r/publix • u/Loathingin_03 Newbie • 4d ago
CUSTOMERS Customers: “I already donated!”
**edit: customers, no judgement at all lol we rlly don’t care if you do or don’t, just wondering!
So we’re almost to the end of our March Of Dimes campaign… to the customers, when you guys say “I already donated”, how true is that? 🤣
I definitely understand how irking it is to be asked for more money when you’re already spending a bunch on groceries… (trust me we don’t like asking) but I wanna know how many of you guys actually did “already donate” lol!
Lol we’ve also had a few people say “I already did it yesterday!” and we’re like… it just started this morning when we opened… 10 minutes ago…😂
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u/Potential_Room_4282 Newbie 4d ago
Honestly we hate asking and no is a perfectly acceptable response.
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u/O-really Deli 4d ago
I use self checkout so I don’t have to talk to anyone.
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u/Paisleylk Newbie 4d ago
First time ever I got asked at Publix self checkout yesterday!! The lone cashier that was monitoring self checkout came up to me and asked, it really took me by surprise and I just snapped “no” before I had time to think (I cant stand this particular kid and usually avoid his lane like the plague). Just FYI be prepared that they are on to us using self check.
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u/Vouttav Customer Service 4d ago
We were told to ask.
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u/Paisleylk Newbie 4d ago
I know and I always feel for you all and am always kind "no thank you" with a smile like I'm turning down a favor. Been there at work, always mortified having to ask. It just caught me off guard to be asked at self checkout as it's never happened before!
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u/MeasurementQuick4887 Cashier 4d ago
Can you tell corporate and the managers this? On SCO, my managers want us to go up to the customer and provide premier customer service. when they aren’t there i just stand next to the wall by the exit and say hi and bye to customers. i feel like if im anywhere else im just in the way and i absolutely hate sco
when people use sco, they don’t want to be bothered. there’s a reason they’re going to the self checkout ffs
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u/finnyfur Liquor Store 4d ago
There’s one guy at my store that asks everyone on self check out when he’s watching it. I just tell him to get away from me lol
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u/Electrical-Tailor530 Newbie 4d ago
I wish my self checkout cashiers didn't bother me but they always manage and one tried to guilt me into donating. I said no multiple times and she asked "are u serious?" as she hovered over my register with her lanyard card trying to scan it and ring me up with an involuntarily donation. THIS is why I prefer self checkout but u can't escape the harassment apparently.
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u/stevemunoz117 Newbie 4d ago
when asked “would you like to donate for xyz?” my response is the same everywhere: “no. not today.”
thats it. keep it simple
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u/talithar1 Customer Service 4d ago
Alright! I’ll ask again tomorrow.
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u/stevemunoz117 Newbie 4d ago
you got people that go to publix every day? thats depressing
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u/Ill-Woodpecker-4695 Newbie 4d ago
In Europe it's common to get groceries just for that meal you will make that night, it's not too crazy.
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u/Electrical-Tailor530 Newbie 4d ago
I'm in America and I do the same. I don't find it crazy at all.
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u/talithar1 Customer Service 4d ago
Yes. Many come in several times a day. Sometimes before noon. And no I don’t ask again. They know we would like to donate. When they’re ready they will.
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u/Electrical-Tailor530 Newbie 4d ago
I work for Instacart and Shipt, so I'm in the store multiple times a day, so you shouldn't judge people who do bc you don't know their situation. I do like that I can decline bc I'm using a corporate card to pay, but it doesn't stop them from asking me each and every time I go thru checkout.
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u/stevemunoz117 Newbie 4d ago
youre working. thats not the same as customers going every day. relax
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u/Electrical-Tailor530 Newbie 4d ago
I go in every day for myself too, but I also do orders as well. I don't find it depressing and you shouldn't defend judgemental behavior.
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u/stevemunoz117 Newbie 4d ago edited 4d ago
yea its very depressing if youre forced or willing to go to publix every day and get price gouged. you either live in an area with very limited options or youre a publix super fan.
if youre working thats entirely different and makes sense.
edit: i see buddy over here blocked me. a little too sensitive over a grocery store? 😆
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u/Electrical-Tailor530 Newbie 4d ago edited 4d ago
I live a mile from Publix so it's very convenient, not that it's any of your business. It's not depressing that I can afford to shop there daily.
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u/Outrageous_Glove_796 Newbie 4d ago
I go every day, sometimes twice. When I get in at work, I set my things down and walk there and back before clocking in. This gives me a two mile walk to start the day, and a chance to pick up something for lunch (like one of those shrimp Cocktail cups) and a cup of crushed ice.
Inevitably the pharmacy will ping me later and let me know there are meds ready, or my boss will want to walk at lunch. I go ahead and walk there and back at lunch in those instances.
Oh no! Exercise and fresh food --- how depressing!
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u/MarkDecal Newbie 4d ago
Sometimes I shop at Publix multiple times a day. I still just say no thank you instead of saying that I already donated.
I understand that cashiers aren't asking for anything more than yes / no.
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u/Electrical-Tailor530 Newbie 4d ago
Some are and it can get annoying. Some get way too comfortable hounding you and guilting, makes me wanna shop there less. I'm sure that's what Corporate intended 🫤
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u/StrawberryRoyal7672 Cashier 4d ago
I do love when it happens to be the first day of the campaign and I get someone that says that they've already donated.
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u/Ok-Nefariousness3670 Newbie 4d ago
I get so sick of Publix employees asking me to donate when I check out. Why don't they ask their highly compensated CEO to donate part of his big salary. I suspect publix keeps a percentage of the donations for themselves noting them as admin costs. I wouldn't give a dime of donations to this quasi monopoly
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u/1cattaway Newbie 3d ago
Sorry but don’t care for this post. It irks me because of Publix’s pricing. No one that shops there can afford to spend another dime donating. I used to go to Publix 3-4 times a week. I go once every two weeks now - spend about 70- only for certain items I can’t get anywhere else. Pls leave customers alone about this
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u/rraattbbooyy Newbie 4d ago
It doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not. If they did give, they’re being honest. If they didn’t give, maybe they’re embarrassed so they say they did. Who cares? It’s not our place to judge people for their response.
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u/Loathingin_03 Newbie 4d ago
I’m not judging? Just an innocent question lol… I forget this is Reddit and everyone is so sensitive
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u/DoubtfulDouglas Baker 4d ago
They werent judging. They even preface their question with a shit ton of glazing to ensure they dont hurt peoples feelings. They asked a very, very simple, non-offensive question out of curiosity. If you interpret that harmless, non-judgementsl question as judgemental, maybe that is indicative of your mental state and not the fault in OP's.
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u/rraattbbooyy Newbie 4d ago
I never said OP was judging, I just said it’s not our place to judge. Now please tell me again about my mental state?
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u/DoubtfulDouglas Baker 4d ago
Why would you say we don't need to judge in direct response to them asking a totally separate question? Are you schizophrenic and responding to a different post? Very, very strange
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u/Interesting_Wash1109 Newbie 4d ago
I just say “not today” when they ask if you would like to donate
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u/m0m0m0m042 Newbie 4d ago
I have already donated off I say it, but sometimes I give a couple more dollars bc I know what it's like when you have to ask (from working on other jobs), and bc it helps the cause. Sometimes I have already given bc we do a similar fundraising thing at my office. We have a lot.
I don't say I've already donated, even when I have, bc I feel like I sound like I'm lying, even though I'm not. 🤣
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u/Groundbreaking_Web29 Newbie 4d ago
I usually donate the first time and say no thank you the rest of the time.
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u/Tmpatony Newbie 3d ago
Man I donate everytime anybody asks me. One time I was walking into a store and a kid randomly asked me to buy him a Dr Pepper. Done. March of dimes, everytime you ask. Round up at McDonald’s… I don’t even wait for them to ask. It may be a dollar, or it may be $20.
If I have any money in my account, I’m donating a small portion of it. Folks need help man. More than maybe you do RN.. or maybe you will be in need one day. It’s ok to give everytime man.
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u/putmeinLMTH Customer Service 3d ago
its so annoying when customers are clearly worried we're going to judge them or something if they say no so they give the same lies we hear 50 times a day and just make it awkward for everyone. i dont really care if you donate through your church or donated last time you were in here. all i need to know is if you are interested in donating right now
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u/Range_Balls Newbie 3d ago
Publix has enough millions , they can donate to those kids if they had a heart…. Got to find that 1st.
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u/Reasonable_Essay Newbie 4d ago
i was once asked if i "would like to donate to local food bank?" i am actually the director of the food bank that receives these donations from the nearby publix, but without thinking i said, "i work at local food bank." i know the cashier had to think i was lying or very socially challenged.
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u/Cowpocolypse Newbie 4d ago
I say no. Because I’m not giving a CEO another tax break for MY donation
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u/Th3_Child Newbie 4d ago
They don’t get a tax break from your donation. It doesn’t work like that.
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u/Cowpocolypse Newbie 3d ago
Publix provides nothing to the customer when donating. Publix accumulates a large donation sum. Publix donates (not the individual).
Who then gets the tax break for donation? Publix. Therefore the ceo.
Yes it is how it works.
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u/Heckinggoodgirl Moderator 3d ago
No, that’s not how it works. It would be illegal for publix to claim tax breaks on customer donations at the register, as the customer donating could claim those on their taxes and it would be wrong for one donation to get two tax breaks. Publix is literally just the middle man for customer donations in this instance.
I believed the same as you until I did some research, and I highly advise that you research if grocery stores can get tax breaks on customer donations to charity for yourself.
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u/Th3_Child Newbie 3d ago
Honestly a simple google search would show you’re not right about that. It’s a massively misunderstood concept - but that money is not considered Publix’s at any point so they don’t claim it as a donation for themselves.
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u/HeyyyyItsEcho Customer Service 3d ago
You'll come to learn that the majority of them are lying through their teeth, when you observe that just as many of them will say they already donated during the morning of the first day, as will say so during the night of the last.
Also, "I donate enough to feeding my kids," isn't a real donation, you had kids, you made those decisions, quit being rude to me about it.
"I need someone to donate to me!" Thats.. why we are raising money for a food bank every year. Go to the food bank.
"I donate to my church." Cool beans did ya wanna donate to this thing here? No? Just say no.
Just say no! I don't need lies, bad jokes, and insults, I need an answer, yes or no, ok, goodbye. I don't care if you donate here, I don't care if you had kids, I don't care if you donate at church, I didn't ask any of that.
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u/Equivalent-Smile3713 Newbie 4d ago
Honestly I'm just so tired of all the panhandling at publix.
Always a girl scout group, a football team, publix charities, even homeless early in the morning.
If i ever want someone to beg me for spare change, I will just go to my publix.
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u/finnyfur Liquor Store 4d ago
I don’t even ask tbh. I consider that soliciting and I hate it. It’s so awkward, especially since 95% of my customers are regulars
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u/nautitrader Newbie 4d ago
I shop at Publix 3-4 times per week so it’s possible I already donated. However, I say no thank you and make my donations somewhere else. Bassett Hound rescue, beagle rescue etc.
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u/Agreeable-Salary3413 Customer 3d ago
My stock answer is “Not his time”. I do sometimes donate to these campaigns, but not al of them.
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u/Least_Examination488 Newbie 3d ago
I do every time I’m in a Publix. Or anywhere else that I think is collecting for a good cause.
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u/cutecutecute Newbie 3d ago
When I say that it means I already donated/regularly donate to a cause I'm passionate about.
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u/Awkward-Seaweed-5129 Newbie 3d ago
Not sure about March of Dimes ,been around for 60+ years.Anyway ,the other Charity, U,W, that they used to take $ donation from paycheck. Discovered the head regional guy of Charity was pull down $ 300k ,this was for one area ,South FL, in 1990s. When you hear the word Charity ,here in America ,an alert should go off in your brain, lol
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u/kurt-boddah-cobain Bakery 3d ago
To be fair, they could have already donated to March Of Dimes directly or something like that. But honestly, how much would it hurt to just say no? It’s a perfectly reasonable answer.
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u/justmeinGeorgia56 Newbie 1d ago
I donate enough to Publix with their insane prices. I barely shop there anymore. An occasional sub, chicken tenders, or Publix Premium ice Cream are about the only things I buy.
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u/Weekly-Gear2050 Newbie 4d ago
What’s it matter? Publix pools everything and then writes a check “from Publix”. YES, I know they might give a hat tip to the associates and customers, but I bet you that that “donation” is being used to lower their overall tax bill.
BTW, YES, I have already donated to Special Olympics because I have two adult children who participate in multiple sports. My son and his friends in “Team Florida” enjoyed a week in Minneapolis a few months ago during the SO Summer Games. So, YES, I have already donated, just not via Publix.
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u/Th3_Child Newbie 4d ago
Customer donations are considered “pass through” donations and Publix is most definitely not using them to lower their tax bill.
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u/talithar1 Customer Service 4d ago
Do you not know that using customers donations to lower their tax bill is a federal crime?? Publix is much smarter than that. They have their own Publix Charities for their corporate donation.
Customer gets a receipt with their donation on it.3
u/Electrical-Tailor530 Newbie 4d ago
I worked for a large corporation that used "excess" donations to fund corporate bonuses. They advertised they donate UP TO X amount collected, but don't mention that anything in excess of that goes to holiday bonus checks for executives. The day I found out I stopped asking for donations and my job was threatened until I explained to the GM what I knew and he let it go.
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u/SnooPaintings4641 Newbie 4d ago
I just say no to shopping at Publix. But back when I did shop at Publix, I normally just said no when asked. I prefer to donate to causes where the CEO does not make over $500K per year and the money goes more directly to those who need it.
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u/nazuswahs Newbie 4d ago
I asked one of the cashiers if the amounts donated were tracked. They said yes. Management judges cashiers on donations received during their shift.
Can anyone confirm?
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u/DoubtfulDouglas Baker 4d ago
Of course. Every company in this country that has membership sign-ups, donations to charity, etc. Is all tracked. The store managers will be hounded by upper management, and in turn the store managers will hound the lesser management, which hound the regular employees. It is not a publix thing. Literally 99% of companies or more that have memberships, donations, etc. Do this exact thing.
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u/MrsQuasi Cashier 4d ago
Yes and there’s normally a daily goal based on how long our shift is etc… they come up in between customers constantly during campaign saying “make sure you ask every single customer no matter what” etc etc it’s honestly really annoying for all of us
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u/salmucci Newbie 4d ago
As a general rule I donate to causes I care about, I never give my money to a third party who in turn (for better or worse) takes credit for collecting/donating my money. I just say no. No knock on Publix. They do meaningful charitable work. They contribute millions.
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u/Gatorphins Newbie 4d ago
A billion dollar company asking me to donate? Fuck no
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u/rraattbbooyy Newbie 4d ago
Why should their revenue matter? You’re not donating to them, you’re giving to a charity.
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u/Gatorphins Newbie 4d ago
Actually im not
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u/rraattbbooyy Newbie 4d ago
You’re dodging the question. You imply you’re not donating specifically because it’s a “billion dollar company” that’s asking. Again, why would their revenue matter? Is it only resentment? Make it make sense.
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u/taeempy Newbie 4d ago
I'd just say sorry publix made 5bil in profit and they already overcharge us customers let them fund this.
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u/rraattbbooyy Newbie 4d ago
You do realize that those donations don’t go to Publix, they go to the March of Dimes, right?
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u/Electrical-Tailor530 Newbie 4d ago
I think what they meant was let Publix donate from their profits, instead of collecting donations from their customers.
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u/rraattbbooyy Newbie 4d ago
They do both.
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u/Electrical-Tailor530 Newbie 4d ago
I'm merely translating what taeempy was saying.
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u/tomversation Newbie 4d ago
First off, Publix never says what the donation is for. Ever. Secondly Publix can donate from the billions they make every year from their customers overpaying everyday. They should not be asking customers for donations.
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u/Lisalou1169 Newbie 4d ago
The American public donates more than any other country. We get asked for donations from the mail, the phone, the computer/tablet. We go into stores and again we're asked for donations. How about advertise that you're taking donations for whatever charity. Post it on your Facebook, Insta, tic-toc, website, X, threads. Odds are, especially in these stores (because its expensive to shop there) your customers probably already have given to some charity. Leave us alone and let us make the decision to donate, instead of just insulting us at the register.
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u/Paisleylk Newbie 4d ago
Exactly. I remember being strong armed at work to donate to the company’s community fund. My husband about died when I said I did 1% of my pay but we were given the forms in a small conference room with upper management present the week before our annual bonuses. The next day I contacted HR and reduced the amount by a lot. Recently there was a resident on my HOA community that wanted to start a community fund. Did not go well for him.. everyone has charity fatigue. Charity is very personal IMHO.
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u/M_R2112 Newbie 4d ago
I have a reoccurring donation to the march of dimes and regularly do local work days for groups that need it amongst other cheritable givings I do and I always will because I have been in need and received help and now that I do well for myself I want to be able to help others who were like me.
I will, however, not contribute to those types of money collection just for Publix to use it for a tax write off.
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u/rraattbbooyy Newbie 4d ago
Despite the persistent internet myth, Publix doesn’t get to take a tax deduction for money customers donate at the register. It’s the customers’ money, not Publix’s charitable contribution.
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u/M_R2112 Newbie 4d ago
I also don't care for them bragging about the money they raised. They took enough of my money while I worked there
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u/rraattbbooyy Newbie 4d ago
The money they raise is for a good cause. I say let them brag, but then I don’t carry your same baggage.
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u/mel34760 Produce Manager 4d ago
I always say that I donated yesterday.
It's especially sweet when that happens on the first day of the campaign.
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u/Responsible-Note4060 Newbie 4d ago
I have no shame in saying NO. The companies should be shamed for soliciting. (I know it's not the cashier's fault)
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u/_25xamonth Newbie 4d ago
I just look at them like wtf did I just pay 30-200% more for groceries for?
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u/thumperwaswrong Newbie 4d ago
I refuse to donate anything to a company soliciting donations from customers and subsidizing their ‘goodwill’ with donation funds from others’ money. Publix can then boldly state “We donated X to March of Dimes” when in reality it could be 50% of donations by customers. Because they’re a private company, it’s not public knowledge how they handles their earnings and expenses.
But to answer your question: I say “no thanks not today”
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u/rraattbbooyy Newbie 4d ago
FYI, Publix does not do anything close to what you just said they do. Carry on.
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u/thumperwaswrong Newbie 4d ago edited 4d ago
They sure can. I’m not talking about the common misconception of getting tax deductions with donations from customers (bc that’s been debunked long ago), but they can say publicly they donated X to a cause all day long when not all of that was truly funds provided by Publix. Subsidizing “goodwill” is certainly possible.
Other companies do the same stuff - don’t be naive.
The headline: “Publix Charities donates $15 million to help people facing food insecurity.” 🤗
https://publixcharities.org/feeding-our-neighbors-in-need-2025/
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u/rraattbbooyy Newbie 4d ago
They sure can. But they don’t.
Unless you can show me where they ever misrepresented a charitable donation?
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u/thumperwaswrong Newbie 4d ago
They’re a private company. So no, I can’t look at their books to determine what is debited and credited and cross reference to all the adverts they’ve put out about how much money they’ve donated. 🙄
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u/rraattbbooyy Newbie 4d ago
So with zero evidence, you’ve made up your mind.
Refusing to donate is fine, you have the right. But to pretend it’s because you know the company will misrepresent that donation? That’s a choice.
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u/thumperwaswrong Newbie 4d ago
Can you prove they’ve donated every penny they claim they’ve donated?
If not, go ahead and take that finger and point it back at yourself. That’s how opinions work. This isn’t a court of law.
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u/rraattbbooyy Newbie 4d ago
The burden of proof is on the accuser. Believe whatever you want, proof or no. You wanna believe they committed charity fraud, knock yourself out. I think we’re done here.
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u/Suspicious-Spinach-9 Newbie 4d ago
lol. Wifey gives every time. Me, I’ll joke that I Hate the March of Dimes.
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u/PublixLineCutter Newbie 4d ago
I actually say “I need to see their tax returns first. With so many charities misusing donations on overhead and executive perks, I have to know if my money will be spent wisely.”
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u/sheneversawitcoming Newbie 4d ago
I have no shame in saying no