Big Issue Sellers

Becles

I don't mind Big Issue sellers and normally buy one if the person is polite and friendly.

However, there is a lady in my local city who is a nusiance. You'll be walking down the path, and she leaps right in front of you and says "Big Issue please" right in your face. It's embarrassing to walk round her and ignore her, but I refuse to buy from her simply because she is so forceful and rude. She usually stands near a cash machine and targets the people who have just withdrawn money.

Are they allowed to act like that?

lipidicman

You could go to the place where they collect from and complain, or have a word with the police. Other than that I don't really know

pmd

Buy a copy from the next vendor, then look inside for contact number - Big Issue in the North gives phone nos for Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool "to comment on vendor behaviour", so presumably other editions do too. Vendors who upset potential buyers are doing the whole Big Issue a disservice, so I'm sure they'd be pleased to hear from you and willing to have a word with the vendor.

A thought: is she an official vendor? Does she have "just my last copy" which she's reluctant to part with, or a proper supply? Has she got a badge? It would help the office people if you could tell them her badge number - she may not be on an official pitch (and you could mention to them that a pitch right near a cashpoint is intimidating, too).

The vendors' code of practice inside my latest copy includes "5: Vendors must not use physical or verbal aggression towards members of the public or other vendors", but I'm not sure whether this lady's action goes that far.

Please talk to the Big Issue people rather than the police - it's more likely to be productive.

Cheers

Pam

Becles wrote:

I don't mind Big Issue sellers and normally buy one if the person is polite and friendly.

However, there is a lady in my local city who is a nusiance. You'll be walking down the path, and she leaps right in front of you and says "Big Issue please" right in your face. It's embarrassing to walk round her and ignore her, but I refuse to buy from her simply because she is so forceful and rude. She usually stands near a cash machine and targets the people who have just withdrawn money.

Are they allowed to act like that?

Wig

agree lipid, complain to the manger in the local distribution office.

I have no interest in the mag and never buy it. Whilst it might help some to get a leg up to a proper job, I think it doesn't help overall. All you get is people selling papers to people who don't want them. The sellers become addicted to what can be an easy money making scheme.

Then again these are only my opinions, I don't know enough to be able to say "I know what I am talking about". I just think there should be better schemes set up to help than this one.

lipidicman

pmd wrote:

A thought: is she an official vendor? Does she have "just my last copy" which she's reluctant to part with, or a proper supply?...

Does this go on? So they take your pound but dont want to let you have the mag? This is plain begging, and a rip-off. I actually think the big issue is a good mag and dont mind paying for it, but if someone tried to pull this on me I would lose it.

Nile

I don't know if it's still the same but years ago when I was collecting for charity on the high street ......all of us volunteers were told not to shake the container or make any noises or gestures to coerce members of the public to donate.


I agree with the advice to contact the 'Big Issue' head office to make a formal complaint.

pmd

lipidicman wrote:

Does this go on? So they take your pound but dont want to let you have the mag? This is plain begging, and a rip-off. I actually think the big issue is a good mag and dont mind paying for it, but if someone tried to pull this on me I would lose it.

It goes on, but it's not the official vendors who do it. In Leeds and some other towns vendors have an official dayglo waistcoat as well as a photo-id badge.

I think buying the Big Issue is a Good Thing, but I urge you to take care not to encourage the scammers who're trying to beg by waving a copy of the BI around. Get in touch with the nearest BI office if you're unhappy at the behaviour of official vendors, or to report non-vendors who're bringing the BI into disrepute.

Cheers

Pam

november

If you scroll down this page http://www.bigissue.com/selling.html it gives you the sales support telephone numbers to ring if you have any concerns about vendors.

I don't think official Big Issue pitches are near cash machines (I'm sure I read that somewhere but cannot remember where).

I think its a shame when one bad vendor or pretend vendor brings the Big Issue into disrepute. Pretend vendors have often stolen magazines from real vendors who have paid for them.

I think the Big Issue is an excellent service giving people the opportunity to sell magazines, do training, etc.

gravitytolls

They are not allowed to be intimidating, and the majority would not. I usdually give to BI sellers, but I've also given to people who have approached me with sob stories, so maybe I'm a bit of a sucker.

But I don't give to to the local seller, as she isn't homeless and lives locally in a council flat. Which does make me wonder how many others are pulling our legs?

Sarahsaver

My son, when he was 2, thought they were selling 'bigger shoes'
We dont have to buy them, most of the sellers are ok if you say no thanks. And its actually a very interesting read sometimes.

lipidicman

Yes it is a good read. I wasnt aware that you had to be homeless to sell it though, is that right? I always say 'no thanks' politely as I notice that a lot of people are very rude and just ignore the sellers. The good ones thank you in return for being polite.

'Bigger Shoes' LOL. Next time, I will politely inform my favourite seller that 'my shoes are quite big enough, thank you'