Ack. Now they're inside the store..

[Exterous]

It used to be I only got asked to buy cookies/popcorn/straight donation outside a store during 2/3 of the year - basically when it was habitable outside. Apparently this year the boy/girl scouts, sports teams, band etc fundraisers have decided to nag us year round with support from the stores. Went to Home Depot, Kroger and Meijer (Midwest grocer) and all three had panhandling stations inside the store

 

[Charmonium]

You can always play the diabetes card. "Oh wow, that looks tasty but . . . " If you really play up you might be able to get them to give YOU money.

I normally do the I-don't-see-you shuffle. That's a cross between the walk of shame and the dance you do trying to avoid your ex when you both get invited to the same party.

 

[Ichinisan]

"Year round"

Dunno about that. It's the season right now. They're outside of every store here right now.

 

[Captante]

One more reason to shop online?

 

[FeuerFrei]

Naggers everywhere.

Just buy their entire stock of whatever ... and they'll skedaddle.

 

[snoopy7548]

I don't mind them so much - when they say "Hi!" I just say "Hi!" and keep walking. Kids are easy to ignore, and I already buy cookies from co-workers.

The people I hate are those stupid solar and water filter or whatever people at Home Depot.

 

[Red Squirrel]

The trick with these, and mall salespeople that try to catch you between stores, is to make zero eye contact. If they're shouting at you do not flinch at all. Hopefully they'll figure you're just deaf or something.

If it's kids I don't mind so much, we've all been there, having to sell crap for school, so I'll often buy.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I act deaf and flash gang signs.

 

[Captante]

I find a simple "no thanks" works fine 98% of the time with the in-store sales reps.

 

[lxskllr]

Tell them you're not allowed to be near kids.

 

[FeuerFrei]

I think the Scouts only hawk their merch twice a year.
Perhaps they still do.

Fun Fact: The cookies have different names in different regions of the US.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Tell them your a registered sex offender and can`t have any contact with children,.....

 

[skull]

I don't mind them so much - when they say "Hi!" I just say "Hi!" and keep walking. Kids are easy to ignore, and I already buy cookies from co-workers.

The people I hate are those stupid solar and water filter or whatever people at Home Depot.

Weird I feel bad ignoring kids but the adults at home depot I can look in the eyes and tell them to fuck off no problem.

 

[Thebobo]

Hang one of these on each side of you?

 

[ctbaars]

They're penetrating the bureaucracy!

 

[NutBucket]

I don't mind them so much - when they say "Hi!" I just say "Hi!" and keep walking. Kids are easy to ignore, and I already buy cookies from co-workers.

The people I hate are those stupid solar and water filter or whatever people at Home Depot.

See, I'd rather buy from the kids who are out there selling than a co-worker who is doing the dirty work for their kids.

Lucky for me the salespeople at the home center tend to ignore me. I guess my boyish looks work in my favor

 

[snoopy7548]

See, I'd rather buy from the kids who are out there selling than a co-worker who is doing the dirty work for their kids.

Lucky for me the salespeople at the home center tend to ignore me. I guess my boyish looks work in my favor

That's an excellent viewpoint. I might stop buying from co-workers' siblings and kids. You're supposed to be selling these things, not your dad. It teaches them all the wrong lessons.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Way I see it, the ones who get their parents to do it are more efficient at finding a way of getting a task done. If I had kids, I'd rather just bring their stuff in the office knowing it will sell faster, than making them go door to door in the dark -40 winter nights where most people won't buy and are just being disturbed from their supper. The ones that get to sell in stores probably can because their parents work there or have connections with management etc. You can't just randomly go stand in a store selling stuff.

 

[NutBucket]

You can ask nicely I mean, legally the store can kick you off their property anyway so might as well be nice and let them stand inside.

Also, it's more work for the parents since nobody in their right mind is going to let an 11 year old (or grade schooler) stand in front of a supermarket selling cookies by themselves.

Final thought. It's important for kids to learn how hard it is to make an honest buck. It also encourages them to think outside the box and be innovative in improving efficiency.

 

[ultimatebob]

My daughter is a Girl Scout now, so she's been peddling cookies this year as well. So far, "she" sold 44 boxes at $5 each. She'll be selling the leftover boxes * in front of a Dunkin Donuts this weekend. Nice cross promotion they got going there, I guess.

I don't really have to try that hard to sell these, though. I just put up an office message saying that I'm selling cookies, and people come running to place their orders.

* The girl scout troop orders the cookies by the case. If someone orders just one box of a certain flavor, they have to get an entire case of them.