Chuggers, Newbury loves them? Options

[Gazzadp]

Chuggers in Newbury...

What is it with Chuggers in Newbury, well what makes things worse is that WH Smith's are now in cahoots with some of the barstewards, as they were just outside the store (doors next to the coffee shop) and NOW they have moved the ****ers inside the store, so you now get accosted as soon as you go in to buy a magazine or something.

Me personally I have got an idea that the council should trial, well I happen to think it is a BRILLIANT idea, which would be simple and effective against CHUGGERS.

I think they should put markings on the ground/road surface. They should paint along oblong box, say about 75 meters in length and it should allow leave a gap of say 3 meters on either side of the street.

The chuggers should then ONLY be allowed to approach or try and talk to shoppers/people who are inside that area. They should be banned from approaching anybody who is not inside that area.

That would be an easy thing to trial and West Berkshire Council/Newbury Town Council would probably get some good publicity from being the first to try it.

But hey, I know my place and what we think is not important to our councils.

[MontyPython]

A better idea might be to write to every charity you see using chuggers and stating you will not support them whilst they use chuggers / phone you at home.

A cut off of their funds would soon see a change of direction.

[spartacus]

No chuggers is it... well will ye buy moi lucky white heather ye bastad ye.... or some clothes pegs...

[Biker1]

Could similar ideas be used to stop me being pestered with "car wash" every time I park at Sainsburys??

[x2lls]

Either stop getting all het up and ignore them, or tell 'em you just signed up with the other one down the road.

[Biker1]

Either stop getting all het up and ignore them, or tell 'em you just signed up with the other one down the road.

Yes, you're right of course but you could say the same about "chuggers"
Anyway, me being me, i.e. grumpy old man, I wrote to them and here is reply.......
(Unedited, not sure where the symbols came from!)

Thank you for your email which has been forwarded to me by the Manager at Newbury Sainsbury�s.Your comments have been noted and staff at this particular site will be warned against over-zealous canvassing for business. However, being asked if you require our service should not be confused with pestering or hassling, as a simple 'no thank you' will normally deter any further approach. Our contract with Sainsbury�s [now in its 17th year] allows the car cleaners to canvass for business, in fact in �mystery shopper surveys� instigated by Sainsbury�s we are marked down for not approaching customers to offer our service.

We often hear comments about the difficulty to find helpful salespeople in department stores and the like and their indifferent attitude to the shopper and it is our policy to be highly visible and welcoming. Our car wash teams are encouraged to be pro-active and interact with customers. You may also see them returning shopping trollies to the trolley park and helping customers load their shopping into their vehicles, particularly for the elderly and the disabled, as well as mothers with children.

We rely on customer feedback [much of which is positive] to constantly improve the service we offer and we thank you for your comments.

Kind regards

Robert Dine

So it seems most customers want to be approached! Maybe the same applies to "chuggers"?
Must be me............don't answer that!!

After that, told them I would try converting to Tescos but it made no difference!!

EDIT - Whoops, just realised after reading your post again that you were referring to chuggers and not my comment about car washers! It's just that you replied after mine with no quote. Sorry. Anyway I'll leave my reply in!!

[spartacus]

I've got to say that the Sainsbury's car cleaning lot in particular are pretty reasonable as far as just asking and not pestering. I've never ever used them (I just don't see how they can realistically do anything other than smear the dirt rather than clean a car with a couple of wet-wipes and a few squirts of water) yet I've got no problem with them. People know what they're getting when they part with cash for that.

The chuggers on the other hand use tactics to snare passers-by into parting with cash and before they know it they're unknowingly also signing up to a regular direct debit which they never wanted to sign up to. 'Nice old Mrs Smith' down the road is prepared to give up hours of her own time, donate some of her own meagre funds and volunteers to help local charities for nothing, while the chuggers rape those donations for their own commission and the charity staff and trustees are often on inflated salaries.....

[Biker1]

I think I read somewhere that some, if not all, chuggers are not employed by the charity they represent but by an agency?
If so then surely that makes them undedicated to the charity and just in it for the commission leading to high pressure sales tactics?

You're right about Sainsburys of course although some may agree to a car wash when they didn't really want one otherwise why do they need to ask? If I want a car wash I'll ask for one!
I believe it was "Motormad" on here who warned against them?

[JeffG]

Frankly, I don't have a problem with the car wash people at Sainsbury's. They always ask me and I always say "No thank you" and carry on. It doesn't really bother me.

What did bother me was a week or so ago a couple of lads wearing Red Cross tabards came to my front door and started a cheerful spiel. Now, I am all in favour of the work the Red Cross does, but when I finally offered a one-off donation it set off the alarm bells when they said they weren't allowed to take cash. It was only then it dawned on me that they were chuggers and were intent on getting me signed up for a regular donation.

I also have a sticker on my door which is supposed to stop these people.

[Turin Machine]

I get that a lot, I find that rolling my eyes so that only the whites are showing and speaking in tongues generally shifts them of my driveway. Keeps the wifey amused at the same time. And if Zenith call once more this week I may need to indulge in some amateur surgical procedures.

[Biker1]

Frankly, I don't have a problem with the car wash people at Sainsbury's. They always ask me and I always say "No thank you" and carry on. It doesn't really bother me.

You say that and you are right of course but many folks also get het up about "junk mail".
All you have to do with that is pick it up and put it in the recycler.
Another letter from Virgin Media and I'll scream!!!
When will these people realise, chuggers included, that all most people want is to be left alone. If they want to donate or require a service they will ask.

[HJD]

You say that and you are right of course but many folks also get het up about "junk mail".
All you have to do with that is pick it up and put it in the recycler.

I tend to tear it up into small pieces & send it back return to sender.
I have at last turned into Victor Meldrew !!

[Andy Capp]

When will these people realise, chuggers included, that all most people want is to be left alone. If they want to donate or require a service they will ask.

That's why we have chuggers!

[Biker1]

That's why we have chuggers!

You're right I'm afraid.

[Simon Kirby]

That's why we have chuggers!

Well said.

[Blake]

Yes, the chuggers are a pestilential menace that have blighted Newbury & Thatcham for over a decade now.

If WH Smith are indeed allowing the chuggers use of their store then I shall not be frequenting it until they have gone.

From what I have seen recently in the media, a lot of the tactics of so-called charities are utterly abhorent.

[GrumblingAgain]

I just firmly say "no thank you" or "not a chance" and just carry on walking. It really isn't difficult but some in this town just seem to be totally incapable of avoiding them and want the nanny state to interfere and control their lives for them.

[Biker1]

It really isn't difficult but some in this town just seem to be totally incapable of avoiding them and want the nanny state to interfere and control their lives for them.

I think it IS difficult to avoid them and why should I have to?
It's nothing to do with the "nanny state" and I certainly don't want my life controlled for me, it's just that I want to be left alone when I walk down the street.
Apparently we're not allowed to do that which is why we need chuggers.

EDIT. Just been accosted in W. H. Smiths.
Seems I will be joining you in your boycott Blake.

[GrumblingAgain]

I think it IS difficult to avoid them and why should I have to?
It's nothing to do with the "nanny state" and I certainly don't want my life controlled for me, it's just that I want to be left alone when I walk down the street.
Apparently we're not allowed to do that which is why we need chuggers.

EDIT. Just been accosted in W. H. Smiths.
Seems I will be joining you in your boycott Blake.

It is not difficult at all to avoid them.

1. You walk
2. one approaches you
3. you say no thank you.
4. You carry on walking.
5. End.

[MontyPython]

It is not difficult at all to avoid them.

1. You walk
2. one approaches you
3. you say no thank you.
4. You carry on walking.
5. End.

It is not difficult for some of us to avoid them - others may find it difficult though, and they may be more vulnerable to the "sad story" and be talked into signing up to something they can't really afford.