Hunger Games
February 23, 2013
A new restaurant opened up down the street. It has a simple menu of a few sandwiches, soups and salads. I decided to check it out, and when the cashier announced my price--I believe it was $8.45--she asked "do you want to round that up to nine dollars to fight hunger?" In other words, the extra I gave--I assume--would go to some specific charity.
Now I've got nothing against charity, and I've got nothing against fighting hunger, but I don't enjoy retail establishments forcing the issue. Here I was in a position of having to say "no, I don't want to fight hunger" just to get my (overpriced) food.
I should have said "tell you what, if you're so keen on fighting hunger, why don't you take it out of your end?" And then in a few weeks, I could go in and announce "I'm making my own sandwiches, soups and salads now, and though you've lost my business, I'm sure you'll be thrilled to hear I'm saving a lot and giving some of it to good causes."
I've checked around and apparently a number of places have this deal. If it's an unspoken option, fine, but if they're in your face about it, they making my continued patronage less likely.
posted by LAGuy @ 12:10 AM
3 Comments:
A lot of stores are doing this. PetSmart always asks if you want to add a dollar for animal shelters. It bugs me for just the reason you say - it forces me to say "no, let the puppies freeze!"
I could deal with special pleas once or twice a year - although even then, I prefer the March of Dimes jar sitting silently on the the 7/11 counter, letting me opt in, not requiring me to opt out.
I hate the cub scouts or brownies or old vets sitting at the entrance to the grocery store directly interacting with you as you enter. I understand these tactics are probably much better at raising cash than sitting there silently but I hate it.
I usually feign deafness or an inability to understand the language
At least girl scouts are selling food (cookies) in fron of a grocery store. I sort of look forward to their annual visit.
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