Today I was visited by two bubbly, youthful "kids" selling magazines to help finance a trip to Europe. They were well trained to compliment me and my house, and to answer my questions about the organization in a positive fashion. It turns out they were simply selling overpriced magazines and books; if they meet their quota, they are entered into a contest to go to Europe. Each book was $38 and they initially tried to get me to purchase 10! Can you imagine any "charity" asking you for $380??? I wrote a check for 2 ($76) even though I was quite wary of the situation. Basically, I felt sympathetic to these two nice young people and wanted to help them out. After I read reports on this company on usacomplaints.com, I intercepted them on the street and asked for my check back. I told them it was not personal, that they did "their job" very well, but that I felt they were being used by their employer.
For the record, they did not lie that they were a charity organization, but they were certainly well trained to IMPLY that they were (until I asked specific questions). The form I signed very clearly stated that it was a FOR PROFIT organization, but the idea that you can donate the magazines/books to a local charity certainly implies that the contribution was tax deductible. These young kids were well trained and performed very well (just as any good salesperson would), but they are playing with our emotions to help out some local kids, and I did not appreciate it. From the number of receipts they had, it is clear that many of my neighbors also gave in to their emotional pleas, but I couldn't live with myself if I had let the company get away with it.
I usually support local kids (school trips, sports, band, etc.), but I'll think twice now when faced with:
(1) A very polished sales pitch,
(2) Request for a specific amount, and/or more than $20,
(3) Lack of clear ID of the organization name and non-profit status.
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