'Would You Like To Donate To Our Tax Deduction Today?'

[Eric]

It seems like you can't go into any store anymore without them hitting you up for a donation to whatever, at checkout. It irritates the hell out of me. If these corporations want to virtue-signal what good corporate neighbors they are, why don't they donate their own money, instead of putting the bite on their customers?

It would be less irritating if their reasons for these continuing 'donation' drives were all altruistic, but they are not. What these damned donations allow them to do is declare a tax deduction for the charitable donation of millions of dollars of other people's money. It is a pretty slick idea, I'll grant them, but it seems a little sleazy too and it pisses me off to have to endure the admonishing stares of so many clerks when I tell them no. As for the charities themselves, I haven't even heard of most of the ones being pushed. I wonder how much of that money actually goes to help the intended beneficiaries of those charities?

Maybe I am getting more cynical as I get older, but the world is becoming more deserving of my cynicism. Now get off my damned lawn!

[Huaco Kid]

Ever see the South Park episode where they do that at the town's new Whole Foods store?

Everything from having to pull the sandwich out of the little girl cardboard cutout's mouth to hit the decline button, to send a hamster to college.

"Certainly sir.  No problem.  Just hit 'decline'...  It's in her mouth. Pull.  Pull harder.  Gee, she's got a pretty good grip on that thing......" 

[railfancwb]

8 hours ago, Eric said:

It seems like you can't go into any store anymore without them hitting you up for a donation to whatever, at checkout. It irritates the hell out of me. If these corporations want to virtue-signal what good corporate neighbors they are, why don't they donate their own money, instead of putting the bite on their customers?

It would be less irritating if their reasons for these continuing 'donation' drives were all altruistic, but they are not. What these damned donations allow them to do is declare a tax deduction for the charitable donation of millions of dollars of other people's money. It is a pretty slick idea, I'll grant them, but it seems a little sleazy too and it pisses me off to have to endure the admonishing stares of so many clerks when I tell them no. As for the charities themselves, I haven't even heard of most of the ones being pushed. I wonder how much of that money actually goes to help the intended beneficiaries of those charities?

Maybe I am getting more cynical as I get older, but the world is becoming more deserving of my cynicism. Now get off my damned lawn!

Most if not all stores doing this refuse to allow Salvation Army et al set up outside the entrance to solicit. 

[railfancwb]

Went to Amazon and top of page an “opportunity” to donate to help the people of Ukraine. 

[railfancwb]

Local Goodwill stores have been asking if I wish to round up to the next whole dollar. 

[gwalchmai]

47 minutes ago, railfancwb said:

Local Goodwill stores have been asking if I wish to round up to the next whole dollar. 

I always respond with "No, let's round down to the previous whole dollar." They think I'm being unreasonable.

[railfancwb]

1 hour ago, gwalchmai said:

I always respond with "No, let's round down to the previous whole dollar." They think I'm being unreasonable.

Never thought of that. I like your style.