a new gripe - when people who call themselves Democrats complain about large companies

using their power for a little bit of good in the world.

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/philanthropy/22856-checkout-charity-how-do-the-pennies-add-up.html

[pintobean]

36. Thanks for the link

We usually give a little at Petsmart, too. They do a lot with local pet shelters.

[Vinca]

23. That bugs me, too, but it's easy to say no.

It probably sucks being a cashier so I don't make a big deal out of it.

[hamsterjill]

24. I don't donate in instances like this.

The store forces its employees to ask for donations, then the store gets recognition for the compiled donations. Much like companies are recognized for contributions to United Way, etc.

I support local charities. In my own case that is almost always an animal welfare organization. I give to those organizations that I am familiar with and know that they use the money for the desired purpose - not for some CEO to be able to go on television and talk about how much money was raised for charity, etc.

[mnhtnbb]

25. I have no problem saying, "no, thanks."

[yeoman6987]

26. Tough to say anything when they are a private company

Doing charity. I think it is awesome in fact. God forbid the store raise money for the poor.

[Nye Bevan]

27. Agree. I like to research charities and donate to the ones that support my favorite causes,

and are efficient enough that most of my donation helps the good cause. I do not like to donate $1 to a charity I'm unfamiliar with. But saying no makes me feel like a mean asshole.

[GeorgeGist]

28. Guess who gets credit for the donation ...

and a collection fee?

[procon]

37. Yeah, that's the deal breaker for me.

The corporate owners of the stores get a large tax break for 'their' charitable contribution of my money, and all I get is a debit charge for my big hearted donation.I feel sorry for the clerks who have no choice but to shill for their employers.

[Ms. Toad]

44. Actually, they don't.

http://abc7news.com/archive/7963573/

Not their money being given, they don't get the tax write-off.

[alc]

29. they ask for Susan G. Komen a lot where I shop

I give a dollar any time I'm there except when Susan G. Komen is interfering with my sports that week - and I let them know why. I'm usually at the store 3-5 times a week and give $3-$5 a few times a year.

My gripe is when I want to watch sports (escape reality) and I spend 3-4 hours hearing about breast cancer every few minutes and seeing pink constantly. I'm not used to seeing pink in MLB or NFL and it is distracting from the game.

[asiliveandbreathe]

31. Reminds me of the stores we had all over the country (big - huge)

back in the eighties...(it was new in '79 and they were wonderful and full of functioning decorative items - although they closed in '96) one year evidently some crony outside of the corp. ask to have us introduce an add-on at the counter for $9.99.."would you like to purchase a pen?" - we were not in the business of selling pens..so I told everyone to put a pen in the bag...the reps loved it!

Although not for charity - just for some chump looking to make money in our stores..and someone in the corp. said okay!

No - I can't tell you what corp...but I bet lots of you have one or two in your home...

Oh, our pet peeves..

and yes, the cashiers are just doing their job..a simple no thank you is appreciated....

I like a CAN at the counter though....our store during the summer has a bin for bottles of water to be donated...

[aikoaiko]

32. i just say, "no thank you". I never thought about getting angry about it.

[pintobean]

35. Most people swipe a card

so a can is useless. I can't afford to give most of the time, so I just say 'no thanks' with a smile. It's really easy, and the smile is usually returned, so I walk away in a good mood.

[marlakay]

39. Safeway used to do this

I think a bunch of people must have complained because they haven't done it in awhile.

[flvegan]

41. So the store manager is getting a kickback now?

I find this intriguing. Please explain that position.

[951-Riverside]

43. I don't mind, I just tell them "not today" and that ends it

I do mind when they announce it over the PA

"We've got another donation at checkstand #X WHOO HOOO!"



No, just no!

[LeftyMom]

45. Have you ever done retail work? Store managers have no control over this.

At most they can mention your concern to their regional manager, who still has no control over this.

However the cashiers are evaluated about things like this (and offering upsell items and signing people up for store cards) and in many chains can have their hours cut or be terminated if they don't do them consistently.

Don't be a dick to the people at your local store, they're just doing their jobs. If this really bugs you email the corporate office.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

46. It is annoying.

The only thing that might stop it is enough complaints directly to corporate, not that cashier or location manager.