Why do store managers feel obligated to allow soliciters to hound customers for donations ?

Question

This is not a huge deal, but it puzzles me - I see these people in front of the store with the box and the 'official' looking sign or ID card, asking for money for the homeless.

Many times stores have signs that SAY they don't support the soliciters - why don't they (the store managers ) politely ask them to leave ? They either own the property or are leaseholders.

My wife and I give to charities of our choice, at our church, and to friends in need on a regular basis - I don't appreciate being 'harrassed' by these soliciters - but much more than that, I'm really curious why the store managers don't do anything ! ? ! ?

Answer 1

In my case i manage a resstaurant in downtown chicago. officially any person has the right to stand on the sidewalk as it is public property. here on any given day you have save the children, loud *** preachers and your regular winos. as long as the various people are not entering my store or interfering with my customers entering the store i leave them alone. however all charities have to have licenses which state they must stay twenty feet from an entrance. if they violate this or if the winos get too frisky i feel no compunction at all about calling the cops. the real problem is many of these "charity workers" are college kids who get paid on a quota system so the theory is the more people they annoy, the more they make. the best thing to do is hust ignore them and hope they go away.

Answer 2

I agree that it is poor etiquette on the part of the store owners to allow solicitation outside their business in those occassions when it is obviously management's decision to allow this to take place. Especially in front of businesses that have signs posted that no soliciting is allowed. I absolutely HATE going to Wal-Mart, for many reasons, but one being that I am constantly harassed by someone selling something from Girl Scout cookies (which I also adore, but don't want to be bombarded with), to raffle tickets, or begging for money to send their child to some camp or to promote some obscure charity. It seems that the real charities actually are turned away by management for solicitation! I think management needs to take a much firmer stance and help to protect their customers by being bombarded with so many requests that they spend their money before they even enter the stores!

Answer 3

I agree. They shouldn't be there. In the super market where I do most of my shopping there is an older gentleman always set up with a little table soliciting for Disabled American Vets. In return you get a Poppy. Poppy day used ti be once a year, not 3 and 4 times a week! I've started making sure I have some change so I can just drop a quarter and be on my way. I don't know why I feel guilty not giving because I regularly write checks to this organization because it is one I believe in and they keep me supplied with address labels.

Answer 4

The store owner may only be a tenant in the building and have no say in what takes place outside of his store.

Answer 5

I've wondered this too. I wonder if it has something to do with the zoning laws or business permits? I'd be curious if anyone has real information on this. Maybe the municipality or county conditions a business license on permitting certain types of speech/activity on the business premises (effectively making what would otherwise be private property into "quasi-public" property). I dunno - great question.

Answer 6

I don't know, but I know how you feel. It's pretty bad when you hate going in and out of the grocery store because of them. But if you can find time to shop on weekdays, you avoid most of it - they tend to be there most on weekends since they know that's when the most people will be there.