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Whole Foods and "donations"

Was this an aberration or do they try this on everyone?


Me: "Deduct."
Me: "No." delivered with my signature look.


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  1. We shop at Safeway and they regularly are seeking donations but for specific charities. And the receipt shows the donation. I do it occasionally. It's a cheap way to make a difference.

    1 Reply
    1. re: c oliver

      Safeway does this routinely, I've also encountered it at Whole Foods.

    2. That would annoy me. He didn't say what you were supposed to be donating to? I also don't appreciate when people are pushy like that.

      1. This donation at checkout thing is everywhere, unfortunately.
        "It's x month, then next month, disease x is up.
        I'm sick of it. I particularly loathe being asked directly and having to turn them down. It's just so inappropriate.
        I'm there to buy my damn groceries, not donate.
        I also see the donation requests on the screen when I go to sign- another opportunity to pressure me to donate.
        I donate plenty- I have my charities and am proud to support them.
        I DO donate occasionally. Just a buck is no big deal when the mood strikes me, but it's the invasiveness that bugs me.
        The constant barrage and begging for donations at every checkout is getting old.

        1 Reply
        1. re: monavano

          It's funny that it doesn't bother me. But I've learned as I've aged to say "no" comfortably.

          1. It's usually for a local charity.

            When it's happened to me at Whole Foods, the teller has told me what charity it was (last time, if I recall correctly, it was for a reading program for underserved youths or something along those lines).

            It's not a big deal for me. If I don't want to do it, I just politely decline. If I'm cool withe charity, then rounding up some spare change, or a the price of a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee is really nothing I'm going to think too much about.