Guilt tripping Big Issue seller - Small vent!

Laura_Scotland

I'm used to seeing Big Issue sellers outside supermarkets and always smile and say "no thanks" politely and carry on walking inside.

But, this afternoon when I went to our local Scotmid Co-op the woman at the entrance asked me and when I said no, she then said "please, I want to go home, please it's cold..." in a begging way! I still said no, but it got me thinking why do supermarkets allow sellers to stand in the doorway like that? I'll still go back as it's nearby and handy for bread etc, but I'd imagine it'd put some people off going in!

I know it's helping homeless people etc, but I just thought it was over the top!

Ectophile

I used to buy a Big Issue whenever I saw someone selling it.

But then the price started rising, and the sellers informed me that most of that price rise went to the Big Issue, and not the sellers.

Eventually, I decided that the magazine was becoming a rip-off. I generally avoid sellers now. I don't like doing it, but at the same time, I don't see why I should be giving so much to the Big Issue for such a thin magazine.

torbrex

the magazine is to help the homeless but he wanted to go home :huh:

The only people I see selling these things also smoke so there is not a chance they will ever get a penny from me and I tell them why every time.

hollydays

torbrex wrote: »

the magazine is to help the homeless but he wanted to go home :huh:

The only people I see selling these things also smoke so there is not a chance they will ever get a penny from me and I tell them why every time.

You don't want to do business with smokers?
Does that apply to all your business transactions?

ElefantEd

Not all homeless people sleep on the streets, and might well describe a hostel or other temporary accommodation as 'home'. Also, as far as I know Big Issue sellers could also have been recently homeless or otherwise vulnerable to homelessness.

I agree that it's annoying if a seller gets too pushy but I can also understand why. I think that if they do start begging then they aren't allowed to sell any more (if BI management find out) as this is against the rules. The vast majority of BI sellers I've come across adhere to this rule, I'm glad to say. I'm also glad that supermarkets show at least some humanity and let BI sellers have a pitch outside. They are easy to ignore if you don't want to buy one for whatever reason.

And whilst I hate smoking, again I can see why someone in that position - particularly if they are addicted - chooses to spend their own money to buy ciggies. I'd rather they didn't (just like I'd rather everyone didn't), but it's up to them as adults.

Laura_Scotland

Ectophile wrote: »

I used to buy a Big Issue whenever I saw someone selling it.

But then the price started rising, and the sellers informed me that most of that price rise went to the Big Issue, and not the sellers.

Eventually, I decided that the magazine was becoming a rip-off. I generally avoid sellers now. I don't like doing it, but at the same time, I don't see why I should be giving so much to the Big Issue for such a thin magazine.

Their website says 'The Big Issue is a magazine sold by homeless and long-term unemployed people. Vendors buy copies for £1.25 and sell for £2.50', I'm not sure how much it was before though, I confess I've never bought one! On the page about this week's issue they say one of their vendors was able to make enough money for a flat deposit, I'd imagine that's quite rare.

Maybe there's a better way of doing it, like a thicker fortnightly/monthly magazine for the same price or something :think:

torbrex wrote: »

the magazine is to help the homeless but he wanted to go home :huh:

The only people I see selling these things also smoke so there is not a chance they will ever get a penny from me and I tell them why every time.

I wasn't sure if she meant that she couldn't go 'home' (?) until she'd sold enough copies or something.

Ah, I've never noticed any smoking before, usually the sellers I see are at supermarket doorways, but the ones in the centre of Edinburgh aren't either!

ElefantEd wrote: »

Not all homeless people sleep on the streets, and might well describe a hostel or other temporary accommodation as 'home'. Also, as far as I know Big Issue sellers could also have been recently homeless or otherwise vulnerable to homelessness.

I agree that it's annoying if a seller gets too pushy but I can also understand why. I think that if they do start begging then they aren't allowed to sell any more (if BI management find out) as this is against the rules. The vast majority of BI sellers I've come across adhere to this rule, I'm glad to say. I'm also glad that supermarkets show at least some humanity and let BI sellers have a pitch outside. They are easy to ignore if you don't want to buy one for whatever reason.

That's true. Their website says it's 'a magazine published on behalf of and sold by homeless or vulnerably housed people.'

I just think people should be able to choose whether to buy one or not without the guilt tripping. Maybe a warning against begging would be enough, I'm not sure about contacting the management though as I'd feel bad if she got in trouble! If it happens again I might do though.

daytona0

Have you ever heard of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

If a big seller turned round to me and said "please, I want to go home, please it's cold..." then I would stop, but not for the same reason as you...

I'm sorry, Laura, but you are asking the wrong questions in your post

torbrex

hollydays wrote: »

You don't want to do business with smokers?
Does that apply to all your business transactions?

When they are begging for money in the street but can afford to smoke then they don't deserve to get any money.

Laura_Scotland

daytona0 wrote: »

Have you ever heard of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

If a big seller turned round to me and said "please, I want to go home, please it's cold..." then I would stop, but not for the same reason as you...

I'm sorry, Laura, but you are asking the wrong questions in your post

I've just been reading about it. But, I'm not sure what exactly you mean. Are you implying that the woman needed help/saving or was being forced to sell the Big Issue against her will? From my perspective she was simply saying that to make me feel sorry for her and buy one rather than anything more sinister.

daytona0

Laura_Scotland wrote: »

I've just been reading about it. But, I'm not sure what exactly you mean. Are you implying that the woman needed help/saving or was being forced to sell the Big Issue against her will? From my perspective she was simply saying that to make me feel sorry for her and buy one rather than anything more sinister.

I suppose you could say that I am questioning why you didn't do the humanistic thing and buy the cold woman a hot coffee/pasty, if you were so against helping them to meet their sales quota...

I don't see begging per se, I just see a cold woman at a bad place in life.

hollydays

torbrex wrote: »

When they are begging for money in the street but can afford to smoke then they don't deserve to get any money.

The big issue is a business . They buy the issue and sell it. How is thT begging?