I totally agree, I stopped going to Target and Walmart in the northwest, because of this practice.

I don't begrudge a few bucks or change to a person in need. But I must say, there is so much dishonesty these days I've just about given up donating to charity all together. It is not unusual for me to not have a cent on me and go about my errands with plastic. The dirty looks and occassional insults I get when I tell a panderer I don't have any cash. They know I'm lying because I'm carring a shopping bag. 

That's why I come out and tell them all I have is a credit card...It seems to help with the dirty looks.

A couple of kids came door to door selling something, I forget what, and my grandson gave them money for it, they wrote it on their official sheet, and I never saw them again.

I was getting out of my car at RiteAid on the corner of Airport at Olive when I was approaced by a woman wanting to wash my windshield.  I told her I had no change and would see on my way out.  In the store, in the pharmacy area I was approached by a boy about 15 who said "excuse me ma'am" and I immediately said how tired I was of people asking for money and he was the second since I got out of my car.  He told me he didn't want money but hadn't eaten and just wanted a carton of milk.  I told him "fine" and to get it and I'd pay for it at the checkstand as I was leaving.  While I was in line the woman ahead of me complained about the one in the parking lot so the boy disappeared.  As I was walking out the store manager asked if I'd been approached and had the young man also asked for money.  I told him he asked for milk and I bought it..and handed it to the boy.  I also told him I don't give cash to panhandlers and got in my car.

For all the sympathy drummed up by these people it's time folks realized THIS IS A BUSINESS.  You can stop going to Target and WM but you can't avoid them....they are everywhere.   Geeezzzus...read the paper.  Look on line about how big this business is.  If they look down on their luck what did you expect?  An Armani suit while asking for money?

Cold hearted?  I guess I am when I expect people to actually work for money instead of begging.  Criminy, I'm beginning to think I'm in the wrong business.

It's unfortunate that every time I walk through a parking lot alone, I must quickly find my car in fear that either a child or spanish speaking person will try to sell me some garbage just inches away from my vehicle. It's sad and scary to see, and even scarier and more sad to go through.

All cases of panhandling should be reported to the store manager and they should be told you won't be shopping there anymore.  Most managers will go out or send people out to send them on their way.  But people MUST be consistant.

I saw an old man in nice looking clothes on the corner of 24th and H Streets the other  holding a sign begging AND he had his sick looking wife(?) next to him in a wheelchair also holding a sign.  Neither of them looked like street people or vets.

Parents are teaching their children to beg, borrow, or steal to support their habit. Maybe they are putting food on their table.....either way it goes it is wrong. Parents need to be cited or arrested for making their children beg. The only job a kid should have is being a kid for as long as possible....not begging.  

I worked at the Rite Aid in Porterville several years ago, and there were homeless people that panhandled outside. It became my job to run them off (I had a knack for doing that sort of thing). One persistent guy named Roger kept showing up, and all of a sudden, no more Roger! Turns out that he died. So long...

Now that this topic has been posted on another blog, will people continue to come here and discuss THIS one?

I know this will cause earth shattering responses but I am not pleased with the highjacking.

Nancy

I had a man and woman in their mid twenties come to my door one evening trying to sell me a carpet cleaning.  I told them I wasn't intersted but he persisted saying that they would only clean one room and it was FREE.  He added  that  Mr. So and So one street over bought the service and so did my neighbor two houses down.   

I thought, so what?  I'm not as dumb as they are.

 I told him "I have my own service and I don't need any rooms cleaned". 

He clung to my front door asking me why I wouldn't take something that was offered for FREE.   I told him that NOTHING is free and I didn't need his service because in addition to already having a carpet service I also own a carpet cleaner.

He shut up for a moment than came up with his final argument.  "But, were college students and this is for a college fund drive."

I said NO and closed the door.

I'm going to start turning the hose on these people.

Audrey...door to doors really are annoying.  One advantage to moving to "The Dale" is that I don't see many of them over here.  Maybe all the pit bulls and the loose dogs keep them away.

LOL Nancy

You'd be amazed at how many people are scared of my 6 pound chihuahua, Baby , when they come to the door. 

I'm going to start letting my ankle biter take care of them!.

Audrey, I have the same thing here.  The hairball pictured on the left here is a raving maniac when anyone comes to the door.  I have one of those steel security screens and like to leave the door open.  I've seen doorhanger people give my yard a wide birth when they hear this snarling, attacking white "thing" trying to tear that steel screen apart.

This house was built in 1940 and has a mail slot in the wall by the door.  For some strange reason Zack has developed a hatred for the mailman (as so many dogs do) and as soon as he sees the truck down the street he starts moaning, growling, snarling, and whining.  When the mailman lifts the flap to drop the mail it Zack goes completely ballistic and hysterical.  He bites at the mail, climbs the wall and practically foams at the mouth.

I'd take him with me to fend off panhandlers in parking lots but he loves people as long as they aren't near HIS house.

I have a rottie mix, queensland & a dingo that go to the door with me :-) with all the yammering  they all vocalize, I can't even hear the yahoo at the door!!!  I just point to my ear (I CAN'T HEAR YOU!) and close the door!!!!

Zack thinks he's scaring the mailman away each day and feels like he won!  But each day the enemy comes back for more.

I have a security door too.  I wouldn't ever live in a house without one again.

I hadn't thought about the "enemy conquered" aspect Audrey.  You're probably right.

Witters..I like that.  I can't hear either for Zacks hysterics so I'll try the ear pointing thing.

The other day a loose male chocolate lab came into the yard and I thought Zack was going to have a stroke.  The dog ambled up onto the porch, did the nose to nose thing with Zack through the screen and then turned and ambled off.  Zack was beside himself with rage and the lab ignored him.  Too funny.

Audrey, I agree completely about the screen.  I love it.  I'm tempted to reach in my own pocket and put one on the back door too.  A regular screen wouldn't make it with Allie the Lab but I love having the doors open.  My kitchen has no range hood so it would be a blessing.  I'd ask the landlady but considering she had to install a dual pack and completely re roof the house after I moved in, I think asking for a back door security screen might be pushing it.

We also have a security screen door!  Our regular screen door got demolished in 1996 when our pure bred rottie went through it to "greet mom" coming home from work!  Having her at the door was a great deterrent as people only saw ROTTIE!! and scooted back down the drive way at warp speed!!!! since she passed (last June at age 13) the other 3 have tried to take up the slack but it's just not the same as having one 100lb dog standing there woff-woofin!