Ways to dissuade the chuggers?

honru

I dunno if these folks pop up anywhere outside of Dublin but they seem to be out on force on the streets recently. Is it down to the summer season?

About a week or two ago a woman approached me on a busy street, introducing herself and asking for my name. Needless to say I was chuffed, but her overbearing smile and rapport-pushing manner quickly set off the trigger in my head that something was up. She promptly went to get a pad and paper out of her bag and, lo and behold, her jacket revealed the Barnardos logo.

I just said, "oh, your one of those guys".

That was one rare instance where they actually had me trapped, but I still get this "salesman" approach everytime I'm out in the town. And all the power to these fundraisers but I'm just not interested.

So what are your favourite and humourous ways of avoiding the chuggers' grasp? Mine is to throw on the 'ol headphones and blast up the volume, maybe even with a little bop of the head... though even that has ceased to work recently.

No thank you works wonders.

311

I always say ,no one is getting my bank details on the street ,especially someone who will probably get mugged.

MrJoeSoap

Learn an entire foreign language and pretend you speak no English.

Doctor DooM

Moonbaby wrote: »

No thank you works wonders.

Saying thank you shows weakness, which a good chugger will ponce on. Go with "No. AND DIE!!!!"

Rob_l

I stop smile and say "oh its charity your selling(emphasis here) No i already have that.

Ross_Mahon

Back of the hand motion really fast makes them flinch and get scared

Susannahmia

I find that staring straight ahead and acting like they are not there is the most effective method. Any kind of interaction and they are impossible to get rid.

MrJoeSoap

If its one of those sponsor a 5-year-old in Africa for €10 a month thingys, you could go all Ricky Gervais on it...

"What if he lives til he's 18???"

Kinetic^

You should bring a clipboard out with you and make up a survey on how annoying people who do surveys are. ****!!!

AlmightyCushion

Just say to them

You: "Before you start can I ask you a quick question?"
Them: "Yeah, go ahead."
You: "How would your family cope if something was to happen to you? I know it's not something a lot of people like to think about but you really do need to prepare for the unexpected."

Then just keep trying to sell them life insurance.

Gummy Panda

Earphones and ipod up loud. On sunny days, my ray bans prevent them from trying to make eye contact.

I work in the city centre and its really really annoying. Last Thursday i was walking from down grafton st. There was teenagers doing some collecting for some heart foundation/charity. One of them tried to stick the collection box in my face while i walked by. The idiot was lucky I stopped my instinct reaction to swing my arm out at something thats coming at my face.

I turned onto the street were tower records is. Someone from concern approached me. Walked pass saying no thanks. two metres and another guy from concern tries to corner me. From the top of Grafton st to Arnotts on Henry st i was approached by about 10 different people looking for my money/dd details for some charity.

Dudess

Susannahmia wrote: »

I find that staring straight ahead and acting like they are not there is the most effective method. Any kind of interaction and they are impossible to get rid.

Yep, it's what I do.

zAbbo

Chugger: Can you spare a minute for Concern?
Me: Did you say Trocaire?
Chugger: No...
Me: Then no.

Not particulary nice of me, but that was about the 5th time I was stopped on the one stretch of street.

I've no problem giving out change for groups collecting for cancer or heart foundations as they are usually just volunteers selling badges, but the rudness of the chuggers is extremely overbearing.

star-pants

lol @ AC

I told one lot that I was moving country (which I was at the time) and they were like 'oh ok..well.. thanks anyway'.
I used it again today but I ain't moving!!! lol
(that's what they get for coming to my door)

Photi

"Can you spare a minute for cancer research?"

"Alright, but I doubt we'll get much done in a minute."

TequilaMockingBird

The Look.

That is all children. You are young. You will learn.

MrJoeSoap

Mr.S wrote: »

Though i hate the ones who put out their hand to shake yours.

Seasoned professionals them ones. They've seen it all.

Zzippy

"Hi, can I have a quick word?"

"Velocity".

And walk on...

By the time the confused chugger cops on you're long gone

Abi

f®eak s©enery wrote: »

So what are your favourite and humourous ways of avoiding the chuggers' grasp? Mine is to throw on the 'ol headphones and blast up the volume, maybe even with a little bop of the head... though even that has ceased to work recently.

I've given them the 'stop fucking harassing people' and 'I said no, I mean fucking no' line. You get sick of repeating yourself. What I'd like to do is-


Keep a convincing replica inside my jacket pocket. Point to it and hiss:

"Fockk offfff" then walk off.


Id never get sick of that look.

I find that saying something like "I support child labour" or " I feel that apartheid is the way forward for most nations" or "George Bush sure is a fine leader of the free world" works. They generally never ask for anyhting ever again.

dsmythy

You don't have to dissuade them. Just tell them no and walk. If they try get hold of you push them.

If they start talking to you why do some people find it hard to get away from them? They're interupting your daily business not the other way around.

The most annoying one's for me are those who choose the spot beside some girl forced to beg on the street hassling me over helping people thousands of miles away. Seriously! Priorities!

Steve

If the blank stare fails, my backup is:

Chug: Hey handsome dude, can I have a few minutes of your time?

Stevec: Sure - I charge €400 per hour though.

Chug: Eh?

Stevec: You can stop any time you want, you owe me €1.24 so far.

Chug: Wha?

/repeat till chug gives up.

Dudess

I find killing them to be quite an effective deterrent. The guards are perfectly understanding of me too.

Epic Tissue

These guys annoy me so much.

utick

pull out a piece of paper write his/her name on it and tell them they are on your enimeis list.

Or if after talking to them for a while before you find out they are chuggers, you can say 'me speak no english' when you realise what they are

dcukhunter

From some book I read a while ago (forget the name of it)

A farmer from the country was up in Dublin, a chugger come up to him with a dub accent asking "Do ye want to buy a lion (line)". The farmer asks what and the chugger repeats himself. After which the farmer says "What would I want a Lion for it would eat all me sheep" then he walks off.
Would love to see the reaction from that.

smellslikeshoes

Usually pretty good at avoiding them but if I see one bearing down on me I'll grab out the phone and start having a fake conversation, If they catch me by surprise I'll let them introduce themselves and when they say what charity they are representing I say Ive just donated to the the other guy up around the corner (they usually travel in packs like hyenas).

Fizman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrEvrV4H7e0&feature=related

This method has yet to fail for me!



/Bare in mind.....Accuracy is an important factor!

Kernel

How about having balls people? Saying 'no' and letting them know you don't appreciate their methods. Just an idea.

Fizman

Kernel wrote: »

How about having balls people? Saying 'no' and letting them know you don't appreciate their methods. Just an idea.

If my first suggested method doesn't work (always does)....then i'll say no.


On a more serious note, I normally whip out the phone and talk to Fizman II for a bit.

orestes

"I'm racist, fukk them."

Hasn't failed yet

I'd like to point out I'm not actually racist, but find this response usually shocks them enough for them to stall and gives you time to walk past them and get away

The Al Lad

Sneeze on their face

Works for me ... and if you can't sneeze pretend to sneeze and spit on them

KnifeWRENCH

I don't stop, just walk past and say "not interested" without looking at them. It's exremely rude but some of them are so annoying I honestly don't care.
Also, it never hurts to wear earphones and listen to your mp3 player walking down the street. Chuggers won't stop you if you're listening to music (unless they're very naive and think they'll actually impress you by doing this)

Kernel

Fizman wrote: »

If my first suggested method doesn't work (always does)....then i'll say no.


On a more serious note, I normally whip out the phone and talk to Fizman II for a bit.

Fair play. It's just, how many threads are started about chuggers on boards, when all that is needed is for people to have the nerve to tell them where to go. I don't even mean being rude, but just 'not interested mate, and I hate your tactics to try to shame people into giving money so you can earn money'. Just seems like people are more concerned with social niceties than expressing their annoyance to the chuggers. Easier to complain on the net I suppose.

Reminds me of the Derren Brown book where he meets Derek Acorah and basically wants to call him a 'psychic' fraud but due to etiquette does not. Certain elements of our society today take advantage of our social niceties - including scumbag tracksuit wearing degenerates who in previous generations would be mocked as the fools they are.

Kernel

square_igloo wrote: »

I don't stop, just walk past and say "not interested" without looking at them. It's exremely rude but some of them are so annoying I honestly don't care.
Also, it never hurts to wear earphones and listen to your mp3 player walking down the street. Chuggers won't stop you if you're listening to music (unless they're very naive and think they'll actually impress you by doing this)

You shouldn't have to wear earphones to walk down your street without fear of being accosted though. **** them. Seriously!

Leon11

tell them no, if that doesn't work I've got 6 months to live may work:D

Cool_CM

"For tax reasons I no longer hold an Irish bank account".
Bang, and the dirt is gone:D

JangoFett

I often just say "I already give money to charity" and if they push it after that I just say no and walk away

The way they come up to you all friendly and the girls kinda flirt as well worked to my advantage once, a really hot canadian girl came up being all flirty, I managed to get her number and hooked up with her a few times, her and her fellow charity workers used to have crazy parties at the weekends in Carlow...good times!

BraziliaNZ

I got this in Wellington last year - "Excuse me sir do you care about the environment?" - Me: "NO!" and walked on. I don't think you're supposed to say that.

Sherifu

My usual tactic is avoidance. See them early and give them a wide birth. I haven't seen any in the last few months.

JangoFett

I always have headphones on and I've been stopped by a few, one girl reached for my headphones to take them off, I advised her what personal space was and stayed walking

Xavi6

Chugger - "Hi do you have a minute for Concern"
Me - "Ah it's cool, I work for Trocaire"

End of story

mikemac

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

Usually pretty good at avoiding them but if I see one bearing down on me I'll grab out the phone and start having a fake conversation, If they catch me by surprise I'll let them introduce themselves and when they say what charity they are representing I say Ive just donated to the the other guy up around the corner (they usually travel in packs like hyenas).

You consider yourself good in these situations? By making excuses?
Are you afraid you'll upset them by just saying no?

Sorry if that sounds harsh, I just don't understand what you are doing here. It seems to be you have elaborate plans just to avoid telling them you are not interested.
Just tell the truth, they don't care. Or just put your head down and walk on, seriously no need for messing with your mobile :rolleyes:

Kernel wrote: »

How about having balls people? Saying 'no' and letting them know you don't appreciate their methods. Just an idea.

QFT

Susannahmia

micmclo wrote: »

You consider yourself good in these situations? By making excuses?
Are you afraid you'll upset them by just saying no?

Sorry if that sounds harsh, I just don't understand what you are doing here. It seems to be you have elaborate plans just to avoid telling them you are not interested.
Just tell the truth, they don't care. Or just put your head down and walk on, seriously no need for messing with your mobile :rolleyes:



QFT

Yeah but the problem is some don't take no for an answer, its better and quicker to just ignore them. I told one nicely no a few years back and she followed me half way down Henry street before I had to very aggressively tell her to feck off.

Gone West

I ask them if they are paid for their work here today, in a nice voice.
And walk off. They all get paid, and the time it takes for that to sink in, and the time it takes them to "ehmmm, welll..." is more than enough to escape.

High&Low

I work in Dublin, so its gotten to the stage where i am telling them to f-off. Staring straight through them works and if they block your path, just keep walking straight at them.

Best thing I saw with a chugger was on Henry Street, a female chugger stopped a pretty normal looking guy and he started talking away to her, when all of a sudden he just dropped his trousers, she kept on talking to him and she only copped on when half the street were laughing, don't know how he kept a straight face...

helimachoptor

I donate €10 a month to Concern through a DD, so whenever someone stops me I always say "sorry buddy, concern got to me first!"

Sometimes depending on who it is I get the reply "well we help different people to them!"

alancork

I always start talking As Gaeilge, as in;
"Ta brón orm, níl aon airgead agam.. ta mé ag frestal colaiste agus taim bocht!"

In Cork anyway, lots of them seem to be English, and the ones that aren't get completely flustered and leave me alone:p

chickenhawk

zAbbo wrote: »

Chugger: Can you spare a minute for Concern?
Me: Did you say Trocaire?
Chugger: No...
Me: Then no.

I like to do something similar.

Chugger: Can you spare a minute for Concern.
Me: Did you say Trocaire?
Chugger: No, Concern.
Me: Me neither.

It takes them a while to figure out what just happened and I'm well down the street. Otherwise a 'Get the Fuk out of my way' if I am in a bad mood works.

Danbo!

Just say in a scared-ish voice "im not allowed to talk to strangers" and then sprint* away.


*Or Walk.