The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
Today’s question:
Many, many stores ask for donations to certain charities when you’re in the check-out line. Do you think stores should solicit donations while you’re purchasing items?
Talk about it….
41 comments
I usually ask if the company is matching the donations? Conversation almost always ends there.
Or ask where you can get the donation receipt for your taxes. You dont get one because you donate to the company (Safeway, CVS, etc) and they make the donation and get the tax write off instead, thus maming more money off you.. Donate directly or just keep your money in your own pocket.
You can get a receipt for your donation and write it off your taxes, but most people don’t bother to ask. You have to itemize, and if audited — you need a receipt.
I don’t ask for a receipt myself, but I’ve seen others do it — and it’s provided. It’s a tax write-off for the corporation and the individual.
You can get a receipt for your donation and write it off your taxes, but most people don’t bother to ask. You have to itemize, and if audited — you need a receipt.
I don’t ask for a receipt myself, but I’ve seen others do it — and it’s provided. It’s a tax write-off for the corporation and the individual.
When the clerk asks me if I would like to make a donation I simply answer, “no.” No explanation is necessary. I then thank her or him, say the usual, “have a nice day,” and leave the store without giving it another thought. It really doesn’t bother me, but some people seem to be intimidated and reluctantly give a donation.
What I do dislike are the people standing outside in front of the store asking for donations. I have no idea who they are or even if they are legit, so I will ignore them and keep on trucking.
I agree except for the Salvation Army. I remember going Christmas shopping with my parents back in Denmark when I was still a child, and my mother always made it a point of putting something in the kettle, even if she had to walk a few blocks in the cold and often snow to do so. She always said they do such good work, and she was not a particular religious woman, so whenever I see them at Christmas time I do the same.
No. I hate it when you make a purchase with a credit card and it prompts you if you want to make a donation.
Doesn’t bother me. I never donate with the exception of animals. Always drop a couple bucks at PetSmart when purchasing food.
a sign or donation box is all that is needed. Asking out loud is rude
@Simonpure
Same here. It doesn’t bother me either and I only donate to anything animal related. WWF, Wildlife SOS, Petco, etc.
Occasionally I donate at Safeway out of my debit card. One time when the cashier asked me if I’d like to donate for this and that and I said yes OK and then they said oh that’s wonderful and I felt like saying it’s none of your business but I was nice and did not say that.
It doesn’t bother me at all. Sometimes I give, other times I politely decline — depending on the organization or the day.
I do think it’s a good idea because it gives people who want to give and can’t afford much an opportunity to do so without embarrassment.
Generous people are happier people.
Never at stores.
The only time I donate when checking out is to the NRA Round-Up when I’m making a purchase online.
Oops, my previous comment was not a reply to your comment.
Kentucky, You are so right. My mother, who came from a very poor family, and my parents often struggled, although we were not considered poor, always said “I hope I’m never so poor that I don’t have anything to give to others”. Often my parents showed their generosity, by giving of their time instead of money. Took in a French girl for 6 months after the war ended in Europe. Denmark and France were both occupied, but we lived in the country, and my Dad was a Gardner and we had chickens, so we didn’t want for food.
Today when everybody is so busy, donating time, might be more difficult for some than donating money. I give at work and to the Food Bank of Contra Costa, and a few others. I’m not wealthy, but I’m reasonable comfortable. I rarely give to people begging on the street, one time I gave a dollar to a woman, then bought a lottery ticket and won $10.00. Also gave my umbrella to a woman on Willow Pass once when it was raining and she was getting wet.
I donate directly to the cause if I’m interested. When I’m prompted at a store it makes me wonder how much the store is taking off the top for the themselves, I can’t see them doing it for free.
I never considered that. Yikes.
It is good public relations.
No.
Companies are free to donate money to their favorite charities without my involvement, but I choose my own charities. I am quite comfortable saying no thank you when asked.
I like that Amazon Smile makes a donation to my choice of charities, and Kroger has a similar program. I’ll buy popcorn or cookies from Scouts at the door, and I always try to find something for the Salvation Army kettles.
I hate it – waste of time standing in line …
It really does not slow the line down much. I’m very efficient in keeping my line moving. If someone does not speak English and don’t understand I just click the “No” bottom. What slows down the line is people not being able to find the Macy’s card or credit card, although they have been in line for several minutes. Or not being able to decide between on item or another, I usually suggest, buy them both. If you change your mind you have 90 days to return the item.
I prefer to be ambushed outside the store. Someone sitting by the door with an old repurposed ammo can, and a well rehursed sales pitch.
No, if I owned a business, I would not allow it. I’m purchasing something in that store not giving to a cause. Our family is very generous in giving to OUR select charities and not any of those that I have ever encountered when purchasing something at a store.
We gratefully donate to Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, St.Jude’s Children’s Hospital, ARF, and Ruth Bancroft Foundation.
Antler, All good and worthwhile charities, I commend you. I realize many who choose not to donate are already doing so privately, which is fine. At time I do wonder, since it is ALWAYS less than a dollar, and often I have saved the customer $20.00 or more, either by splitting up the purchase, or using a coupon that the costumer don’t have, but I do.
It doesn’t bother me…. I’m all for philanthropy but I make my own donations . Don’t blame the cashier like it’s their idea.
Do the stores get a cut of the donations from the charity for allowing their boxes to be placed in the stores or utilizing their employees to solicit for them?
Probably not, but they may get the tax deduction off the customer’s donation and the virtue signaling that goes with making a “corporate donation.”
… no
No. Not because I don’t like to donate but because at the end of the year these big companies take all these donations they have collected and use them as a tax write off as if they were donating all the money. Think about it that’s why when you make a donation they don’t ask for your name or give you a donation receipt because they take the credit themselves. If you feel like donating go directly to the organizations website and donate there and many organizations will email you a donation receipt for tax purposes.
Panda Express sometimes asks if you want to round up to the dollar. I see how they want to raise money but are very frugal with their food. Only place I’ve seen that will pour a scoop of orange chicken, only to take a piece or two back.
It’s tacky and rude. Not to mention the company writes it off their taxes like they are the ones who donated.
When did we become such a bunch of snowflakes that people get their panties in a bunch over to potentially having to say “No, thank you”?
No way. Everyone else especially the government is already turned my pockets inside out and continue to do so daily – thanks for those of you who voted for Joe Been Lying and Heels Up Harris.
When will the voters ever learn.
@Sam Malone, What does politics have to do with what private companies such as Macy’s or Safeway do. I work at Macy’s I have worked at Macy’s when Bush was president, when Obama was president, when Trump was president and now Biden. This is a Macy’s policy and has nothing to do with politics. Around 4th of July Macy’s use to have a fundraiser for Armed Services, you could donate I think it was a$5.00 donation in return you got a 25% coupon that was good for several days, and worked on most items, even designers such as Coach, the pass worked on multiple items and could be used over and over again. I remember I had Chinese customers (from China) and I thought they are not going to want to contribute to the US military, but asked them anyway. I choose to contribute, because they were buying several Coach handbags, and to it represented a big savings to them.
Question: “What does politics have to do with what private companies such as Macy’s of Safeway do?”
Answer: According to OpenSecrets, Macys made political contributions to Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, and actually also to Trump. And in an attempt to keep their NY stores from getting looted, their CEO voiced support for BLM.
Macy’s has been asking for a round up to the nearest dollars, ever since we re-opened in June, so the most you donate is 99 Cents. Sales associates don’t ask, but we usually have to remind the customer to click yes or no on the signature pad, but then we often have to remind them to confirm their amount, or how they want their receipt. Somewhat annoying, I keep my voice neutral, usually just say “whatever you are comfortable with”. Some say of course, other don’t say anything, some say we already donate. I don’t voice my opinion one way or the other, but do say thank you when they donate. Macy’s use to do it a few times a year, but now it is constant, not sure if that will continue. It is different charities, Food Banks, Cancer research, Meals on Wheels, Make a Wish foundation, some they match the contribution, not sure about all of them, I imagine it is available on their website.
Most big companies make contribution to both political parties. Remember Trump donated to Hillary. However, I don’t see that as the same as donating to different charities.
You asked about politics, and I answered about politics. Macy’s showed preference for Democrats by their vote in dollars, and by their CEO seeming to support BLM. Posting favorably about BLM is politics.
Macy’s employ people of all races and sexual preferences, it makes sense for them to support those groups. The current CEO is gay, some companies are vocal about supporting conservative groups and politicians. All companies have the freedom to support whomever and whoever the want. I don’t see why it would it should bother anyone, liberal, conservative in the middle whatever. We are a diverse country with many different opinions, it is what makes us interesting and strong.
Leaving aside what I believe are your incorrect assumptions about Republicans, I will say that many believe corporations should not be allowed to donate in politics. Your example of the CEO having preference for Democrats is a good one. Macy’s is owned by the shareholders, not the CEO, and he is making personal use of money entrusted to him by shareholders in choosing who to politically finance. Ethically it is little different than using shareholder money to remodel his kitchen.
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