About two weeks ago at Walmart checkout, I was asked by the clerk if I wanted to make a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. Being a noble cause, I agreed to donate $5.00. The next day I returned looking for some items for work. Again, I was asked to donate; this time I was given an option of $1.00, $5.00, or $10.00. Not wanting to look like a jerk, I donated $1.00. Over the following two weeks I have been into Walmart and its' sister company Sam's Club about 5 or 6 times, each time being asked to donate, and each time donating $1.00.
Yesterday as I briskly walked in looking for a last minute snack to take to work with me. A lady literally yelled at me as I was walking in the door. She said “Hello would you like to make a donation to ...” I could not hear what the cause was because I did not stop and at 6'6” at a brisk walk I have quite a gait and was out of earshot. There are two reasons why I did not stop; First, I had a very small margin of time in order to be to work on time, and second I knew I did not have any cash on me.
Don't get me wrong; I have no problem being asked to support a cause, and I have no problem giving to a cause in which I believe. However, when you get out of your car in the Walmart parking lot knowing that you will be asked 3 times to donate money, it does get kind of old. I remember one time I was headed toward the store entrance and intentionally walked all the way to the other set of doors just to avoid some guy trying to give me a free sample of the local newspaper, trying to get me to subscribe. So what do you think? Are you uncomfortable with the bombardment of solicitation, or do you just block it out, continuing on your merry way?