I've asked several cashiers if THEY feel it's appropriate and they often blush. If a corporate box store like Loblaws or the LCBO feel the need to ask the public for money, perhaps instead THEY should just donate an amount themselves and leave the public alone. These stores gross an excessive amount of profit via us, the consumer, and I think asking the consumer to donate is tacky as hell. I don't feel any guilt saying 'no thanks' as I give to my personal charities but I do think it's a form of passive bullying. People don't want to appear cheap, are embarrassed to say no, or feel intimidated. I think it's absolutely wrong and it should be stopped.
Bill Stacy - 11 years ago
When I donate *my* money, it's not only about the tax receipt, but I feel, more importantly, that I hope as much money gets to the cause. I know there are expenses but when I see 20 cents from the dollar I gave actually is used and the other 80 is overhead - I become dissuaded. I feel sorry for those who are forced to ask - enough with the corporate vanity already.
Ian Stenberg - 11 years ago
85% said NO. Don't you get it?
Peter - 11 years ago
What a bunch of scrooges. It's just a buck or two. Sometimes I give and sometimes I don't, but I've never felt guilt or pressure.
Lynne - 11 years ago
I call this "corporate begging", and I always refuse the request with a polite "no, thankyou". At this time of year, EVERYONE is looking to make a buck from our collective guilt being "haves" versus being "have-nots". I refuse to be intimidated. I make healthy donations to my own charities, and I don't give explanations or excuses to those I don't. And it has nothing to do with tax receipts.
Joanne - 11 years ago
I am getting really irritated with being "hit up" for charitable donations every time I venture out of my house. Also, the cashiers often don't like to ask, but they are coerced into it by management.
hugh rynberk - 11 years ago
First of all it has got to be hard for the cashiers to keep asking every customer for a hand out'''''''''''the store get a big tax write-off when they give your money to charity,,,,,,,,,,,if it even gets there??? so many scams and phoney stuff now,,,,,,,,,,,even the salvation army was caught up in a scandal this year
I agree with many of the other commenters - When you donate at a store, the store makes the donation in their own name. So if I hand Tim Hortons $2, they make a $2 donation to charity and get a tax write off for it.
So, in effect, what you are doing is donating money to a for profit corporation. ( And then they will run ads hyping their generosity.)
Al Silvester - 11 years ago
With all the info regarding what the CEO's of some of these charities make in wages, I am very careful of who & what I donate to. When you see high profile TV personalities that are over in Africa, who do you think pays for their first class transportation & accommodation? Not them, but the money you contributed, thinking that you were a good samaritan. The money they spent getting over there would feed and clothe those poor kids for a long time. And, never donate without a receipt!!!
Barbara Ediger - 11 years ago
I resent that the big corporations put up big signs in their stores proclaiming how generous they are, when the money actually comes from their customers. I would rather make a larger donation and get the tax receipt.
Mandrake40k - 11 years ago
To be clear, often when you donate money at a cashier, the company collects it and donates it in their own name - which gains them a tax receipt. Any money you "donate" into a box or to a cashier is free money for the company. That's why they won't give you a donation receipt. This goes for Tim Hortons, McD, Safeway.... all of them.
They collect the money, get the publicity when they donate your money, and a tax write-off to boot. Only boxes specifically for registered charities, that the company does not handle, don't enable this scam.
The practice of collecting proxy donations should be illegal.
Bob - 11 years ago
It's inappropriate.
My spouse and I give many thousands of dollars to charity each year, and I still feel like a grinch when asked at the till. I always returning to stores which ask for charitable donations. There are businesses which don't put me in the position of feeling awkward and they can have my business.
Our local newspaper often has small articles with a picture of a store employee handing over a cheque-from the business-which is really donated in small amounts by the customers. I really don't feel the store should get positive publicity for the giving of its customers.
Another commenter commented about the store taking tax credit for the dontations. Hopefully not many would do that-it would constitute fraud, except to the extent the store itself has added to the donations.
BTailleur - 11 years ago
I donate a considerable amount to charity through payroll deduction and definitely do not appreciate being asked at stores. I have changed my preferred stores because of this, and will continue to do so. I should not have to defend how and to whom I distribute my charity giving, but feel like a heel when I say "I give another way." It's less stressful to shop elsewhere, so that's what I do. If there is a discreet donation box I can decide for myself.
AVilleneuve - 11 years ago
It's not appropriate. You are made to feel like you don't care about these charities when you do not donate. Furthermore it is done in front of other people so the added peer pressure is there which is also not acceptable. LCBO, grocery stores, mall outlets. It's getting so you can't go anywhere without getting hit up for a donation. Our family picks its own charities and donates generously to them in order to get the tax receipt as well. We don't need to be constantly pestered every time we go shopping for basic necessitites.
Shirley Daigneau - 11 years ago
I donate to quite a few charities and get tax receipts. Why should I give at the till and the corporation gets the tax receipt for their donations which are not theirs but ours?
Shirley Daigneau - 11 years ago
I donete to quite a few charities and get tax receipts. Why should I give at the till and the corporation gets the tax receipt for their donations which are not theirs but ours?
I've asked several cashiers if THEY feel it's appropriate and they often blush. If a corporate box store like Loblaws or the LCBO feel the need to ask the public for money, perhaps instead THEY should just donate an amount themselves and leave the public alone. These stores gross an excessive amount of profit via us, the consumer, and I think asking the consumer to donate is tacky as hell. I don't feel any guilt saying 'no thanks' as I give to my personal charities but I do think it's a form of passive bullying. People don't want to appear cheap, are embarrassed to say no, or feel intimidated. I think it's absolutely wrong and it should be stopped.
When I donate *my* money, it's not only about the tax receipt, but I feel, more importantly, that I hope as much money gets to the cause. I know there are expenses but when I see 20 cents from the dollar I gave actually is used and the other 80 is overhead - I become dissuaded. I feel sorry for those who are forced to ask - enough with the corporate vanity already.
85% said NO. Don't you get it?
What a bunch of scrooges. It's just a buck or two. Sometimes I give and sometimes I don't, but I've never felt guilt or pressure.
I call this "corporate begging", and I always refuse the request with a polite "no, thankyou". At this time of year, EVERYONE is looking to make a buck from our collective guilt being "haves" versus being "have-nots". I refuse to be intimidated. I make healthy donations to my own charities, and I don't give explanations or excuses to those I don't. And it has nothing to do with tax receipts.
I am getting really irritated with being "hit up" for charitable donations every time I venture out of my house. Also, the cashiers often don't like to ask, but they are coerced into it by management.
First of all it has got to be hard for the cashiers to keep asking every customer for a hand out'''''''''''the store get a big tax write-off when they give your money to charity,,,,,,,,,,,if it even gets there??? so many scams and phoney stuff now,,,,,,,,,,,even the salvation army was caught up in a scandal this year
I agree with many of the other commenters - When you donate at a store, the store makes the donation in their own name. So if I hand Tim Hortons $2, they make a $2 donation to charity and get a tax write off for it.
So, in effect, what you are doing is donating money to a for profit corporation. ( And then they will run ads hyping their generosity.)
With all the info regarding what the CEO's of some of these charities make in wages, I am very careful of who & what I donate to. When you see high profile TV personalities that are over in Africa, who do you think pays for their first class transportation & accommodation? Not them, but the money you contributed, thinking that you were a good samaritan. The money they spent getting over there would feed and clothe those poor kids for a long time. And, never donate without a receipt!!!
I resent that the big corporations put up big signs in their stores proclaiming how generous they are, when the money actually comes from their customers. I would rather make a larger donation and get the tax receipt.
To be clear, often when you donate money at a cashier, the company collects it and donates it in their own name - which gains them a tax receipt. Any money you "donate" into a box or to a cashier is free money for the company. That's why they won't give you a donation receipt. This goes for Tim Hortons, McD, Safeway.... all of them.
They collect the money, get the publicity when they donate your money, and a tax write-off to boot. Only boxes specifically for registered charities, that the company does not handle, don't enable this scam.
The practice of collecting proxy donations should be illegal.
It's inappropriate.
My spouse and I give many thousands of dollars to charity each year, and I still feel like a grinch when asked at the till. I always returning to stores which ask for charitable donations. There are businesses which don't put me in the position of feeling awkward and they can have my business.
Our local newspaper often has small articles with a picture of a store employee handing over a cheque-from the business-which is really donated in small amounts by the customers. I really don't feel the store should get positive publicity for the giving of its customers.
Another commenter commented about the store taking tax credit for the dontations. Hopefully not many would do that-it would constitute fraud, except to the extent the store itself has added to the donations.
I donate a considerable amount to charity through payroll deduction and definitely do not appreciate being asked at stores. I have changed my preferred stores because of this, and will continue to do so. I should not have to defend how and to whom I distribute my charity giving, but feel like a heel when I say "I give another way." It's less stressful to shop elsewhere, so that's what I do. If there is a discreet donation box I can decide for myself.
It's not appropriate. You are made to feel like you don't care about these charities when you do not donate. Furthermore it is done in front of other people so the added peer pressure is there which is also not acceptable. LCBO, grocery stores, mall outlets. It's getting so you can't go anywhere without getting hit up for a donation. Our family picks its own charities and donates generously to them in order to get the tax receipt as well. We don't need to be constantly pestered every time we go shopping for basic necessitites.
I donate to quite a few charities and get tax receipts. Why should I give at the till and the corporation gets the tax receipt for their donations which are not theirs but ours?
I donete to quite a few charities and get tax receipts. Why should I give at the till and the corporation gets the tax receipt for their donations which are not theirs but ours?