Usually in Christmas time some shops associate themselves with charity institutions and ask their buyers if they want to round prices to give that margin to those institutions. Do you think it's a good initiative or are they just taking advantage of our Christmas spirit?
I think not only should not only is that a good initiative, they should keep it year-round. I think I know what you are talking about, it's when instead of paying 9.99$ for something you pay 10$ and the 0.01$ goes to charity, right? I even prefer paying the 10$ to be honest...
I think it's a little of both. They want to help out, but also attract customers as well. As for me, I usually just give my money directly to the charity. The one I like the most is Kiva. Why? The people you help are all business folk in underdeveloped countries trying to sell a product. This is normally the best way for any group of people to gain wealth.
I may actually give the $0.01 to some charity I simply do it so I won't be thought of as a cheapskate. If I have to be charitable then I do it directly. I just save up the money I intend to use for that purpose and once I have enough, I buy [children's books] and send them to an orphanage.
I remember Ebay having that similar set-up when I was paying for an item, but it wasn't Christmas season that time. Anyway, I don't mind donating a small amount for charity as long as it really goes to charity and not in the organizer's pockets, you know like what most dishonest politicians do.
That is sometimes also my concern sidney, I am a bit suspicious, is the money I am giving really going to charity or do the institutions hold a percentage of it? Either cases it's always a winner, the shops make great advertising and the institutions receive some money. I am in favor as well of giving the money directly do the institutions, but this is a much easier way to give.
I see it as being both. When companies do promos like these, it's mostly just to attract customers into choosing them over their competitors and to make themselves look good at the same time. Still, unless they are keeping the money for themselves, they are still bound to be helping some other people and I actually think it's one of the more worthy marketing strategies. I mean, they are going to do gimmicks either way, so it might as well be charitable in my opinion.
I agree Ripley, it's a win-win situation, everyone wins! The companies win because they look good facing the clients and they eventually attract more clients. The institutions that receive the money also win the money we donate because it's Christmas...
I'm fine with the initiative, though I'd never participate myself. My local grocery store had a few shopping carts in front of the store during last Christmas, and people could put items in them and then those would be forwarded to those in need. I really liked this idea, it wasn't just about giving out money but you would actually donate an item of your own choosing.
Yes, in Christmas people tend do be more "generous" and give stuff away, I just wish this sort of initiatives could last all year long and not just one month per year, we are the same persons all year round right?
For sure people would donate more during Christmas. It might also have something to do with the fact that most charities need more money during the Christmas period since they spend more on Christmas meals etc.
You do have a point there, we all spend more on Christmas buying gifts and on special meals so it does make sense that those initiatives happen in Christmas. I don't know if Christmas is something invented just to make us spend more, but that in fact happens.
I've never had a store ask me that, but there is a local cupcake shop that occasionally has a special cupcake that the profits go to charity. When they have that I usually buy and extra cupcake. I like to see stores trying to do good things, especially when they are local businesses and not big corporate companies.
It's the same logic yes Carles. The store I've seen do that is a national super and hyper market chain, so they can do these initiatives with big success I imagine. At the same time a small local store can sell cupcakes like you say, it's the same spirit at a smaller scale.
