"Greeters" in shops

JReacher1

Gavin83 wrote: »

Are you saying it's not true?

I know for a fact the big issue seller in my town owns his own house. He also has a gym membership as I've seen him in there and he even has his gym kit next to him while he's selling his big issue. Doesn't sound like someone who's hard up to me. He's been selling for ages as well, easily 10 years. I know this first hand, it's not info that's been passed on.

Not saying it true in all cases and I'm sure it does some good but it's certainly not true all big issue sellers are needy.

I don't think it is true. Selling the big issue is not a lucrative career. You basically make about £15 a day (on a good day).

Those people who claim that Big Issue salesman are actually reasonably well off and do it for the money are frankly being slightly deluded or have been mislead.

What you may think is a bag containing his Gym kit could in fact just be a bag of his clothes as he is homeless (where else can he leave his stuff). He may be in your gym as you can join some gyms for about £15 a month. That is not a bad price to have access to a shower, toilet and heating.

JReacher1

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

Isn't that the point? When you buy the big issue you are not supposed to be doing it as an act of charity...you are supposed to be carrying out a business transaction because you actually want the magazine.Surely the whole idea is that they make money from it, and pay for things with said money.

If you don't think the magazine is worth the money you shouldn't be buying it; it's just a waste of the printing costs.

Its not worth the cost but people buy it for the charity aspect. If the money didn't go to support the homeless it would cost no more than £1. The fact it goes to the homeless gives it an inflated price.

Gers

Back to 'greeters' - after using my local branch the other week I got a researcher calling asking about the service I received.

One question is always 'were you greeted at the door by a member of staff'?' It must be bank policy. I have to answer 'no' and then qualify it by explaining that my rural branch has two members of staff, one of whom is the manager, and there's no space for anyone to greet customers as it's almost a cupboard!

My mum's RBS branch has greeters, one tried to send her to a machine. Not only is my mum 88 (a bit techno-savvy though) she's incredibly deaf so couldn't hear the instructions, got upset and then taken to the head of the queue for a teller!

System

I hate third parties - double glazing, charities, Virgin Media etc putting up temporary stands in supermarkets.

They are intimidating, annoying and get in the way.

One of my friends who works in a small supermarket, they have stopped anyone doing this as one companies had numerous complaints as the two people were rude etc to customers.

I wish other shops take note.

Let people donate to charity, look into double glazing etc contact them

System

What annoys me with some bank branches, they have massive branches in which they have a couple of cashier points in the furthest corner of the entrance, a reception desk, a couple of appointment rooms/booths and five ATMs.

Has anyone noticed this? Why do they need this much wasted space? Could easily put the stuff in an unit a third of the size.

Pollycat

ScarletMarble wrote: »

What annoys me with some bank branches, they have massive branches in which they have a couple of cashier points in the furthest corner of the entrance, a reception desk, a couple of appointment rooms/booths and five ATMs.

Has anyone noticed this? Why do they need this much wasted space? Could easily put the stuff in an unit a third of the size.

Maybe it's a throwback to when branches were very busy - before building societies offered banking services and before telephone & online banking - and all that space was full.
I remember 40+ years ago queuing for ages in my bank.
All the banks in our town have occupied the same premises as far back as I can remember apart from 1 which has moved in the last couple of months.

System

Pollycat wrote: »

Maybe it's a throwback to when branches were very busy - before building societies offered banking services and before telephone & online banking - and all that space was full.
I remember 40+ years ago queuing for ages in my bank.
All the banks in our town have occupied the same premises as far back as I can remember apart from 1 which has moved in the last couple of months.

These are new premises or refurbs. For example, Halifax (used to bank with) moved their four cashier desks from the middle of the right wall to the corner and done nothing in its place. It's probably doesn't do morale any favours by sticking employees to work in the corner of an very bad use of space unit.

Where I live, there are still queues at every bank.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

JReacher1 wrote: »

Its not worth the cost but people buy it for the charity aspect. If the money didn't go to support the homeless it would cost no more than £1. The fact it goes to the homeless gives it an inflated price.

People may do that, but that's not the idea. The idea is they are making money by selling something that has a value. It seems decidedly odd to then decry them for having made money. At what point do people think a Big Issue seller should say "I now have too much money to sell the Big Issue", give up their source of income, and presumably soon become poor enough to sell the Big Issue again?

People buying magazines they don't want are just perpetuating a deeply flawed idea.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

JReacher1 wrote: »

I don't think it is true. Selling the big issue is not a lucrative career. You basically make about £15 a day (on a good day).

Those people who claim that Big Issue salesman are actually reasonably well off and do it for the money are frankly being slightly deluded or have been mislead.

What you may think is a bag containing his Gym kit could in fact just be a bag of his clothes as he is homeless (where else can he leave his stuff). He may be in your gym as you can join some gyms for about £15 a month. That is not a bad price to have access to a shower, toilet and heating.

Why shouldn't it be a lucrative career? They are not begging; they are selling you something of ostensible value. There is absolutely no reason they shouldn't make a good living from selling it, if they can, and providing they pay tax.

People are angry because they feel the Big Issue is worthless,and they are in fact "giving to charity". This is just foolish. If people are paying for something they don't want, they might as well just give money to beggars and save the pointless waste of producing the magazines and paying for the overheads of the Big Issue organisation.

Bobcrowther

ThumbRemote wrote: »

A brief scan through your past posts indicates:
Scottish
Miserable
Moans about the 'indigenous population'
Picks up on spelling mistakes

It's a full house on 'geerex bingo'.

A brief summary of you:

No life
Dull as ditchwater
Has had a sense of humour bypass
A bit of a fud.

There you go, full house in fudremote bingo.