When ever I am confronted with this situation and asked to donate my standard reply is "Thank you for asking but I have already donated to this organization" and go on my merry way. No discomfort encountered. This way I do not have to say no or feel that I have to donate because of pressure. I have yet to have the cashier say, Oh but would you like to donate again?

Donating at the cash register
 

With the economy being the way it is, many Charities are feeling the pinch and are using all kinds of approaches. I have noticed lately at Publix, that there is hardly a week that goes by when the Cashier does not ask if you would like to add a donation to (fill in the blank). I recall that Publix and some other area stores permit some charities and organizations to solicit at front of store at different times of year, (K of C, Lions, Girl Scouts, etc). Just wonder why they don't use this same method for all, instead of asking at register.

I am also bothered by some charities, who know that you have donated in past, then use paid "volunteers" who call you and ask that you use your postage stamps and send appeal envelopes to 10-12 of your neighbors. My answer to them is the always the same, "I will consider responding to a direct appeal mailed to me, but I absolutely will not respond to telephone solicitations and further, will not solicit from my neighbors."

Is that always the "truth?"

I agree, Hancle. I hate it when someone calls and asks me to solicit my neighbors. I tell them, no way. I don't like it when I get solicited from the neighbors, either. Also, Joanne, I agree with you about United Way. As a former teacher the reprepresentative from UW was at school the first week. Pressure was put on us because the principal wanted a 100% contribution, from his school. I guess it made him look good to the administration. I always gave, but resented it. I have my own charities that I want to give to. United Way had a large percentage of money that went to administrative cost and salaries. I prefer charities that have the vast amount of money actually go for the cause.

I get so annoyed when you donate to a charity and they send you a cheapo t shirt or some other gift. This absolutely defeats the purpose of the donation! The donation is meant to go completely to the cause, not to send out a gazillion t-shirts or calanders. Well, thats my 2 cents.:grumpy:

I fell better about this approach, thanks for the suggestion

Mountain out of a Molehill!
 

I can't believe this thread is still going on, but I'll jump in.

Truth be told, that cashier doesn't give a "rat's behind" whether you contribute or not. She's thinking about what's for dinner, her feet hurt, her kid has a cold, probably many, many things. You are not the center of her Universe.

It's very simple to say "no" or "not at this time" or "I did already" which ever applies.

I personally have two charities I always contribute to. They are reliable and over 95 percent of what they collect actually goes to the charity.

So, if you don't want to contribute, just suck it up and say NO! :shrug:

Barb, I like your cool-headed and dignified response.

And we agree on the Salvation Army - it is also one of my favourite charities.

I think it's still going on because people have a sense of particiaption in this topic. That's what the forum is about, people talking about what interests or concerns them.

Not always, but I figure if they have the balls to ask for a donation in front of everyone trying to pressure me into action, than I have the balls to lie to them.

But, I donate to the United Way which covers many of the local organizations. (IE Visiting Nurses, Boy Scouts, Home Health Care, etc, etc, etc.)

I don't mind telling an adult no, but it sure is hard to say no to any kids in front of the Publix door - now how are you going to do that? If I do, I feel bad all the way through the store and have to give them something on the way out. I like to give to Salvation Army, Goodwill, or just a person on the street. He might go buy a bottle of wine with it, but at least I don't feel bad all day that he might really have been hungry.

This was in today's Slate Mag on-line (Yes, I'm a very conservative Republican, but I do read that liberal rag, Slate). I think this is a very level headed discussion of this issue, from the Ask Patty and Sandy section of the magazine:

Dear Patty and Sandy,
I am growing increasingly resentful of the store clerks who ask me if I'd like to donate $1 to cure cancer, help homeless pets, feed the homeless, cure muscular dystrophy, etc., every time I shop. While they are all good causes, I don't donate to anything that I don't have an opportunity to look into myself. Should I just give? Invest the time to ask for more information every time I go to the store? Ask to speak to the manager? Is there a Web site that critiques the charities?
Eva

Sandy's response:
You’re not along, Eva. These supermarket “asks” have become ubiquitous. Here is an article featuring an annoyed shopper who is actually driving out of her way to avoid the please at her local Safeway. On the other hand, Safeway says it drummed up more than $40 million in checkout-line donations in 2007. So what do you do when you’re asked to cure cancer every time you need a gallon of milk? Start by looking at where the money is going. Recognize the name? Care about the issue? Respect the organization? Then give your nickel instead of letting it rattle around in the bottom of your purse. Would you rather give to homeless people than homeless pets? Then save your nickels, fill up a jar, and take it to a Coinstar machine, where you can choose from several well-known charities, from Feeding America to the World Wildlife Fund. According to the IRS's last published data (from 2005), there are 807,421 active nonprofit charitable organizations. It's no wonder we're being asked to give every time we turn around, and you absolutely shouldn't feel bad for just saying no. As my mom and I told Erica in a recent column, the best way to donate is to take the time to figure out a few good charities, make a giving plan, and stick to it. There are a lot of ways to rank charities: Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Better Business Bureau are good places to start.

Patty's response:
I've got an easier answer than Sandy's: Just say, "Thanks, but I've got my own giving plan!" and move on. You should feel great that you have a plan (you do have a plan, right?), and you shouldn't ever feel bad about saying no. I never give to these quick-change fundraisers myself, but I don't resent their presence, either. Most organizations that resort to checkout-line fundraising are trying their best to raise awareness and a bit of money at the same time. If it doesn't work, they'll get the message and try another approach.

Another Option
 

My late brother-in-law in Arizona had a unique way of dealing with a person on the street asking for money to eat. (Oops, not a good sentence...they didn't want to eat money.) He would offer to buy them groceries and would even to take them to the store if need be, but would not give them money. He did, too, if they wanted (take them). After he retired from Kawasaki, he drove a city bus in Needles, Calif. It was nothing for him to call his wife at work and have her stop by somewhere and pick up shoes for some of the ones who rode his bus or their kids. She would also pack extra sandwiches for him everyday in case someone riding was hungry. Some of the people were homeless and he would pay for them to ride around just to get out of the heat on the really hot days. He really cared for others.

Dillywho - your brother must have been awesome - and I am sure he stored up in his treasures in heaven as the bible says with his good deeds and love for his fellow man. It sounds like he got right to the solution of the problems.

How about a business card sized card you could hand to clerks that said some like: "Please respect my privacy and do not ask for donations. I handle my own charitable giving?"

Unfortunately, recent disclosures have shown that oftentimes very little of the donated money given to many charities actually goes to productive work and is often sidetracked to meaningless administrative expenses. Thanks, I'll do my own research.