Visiting a newsagency on Tuesday I was confronted by someone begging. Hey mate can you spare some change? they asked as I walked in. Half an hour later when I stepped out of the business they tossed our Got a dollar you can give me for a coffee?
This is in an inner suburb of Melbourne. They were the only person on the strip begging. I suspect they chose the newsagency because of the OzLotto $60 million jackpot.
While they are not attacking the business, their presence could be confronting enough for some to encourage them to shop elsewhere next time they may want to shop at a newsagency.
The challenge for the newsagent is what to do. Calling the police results in a we’ll get to it if we can response. A call to the local council ByLays department results in I don’t think this is our issue. Two calls with plenty of waiting on the line and the newsagent frustrated.
The offer of money for a coffee shows that this is not what the person wants. They are looking to ‘earn’ a certain amount. The only way to move them on that Tuesday is to pay them $50 or more which, of course, no one would (or should) pay.
This scenario is difficult to handle. Maybe a more lateral approach could work. I recall seeing all shops on a street in Los Angeles had identical signs in their windows asking people to not give money to beggars and noting that the chamber of commerce supported a local homeless shelter and included details on the sign. It took a while but beggars stopped requesting that street.
I don’t like seeing people begging. I wonder about their situation. While I am sure there are some who do it because they make good money I am sure there are others who do it because they see it as their only option. Either way, when it reflects on your business you need to have a plan for mitigating the siuation.
How about charities hussling for donations inside shopping malls,they are really annoying too
I see Erics comment as being the more annoying one , charities etc asking for money or when the centres allow people asking for donations for what ever cause . Customers will avoid going past them , I know I do . As far as the beggers yeah we have one or 2 every now and then but its normally to buy a packet of smokes or a bottle of wine etc never a coffee . I don’t think its worth while calling the police over
I have to agree Eric, at my local woolworths shopping centre 9/10 there is some charity or someone there begging for money, I do find it very confronting when someone steps in front of you basically begging or peddling something, sure I am more than happy to give a donation but not every time to someone, something that I visit the shops. Especally now as some charities want your credit card and a monthly pledge, rather than just whatever change you have left over from your shopping, I recall one charity telling me “no the minium donation we can accept is $15” I actually sat in my car for 5 mins after watching them and no one was donating, I’d assume for the same reasons. Being told what you can and cannot donate seems very rude to me. But you are right it seems to be on the increase that there is usually some charity begging at a shopping centre at any given time. Barbara
I agree on the donation comments. It’s a whole other problem. In a mall a couple of weeks ago I counted seven donation requests / situations. Disruptive and frustrating.
maybe there is a suitable new topic here for the blog, newsagents who support local community charities, cats homes, dogs homes, womens shelterer’s, children’s charities etc. Australia is very much the “lucky country” still there is a lot of need within our communities, real need, I think most Australians like the idea of supporting worthy causes. Maybe I am just very idealistic and even naive, but perhaps it is something newsagents, small business could consider, position themselves as people of the community, who help the community, give back to the community.
Barbara hundreds of newsagents I know do.