Stores collecting for charity at checkout.

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mattwnz

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#180716 19-Sep-2015 01:08

I have noticed this is becoming common place in quite a few stores in New Zealand, where you buy something at the checkout, and the counter staff memeber asks you if you want to donate something to a particular charity as part of the transaction. Does anyone else feel annoyed by this sort of thing? It seems to be quite common overseas. It makes me want to avoid physical stores and buy online instead. Some online stores do it to, but when you are buying you aren't surrounded by people in the line who may hear you say that you don't want to give $1 to a certain charity, when you have just spent $100 on something, and I wonder if it is done at a checkout to make you feel guilty if you say you don't want to give anything.

I also don't have anything against people donating to charities, and believe in donating to things like the SPCA and Guide Dogs. But I would want to chose which charity to support on my own, and don't need the help from a store to guide me to their particular charity which they choose to support.

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Smpl Mnmlst
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#1390029 19-Sep-2015 01:57

I feel the same way as you but haven't come across it at any supermarket in our area (Auckland North Shore) for well over a year.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

gzt

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#1390030 19-Sep-2015 02:07

It doesn't bother me and I appreciate the opportunity.

gzt

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#1390031 19-Sep-2015 02:12

I assume 100% is going to the charity unlike some other collection models...

marlinz

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#1390036 19-Sep-2015 06:28

My partner asks them to donate the profits from our purchase , you should see how that throws the checkout operators lol

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#1390037 19-Sep-2015 06:28

gzt: I assume 100% is going to the charity unlike some other collection models...

You'll be very surprised if you think that is the case :-)

Jase2985

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#1390044 19-Sep-2015 06:48

100% probably does go to the charity, the 100% probably doesnt go to what you are supporting though, all the overheads in the charity probably take away a bit of that.

I dont have an issue with it, we donate to a few charities but dont generally donate in store. if they can get more money out of that method good on them.

you shouldnt feel bad by saying no.

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johnr

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#1390050 19-Sep-2015 07:17

There can be a catch to these donations, The funds raised can only be spent at that retail chain and they still pay retail for the items,

Watched a good documentary about this a few months back

Bung

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#1390106 19-Sep-2015 09:39

The Warehouse is the retailer that I usually associate with this type of collection. Touching on points made already their policies seem to be all money collected at point of sale goes to the nominated organisation, it has to be for specific projects rather than administration costs and there can be discounted supply arrangements but they don't seem to be mandatory.

DizzyD

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#1390113 19-Sep-2015 10:02

mattwnz: It makes me want to avoid physical stores and buy online instead. Some online stores do it to, but when you are buying you aren't surrounded by people in the line who may hear you say that you don't want to give $1 to a certain charity, when you have just spent $100 on something, and I wonder if it is done at a checkout to make you feel guilty if you say you don't want to give anything.

I also don't have anything against people donating to charities, and believe in donating to things like the SPCA and Guide Dogs. But I would want to chose which charity to support on my own, and don't need the help from a store to guide me to their particular charity which they choose to support.

Personally I don't see anything wrong with it. If you don't want to give, then don't. Not sure why some people think they are being put on a guilt trip. Seriously why should I care about the surrounding people? I am not in the store to impress "other people" and could not care less about those people and their thoughts about me giving, or not giving!

I won't give to these sort of charities unelss is for something really really special. I normally just say no thank you. Its that simple!

Another reason as to why I don't give to these sort of charities is because I cannot claim the tax rebate for donations. All of my other donations/charities I can.

But at the end of the day, many people do give. So therefore its a good thing. And in most cases that money is being used to benefit somebody/or some family in need. Why take it away?

Talkiet

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#1390129 19-Sep-2015 10:33

"No thanks, I choose my own charities to donate to"

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linw

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#1390242 19-Sep-2015 14:27

Irritates me mildly.

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Rikkitic

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#1390271 19-Sep-2015 15:11

I put this in the same category as cold calling, and my response to both is the same. I do not respond to uninvited solicitations. I do support selected charities and I have researched them to verify how my donations are used. More than that I cannot afford so there is no point in asking me.

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richms

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#1390289 19-Sep-2015 15:30

If you worry about feeling guilty for saying no, you have big insecurity issues.

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jonathan18

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#1390302 19-Sep-2015 15:59

johnr: There can be a catch to these donations, The funds raised can only be spent at that retail chain and they still pay retail for the items,

Watched a good documentary about this a few months back

Do you recall the name?

mattwnz

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#1390314 19-Sep-2015 16:23

richms: If you worry about feeling guilty for saying no, you have big insecurity issues.

I don't, because I always say no. But I am sure there are people who do, there are a lot of vulnerable people out there, and are possibly the ones who can least afford it in the first place.

I think part of the reason for these stores collecting for charity at the checkout, is that charities are finding it more and more difficult to get donations the old fashioned way, due the increased use of these donation type websites, as people only have so much money for donations. So doing the collection request in store at the till, when you already have your wallet open and your card in the machine, makes you ripe for the picking.

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