Why do charities send out so many freebies?

[boxtops]

I have in the past given to various charities or bought stuff from their mail order catalogues. At a time when charities are strapped for cash, I have been sent this week: - a free metal keyring shaped like a medal with the Tree of Life from a Green charity, a sheet of address labels from the Dogs Trust, and a sheet of labels, some cards, a metal badge and a pen from the Red Cross. I am sure they rely on people saying they will keep the stuff and sending a donation, but I give to whichever charities I want to, not because they send stuff. I wonder if people do respond with donations - I'm afraid I don't, the labels are useful but I didn't ask for them, so I just keep 'em. I wonder how much they spend on this outlay and whether it really is worth it to them to keep sending it. I suppose it must be!

[Pea Pod]

I was phoned last week from some kidney charity they asked me to sell raffle tickets. I said no. They have still sent them and are now phoning to ask for them back or the money. It has cost them 2 calls and the cost of the tickets back.

[coccinelle]

Hi boxtops
I've never understood that either. On top of all which you quote, I get things like small syringe tubes (without the needle of course) and small packets of salt which of course I can't do anything with and I don't know why they don't send them to the people who do need them! I think there are people out there who do donate because they don't like getting things for free.
What I'm really peeved about at the moment is the charities who phone you to ask for a monthly donation so they can plan better. I tell them that it would be no longer a donation it would be like a rent!

[jno]

I suppose they do it in order to keep themselves in your mind; keyrings don't cost much.

I had a phone call the other day from the Red Cross, I think it was, asking for donations. I said I was willing... but he said it had to be by direct debit as other ways were old-fashioned and inefficient. I said I didn't do direct debits, so he apologised and hung up.

So if you want to just give them money they can't handle it... too choosy for their own good?

[beejaybee]

I always "return to sender" when I get anything in the post from any charity.

[Richard1966]

Not all charities are strapped for cash. Some, usually those who advertise extensively, have millions in reserve and could probably keep going for several years if their income stopped tomorrow. If you want to give to a charity, think local and think about those working to help disadvantaged people rather thats, dogs / cats or donkeys.

[Rodge2]

I once cross stitched some greetings cards, and they came up beautifully. I went to my local PDSA shop and tried to hand them over, so they could sell them. They said they couldn't accept them because they sold cards of their own, and they had rules about it.

Bamboozled, I took them to our local hospice shop who accepted them with delight, and sold one on the spot for £2 to the lady standing next to me. I think some charities are too choosy.

[woofgang]

Richard with respect, its my money and i will give it where I choose both to support human and animal charities.

[boxtops]

Thanks all, your thoughts seem to echo mine in the main. I know what you mean about the shops too - having worked in a hospice, I know how much the income from the shops meant to the welfare of the patients. However I find it hard when some charities sell stuff from their catalogues in their shops - it makes our donated goods look like a poor second (which they are often not).

[Richard1966]

Hi Woolgang, Im not arguing with you. If you want to give your money to a charity that is already sat on millions and millions of £'s it cant possibly spend rather than a smaller charity that needs the cash to actually make a difference thats entirely your choice.