I have always said what Slate says, "Thanks for asking but I have my own plan for donating."

And that's simply because not every store gives 100% of the funds they collect for a charity to that charity.

Better that I give directly to the charity of my choice than have a store keep some and give the rest to whomever they feel.

I understand the pressure of having to say yes when I go to grocery stores, it makes me feel like a heel for not doing it....so I usually do. When people show up at my door, at home, and ask me to donate money or buy magazines to support something, and it makes me angrier than when asked at a grocery store.

I've never been asked to donate to charity in a shop...on the street however..whenever people try to get me to sign up for those £2 a month direct debits I just avoid them, don't look them in the eye, don't respond, because they are soooo pushy. I do things for charity that I choose, not what somebody in the street tells me to do. (FYI I recently did a charity race and raised £200 for cancer research so it's not like I don't do anything).

It depends on how I feel. But I don't let anybody guilt me into donating, because I do donate to charities outside of grocery store donations.

Maybe 25% of the time I say yes, if I have the money. The rest of the time I don't because either I don't have the money or it's not a cause [while they're all worthwhile!] that I'm not particularly passionate about.

the times this has happened to me, the person at the cash register is very polite and says "would you like to donate to (whatever charity", and I just say "no, thank you"

I say I've already donated to a different charity but thanks for asking. I pick a local charity to donate to and one not local.

From a marketing execs point of view IMO that's exactly how they want you to feel, pressured into donating because they're banking that your good image although be it in front of strangers is more important to you than saving that extra dollar. It doesn't make it much easier either when the get on the intercom and say something corny and enthusiastic about the person that did donate.

When it comes to me I usually say no because I first have to research any co. that I'm donating to and when I do donate to them it's usually direct not through a store etc. so I don't give a damn who thinks what about me when I say no cause fact of the matter is I probably give more.

I usually do because i feel like crap if i say no.

I will just because all the charities that do want you do donate are either local chapters or just local causes in general. Also we have high school fundraisers that will bag your groceries and take them out for you so I donate to those too. If it's for our community then I'm in.

I tend to say, "No, thank you." If for some reason I feel pressed, and sometimes I do, I'll add "I have a donation plan." Or something like that.

If it's an organization that I am familiar with or support already, I will throw in a few extra bucks. Otherwise, I just say, "No thanks," which can be tough when the sell is "Would you like to cure cancer today?" and not just, "Would you like to make a donation to [cancer cure organization]?"

It's still less annoying than the "Would you like to save 10 percent today" sell they have to get me to get a store credit card, though.

I'm such a marshmallow when I get asked this question because I always say yes.

"Not today, thanks"
thats it

Mostly I just say "no thanks." I'll donate to the causes that I care about, but I don't feel especially pressured to donate to every other cause I see in the grocery store.

I tell them I already give to the charity (and I do in some way). I volunteer quite a bit, I donate my hair, I give money and I give a lot of my time.

I hate this. If I wanted to donate, I'd do it of my own accord. I almost always say no, I don't really care what the strangers in the line behind me think.

I really only ever use the self-checkout lines at the supermarket, so I avoid this entirely.

I'm with you merie, I pretty much always say no, and I don't care what some person I will probably never meet again will think, because its my money and I'm not going to just give it to any organization without proper research.

I usually just donate a dollar or w/e. After I have donated to the charity the next time I just say that I already donated and I don't feel bad about it.

I don't get asked very often, but when I do, I usually say yes. I mean, I'll be at Kmart, buying yet another pair of cheap sandals I don't need and I can't spend $1 to donate to charity?

I'm not about to be bullied into donating. "Not today" is a great line for this - they can assume I’ll donate on another day and I know I won't.

when i'm out and about i try to do one good deed for that day, so if i'm in the grocery store and they ask for a donation for a cause i chalk it up as my good deed and give the dollar. i can say i've prolly only done this a handfull of times though. i usually just drop my change in the little boxes for the ronald mcdonald house when i stop in at mcdonalds. i don't think that the cashier really pressures you into giving money..or should i say i've never had an incounter with one who has.

if i am feeling generous and like the charity then i do, but otherwise i just say no thanks

sometimes I say yes and sometimes I say no. If they want to make something of it that's their deal. Besides, I'm sure when they are shopping themselves they don't donate every time.

I don't feel like a jerk if I don't. Every time around the holidays I give donations to the Salvation Army all the time. I also always give items to Goodwill and to the Veterans so most of the time I do say no as I think I give back as much as financially possible already.

I have no problem saying no and I don't feel obligated to explain myself. Just a simple no does the trick. I have never had a cashier get pushy with me or make me feel guilty.

I dont feel obligated- if i feel like it- i donate- if i dont feel like it- i dont donate. Usually depends on charity and if I have heard of it or know what it actually does then blindly donating.
I have never felt bad about it- the cashiers usually dont blink an eye if you say no.

Sometimes I put my spare change in collection jars, but never anything bigger than a quarter. My family has had some pretty bad experiences with "charities" that pop up at stores, so I avoid donating.

Long before I was born, one of my uncles died in a car crash at a gas station right after he came home from Vietnam. My mom's family was pretty down-trodden economically, and my mom worked at a 7-11 at the time. Her boss put up a collection jar that said "Donations for the the Funeral of [my uncle's name]". My mom watched the jar fill up as she worked and felt really happy that people were donating their money to help out her family. Never saw a penny, her boss kept all of it.

I don't know which charities are legit and which ones are like that, so I just don't donate and get my brownie points volunteering and doing things that I KNOW will actually help people and animals.

I never give to grocery store dollar-charities. While it may raise a large amount of money, it all gets donated in the name of the store. Essentially, all of your donations just bought that store a massive tax write-off, which is paid for (again) by you, (assuming you pay your taxes.) I donate my money to charities that I choose and refuse to be pressured into giving money on the spot.

I always say I simple, No, sorry. I give to charities in well thought out plans. To where my money can do the most good. Or something that I feel passionate about. Not just because I don't want to look like a big old fat greedy green eyed monster. Sometimes I will if it something I am passionate about. But I don't really like the practice of asking me. Have it posted that you are accepting donations, but don't ask me, it's kind of rude.

Wow, you think that's bad?! Hahaha, I get asked for money by various people at least once a day... in the grocery store parking lot, on the street corner, walking around, both by organizations and bums, yikes. You just get over feeling anything and say no and move on with your day. I don't even bother to say sorry... what am I sorry for? These health organizations give money to people to do what I do everyday--research and medicine.

Giving dollars to these organizations is NOT the best bang for your buck. If you have a written form of giving, you can get money taken off taxes and give more the next year.

no, i'm a student and every dollar counts, they can ask me when i'm rich and i'll say yes every time

I used to work at a store where I had to ask customers to donate. I hated asking people.

I just say "No, thank you". I don't give a reason b/c the cashier could less.

I don't feel guilty b/c I have charities that I always give to.

I find it much harder to say No to a person on the street who asks.

PS - At the grocery store my mom only gives if she's buying wine. She feels that if she can afford alcohol, she can afford to donate $5 to a Food Bank.

I like her logic (but I still always say "No")

I go to the grocery store almost every otherday..
So yeah, i'm comfortable saying "Not today..Thanks"

i only donate if the people are stupid

ex:
clerk: would you like to donate money for breast/prostate/lung/etc cancer?
me: no, i'd like to donate money for the fight AGAINST cancer

stupid stupid people

I always say yes. I have a lot to be thankful for and spend money on stupid stuff so saying yes isn't a big deal.

I always say "no" and thats it. Why does there have to be an elaboration, the cashiers dont give a rip, they have to say that line!

I give because that's what's in my heart. If the store gets a write off so what? I'm not giving to get soemthing, and frankly I think that's a really bad reason to give to charity anyway. When I'm asked at the grocery store for easter seals or the children's miracle network I usually give more than the dollar they ask for and then I put my late sister's name on the little balloon or star or whetever they give you to make abig deal about your donation. I don't care who knows I'm giving or how much I just want to make a difference

I will always donate something if I have change or a couple extra dollars. I gave $5 to the firefighters on the street the other day. I was only going to give a dollar but that man was HOT.. so I handed him a five

I tell street collectors (with the clipboards wanting bank details) and such "I'm a support worker, can I have details of your organisation to pass on??" and they usually don't have any.

Ergo, no money for them.

i always decline. i'm investing in another way-- i'm putting myself through graduate school getting a masters degree in architecture. i'll help the homeless eventually.

From a cashier's perspective... at the store I work up, we get written up when we don't ask. We hate asking!

Same here -- I just say, "No, not today. Thank you."

i'm sure most of the cashiers ask only because they're required to do so or they get some type of reward for how many donations they can get-just like the credit card offers. because of this, i don't feel bad giving a flat out-no thanks. if it were me i wouldn't be too interested in the reason behind the no.

I was one of those cashier's asking the question...didn't bother me a bit to ask, and it didn't bother me when people said no. That's just how it goes. Surprisingly, more people say yes than no (if you ask it like you actually care, that is ).

On the other side, though, I usually give, unless I'm strapped for cash. Now the people that hang out outside Walmart and ask you to buy stuff? Avoid them like the plague. I try to sneak in the back door, fully expecting them to follow me until I surrender my purse!

I just so no thank you or not this time or I already donated.

I think this practice is incredibly rude. I don't agree with it at all. I think they should put up a sign asking you to donate if you want or can.

I just say no thank-you because I am unemployed right now and can't spare the money. I am close to getting food stamps and they ask for a donation. Also I have a disabled son so I concentrate on giving my time and money for autism. If people only knew I was am the person that the donations are for.