Do Customers Hit You Up For Donations?

Mike(VA)

What do you do when a customer wants to solicit a donation to (insert worthy cause here)? Wife of the husband is going through chemo, we are now personal advocates of the cause. Husband just had cataract surgery and we now support the donor program. Must be I look like a sap, but why do they think we should support every cause they deem worthy?

I do tell them that I have a budget for donations and a field of causes that I support. I tell them that I don't donate to any customer causes since there are so many.

I get hit for "Save the Ta-ta's", "Childhood Leukemia", and every other type of debilitating issue that befalls the human race. One could go broke if one gave in. What's happening in your world?

However, I DO buy Girl Scout cookies, in bulk. From everyone who sells them.

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480sparky

I simply reply that, although they are acting for a worthy cause, I cannot support them all and that I already have charities I donate to.

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J F

Ah hell, give 'em a $100....and then a change order for $150

Five Star

if its a good customer and they have you working on a decent job,or have had you do multiple jobs then i would donate to a cause they feel passionate about or something that strikes at home!

i use to do alot of repair work for group homes with kids with autisum, they were having an auction and asked me to donate something, so i donated my time to be auctioned to a specific bidder to do handiman work for one day of labor only! the winning bid was $2,685.

i was there for about 6 hrs, i hr for material run,and 1 hr lunch and i ended up tightening door knobs,adjusting doors,nailing slats on a fence,Etc. basically straighten up my truck in between tasks.

hopefully those kids saw some of that money!

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dirt diggler

next time, just say


"oh, well, since I had to knock off 10% to compete with that damn brother-in-law of yours ... I had to modify my charity budget this year"

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Ed the Roofer

Before or after you have a signed contract?

If before, tell them you will donate $100.00 once you get their deposit check.

If after, then it depends on what you personally think of the charity and the way that they have been treating you to that point.

On another note, I list the 3-4 main charities that touch my life persoanlly and ask them if they would be willing to support those causes at the same time they hit me up.

Lupus, Make-A-Wish-Shriners Hospital, and cerbral palsy are the ones I will support. I have friends or family that are either suffering from one of those or have been greatly helped out by one of those already.

Ed

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Mellison

Never been asked.

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Chris Johnson

I was asked to sign a petition to save the bears once, I wasn't liked too much after I licked my lips and said uummmm.

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Chris

Handymanservice

If they are selling a candy bar for school, or are having a spelling bee, or something along those lines, maybe some Raffle tickets or a gift cert. donated to the kids school for a silent auction.

It is rare I will donate cash to a person, I have no problem sending a check to an organization, if it is something I normally support.

My 2 biggies are St. Judes and Habitat for Humanity.
I don't have enough money to go around to all charities, I do give to others, if I can.

My response is simple, 'We set a budget for charitable donations, at the beginning of the year." With or without this job, we will still meet our goal. We do not get asked much, but I try to respond the same way every time.

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cleveman

Tell them that next spring or fall you will plant a tree for them.

I don't mind it too much when someone I know asks for something. Or at least I won't spout off at them.

But it has become all too common to have the check out lady at the grocery store ask for a donation. This has to stop. Tell them that if they want to panhandle, they should get a cup and and a cane, if not a bottle of Thunderchicken as well.

I don't appreciate paying someone to do something (sell me groceries) and have them ask for money.

How would you feel if, as you were settling up, your accountant or attorney took your time to ask you to donate for their daughter's softball team?

So turn it around and give them the dicking.

bob_cntrctr

"Oh I absolutely support charities. Personally I contribute to XXand YY. But I don't do it through my clients, as a matter of principle, out of concern how it could look - you know - you give me business and suddenly I'm donating cash to my client's favourite cause...so I try to just keep it strictly business."

PA woodbutcher

My cousin asked for a $10,000 bath remodel for $2,000 because her lazy assed husband is on disability, does that count? Already living off my money and now he wants me to not only work for free, but donate some materials too.

Other than that I don't think I have ever been asked. I buy girl scout cookies at the lumber yard once or twice a month. I already donate to the church, which does a pretty good job at distribution. If there is a jar at the local gas station for a worthy cause I'll also drop money in those.

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