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Charities

Asking for a donation.

(69 Posts)
mum2three Wed 13-Nov-24 06:38:03

I am a frequent visitor to charity shops and I always give a donation on top of paying for the items I have bought. I'm sure most people do this.
Recently, one of the local charity shops has started actually asking for a donation, which I think is very off-putting. I'm afraid I shall boycott that shop in future.
What do others feel about this?

Calendargirl Wed 13-Nov-24 06:49:38

I’m sure most people do this

I don’t. I donate goods, I buy goods, but I don’t offer any more donations.

NotSpaghetti Wed 13-Nov-24 07:06:05

Some other shops (grocery stores and do-it-yourself shops for example) ask at the till or want you to "round up" for charity. Usually it's on the card machine.

I actually don't like it but apparently they do get a lot of people saying "yes" so it does work. The Screwfix Foundation, for example, has raised millions in the "rounding up pennies" for small scale d-i-y projects and cancer support over the years.

I say I don't like it but have actually still done it in Screwfix only this week!
grin

baubles Wed 13-Nov-24 07:11:52

The till in ‘my’ charity shop asks if a donation is to be added after the sale has been entered. The customer cannot see this so we are supposed to ask, I don’t feel comfortable doing this so I ignore it as do all the volunteers and paid managers.

Calendargirl Wed 13-Nov-24 07:20:39

I don’t feel comfortable doing this so I ignore it

I think that says it all. You’ve made your purchase, why should you feel ‘bullied’ into giving more? I bet the staff (volunteers) do feel bad asking.

I see Tescos is asking for volunteers to approach shoppers and encourage them to buy goods to then donate for worthy causes.

Making you feel guilty if you don’t.

ferry23 Wed 13-Nov-24 08:24:06

I do tell them to round it up if it's near to a whole pound, but other than that I just pay the price.

I donate goods, and I also donate money to charities that I have personally selected.

Asking at the point of sale is chugging in a different form, and I would be more likely NOT to give. I won't be guilt tripped thank you.

Maggiemaybe Wed 13-Nov-24 08:25:33

Yes, our local foodbank is looking for “smiley” volunteers to approach Tesco shoppers as they arrive and offer them bags of donations that they then pay for at the till. I can see that this will be good for the foodbank, but there are bound to be people who are barely able to afford their own shopping who’ll be embarrassed into taking one.

NotSpaghetti Wed 13-Nov-24 08:29:09

At Morrisons you can pick up pre-bagfed items for the food bank.

I shop online mainly. You can add a cash donation to their food bank. I discovered this during lockdown and think it is a good idea.

NotSpaghetti Wed 13-Nov-24 08:32:11

Forgot to say, Ocado doubles all donations (in food) so if you do, say a £2.50 cash donation they offer £5 in food to the charities.

EkwaNimitee Wed 13-Nov-24 08:38:06

I don't mind adding a donation if shopping or booking something online but face to face, it seems like emotional blackmail to me as you feel bad if you want to say no. Even if I know the small amount means nothing to me but could mean a lot to the charity. I always felt the same about tins being waved about in the street...and where have they gone now, I'm glad to say?!

foxie48 Wed 13-Nov-24 08:55:26

I don't mind being asked and I don't have a problem saying no. What did annoy me was I made a big donation to a Go Fund Me for someone I know who has had a life changing injury in her early 20s. I ended up having an extra 15% taken off my credit card as a tip to help run the site. Tbh it was very unclear and they did give me the money back but just beware! I have several annual donations to the charities that I support so I don't automatically want to donate extra money.

petra Wed 13-Nov-24 09:08:04

Customers are just as likely to ask for a discount in the charity shop where I volunteer.
Only yesterday we had a customer wanting to pay £5 for a brand new Lakeland pasta maker. It hadn’t even been out of the box. We had it for sale at £10.

Lovetopaint037 Wed 13-Nov-24 09:50:48

We keep getting chuggers at the door. I hate to be asked to sign up to give regular donations. I give donations to charity shops and will donate to charities from time to time. I feel guilty saying no but don't wish to be bound to a set amount every month.

Lovetopaint037 Wed 13-Nov-24 09:52:42

Ps also don’t care for being asked to donate to some charity after I have bought something. Feel hijacked.

Allira Wed 13-Nov-24 10:47:09

You can donate your supermarket vouchers to charity online if you wish.

Allira Wed 13-Nov-24 10:48:24

Lovetopaint037

We keep getting chuggers at the door. I hate to be asked to sign up to give regular donations. I give donations to charity shops and will donate to charities from time to time. I feel guilty saying no but don't wish to be bound to a set amount every month.

No, don't feel guilty.

Some are scammers.
I got scammed but luckily it was only a fiver, I'd never sign up for anything at the door or in the street.

TheWeirdo Wed 13-Nov-24 11:02:00

Various charity shops have become increasingly greedy over time. I buy from charity shops and donate things to them but if staff ask me to actually donate money then I'll walk out and never return!

eddiecat78 Wed 13-Nov-24 16:24:30

I use my local Barnardo's charity shop often - donating and buying. Yesterday I bought Christmas cards costing £12 and was asked if I'd like to "round it up". That's the first time I've been asked. I declined. The term "round it up" is meaningless in these circumstances and probably should be replaced by "would you like to pay more for your purchase than the ticketed price?"
I was irritated and it is totally wrong to ask this of someone who could be shopping at charity shops because they can't afford anything else

hulahoop Wed 13-Nov-24 16:42:20

I give to charities, but raffle tickets, donate goods to food bank but I wouldn't like to be approached by someone asking me to pay for a bag of goods in the supermarket,I don't think it's good practice when a lot of people are struggling to pay for their own shopping but are embarrassed to say no.

Patsy70 Wed 13-Nov-24 17:12:23

I volunteer at a charity shop and we do not ask shoppers to ‘round up’ or donate extra. We feel embarrassed charging 25p for plastic carrier bags, when we used to use recycled bags, if required. However, most people bring their own these days. We also get customers asking for a discount or bartering petra. Unbelievable! They have to be reminded that this is a ‘charity’ shop. 🙄

Tenko Wed 13-Nov-24 20:04:09

I also volunteer in a charity shop and we don’t ask customers if they want to round up the items sold and I’d feel very uncomfortable if I was asked to do so . I feel bad about charging 10p for a bag . We keep the bags customers bring their stuff in and use those .
And yes we also get customers bartering or asking for a discount. And often on new clothes with tags .

Pippa22 Thu 14-Nov-24 12:42:13

When I am on the till at “ my “ Charity shop we are supposed to ask if people would like to round up but I never do even though we have a weekly target for rounding up.
We get people bartering too. who say you get it free so why not just sell it cheaper ? It is also surprising and really sad I think how much stuff is stolen, we have our regulars ! It’s really very annoying because if anybody asked for clothes we can and do kit them out with something warm or dry if it’s raining and they are wet.

GinJeannie Thu 14-Nov-24 12:48:27

I volunteer in our local village community shop and was asked if we did free top ups of our hot drinks. All of our profit goes into the village community fund!

mabon1 Thu 14-Nov-24 12:49:50

I never make a donation when I buy, (everything they receive is given freely and with a good heart))because I take stuff and buy stuff. That charity shop has a real cheek asking for a donation. You need to be registered carrying a box
in the street, otherwise it is illegal and one is not allowed to approach people to ask for donations.

Mojack26 Thu 14-Nov-24 12:56:27

My pet hate are the ones that rattle tins at you going into or out of a shop! 1. I have direct debits for charities I support. 2. Makes me feel bad when I say no, gyess that's the point. 3. I don't carry cash very often now.