How Do You Feel About Being Hit Up for Donations at Check-Out?

[Anonymous]

I always say no, across the board. I donate directly, from home.

The more annoying thing is the cashiers pressuring you to donate. I'd report that.

[Anonymous]

Just say no. NBD.

[Anonymous]

Wait - who tips at Panera?

That aside, I agree with you op. The whole "charity as a business" things drives me nuts. Those cashiers are probably incentivized to get more donations, that's why she told you to press yes. Very, very annoying. For the record, I'm GenX.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait - who tips at Panera?

That aside, I agree with you op. The whole "charity as a business" things drives me nuts. Those cashiers are probably incentivized to get more donations, that's why she told you to press yes. Very, very annoying. For the record, I'm GenX.

No one. But they're trying to get you to tip at Panera.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get sick of it too. I donate plenty, but I like to write it off on my taxes and I like to choose the charities.

I'm annoyed at all the places asking for a tip. Coffee shops, sandwich shops, ice cream shops. Just stop. If I'm not getting served, no tip. And especially not the suggested 20%!

OP here. That's another pet peeve. Panera is a prime example. You have to wait on line to order, then you get your little buzzer, then you go to the counter to pick up your main food, then you go to the drink dispenser to get your soda and napkins, then you take it all to a table, and then you clean it up after - putting the trash in one bin, the used silver in another, and the trays in the appropriate spot. And they expect a tip for that? Damn.

yeah i agree re panera and similar places. good stuff eatery does that too.

What's bothering me is that the owner is charging for the food, and then having the customer pay on top of that to help compensate his employees. I went to the gelato place, and you get a little scoop for $6.50. Then they expect a tip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always say no, across the board. I donate directly, from home.

The more annoying thing is the cashiers pressuring you to donate. I'd report that.

OP. I suspect that they are being pressured by management to do it. (Why else would they care?)

I like MACY's for cheap, "weekend-around-the-house" clothes, but they ARE very annoying.

[Anonymous]

I don't ever donate and I don't feel bad about it. I also don't tip at fast casual places, Starbucks, etc. Only sit down service and maybe a few bucks if I order takeout from a sit down restaurant.

However, I donate my time and money generously where I feel compelled to, and I tip very generously elsewhere (ask my nail technicians!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait - who tips at Panera?

That aside, I agree with you op. The whole "charity as a business" things drives me nuts. Those cashiers are probably incentivized to get more donations, that's why she told you to press yes. Very, very annoying. For the record, I'm GenX.

OP here. The thing that struck me was that as I was figuring out the screen (what's this? a charity?), she said "press yes." Very often, I'm hit with a different version of a PIN machine (aren't we all?), and it takes a second to figure out what/where to press. Often, the cashier will "walk you through it." I could very well see that if I were in a rush, or preoccupied, I would have just hit "yes," figuring she's taking me through the check-out steps.

I don't know if the stores think the whole thing is great PR (lookie what we're doing for the community!), when in fact it is annoying around half their customers. (Even some of the GenXers, like you.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait - who tips at Panera?

That aside, I agree with you op. The whole "charity as a business" things drives me nuts. Those cashiers are probably incentivized to get more donations, that's why she told you to press yes. Very, very annoying. For the record, I'm GenX.

OP here. The thing that struck me was that as I was figuring out the screen (what's this? a charity?), she said "press yes." Very often, I'm hit with a different version of a PIN machine (aren't we all?), and it takes a second to figure out what/where to press. Often, the cashier will "walk you through it." I could very well see that if I were in a rush, or preoccupied, I would have just hit "yes," figuring she's taking me through the check-out steps.

I don't know if the stores think the whole thing is great PR (lookie what we're doing for the community!), when in fact it is annoying around half their customers. (Even some of the GenXers, like you.)

It isn't that new OP. Grocery stores have been doing this for years. Just hit "no" and proceed. I suspect though that you started the thread so you could throw out your line about "illegal school children" and being asked to support them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait - who tips at Panera?

That aside, I agree with you op. The whole "charity as a business" things drives me nuts. Those cashiers are probably incentivized to get more donations, that's why she told you to press yes. Very, very annoying. For the record, I'm GenX.

No one. But they're trying to get you to tip at Panera.

Panera is exhausting. The line. The pick-up order. The spot to get your drinks. The bussing your own table. And then they ask for a tip?? Let Panera pay their employees appropriately, and take it out of the revenues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't ever donate and I don't feel bad about it. I also don't tip at fast casual places, Starbucks, etc. Only sit down service and maybe a few bucks if I order takeout from a sit down restaurant.

However, I donate my time and money generously where I feel compelled to, and I tip very generously elsewhere (ask my nail technicians!).

OP here. That's me, too. I tip generously at point-of-service places, like the hair salon and restaurants (where it is appropriate). I also give generously year-round to charities. But I hate being made to feel embarrassed by not wanting to part with a $1 at the check-out.

[Anonymous]

I agree that it can be a bit much, but the Macy's one is just rounding up to the nearest dollar.

So like, if your total was 57.68, it is only 32 cents you are giving. The salesperson was wrong for rolling her eyes, but I cam see why she may have done one internally...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait - who tips at Panera?

That aside, I agree with you op. The whole "charity as a business" things drives me nuts. Those cashiers are probably incentivized to get more donations, that's why she told you to press yes. Very, very annoying. For the record, I'm GenX.

OP here. The thing that struck me was that as I was figuring out the screen (what's this? a charity?), she said "press yes." Very often, I'm hit with a different version of a PIN machine (aren't we all?), and it takes a second to figure out what/where to press. Often, the cashier will "walk you through it." I could very well see that if I were in a rush, or preoccupied, I would have just hit "yes," figuring she's taking me through the check-out steps.

I don't know if the stores think the whole thing is great PR (lookie what we're doing for the community!), when in fact it is annoying around half their customers. (Even some of the GenXers, like you.)

It isn't that new OP. Grocery stores have been doing this for years. Just hit "no" and proceed. I suspect though that you started the thread so you could throw out your line about "illegal school children" and being asked to support them.

Nope. I did not start the thread to throw out the line about the illegals' schoolchildren. I was explaining why this particular episode bothered me more than others - ones that ask for donations for places run strictly on contributions. The county schools are already getting thousands from me, and everyone else, in taxes. MACY's should have picked a true charity - not the county government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait - who tips at Panera?

That aside, I agree with you op. The whole "charity as a business" things drives me nuts. Those cashiers are probably incentivized to get more donations, that's why she told you to press yes. Very, very annoying. For the record, I'm GenX.

OP here. The thing that struck me was that as I was figuring out the screen (what's this? a charity?), she said "press yes." Very often, I'm hit with a different version of a PIN machine (aren't we all?), and it takes a second to figure out what/where to press. Often, the cashier will "walk you through it." I could very well see that if I were in a rush, or preoccupied, I would have just hit "yes," figuring she's taking me through the check-out steps.

I don't know if the stores think the whole thing is great PR (lookie what we're doing for the community!), when in fact it is annoying around half their customers. (Even some of the GenXers, like you.)

It isn't that new OP. Grocery stores have been doing this for years. Just hit "no" and proceed. I suspect though that you started the thread so you could throw out your line about "illegal school children" and being asked to support them.

+1 And then following up with bragging about donating to the ASPCA, like a stereotype that learned to type.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait - who tips at Panera?

That aside, I agree with you op. The whole "charity as a business" things drives me nuts. Those cashiers are probably incentivized to get more donations, that's why she told you to press yes. Very, very annoying. For the record, I'm GenX.

OP here. The thing that struck me was that as I was figuring out the screen (what's this? a charity?), she said "press yes." Very often, I'm hit with a different version of a PIN machine (aren't we all?), and it takes a second to figure out what/where to press. Often, the cashier will "walk you through it." I could very well see that if I were in a rush, or preoccupied, I would have just hit "yes," figuring she's taking me through the check-out steps.

I don't know if the stores think the whole thing is great PR (lookie what we're doing for the community!), when in fact it is annoying around half their customers. (Even some of the GenXers, like you.)

It isn't that new OP. Grocery stores have been doing this for years. Just hit "no" and proceed. I suspect though that you started the thread so you could throw out your line about "illegal school children" and being asked to support them.

Nope. I did not start the thread to throw out the line about the illegals' schoolchildren. I was explaining why this particular episode bothered me more than others - ones that ask for donations for places run strictly on contributions. The county schools are already getting thousands from me, and everyone else, in taxes. MACY's should have picked a true charity - not the county government.

You have a legit gripe about the saleslady, but their choice to do something for the community the operate in? Come on. Half the schools here do Dining for Dollars, and schools could use more than the bare minimum.

I kind of feel too that you were looking for a cheap shot at illegal children.