BlogBreak

By Oldvet74

September 8, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this

Whenever I was aked these questions my response was always the same. Sure, I’ll buy some. But remember I have 5 kids and I’ll be back. Their response was also always the same. never mind.

By Jack Stilton

September 8, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this

It cost me $10 bucks every time I answer my front door, so I don’t answer anymore!

By Jack Stilton

September 8, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this

It cost me $10 bucks every time I answer my front door, so I don’t answer anymore! The only thing I like to buy from the schools is those coupon books that pay for themselves about 5 times.

By Debora

September 8, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

My company finally put a stop to all of that, thank heavens. You can post it to the online board, put materials in breakroom but no “door to door” or mass emails.

After they ask me a billion times and you say no to all the showers (baby, new house, wedding) they have finally got the hint.

By JR

September 8, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

I had a coworker that was always pestering everybody to help her with her adoptions, dogs, cats, kittens whatever. She asked another coworker if he had room to take in one or two of her current crop of adorable kittens. His reply - No thanks, my freezer is full.

Needless to say, she never asked him to help again.

By HP

September 8, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately, this kind of stuff continues to happen, and in many workplaces, such as mine, if you don’t participate, it is held against you at some point. Meanwhile, I haven’t gotten a pay raise in two years. I remember at one job, there was an admin who was really mean and never spoke to me. Never. It was not personal - she treated a lot of people like that. I suspected she had a drug/alcohol problem. She would walk right past me and look me in the face and I would say hello (what else are you supposed to do?) and she wouldn’t speak. She came to me one day and asked me if I wanted to buy gift wrap. I had no problem saying heck no!

It can be nice to think of coworkers having a baby or getting married with a gift, etc. But management should keep close tabs on this stuff and nip it when it gets out of hand. Especially when they don’t give raises!!!!

By lovelyliz

September 8, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this

My boss will let people bring in these requests, but you have to put the display or sign up sheet in the breakroom and there is NO GENERAL SOLICITNG

By HP

September 8, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

@JR:

Love that story! I almost spit out my coffee!

By BlueRay

September 8, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

You people are so cheap. This is the problem: you’ll spend $10 on a cup of coffee rather than $10 on a co-worker’s fundraiser. Self-absorbed luncatics!

By BlueRay

September 8, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

You people are so cheap. This is the problem: you’ll spend $10 on a cup of coffee rather than $10 on a co-worker’s fundraiser. Self-absorbed lunatics!

By JENNIFER

September 8, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

This is for all of the parents out there that expect the world and co-workers to support their kids projects and extracurricular activities. After working with a company for 17 years and contributing to bridal showers, baby showers, pee wee leagues, boy scouts, cub scouts, brownies, girl scouts, little league uniforms, class strips, swim teams, tennis teams, basketball teams, football teams, senior trips, graduations etc.. I said enough is enough when I paid $10 for an 8oz plastic cup of tootsie rolls. I am single, with ZERO children. NO ONE contributes on behalf for ANYTHING. I advised them to make a pool and support each other. Over the years I have easily doled out five grand. I gave that same speech each time that I was approached.

They finally got the hint.

By SupportiveParent

September 8, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

I find it ridiculous that so many of you frown upon spending a mere $10 on a school fundraiser. Then you go around complaining about what schools don’t have, today’s youth, etc. Gimme a break! Buy the cookies, wrapping paper or whatever else they’re selling and stop whining! No wonder so many of our schools are without. And for Oldvet74, who cares how many kids you have. Surely some of them were at the same school at the same time. I would not have stopped asking you because you have 5 kids, I would’ve stopped because you’re a jerk!

By Becky

September 8, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

JR,I’m like HP..Love that story..I do work with people that have children & I will buy from some of the fundraisers..But, every on ein the company knows that if (&when) I buy, I buy the cheapest thing in the catalog..We always donate to weddings & baby gifts..Most everyone that I work with has been here for at least 12-15 years, so it works for us..

By Critic

September 8, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

For the parents to do the work for the child defeats the whole purpose of having the child involved in a project. The involvement of the child is reduced to being the middleman in the exchange of paperwork. Just tell anyone who approaches that your child is involved in a fund raiser too. If you don’t have kids, just say a niece or nephew.

By MARCEL MARCEAU

September 8, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

, “”,. ,/,. ,. !!!

By Kimi

September 8, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Blue Ray you hit that description on the head as far as I’m concerned. I am cheap, got better things to do with my money.

We have no children. When you have no kids, everyone with a kid expects you to buy SOMETHING - candy, cookies, sodas, popcorn, wrapping paper; we need uniforms, we need equipment, we need books; the list goes on and NEVER ENDS.

That doesn’t even include the kids and their parents standing at the entrance to the supermarkets peddling their goods, or wanting to wash my car.

Now occassionaly I will buy something, usually wrapping paper and girl scout cookies are it for us because who needs all that candy and other crap they’re selling.

The best suggestion I’ve read on this blog is that all these parents get together and SUPPORT EACH OTHER’S KIDS. I put a stop to buying everything except girl scout cookies because we like those.

Wrapping paper is cheaper and nicer looking at the Dollar Store & good grief, it is just wrapping paper that will be ripped off & forgotten once the recipient sees the present. Waste of money, even for a dollar!

Eventually we want children but right now we don’t have any for a reason, because we know we can’t afford them and if we can’t afford our own, we definitely can’t afford yours. Bad enough my tax dollars are being wasted supporting a school system that is damn near last in education in the USA.

When we do have children, we are going to make sure they know selling this crap is not a priority and not to go crazy trying to sell it. The only worthwhile stuff being sold are girl scout cookies.

I hope my job forces people to stop soliciting in the office, altho my coworkers already know not to come to me with this stuff. Money is tight these days even the schools need to stop this madness.

By HP

September 8, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

Cheap? Cheap? You know what isn’t cheap? Gas. Food. Work clothing, including dry cleaning and upkeep. My house and student loan payments. Daycare for two kids. Don’t talk to me about cheap. And if I WANT to spend $10 on coffee to treat myself for working so darn hard with no pay raises, that is my business.

There is nothing wrong with school fundraisers or supporting one. I am not opposed to it. But sheesh, things are getting expensive and to keep getting hit up repeatedly for stuff is a little much. I have kids and I see what people are saying.

By JeremiahWright

September 8, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

Yeah, my kid’s selling stuff now too. I figure I’ll just bring in the sign up list and set it in the break room, but I’m not going to solicit people specifically. I don’t like to be pressured either.

By SAR

September 8, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

At my place of works it’s a baby shower each time you turn around it seems. Some of the people they give showers for have had more than one child already. I grew up in the days of only a shower for the first kid. Some of the people I get an office shower invitation for, I don’t know and have never spoken to other than a casual hello in the breakroom. It’s out of control now…and the selling of candy is another story all together. They finally had to stop all candy sales it was getting so out of control.

By Brock

September 8, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

Most parents’ school property taxes don’t approach covering the cost to educate their kids. So perhaps parents, rather than asking others to subsidize extracurriculars too, should buy a number of these items themselves and give them to childless people as thanks for paying school taxes. A good lesson in personal responsibilty for your children, no?

By Rod

September 8, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Um, isn’t the CHILD supposed to be selling this stuff?

What lesson does the child learn by merely handing the sign-up sheet to mom and dad to take to work. The child learns “no responsibility.” Great life-lesson, sure to make Junior an exceptional citizen.

Take the child door-to-door in the neighborhood or something, but don’t do the child’s work for him/her.

Those parents are the same ones who do Junior’s school project for him.

By Mike D

September 8, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

Leave it to the AJC to have these lame blog topics.

By Seller

September 8, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

I’m selling some wrapping paper for my son - it’s all good stuff at no to bad prices.

BlueRay and SupportiveParent - please post your email addresses on here so I can send you a signup sheet, since I know you want to buy LOTS from me (I mean my child)!!!

By Editor

September 8, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

Hey Mike D - you must be pretty lame yourself to respond to a lame blog topic. Crap or get off the toilet!

By WOW

September 8, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

SupportiveParent, you are either ignorant, gullible, or you work for a fundraiser company. Do you know how much of a “purchase” actually goes to the school? Not much! By the way, send me your e-mail address - my kids have a bunch of stuff to sell and you seem to be in the buyin’ mood.

By Cheap Hand Luke

September 8, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

As a married person who is having no children, I have to tell you that being approached to buy a trinket that has no value for ten times the price in a regular store is unfair.

Explain to me why those of you that have children that sell this junk think that I am somehow responsible for supporting the activities that your children participate in. I would much rather give my money to causes that are worthy of my time, my energy and my concern rather than pay for little John-John to play his tuba at the Citrus Bowl parade.

My biggest pet peeve is the parents that let their children hold out the money buckets looking for a handout along the highway. Nothing beats letting your high school age daughter wearing a bikini or cheerleader gear along the side of a major roadway asking strangers for cash… When did we become a society that thinks it is okay for our young children to learn proper pan handling techniques?

Next time my wife and I want to go to Disney, I think I’ll sit in front of Kroger’s with a harmonica and a bucket. I wonder how many kind people will help me with our trip.

By Parent of three

September 8, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

As a parent, I hate all the fundraisers my kids are expected to do. Now that I have two in high school and one in middle school, they ask for class dues instead of a fund raiser. I am more willing to pay $60 per kid not to have to panhandle stuff that is not worth the money.

Rod - In reality the kids should sell it, however, they do not allow kids to go door to door alone and there is never enough time to do that after homework, dinner, etc…

My daughter is in Marching Band, which costs about $1200 per year. I do bring in things to sell where I work, post it on our internal website or put it in the breakroom. These are only the items I think that are worth what you pay for - Brusters coupons, coupon books, poinsettias, fall flowers, etc… If people buy them - great. If the don’t I am going to pay for it anyway.

I always buy Krispy Kreme doughnuts if I see ballplayers selling them on the side of the road. I done my fair share of that, as well.

I think what people don’t realize is that the kids/parents are EXPECTED to sell things, even if they can afford to just give money and would rather do so. It is looked at as being part of the team.

By Clay

September 8, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

I have 3 children, so I do the old “I won’t buy anything from anyone at work and I won’t ask anyone at work to buy anything from me.”

Now, Girl Scout cookies are another story. They are, what, $3.50 per box? Buy a box of Girl Scout cookies. Buy a box from each co-worker who askes, buy a box from the girls in front of Kroger or Wal-Mart or where ever you run across them. That money is used to fund many great programs and they need your help. Plus, the cookies are pretty good. Yes, I have 1 daughter who used to be a Girl Scout and I’ve been on the selling end of many cookies. I never understood the person who said “I don’t need any cookies, I bought 3 boxes from the girl down the street.” Get $3.50 out of your pocket and support the Girl Scouts!

By Mom

September 8, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Hey Clay, you do realize that the Girl Scouts actually get far less than 50 cents per box to fund their programs, don’t you? Overhead, profit, distribution - it all costs alot.

By Brock

September 8, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

Parent of Three, I know you’re expected to sell things, and good for you for just wanting to pay straight up. Why not just buy the items yourself? Nobody’s going to double check your Jane and John Doe’s on your sheet since the kids distribute the items too.

And whoever said kids can’t sell door to door, that’s a copout. A parent can go with them, and it might give both the parent and child some exercise (that both may well need) and time to talk.

By Becky

September 8, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

If you don’t want to buy anything, just say no..That’s all it takes at my house..

By ihorizon

September 8, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

I stopped buying into the fund raising and girl scout cookies a few years ago as I used to support them, but when the time came to collect the items for which I PAID for, parents says “Oh, she stopped as she wasn’t getting enough orders.” I’m getting tired of schools asking for handouts when I find myself running back to the store buying “needed school supplies” only to learn that the items are not always needed. I’m starting to think private tuition may be better off but it too is very high cost. Education should not be so expensive.

By Amy

September 8, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

Are you sure, “Mom”? I know that in Canada, where I live and sell cookies, the Girl Guides make over $2.50 on each box. In the USA, the seller’s troop gets 12-15% of the purchase price, and the local GS council keeps a portion of the money as well - money that it uses to maintain camps, run girl programs and events, support and train leaders, send girls on trips, etc. Just because the troop itself might only make 50 cents per box doesn’t mean the Girl Scouts, as a whole, aren’t benefiting more than that.

By truth

September 8, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

To these bleeding hearts that think we owe you,your kids,anything they sell are the ones that bring up religion,and politics,you folks are annoying and think others owe you something.I wouldn’t be surprised if you think the World also owes you something.Grow Up!

By Parent of three

September 8, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

Brock - I would buy the items (and do on ones that I will use). However, it would cost me 10 times what I could give in cash to equal the same benefit to the school or program. Sometimes I think they get hung up on “selling” the items instead of trying to just “raise” a specific amount of money.

They typically state that they don’t want kids to sell door to door for “safety reasons”. Yes, I should get out there more - I do need the exercise! There are only so many hours in the day and my daughter has three band practices in a week, my son, two to three baseball games per week, etc… Someone has to do laundry - but you don’t need my excuses!

By truth

September 8, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

To these bleeding hearts that think we owe you,your kids,anything they sell are the ones that bring up religion,and politics,you folks are annoying and think others owe you something.I wouldn’t be surprised if you think the World also owes you something.Grow Up!

By VoiceOfReason

September 8, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

As a parent of a toddler, this is my vow:

I will never ever participate in a fund raiser that requires me to solicit money from folks I work with. Not because its rude for the folks I work with, simply because I refuse to become a salesperson for anything my child or myself are involved in. I will donate my own money, my time, things from my home, but I will not be pimped or pimp my child. We will however, participate in fund-raising events (bake sales, fish fry(s), car washes, etc.)

Now, if you, want to be pimped, that’s fine. I will buy from you, only if I see something that I actually want. I won’t just hand over my money for crap.

By Stacey

September 8, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

I agree with those who would rather pay a flat fee each year instead of selling the fundraiser stuff. The stuff cost 5 times what it costs at dollar stores and as others have pointed out, the organization gets a very small percentage of the money raised. My son’s school has two fundraisers a year (fall & spring) & the PTA has a separate fundraiser. This doesn’t include sports teams, Boy Scouts, etc. His school also gets a portion of the money from school day pictures as a fundraiser but the same portrait package that costs $7.95 at Wal-Mart is $70 at school!

75% of my coworkers are women with kids or grandkids in elementary school. School has been in session 2-4 weeks (depending on the county) and there have already been 4 fundraiser envelopes in the breakroom (three were identical). One lady seems to order something from everyone and she is usually the only one who orders anything. I don’t even bother bringing my son’s form to work. He takes it to the neighbors on both sides of us, his grandparent and his aunt.

By an

September 8, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

I have a rule of thumb, I’m not going to do anything for you; therefore, you do not have to do anything for me. Eventually I have been deleted from all of the emails. I resent getting invitations to baby showers, wedding showers, etc. for people I only know because I run into them in the copy room. If someone is soliciting for their kids, if I really want it I will buy it. If I don’t I tell them, “no thanks, see me next time around.” If you don’t say no, or you don’t set limits you are the first person everyone will hit up. This is not about being cheap, it is about whether or not you really need, or want what they are selling. I work hard for my money and I will decide how to spend it.

By Jennifer

September 8, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

Hey, Supportive Parent: I’m a mother of three and have always found it ridiculous that the prices are so jacked up for cheap gifts. If you want to blame someone for being cheap, blame the companies who make the kids (excuse me, the parents) sell this junk because it is they who are too cheap to pay a salary for sales people. They are using your kids, and mine, to make money for them. And by them, I mean for the companies. Then, to make matters worse, they have competitions to award prizes to the kid who sells the most. This should’t be a competition. If a child does not have the benefit of having a parent or parents who work in an office where most folks will buy something, then it’s obvious that child isn’t going to be the top seller. And going door-to-door really only tends to make folks upset once they get bombarded by 5-10 kids per night. And if the child lives in a poorer neighborhood, they are definitely less likely to be able to sell anything.

You want to put folks down who either don’t purchase items or who complain about being constantly asked to purchase items. However, I think you are the one who needs more serious self-examining than anyone else on this board so far. The fact that you think it is ok to belittle people for not buying some cheaply made wrapping paper or whatever else is being sold really speaks volumes for the type of person you truly are.

By Magic in the word No

September 8, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

The workplace is not the place to play the fundraiser thing. We are here to work - that is it. I can understand a flyer in the breakroom where donating is voluntary. Coming to my desk is tacky, and is greeted with an NO. We don’t have kids, so I don’t expect anything from my co-workers and they should not expect anything from me, except a hello, a smile and teamwork. It is disrepectful, b/c the workplace is a fishbowl of folks on a budget, those that would love to participate, those with no kids, and those that have no interest in your school or your kids. We wish everyone well, but keep your personal stuff out of the office. The shower thing gets me. Like a previous blogger, why would I want to buy a gift for someone I barely know from the copy room. Again, posting your effort in the breakroom is best and let those that are interested participate.

By ron

September 8, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this

I buy Girl Scout cookies from Girl Scouts that are accompanied by their mothers,but I don’t buy Girl Scout cookies from mothers that aren’t accompanied by their Scouts.

By BB

September 8, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

Please teach your children what “No Soliciting” means. I put that sign on my front door, and evidently most people translate it to mean “please ring my bell - I’m a gullible fool”.

By KJ

September 8, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

Leave the sheet in the breakroom. Whoever wants to buy, will buy.

This isn’t rocket science.

By Becky

September 8, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

Thank you KJ…

By NoSellingPlease

September 8, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this

I now have three children in elementary school and when they brought home thier catalouges this year I explained to them that we were not spending the money this year. In past years I have just bought the minimun amount for the lowest prize. I have never asked friends, family, or neighbors to puchase from my children. This year they raised the minimum purchase amount and for my kids to get the dinky little toy I would have to spend $150. I told them I would just buy them the 50 cent toy myself.

By Roy Manry

September 8, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

I don’t mind being asked if I can help look for a home for a stray animal, or to buy girl scout cookies; what I do mind are companies that expect you (or more or less require you) to donate to something like United Way. What a scam! Remember the clown here in Atlanta that was given 3 million in retirement? And no donations here topped that-or came close. So yeah, I help out locally where I can, but employees shouldn’t be required to give at the office just because it buys the CEO of their company some kudos.

By MBN

November 18, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

I worked for a company where one of the owners bought about one hundred boxes of assorted Girl Scout cookies from his granddaughter. He put all those cookies in the break room for the employees to enjoy! And we did… ohhh, I loved eating a ton of those chocolate mint cookies! The break room was already stuffed with truckloads of granola bars and pop-tarts (technology companies always have junk food snacks, it seems!), and sodas, all free. He never asked if we wanted to buy any cookies to take home but we always did, just because most of us were addicted to those evil chocolate mint cookies!