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Post by lanena on Aug 15, 2022 17:38:23 GMT
Does anyone else feel awkward when asked if they want to donate to various causes when checking out? I’m always asked to donate at my grocery store, and today I was asked to donate at Office Depot. Supposedly the money goes towards helping the schools, and I felt weird saying no because I’m a retired teacher. There were even choices for how much you wanted to donate—$10, $20, possibly more. The cashier couldn’t believe I wasn’t donating, and I felt the need to explain that I had already spent a lot of my own money over the 31 years I taught. I am very mindful of the charities I donate to, and I always check them out first. Does anyone else feel put on the spot? Or is it just me?
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,922 
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Post by pinklady on Aug 15, 2022 17:39:26 GMT
I say no and I do not feel guilty at all.
ETA: If the cashier was pushy about it, I'd probably go semi-Karen on them.
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Post by originalvanillabean on Aug 15, 2022 17:40:01 GMT
It bothers me. You aren't going to guilt me into giving to YOUR charity.
I'll research and select my own recipients thank you very much!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 15, 2022 17:48:17 GMT
I always just say, “No thank you, not today.” And leave it at that. If I’m going to give to any charity it’s going to be something where *I* am getting the deduction, thank you very much.
As far as I’m concerned, it’s pretty lousy for these multimillion/billion dollar companies to beg their customers for money that THEY will collect and donate and then turn around and get yet another tax deduction. If the cause means that much to them, they can donate some of their own money to it.
ETA: I stand corrected on this as noted down thread, but that still doesn’t make it any less irritating to be hassled for a donation at the checkout.
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Post by cmpeter on Aug 15, 2022 17:51:10 GMT
I always decline. My donation is not going to help a corporation take a charitable deduction on their taxes. If I feel the charity they are collecting for is one I would like to support, I’ll make my own direct donation to them.
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 15, 2022 17:52:40 GMT
I usually say, "not today." No one ever says anything unless it is something like, "no problem."
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Post by birukitty on Aug 15, 2022 17:53:12 GMT
I don't like it at all when businesses ask at the register if I'd like to donate to a charity.
I always say no because I first want to research the charity and because I'll decide which charities I donate to.
It's become so frequent that these days I don't blink an eye when I say "no". I don't feel awkward, but it does annoy me.
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Post by mom on Aug 15, 2022 17:53:21 GMT
Awkward? Nope. And I don't feel guilty either. Across the board, I never donate at the checkout. Slightly irritated that they are slowing down my checkout speed? Yes.
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Post by birukitty on Aug 15, 2022 17:56:34 GMT
I always decline. My donation is not going to help a corporation take a charitable deduction on their taxes. If I feel the charity they are collecting for is one I would like to support, I’ll make my own direct donation to them. Now this is the best reason of all! I never even thought of that-you are so right! The next time someone dares to ask me "why not?" when they are asking me to contribute to a charity while I am checking out I will tell them this. Excellent reason!!! |
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Post by littlemama on Aug 15, 2022 17:56:49 GMT
Awkward? No. Guilty? No.
"Not today, thank you" is my standard response and honestly, if a cashier said anything about it, I would just repeat "Not today, thank you."
I have never had a cashier challenge my response, not would I expect them to.
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Post by littlemama on Aug 15, 2022 17:59:05 GMT
I always decline. My donation is not going to help a corporation take a charitable deduction on their taxes. If I feel the charity they are collecting for is one I would like to support, I’ll make my own direct donation to them. Now this is the best reason of all! I never even thought of that-you are so right! The next time someone dares to ask me "why not?" when they are asking me to contribute to a charity while I am checking out I will tell them this. Excellent reason!!! If a worker challenges my No thank you, there would be words. That is out of line and I have never experienced that. They ask because they are required to so Im not going to be rude about the request. I am going to be rude about any challenges to my response. |
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,922
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Post by pinklady on Aug 15, 2022 18:00:52 GMT
OMG! It never occurred to me that the corporation would take the tax donation credit! Duh! Thanks for the education! That will be my response if I get push back.
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Post by busy on Aug 15, 2022 18:04:35 GMT
I always say no, don't offer an explanation, and feel no guilt. We make our charitable donations directly. I don't want or need a company in the middle deciding where my donations go and taking part of my tax deduction for themselves.
The ones that irk me the most are at Petsmart/Petco that are SO passive aggressive "Do you want to help save the lives of homeless pets?" or something similar jfc
Yet another reason I prefer to shop at locally-owned stores who don't generally engage in these shenanigans.
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Post by peanutterbutter on Aug 15, 2022 18:06:21 GMT
I always say no thank you. I've never really had anyone challenge me on it. But besides the tax deduction Point mentioned above, I also wonder how much of that money truly makes it to the charity by the time it goes through some sort of processing Etc. I prefer to directly donate to the Charities of my choice. I figure the cashiers are asking because they have to so I won't yell at them for doing what they're required.
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 15, 2022 18:07:59 GMT
I always just say, “No thank you, not today.” And leave it at that. If I’m going to give to any charity it’s going to be something where *I* am getting the deduction, thank you very much. As far as I’m concerned, it’s pretty lousy for these multimillion/billion dollar companies to beg their customers for money that THEY will collect and donate and then turn around and get yet another tax deduction. If the cause means that much to them, they can donate some of their own money to it. I 100% agree. I’m not going to let a big company make a donation “on my behalf” and then get the tax write off. I will, however, donate to a scout troop, band fundraiser, or a local family in need. |
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,039
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Aug 15, 2022 18:13:35 GMT
I do not ever donate to these - just so used to saying no to the donation and the credit card application I hardly blink anymore and never feel guilty. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten push back on the donation but I have many times with the store credit card and that sets me off. No I DON’T Want to open a stupid store card and ding my credit by having you check it so I can save like $5 of whatever lame amount.
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christinec68
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,384
Location: New York, NY
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Post by christinec68 on Aug 15, 2022 18:15:10 GMT
I always say no and never feel guilty about it. I figure it's just a prompt on the register - I've never had any push back. If that were to happen, I'd just leave the store and shop someplace else.
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milocat
Drama Llama
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Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
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Post by milocat on Aug 15, 2022 18:18:56 GMT
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Post by gizzy on Aug 15, 2022 18:23:10 GMT
I just say no or not today. If a cashier had given me pushback, I'd be asking them to please ring their manager to come over.
My favorite charities already get my $.
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Post by busy on Aug 15, 2022 18:28:44 GMT
I stand corrected on that point, but it doesn't change anything for me. We do give directly ourselves - at least 10% of our income every year (I'm an atheist but was raised Lutheran and I guess the concept of tithing stuck  ) - and we do itemize deductions, including charitable. I always opted out of United Way drives at a previous employer for the same reasons - we do not want any intermediary between us and our donations. If these programs are getting more money to non-profits, then that's great. I am not bothered that they're asking. They're just not for me. |
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,631
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Post by edie3 on Aug 15, 2022 18:38:18 GMT
I am sure the cashiers are required to ask, but I never do this.
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,147
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Post by pilcas on Aug 15, 2022 18:39:55 GMT
I really dislike that they ask and always say no. I have my favorite charities that I like to donate to. Adding Planned Parenthood as one that will be getting donations from me.
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 5,976
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Post by pantsonfire on Aug 15, 2022 18:44:17 GMT
Never felt awkward. I guess because I worked at Best Buy as a cashier and we had to push the credit card offers on customers. Same thing...employees are told what to say.
I have a few I donate to - our Children's Hospital, American Heart Association, the grocery stores cancer walk that goes to their charity (I know people who have been helped by it), and Autism Society Inland Empire as we are members are have been directly helped by them with programs.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 15, 2022 18:46:25 GMT
I always say no, don't offer an explanation, and feel no guilt. We make our charitable donations directly. I don't want or need a company in the middle deciding where my donations go and taking part of my tax deduction for themselves. The ones that irk me the most are at Petsmart/Petco that are SO passive aggressive "Do you want to help save the lives of homeless pets?" or something similar jfcYet another reason I prefer to shop at locally-owned stores who don't generally engage in these shenanigans. I tell those people, “No thank you. I already do that every single day. All of my pets are rescues.” |
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Post by gigito7 on Aug 15, 2022 18:47:32 GMT
I don’t feel guilty. I just say no thanks and continuing giving to charities I have chosen.
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Post by tc on Aug 15, 2022 18:50:35 GMT
The only one I ever do is our local Panda Express usually has the "round up your order" and it goes to a local hospital. Yeah, sure, the change was just going to get lost under my car seat probably anyway.
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rickmer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,137
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Post by rickmer on Aug 15, 2022 18:54:14 GMT
i say no, i believe (perhaps incorrectly) they are using their customers donations for tax breaks.
especially when almost ALL our grocery stores charge for plastic bags now and not one of them has said "all money raised from bag sales will be donated to environmental charities". they just took all that money and added it to their bottom line.
i am bitter today.
i have said before when asked if i would donate: "oh, thanks but no, i donate to that charity automatically on my credit card every month! such a great cause!".
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garcia5050
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,770
Location: So. Calif.
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Post by garcia5050 on Aug 15, 2022 18:58:26 GMT
I might round up, but that’s it. I think it was pet smart that last asked me, and I said oh, the round up thing, but the amounts were higher, so I easily said no. And I never feel guilty about saying no.
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Gem Girl
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 29, 2014 19:29:52 GMT
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Post by Gem Girl on Aug 15, 2022 19:37:12 GMT
The cost of groceries anymore is enough of a shakedown for one visit, thank you.
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Post by scrapmaven on Aug 15, 2022 19:44:38 GMT
I never feel guilt. I donate to charities of my choosing. I say "not today" and haven't been questioned. If someone did, I'd probably tell them to stop and pay for my stuff and leave.
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) - and we do itemize deductions, including charitable. 
