Does It Look Like I’ll Say No? Good.
It is the time of year when there is a horde of people huddled outside our local Walmart accosting passerbys every time I go shopping. No, they’re not loitering, although maybe that would be better. They are selling things. All sorts of things. Wrapping paper, popcorn, pizza, cheese, assorted random crud… really, anything and everything. I didn’t know that groups could hang out outside Walmart and sell stuff but apparently they can because every year since I moved here, school starts and the random groups start appearing outside Walmart hocking goods.
Last weekend I went to Walmart to grocery shop, and there was the requisite horde of young people accosting every passerby. They looked like Boy Scouts and it seemed they were selling tins of popcorn. I steeled myself to refuse their pleas for money as I passed them… but the pleas never came. They completely ignored me as I walked past and harassed other people instead.
Happy with my good fortune of avoiding the onslaught, I shopped, then prepared myself for leaving. This time I couldn’t possibly be so lucky. I took a deep breath, mentally prepared “No thank you, I’m not interested”, and left the store. And the Boy Scouts again ignored me. I walked to my car unscathed and pondered my experience. I came up with two scenarios.
One, I’m invisible to Boy Scouts.
Two, I exude a “No” vibe. I just look like I’ll say no so they don’t bother asking.
As much as I’d like to believe number one (how cool would that be?) I’m going to have to go with number two. I must just look like I’ll say no. And you know what? I am good with that. Very good. I understand that the adults in charge of these youngsters are the ones who decided they should sell things to strangers. But that doesn’t mean I agree with it or like it. In fact, when it is my kids who are supposed to sell stuff, I plan to flat out refuse to solicit strangers to buy stuff from my kids. I don’t believe in it, I don’t agree with it, and when all I am doing is trying to get inside a store to shop, I feel like it borders on harassment.
So if I look like I’ll say no - good. Because I will. And hopefully I continue to look that way for the entire holiday selling season.
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October 24th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
I’ve noticed they don’t ask me either, which I’m very happy about. The worst are the bag packers in the supermarket, with a bucket for donations. They are slow, and they put a maximum of 3 items per bag. I now tell them I’d rather they didn’t help me, even though I feel judged by the cashier and their adult leader. Overall I’m glad I seem to have mastered a cold uncaring, don’t even bother asking kind of look!
October 24th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
I do buy girl scout cookies. But I have not yet got your superpower of being invisible to boy scouts.
Still, I think I’ve got the look pretty much down.
You’re quite right not to want your kids selling. My parents didn’t encourage it but they let me do it for some things. I found it very stressful!
October 24th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
@ Looby - I haven’t run into the bag packers. But that would drive me nutty too.
@Mrs Micah - if my kids *want* to sell stuff I will probably let them - but not loitering outside stores lol
October 24th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
They don’t ask me, but it could be because I don’t go to Wal-Mart. Seriously, I was a Boy Scout and I dreaded shilling for pennies. Why is it considered a good thing to teach our youth to be streetside crap hawkers? It’s actually very demeaning, and I hated it. Say no enough, and maybe they’ll quit making these poor boys do it….
October 24th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Can you teach me that look? I get asked by all of them, from the Boy Scouts to the Little Leaguers. I feel like the biggest witch ever when I mumble “no, thanks” and sprint to my car.
October 24th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Hmmm… I guess you look friendly. Maybe I just look mean. lol
I have no idea…. maybe I am invisible. I must only use my powers for good!
October 25th, 2007 at 12:52 am
I thought I was the only one who feels like I’m being “accosted” every time I go to W-M. I probably should talk to the manager and tell him how much I *can’t stand* feeling cheap and uncaring for not buying all this stuff, but I doubt it would do any good … My technique is to look the other way or fumble with something in my purse so I don’t even have to look at them (I’m a sucker for kids).
October 25th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Why do they even let random groups hang out outside Walmart. I have never understood that part.
October 25th, 2007 at 10:46 am
I also feel bad for saying no to the kids outside of WM. Here in my area, the kids do something different to get $$. They stand in the middle of a 4 way intersection and hold a bucket! I kid you not, we have mini-beggars.
I REFUSE to give any money to these kids, no matter what they are raising money for. It’s dangerous, it’s demeaning, and what does it teach the kids? That begging for money is ok? Usually it’s little league teams or school clubs doing this. The last time I saw some kids doing it, they were raising money for their school (?). My kids don’t go to this school, so why should I contribute? The kids were 8th graders and the boys were standing in the middle of the lane, refusing to let cars pass unless they contributed. I had to pratically go in the ditch to get around these kids. Where were the teachers? Who gave them permission to beg? Ugh.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
I’m not a big fan of the fund raising. Especially the “pail shake”. That’s where the organization just stands in front of the store with a pail, can, or jar asking for a donation. At least the boy scouts had a product to sell.
At work someone’s kid is always fund raising. There are a host of brochures in our lunch room. It’s like we’re recycling the money.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Whoa….
I have had adults with the cans at stoplights begging for money but not kids. Whoa.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Hi, I found your site through Frugal Hackers post. The reason groups like to sell stuff at Walmart is the company’s fund raising policy–whatever the non-profit group earns that day is matched by Walmart dollar for dollar. I don’t know what the upper limits are but it is profitable, a double your money day, if you please. Walmart benefits by the charitable contribution and publicity.
Still, it is very annoying.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:31 am
@Stephanie - hey, that explains it! Actually that is a nice thing for Walmart to do. Except I still hate being accosted by people when trying to buy groceries. So there is that.