Rude volunteers at donation center

[Anonymous]

I recently donated a bunch of stuff to a charity thrift store that is near and dear to my heart. I'm a frequent donator. The stuff I donate is not junk. It's all newer, clean, good quality items. Mostly household goods and some clothes. They are picky on what they will and won't accept. The last few times I've gone to donate, the volunteers have been ones that I have never seen before and the last 2 times they were really rude to me. The first time I was on crutches and they took their sweet time getting stuff out of my car while I patiently waited and smiled and helped as much as I could. They were also giving each item a look over as they were taking it out, one even picked up the box to a stainless steel pasta maker and read the description for a good minute or two. Then a friend of theirs pulled up and they started chatting while I'm still standing there on crutches.

Now this last time was the last straw. I am off crutches now (had major surgery) and I neatly stacked the 3 boxes by the door. You go to the back and ring the bell and someone comes out and gets the items. I rang the bell, waited almost 5 minutes and then sat in my driver's seat with the car door open while I waited. She comes to the door and tells me (not asks) to come back over, pick up the boxes, and take them inside their back room to stack them on the table. I was taken aback by this. I told her that I donate here frequently and have never been asked to do this. I told her I had recent foot surgery and it's hard for me... and I find it ridiculous that she can't help. A couple of these boxes were really lightweight. She could have easily lifted them herself. She said rudely and carelessly, "Well that's what we're dealing with here too and that's why I'm not lifting the boxes." (She clearly had NOT had any kind of surgery recently).

She didn't thank me for my donation. I felt like my donation didn't matter. If someone is this rude to me when I'm taking my time to drive stuff over there and donate good quality items, then I have to wonder if they can even be trusted with these items. You have to trust when you drop these things off that your items are going to the charity to raise money, but who knows. I won't be back. I'll sell what I can and donate the funds directly. It made me so uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

If you don't like this volunteer and care about the charity, then call one of the higher-ups and tell them you've been donating for a long time, have never been treated like this, and don't feel this new approach to customer service will lead to more donations.

Don't present it as "they didn't bow down before me so I'm throwing a hissy fit", but as "your organization will ultimately suffer from the poor social skills of its public-facing volunteers".

[Anonymous]

Is this a joke? How can you tell if she recently had surgery or is not in pain? How did the boxes get from your car to the donation door? You have a big ego if you need to feel appreciated for a donation to a foundation that is “near and dear to your heart”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a joke? How can you tell if she recently had surgery or is not in pain? How did the boxes get from your car to the donation door? You have a big ego if you need to feel appreciated for a donation to a foundation that is “near and dear to your heart”.

+1
these folks working at these centers are donating their TIME which is more than your boxes of crap

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of places to donate. Just go elsewhere next time.

[Anonymous]

Know that many of the “volunteers” you see are doing court-ordered community service.

-your local charity’s (volunteer) board member

[Anonymous]

Abdominal surgery is not visible.

[Anonymous]

Okay, Lady Bountiful-sell and donate the money if you prefer.

[Anonymous]

You sound quite full of yourself. You’re not some savior of the masses. Donate if you think is the right thing to do, but please stop expecting to be worshiped or even thanked.

[Anonymous]

Lots of times when I donate stuff to Goodwill, the person taking the donation is fairly gruff. You should not expect them to react to you like a hotel bellhop. They are hauling crap around all day, for little or no pay, and dealing with people who treat them like shit. They have no idea during their brief interaction with you whether or not you are about to “Karen” them. If you had to do that job day in and day out, you would likewise develop a hard exterior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a joke? How can you tell if she recently had surgery or is not in pain? How did the boxes get from your car to the donation door? You have a big ego if you need to feel appreciated for a donation to a foundation that is “near and dear to your heart”.

This. OP I find your post ridiculous. It’s a charity organization I’m guessing the staff are volunteers or minimum wage workers. If the boxes were so easy, what’s the big deal with helping. Why’d you stick around with your car door open, why not just leave. Why did you make a donation trip when you are on crutches? This all seems so over the top.

[Anonymous]

Was this Goodwill/Salvation Army? SOP. They are not starved for donations, and unfortunately act accordingly. Sorry OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently donated a bunch of stuff to a charity thrift store that is near and dear to my heart. I'm a frequent donator. The stuff I donate is not junk. It's all newer, clean, good quality items. Mostly household goods and some clothes. They are picky on what they will and won't accept. The last few times I've gone to donate, the volunteers have been ones that I have never seen before and the last 2 times they were really rude to me. The first time I was on crutches and they took their sweet time getting stuff out of my car while I patiently waited and smiled and helped as much as I could. They were also giving each item a look over as they were taking it out, one even picked up the box to a stainless steel pasta maker and read the description for a good minute or two. Then a friend of theirs pulled up and they started chatting while I'm still standing there on crutches.

Now this last time was the last straw. I am off crutches now (had major surgery) and I neatly stacked the 3 boxes by the door. You go to the back and ring the bell and someone comes out and gets the items. I rang the bell, waited almost 5 minutes and then sat in my driver's seat with the car door open while I waited. She comes to the door and tells me (not asks) to come back over, pick up the boxes, and take them inside their back room to stack them on the table. I was taken aback by this. I told her that I donate here frequently and have never been asked to do this. I told her I had recent foot surgery and it's hard for me... and I find it ridiculous that she can't help. A couple of these boxes were really lightweight. She could have easily lifted them herself. She said rudely and carelessly, "Well that's what we're dealing with here too and that's why I'm not lifting the boxes." (She clearly had NOT had any kind of surgery recently).

She didn't thank me for my donation. I felt like my donation didn't matter. If someone is this rude to me when I'm taking my time to drive stuff over there and donate good quality items, then I have to wonder if they can even be trusted with these items. You have to trust when you drop these things off that your items are going to the charity to raise money, but who knows. I won't be back. I'll sell what I can and donate the funds directly. It made me so uncomfortable.

Oh my, how awful. You can always take your priceless pasta maker to another Goodwill.

[Anonymous]

If it was the Salvation Army they do good work, the worker was probably in recovery. I've experienced some really rough around the edges workers, but I always say there but for the Grace of God. I am told withdrawal and recovery are brutal things. Have some compassion.

Surely you donate because it's the right thing to do, not because you expect a pat on the back.

[Anonymous]

People have been purging their homes over the last year and have unloaded dirty, broken and useless crap to these places under the feel-good idea that they are "donating." This creates an enormous amount of work and expense for the place when they have to be the ones responsible for disposing of it. It's far better if they make you take anything refused back with you so they are examining more closely. These workers have no way of knowing which kind of person you are without examining what you brought.

As for the warm reception you are angry about not receiving, I can't help there. Maybe go through a ChickFilA drive thru afterwards and get a "My pleasure!" to soothe you?