Vent - Charity Shops Again -'are spending less than half of cash on good work'

LadyDee

Goldiegirl wrote: »

If charity shops make people so angry, why do you still shop there?

If it was any other type of shop people would vote with their feet, and go else where.

But I guess the lure of getting something cheap makes people overlook their anger

It's the lure of not being able to afford to go elsewhere. I certainly can't afford to buy many clothes in M&S etc., and now winter's here there aren't even any car boot sales.

Goldiegirl

But there's still the likes of eBay and Facebook, and probably jumble sales too, it doesn't have to be charity shops.

Takeaway_Addict

117pauline wrote: »

One of the most maddening things I find is the number of charity shops who prop their doors open in winter and also have the blower fan on over the door.

thats just good business sense, people are subconciously more likely to go through an open door that they don't have to open

Pollycat

Sort-of on-topic, does anyone find those charity adverts that ask for specific donation amounts annoying?

Just heard one for sightsavers.org asking for £120! :eek:

Charities asking for specific amounts would put me off donating anything at all.

Azari

Pollycat wrote: »

Sort-of on-topic, does anyone find those charity adverts that ask for specific donation amounts annoying?

Just heard one for sightsavers.org asking for £120! :eek:

Charities asking for specific amounts would put me off donating anything at all.

I agree.

Rather than suggestions it is much better to provide hints in the form of "This is what this amount can do".

Having one or more suggested amounts that start at high sums would make most people feel mean filling in the 'own amount' box for a much smaller amount. (Even though, in reality, no human is ever likely to see what you've done.)

Malthusian

Pollycat wrote:

Sort-of on-topic, does anyone find those charity adverts that ask for specific donation amounts annoying?

Just heard one for sightsavers.org asking for £120!

I actually prefer that to those which say "Just £2 a month can [dig a well / feed a child for a month etc]". They don't want £2 a month, they want your phone number and Direct Debit authority so they can ring you up at all hours and harrass you until you verbally agree to increase it to £10 a month, £20 a month or more. At least "We need £120" sounds honest.

Pollycat

Malthusian wrote: »

I actually prefer that to those which say "Just £2 a month can [dig a well / feed a child for a month etc]". They don't want £2 a month, they want your phone number and Direct Debit authority so they can ring you up at all hours and harrass you until you verbally agree to increase it to £10 a month, £20 a month or more. At least "We need £120" sounds honest.

Can't you say 'no'?

I give a small monthly amount to a national charity (and have done for probably 20 years.
I was rung by a company hired by the charity on the prextet of 'thanking me' for my continued support.
Part way through the call, she mentioned fund raising by means of a lottery. I challenged her that she had not really rung to 'thank' me at all but to try to get more money out of me.
I complained very strongly to the charity and told them it was simply not acceptable to pester people in their own homes asked for more money.

I asked them to remove me from their mailing list & call list and that if I received one more letter or phone call from the charity or any organisation acting on their behalf asking for more money, I would cancel my direct debit immediately.

It worked.

Missus_Hyde

Malthusian wrote: »

They don't want £2 a month, they want your phone number and Direct Debit authority so they can ring you up at all hours and harrass you until you verbally agree to increase it to £10 a month, £20 a month or more. At least "We need £120" sounds honest.

We were in a local garden centre with our cocker spaniel and there was a charity collector for a well known dog charity. He started talking to my husband, complimenting us on our spaniel and was suggesting that we donate some money to sponsor one of their rescue dogs and help to pay their vet fees.

However, when questioned more closely it transpired that he was not at all interested in us making a one off donation (which I was perfectly happy to do) but actually wanted us to sign up for a direct debit to make continuous payments to them. I was really annoyed, as I felt that this "chugger" had taken advantage of the fact that we had our spaniel with us and so were obviously dog lovers and as soon as he wanted our bank details, we backed off and told him in no uncertain terms that there was absolutely no chance.

He was crafty and drew us in by being very friendly and chatting about our dog and so thereby making it more difficult for us to refuse (or so he thought.....his mistake!! ) It left a really sour taste in our mouths and I posted a rebuke on the charity's Facebook page about their charity collectors, to which they responded, asking me for details.

I've yet to hear back from them!

hollydays

When charity collectors approach me-I immediately say" does this involve me giving you my bank details, because I won't".
Blunt I know but they usually say yes and at least they've not wasted their breath on me.

Potternerd

I love charity shops; I can't understand why everyone is being so churlish. Fantastic bargains and helping others. If you don't like their business practices, good luck with finding something more ethical.

I also can't be doing with anything the Daily Mail wants to get righteous about; its a hideous rag. And as for "my friend worked in a charity shop..." Why didn't they challenge it?