Fundraisers...do you feel an obligation to buy?

[tiggerlover]

I am just curious to know if as a parent you feel obligated to buy from your childrens fundraisers?

DS just wrapped up a fundraiser 2 weeks ago, he (or should I say I) sold 47 units (they were coupon books), raising $470. Fast forward two weeks and a second fundraiser came home, this one was a book selling wrapping paper and candy etc. I am a little put out that they are having back to back fundraisers (especially since the kids can't go door to door and we have no family here, so who sells the stuff...mom and dad does). There is nothing in the book that I want and I will not bring this book to work since so many bought the coupon books from me. So on one hand I feel like I should buy something, anything just to support DS and his school, but the other hand is mad that I am put in this position so close to the last fundraiser. I am tempted to send the book back empty, I am just frustrated.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Pam]

I'm with you, I usually buy something because I get so tired of hitting up friends and family.

But sometimes we just say enough is enough.

 

[Lil_Tink]

Whenever we have these we honestly dont participate. I sell after school fundraisers (Snacks) making money for clubs and do community service for the school and I think that is enough. Most of our fundraisers are Food drives, toy drives, penny drives and not so much buying things but donated a can of food.

 

[gigglesnort]

No, and I do an inward shudder everytime my sister says.."____ is selling wrapping paper again!!"

 

[LoveWDW]

Yes, always. I know how much I hated selling the stuff as a child, so I try to buy as much as I can so the child doesn't have to keep trying to sell.

 

[Lil_Tink]

They dont make it any better by advertising the 'GREAT' prizes that they have if you sell 500-1000 dollars worth. Of course when you get the prize it gets thrown in the closet. I had my friend from WA call me to ask to donate money to his schools, I was my school is poor and I was not really interested in donating to it. Heck, they get dounuts, fries, burgers, chips...at lunch. I would much rather donate that $ to my school then some school I havent been to, not to sound rude though.

 

[grinningghost]

Yes, and usually, I buy way more of the stuff than I could ever want or need. I just hate having to hit up relatives and friends. I'd rather pay the long buck myself than go through that.

Personally, if they would sell GOOD stuff, I wouldn't mind, but that wrapping paper costs way too much and it's WRAPPING PAPER! It's gets ripped and thrown out instantly. I like dollar store wrapping paper, thank you.

 

[hdecker]

It seems like they are always selling something. Two weeks ago it was for Foreign Language Club - if they sold one item they got their 10.00 dues waived for the year - hmm, that was a no-brainer. This week it's SADD, sell 2 items and get your t-shirt free, okay. Any more than that and we just say no, one year I had a freezer full of cookie dough and gained 15 pounds

 

[disykat]

I support the fundraiser at school every year (each school only has one) by writing a donation check. I don't sell the stuff - and many years I've been in charge of the fundraiser. I would not support multiple fundraisers. I'm not a big fan of all the different groups having fundraisers, because I think it should be the parent's job to pay for their kids activities.

 

[bettyann29]

ugh... I honestly hate it when fundraisers start.. I have 3 children in school.. so far I have bought from my own kids 2 tubs of cookie dough, a coupon book, a keychain, 3 candles, and a poinsetta... I get so tired of it.. I feel bad bringing it to work because EVERYONE brings their childs up there and passes them around.. if you happen to be one of the first its not so bad, but in my case when my kids schools are one of the last to do one, everyone is sick of seeing them by then that noone wants to buy and I certainly dont blame them because so many get sent around.. I do have a few of close coworkers that do buy but thats about it.. and of course I always buy something from each of them.. but I leave it at that..

 

[Daxx]

I absolutely refuse to sell or buy the fundraising crap that DS is supposed to sell. I always throw the stuff out in the garbage. Instead, we decided to just send in a "donation" to the school. That way, the school gets the "whole" chunk of cash rather than the 30% they'd get if we bought the fundraising stuff.

This way, we do something good and are not stuck w/junk we don't want and the school gets full profit. It's a win-win situation.

I'd sooner pay a higher tuition than have to do these fundraisers. Rumor has it that at DS's school, they're considering offering the option of either doing the fundraisers or paying a certain $$ amount and not doing fundraisers. While I think this is a great idea, I know some parents who would choose to do the fundraisers and buy one item and be "done" - meaning that they'll get away as cheaply as possible -- cheaper than if they chose the "no fundraising" option. I know that, in Scouts, they had a fundraiser where you could either sell 20 sausage sticks at $5 ea. or fork over $50. We opted for the $75 b/c we could never sell that many sausages and would end up having to buy them ourselves. Kind of stinks b/c there wasn't a way to "opt out". I do know some familes who sold sausage and didn't need to pitch in a penny. Good for them ... but we're not all as fortunate to know 20 people who want to buy sausage. Seems like the only thing the school could do to make it fair would be to charge an across the board fee and do away w/fundraisers altogether.

I do not think anyone should feel guilty for not participating. Quite honestly, many people cannot afford $7 rolls of gift wrap or $12 for a dozen cookies. Whether it's the family buying it or attempting to sell it to other families.

We have made it a family policy that nobody sells their kids stuff to other family members. So, that leaves co-workers to sell to. Daxx works at a company w/about 8 employees (who have kids) and I am a teacher at a different school than DS attends. If I sell to neighbors, then I am obligated to buy their kids stuff. No thank you!!!

And, don't even get me started on the "prizes" they offer for high sales. Just disgusting to get these kids hyped up on what they could "win". Brainwashing, plain and simple!

~Daxx's Wife

 

[JennaTX]

This is the first year I have really had a problem with this. DD is in 1st grade (and also started Girl Scouts this year) and DS goes to a Mother's Day Out Program at a church. Since school started about two months ago, DD has had two fundraisers for her school one for the PTA and one for the library, one fundraiser for Girl Scouts, and sent home with two Scholastic orders. DS has had one fundraiser and two scholastic orders also. I have always tried to buy and sell in the last year or so, but this year it has been too much too close together! I think it is especially hard for younger children who can't really go out and sell! I can't imagine how many girl scout cookies we will end up buying! My poor Mom bought about 50 boxes one year so that I could get a patch.

 

[bettyann29]

This is the first year I have really had a problem with this. DD is in 1st grade (and also started Girl Scouts this year) and DS goes to a Mother's Day Out Program at a church. Since school started about two months ago, DD has had two fundraisers for her school one for the PTA and one for the library, one fundraiser for Girl Scouts, and sent home with two Scholastic orders. DS has had one fundraiser and two scholastic orders also. I have always tried to buy and sell in the last year or so, but this year it has been too much too close together! I think it is especially hard for younger children who can't really go out and sell! I can't imagine how many girl scout cookies we will end up buying! My poor Mom bought about 50 boxes one year so that I could get a patch.

Most people dont mind buying girl scout cookies.. when my dd was in Brownies I had all the regulars at work and they were always asking me when I was going to start selling girl scout cookies..

 

[Papa Deuce]

Not at all. I will buy TONS of $1 or $2 candy bars, or even GS cookies, but there isn't any chance I will buy a $20 pizza kit, or an $8 roll of wrapping paper....

Plus, I WILL NOT subject my friends and family to having to buy that stuff. If I need to raide funds, I will make a direct contribution to the cause in the amount I deem necessary. But no overpriced fundaisers for my family.

 

[4DisneyfansinNC]

Putting my PTO President hat on here..... and in charge of the fundraising, I would never schedule 2 things so close together. That is alot to ask of parents. The school does benefit greatly from the fundraiser and believe it or not, LOTS of people buy that wrapping paper, lol. You're certaintly not obligated to participate. I'm sure no one is keeping track to see if you participated. If for some reason I had 2 fundraisers so close, I really wouldn't expect the 2nd one to go over well.
If you choose not to sell anything, that's your choice, but don't send it back empty. Just don't send it back. I know I work hard and spend lots of hours at school for fundraisers and ultimately it's for the kids and the school. Try not to be mad at whoever is sending the stuff home. They might want to just have all their bases covered with what people like and trying to reach more of a market with this second fundraiser. Please don't feel obligated.

 

[Daxx]

Am always up for buying a box or 5 of girl scout cookies. That's about the best fundraiser going!

 

[4DisneyfansinNC]

Most good fundraising companies give the school 50% of the sales, so that's why everything may seem so much more exspensive. Cash donations are always appreciated too.
Prizes/rewards....if a child sells one item, we rent a bouncy house during school hours and the child gets to play on that for 30 minutes. If the child sells $50, they get to climb the rock wall too. $175 they get a limo ride for a pizza lunch during school hours. No cheap little toy rewards that end up in the trash here.

 

[JennaTX]

I know I don't have to worry about selling the girl scout cookies, that is always easy!

I just feel bad because I am a stay at home Mom and my DH owns his own business, so there is not an "office" setting of I will buy from your kids and you will buy from mine. Although between all of our friends we all buy from each other.

I also volunteer weekly at DD's school and run the 1st grade room parents, so at least I can give in that way!

 

[disneychrista]

Nope do not feel obligated to buy and have flat out said I won't buy from "QSP" because of issues with products last year.

I personally would rather just pay flat out for the fieldtrip or whatever.

 

[Deb & Bill]

My son goes to Catholic School. They have fundraisers in the fall. We don't go door to door and since I am a supervisor I don't take it to work. We usually buy some, maybe the chocolates and nuts, maybe other stuff. When they get a minimum number of items to sell (such as gift cards or discount cards), I buy them all and give them to my employees as gifts.