About every other time I go shopping at our local Walmart, I come across folding tables set up in front of the entrance. Twice there was the Wishing Well Foundation that is like a Texas version of Make A Wish, today was the Teen Challenge, etc. I could keep going. I absolutely hate being accosted coming in or out of the store. One time was a free fingerprinting for children, I am not sure what the donation would've been for. I noticed that the lady was very assertive when I walked in, so I made sure to be fake talking on my phone as I walked out. It didn't matter that I was on the phone or didn't have children with me, she still came after me and I had to wave her off. It's so frustrating. I wasn't sure what I should do. I usually politely say no thank you and keep walking. Part of me wants to take care of the really pushy ones by stopping and saying, "I'm sorry I can't donate. My 6 year old daughter has spent the last 18 months being treated for Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and still has 6 months to go. When we are done paying for keeping her happy and healthy and whole, we are going to donate money to causes that are important to us, like St. Jude's and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. " Is that too mean? Is there some sort of middle ground I should take? Don't tell me to go out another exit, they have the store surrounded.
4 comments:
My answer is usually that I have already donated to my favorite charity, thank you.
My other beef at Walmart - the greeter/security guard who interogates you on the way in with a return and on the way out when I set off the alarm (every time!).
I really can't stand pushy people. I sometimes end up being blunt. I finally told the college alumni people that I would be happy to donate once I have paid off what it took to go there. So please call back in about 25 years. I haven't heard from them since.
I can't believe that one woman chased you.
I still think the smartest fundraising I saw recently was when the Safeway stores in Oregon were offering to round up your purchase to the nearest dollar so that the change could be donated to the charity (can't remember which charity). It was an easy thing to do, and I didn't mind doing it over and over (hey - no heavy change in my pockets, and easier to balance the debits in the bank register!). It sure beats being accosted at the stores when most of us are doing our best to shop on a budget in the first place!
I don't understand why a simple "no thank you" doesn't work with these pushy people! They have some nerve. I had someone call me and hound me for money. I told him that I focus my donations exclusively for cancer causes. He said he understand and asked me for less money. As though that was a compromise. I repeated my stance and hung up. Don't you wish you could hang up on the people outside the mall?
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