Charities hard-up for our hard-earned...

Hell’s Bells indeed!

It sounds like the most deserving of any charity you can afford is you!

The more I hear others stories about this the more enraged I get. I think we should be runnning these guys out of Civic instead of the so-called ’emos’.

My good golly, I must apologise for the amount of brackets gone astray (: 🙂

Couldn’t agree more.

I had the pleasure of working at Cos-Cut City store for 18 months a few short years ago which is in Garema House and I was always being accosted by people wanting something for nothing and mess with my tight schedule of being a busy single mum, working, buses & constantly broke, I took it in my stride mostly and was on friendly terms on varying levels with most (although saying that only because I was fairly generous (I smoked, big mistake, gave up closer to the end (half the problem gone when working there) and friendly when I could be, but they got me down sometimes.

Especially those charity pack of wolves, I signed up to Red Cross early in the piece when I had no clue what was going on, I think my debit card expired a while later (doubles as a visa) so eventually that went wayward and was a good time for it to, because I found myself going bankrupt, so when the next bloke accosted me from some place that offered to help teens in trouble or something similar and would only take a subscription, I told him I was helping out a teen already (had a wild one living with me at my expense while she having problems) plus I helped out my neighbours (had some interesting but scabby ones at the time) and general Civic dwellers and had 4 kids and was going bankrupt, was busting my butt at work, took on management duties to stay somewhat permanent as the casual shifts were down to 2 hour shifts with that workplace agreement that had come in, which is a big ask when working with childcare and ACTION buses and the stupid banks (because of bad direct debit decisions (mine and the banks) and a credit card too big) were stealing a majority of my spare money in fees and fines, so I barely wanted to take on another one.

The thing that really irked me was the whole time I was telling him my story, which was not at all what I wanted to be doing with my time, but this guy was FAR too friendly and wouldn’t stop trying to convince me no matter how bad I was off these suffering people had to be worse. He could not and would not accept my plight. Always insisting I was doing a wonderful job but should be directing it to them. I said “Mate, I think by all accounts you should be helping me” He laughed and agreed but didn’t change his opinion that I needed to help.

So for the next 12 months they got the whole look and tone of “if you dare to stop me and make me feel bad when I feel bad enough, I will crush you”!

When I got back on my feet I did indeed let Greenpeace talk me into something and that went until the card ran out again, so I bring it on myself by saying yes once. Think Red Cross had got me back for a bit too. The only good thing about being in the City and signed up to one is you can tell that particular group that will attack you every day for a few weeks or whatever that they already got you and that may be the only way they leave you alone without death threats, should just say it anyhow. I’m not a fan of the magzine The Big Issue, but I’ll say this, at least you could just walk by him with a smile and a howdy and that was it, didn’t even need to smile with the blind man (liked him in the Belco interchange for my youth, he was cool) hehe.

Got smarter anyhow, next time I worked in the City I made it Reid. Just internal scabs there 🙂

** A big thumbs up for the Salvos though. They helped my Mum and I rebuild our lives after our caravan fire ages ago, they helped me with some Christmas’ with the kids and Joy at the finacial advise section there was wonderful taking me through bankruptcy and keeping us fed. Always got my coins out for them..

jakez said :

People are dicks.

Aren’t they just? The people who sell Big Issue would be better off if passers-by showed some appreciation for what they’re doing, rather than judging them for wanting to have a few of those little items that the rest of us take for granted.

Will Anderson was probably abused because he was Wil Anderson.

I have tonnes of time for Big Issue sellers. The guy in Civic at the crossing under the Canberra Centre is a top guy.

My son and I had bumped into a guy asking us to sign up for WorldVision or something.
I thought it was a good idea but my 15yo son commented that if we were going to donate monthly, he would prefer to check what was needed in Australia first.
The guy was very put off by this and was trying to talk us around it.

After checking everything out and noticing the stats on suicide in Australia (esp child/teen suicide) we decided to donate there.
We also seen that most RSPCA/Animal Shelters would take donations of items. So we collect old blankets/bowls, leads/collars etc from friends and neighbours along with bags/tins of food which we can drop off each 3 months or so.

My fiancee has a friend who did a day as a Big Issue seller as part of some charity work or involvement that she had with the organisation. It could have been marketing related.

Anyway she happened to be pregnant at the time and spent the day copping shit from everyone about being a pregnant scumbag.

I also remember reading a column written by Will Anderson when he did a day as a Big Issue seller. He was abused all day as well.

People are dicks.

Chuggers = Charity Muggers, I like it. I also like the term ‘time murderer’.

So they aren’t directly employed by the charity yet they come out with props/uniforms emblazoned with the charity logo? How does that work?

Also they’re paid commission, and backpackers to boot?

I’m even more dissappointed now.

Furry Jesus said :

Felix the Cat said :

Whilst not really a charity, but sorta related, has anyone seen the guy that sells the Big Issue or whatever it’s called magazine down at Belco Mall on Saturday mornings? I thought the people that sold these are supposed to be down and out, mainly homeless and terminally unemployed etc. This guy has an iPod and a mobile phone (a better phone than mine and I don’t own an iPod!). Maybe I’m just being a snob here but with accessories like these I don’t class him as poor or down and out.

yeah, how dare he get above his station and have consumer aspirations like the rest of us? He ought to spend his Big Issue earnings on soemthing more befitting a mad crippled beggar, like unwashed clothes, cardboard shoes, eyepatch and a home-made crutch…

+1

and ipod and are phone aren’t exactly expensive or luxury items…
These people are selling a magazine, not beggnig for money or asking for charity. They should be able to spend there earnings on whatever the heck they want.

Regarding Big Issue sellers with phones/ipods:

He could have been given the the items as presents or as prizes. Perhaps he made a few record months of sales?

I went on to the Big Issue site and apparently many people must be indignant about seeing Big Issue sellers with personal items. They have included information on it in their FAQs.

I quote from them:

Many of our vendors move around a lot; or live in housing where they don’t have their own land line. Mobile phones are much more affordable now and are an essential way to keep in touch and be contactable.

Re Felix and Furry.

Well, if the guy is working for a crust then who are we to decide what he spends his money on. At least he is is working and giving it a go. Better than the effin beggars in Civic who scrounge money, abuse people and also own ipods and phones.

When they approach just say “not today”, or “no thanks” and keep walking. Unfortunately they don’t seem to pick up that when the same person keeps saying “no” every day that they should not bother approaching them. Most of the local beggars seem to get the hint fairly quickly though.

Charities that do this have big bureacracies to pay for… it has really got out of control. When they privatised the CES and the charities moved in to get a bite of the pie, many of our staff opted to join the charities thinking they’d be sympathetic to the jobseekers etc.

they came away from that demoralised and wiser, they reported that teh job network charities made the commercials look benevolent.

I’ve been giving my money to the locals-based organisations, like Wildcare. I still support the RSPCA too, but with a cocked eyebrow.

Furry Jesus said :

Oxfam is an international organisation as are some of the others who keep appearing in Civic – I bet the funds all go to the parent organisation, not to support local activities.

Well, you can bet if you like, but I don’t get it. I haven’t heard the hustlers claim that Oxfam has local programs — is that what they said to you?

AFAIK Oxfam neither claims, nor has, local programs. They are a very effective international aid agency — that’s why I donate. They do work in Australia (with disadvantaged indigenous people, and lobbying governments and businesses); but their focus is elsewhere.

In short: I think they do a great job, and I beleive their market research that tells them that the 15% they spend on developing donations (including hiring hustlers) more than pays for itself.

The hustlers still irk me though.

Felix the Cat said :

Whilst not really a charity, but sorta related, has anyone seen the guy that sells the Big Issue or whatever it’s called magazine down at Belco Mall on Saturday mornings? I thought the people that sold these are supposed to be down and out, mainly homeless and terminally unemployed etc. This guy has an iPod and a mobile phone (a better phone than mine and I don’t own an iPod!). Maybe I’m just being a snob here but with accessories like these I don’t class him as poor or down and out.

yeah, how dare he get above his station and have consumer aspirations like the rest of us? He ought to spend his Big Issue earnings on soemthing more befitting a mad crippled beggar, like unwashed clothes, cardboard shoes, eyepatch and a home-made crutch…

Whilst not really a charity, but sorta related, has anyone seen the guy that sells the Big Issue or whatever it’s called magazine down at Belco Mall on Saturday mornings? I thought the people that sold these are supposed to be down and out, mainly homeless and terminally unemployed etc. This guy has an iPod and a mobile phone (a better phone than mine and I don’t own an iPod!). Maybe I’m just being a snob here but with accessories like these I don’t class him as poor or down and out.

pmm said :

It always seems to be the ‘newer’ charities out in the streets, the old reliable favourites, Vinnies, Salvos, Smith Family etc never seem to have to stoop to this level and are therefore rewarded with my donations.

I still find it wrong that these guys are on commissions for everyone who signs up.

Somebody is giving the charities dodgy advice. My guess is that many of them are becoming so institutionalised they’re getting business/marketing people in to help them develop their business plans, without much regard for the impact of these fund-raising strategies on the population they want support from.

Oxfam is an international organisation as are some of the others who keep appearing in Civic – I bet the funds all go to the parent organisation, not to support local activities.

It always seems to be the ‘newer’ charities out in the streets, the old reliable favourites, Vinnies, Salvos, Smith Family etc never seem to have to stoop to this level and are therefore rewarded with my donations.

I still find it wrong that these guys are on commissions for everyone who signs up.

I agree they are getting incredibly pushy.

When I used to work at the War Memorial they were installing software which tracks donations etc and makes sure you ‘touch base’ on a regular basis. Because of systems like this I do not donate to my favorite charity anymore which is the Guide Dogs , They are just relentless in following up month after month with catalogs to buy torches and other stuff you don’t want. So the end result, the guide dogs do not get my charity donations anymore. I have a personal preference of non religious based charitys but now I usually give to the Salvo’s that hang out in the malls, guess i need to re-evaluate religion and pushy.

I have a hard time respecting these salespeople. They are working on a commission and use guilt and sympathy to earn themselves money.

I think if they fully disclosed their commission and didn’t pretend to be God’s workers then I might be warmer to them.

I had a guy come from the Fred Hollows Miracle Club and he told me that every $25 per month would help one person to see, so $100 would help 4 people!
I looked up his commission on the web “Earn a generous 25% of first year donations (minimum $300) for all sign ups to the well-known Miracle Club scheme.” so my $100 would only really help 3 people:(

And then I asked him “Can I make a lump sum donation?” and he told me “No, you need to sign up to this monthly subscription.”. What kind of Charity knocks back a donation?

LaLa said :

They’re ‘chuggers’ or charity muggers and they are actually directly employed by the charities.

Apologies, that should read “and they are NOT actually directly employed by the charities.”

One day I will learn to read what I write before hitting post…

They’re ‘chuggers’ or charity muggers and they are actually directly employed by the charities. Third party face to face marketing companies tender for their business and the company gets a cut of each person signed up.

I always just smile and keep walking, it probably helps that I lived in Sydney and London and have had lots of practice at ignoring them. I also worked in Sales and had to deal with a lot of these face to face marketing companies and know that a lot of them could not give a flying fu*kitty about the charity.

If there is a charity I think I am interested in supporting I will do my own research and then donate to them directly via my workplace giving program which allows me to donate out of my pre-tax wage and then provides me with a neat little summary for my tax return at the end of the year.

I currently support RSPCA and Cancer Council this way and then give spare change to the Salvo or BigIssue men.

High pressure selling doesn’t work with me, because I have no shame and am quite happy to string a complete stranger along for my own perverse amusement. I once listened to some pommy backpacker go through a whole spiel for Amnesty International, and then when they asked for my credit card details I responded with “no thanks, I’m already free”.

I do in fact support charitable work with my own earnings, quite substantially actually, but high pressure sell is the best way to make not want to participate.

I get annoyed at any kind of high-pressure selling, especially ones that rely on making you feel like you are being rude for ignoring them when they (rudely) pretend to be your long lost-friend when approaching you.

I think both Oxfam (despite their ridiculous name) and the Red Cross / Red Crescent are admirable.

But every time I get accosted, it reduces my inclination to give. I tell them this. Lucky they already have my regular donations (which I researched and signed up for online).

However, I guess they’ve done their research and on balance, the donations they get by employing attractive backpackers to hassle people in malls more than offset those that get grumpy as a result.

I hate the market sometimes.

I really don’t understand why most charities will not accept money being donated other than through the banking system.

The old Salvation Army guy in Civic, who has been around for years gets my charity money.

At the very least use both methods for people to donate, banking and spare change.

I had World Vision on my doorstep a few weeks ago. The fellow was polite and introduced himself then launched into the sales pitch. I was polite and indicated that I was not interested. At this point he got pushy and was still yapping on as I gently closed my front door. I wonder in their training if they are encouraged to continue on even when someone has said “No”. Does that really work, ever ?

I have no problem giving charities my spare change but i find it ridiculous when they say they cannot accept that but only will take my credit card details. screw that

FC said :

I think that these tactics are rightfulling employed because people generally seem to be a bit apathic about the plights of these charitys, until that are faced with the person, and then feel guilted/shamed/responsible. And I guess I think sometimes if it gets money/food/medicine etc to people who need it MUCH more than any of us could really imagine NEEDING, then so be it.

Being guilted or pressured into donating isn’t dignified and potentially can make them come across like glorified beggers.

Being made aware of what the charity does is a first step granted, but it’s up to us to decide from there.

“We will decide what charities to donate to, and the circumstances under which we donate”.

Apologies to a certain ex-PM.

I am someone who, while I might want to support the charity, will never sign up on the spot, but will go and do further research and sign up via the internet or another way later, once I know I am doing it becuase it is what I want, instead of because I feel guilted/pressure.
HOWEVER – I think that these tactics are rightfulling employed because people generally seem to be a bit apathic about the plights of these charitys, until that are faced with the person, and then feel guilted/shamed/responsible. And I guess I think sometimes if it gets money/food/medicine etc to people who need it MUCH more than any of us could really imagine NEEDING, then so be it.

I agree, Im not handing out my credit card or any personal details to anyone. The last charity I was approached by was World Vision, they were door knocking. When I told the guy I already supported a charity, one that I believe in, he began to quizz me like he didnt believe me. When I explained about the organisation he told me they would have some government support, not like the people in Africa suffering from Cholera. I love it that people have a passion, and its very admirable, but its ugly when they do the hard sell.

Going the hard sell on regular charity donations always struck me as a bit dodgy. The salespeople work on commission, which makes me even more uneasy.

During O-Week a lot of them were parked in the universities and going hard sell on a student body population, the bulk of which doesn’t have much spare income.

Confounded italics!

I think you know what I mean man.

As soon as you make eye contact with these people they exchange a ‘hello’, you are polite, you ‘hello’ back and suddenly they are up in your face informing you of all the problems in the world you aren’t helping with.

jakez said :

So basically what you are saying is that you know you don’t have to stop, you choose to stop and talk to them, and you know that you want to think about things before you commit.

I’m sorry what exactly is the problem?
quote]

I think you know what I mean man.

As soon as you make eye contact with these people they exchange a ‘hello’, you are polite, you ‘hello’ back and suddenly they are up in your face informing you of all the problems in the world you aren’t helping with.

Oh and I absolutely support your decision to take time and do research. It is an absolute must when considering charitable organisations. Many are either extremely inefficient or borderline corrupt.

“I appreciate the sentiment behind what you’re trying to do, maybe it makes it easier for you to live with yourself, but If you want my donation I’ll decide when I give it to you.”

So basically what you are saying is that you know you don’t have to stop, you choose to stop and talk to them, and you know that you want to think about things before you commit.

I’m sorry what exactly is the problem?

As for the regular donation system that many charities are using these days, yeah they must work. I did it with MSF for a good while and will probably start up again soon (went through a period where I had other financial priorities (I’d say I couldn’t afford it but I find that to be a capricious statement most of the time). Cold sales are ‘annoying’ but at the end of the day let’s be honest, we can spend as much or as little time as we want with these people.

Gratuitous strawman: Yeah well if only the poor starving kids overseas had such frivolous problems, you harpy!