Big Issue...

[Bbbananas]

Do you ever buy one? I always used to until about 18 months ago when I gave the BI seller a pound coin and he held his hand out and said "that's not enough - it's a minimum of £2".

Cheeky beggar (literally). I thought any contributions were welcome, and a £1 is not exactly a few measly coppers is it?

I have not given any since.

[Buenchico]

Big Issue sellers are self-employed (but bound by a code of conduct). They buy the magazine for £1 per copy and sell it for the cover price of £2 per copy.
http://www.bigissue.com/

[pastafreak]

JL may be an adult......it does not mean he is wrong about BI sellers being beggars.
The guy sitting on the pavement with his grubby hand out, is a beggar.....

[joeluke]

......and people who are taken in and feel sorry for them give them cash without buying a magazine

No one goes into a shop and hands over cash for nothing

[pastafreak]

Ooops........should read...."it does not mean he is RIGHT about BI sellers being beggars."

[joeluke]

'Big Issue sellers are self-employed'

Do they fill in a tax return then?

[yogi-bear]

If i see the usual guy ( sometimes a young girl ) around town, i usually get a copy....money goes to a good cause :0)

[pastafreak]

That is the mistake of the person giving the money...certainly not the BI seller......he's not asking anyone to feel sorry for him.

[Buenchico]

PS:
Yes, I buy the magazine quite often but I find that it's increasingly targeted at people who know who the latest music celebrities are, or who want to read very 'heavy' articles about social issues.

At one time there used to be quite a bit of humour in it and I'd go out of my way to buy it as a 'good read', but I now tend to buy it simply because I like the style of the vendor. (e.g. there's a guy in Norwich who sings out his sales message in operatic style. Or, on a more basic level, there's a young east-European lady in Stowmarket who maintains a friendly smile for everyone - even when nobody will buy the magazine).

[pastafreak]

Pinki...if I saw a guy with ONE copy-regularly using it to make money-I would assume he actually has nothing to do with the BI, and is just trying to make a fast buck. Any of us could buy a copy....then set up on a street corner.

[Buenchico]

Further to PF's post:
I only buy from BI sellers who've got the correct badge.

I was once asked to buy the Big Issue by a seller outside Somerset House. I couldn't see his badge, and pointed this out. He immediately reached under his coat and produced the badge, stating that he only put it inside his coat because the wind was constantly catching it. Rather than being offended by me challenging him as to whether he was an authorised seller, he thanked me for doing so because he was fed up with other people who tried to dupe the public.

Chris