The "Check-out Charity Ambush"

I was wondering how many on SB have been subjected to what I call the "Check-out Charity Ambush". Where you are checking out groceries, or ordering something at a fast-food place, and you are suddenly queried by the cashier, about whether or not you want to donate something to a certain charity.

So today I'm getting groceries. My grocery store chain seems to have a particular affinity for doing this "ambush".

My groceries are bagged, and I'm sticking my credit card in the machine. When the clerk suddenly stops everything cold and looks me in the eye. Asking "Do you want to donate to the Childhood Hunger Foundation". So I have to say "NO" with everyone listening. And I can just hear the biddy's in the line behind me gasp at the evil man, who doesn't care about starving kids.

Now it's not that I don't think hunger is a worthy cause. (Even though childhood hunger statistics in America are wildly exaggerated---but that's a subject for another thread). But I don't think I should be "interrogated" in front of a bunch of people, as a form of coercion to get me to donate.

I regularly eat at Arby's restaurant. And that's another place where I am constantly accosted by the clerks when ordering. I find it annoying, intrusive and embarrassing! Arby's restaurant is a billion-dollar corporation. And if they want to support charities, they can do it themselves. WITHOUT ambushing their customers!

I'm not wealthy, and don't have much free money. I do give occasionally to something that I feel deserves it. But I do it privately.

However, I don't think I should be forced to declare--in public--about whether or not I want to give to the Cross-Eyed Kids of America. Or make a donation to the Ingrown Toenail Foundation.

What do others think? Thoughts? Opinions?

Let's block ads! (Why?)

The "Check-out Charity Ambush"