At work I used to politely decline, saying "No thank you. I only have so much to go around and I have already chosen who and how much for this year." For those who came to the door at home, they got a simple "Sorry" with no further explanation.

When my daughter was young and in school, I bought from my peers and they bought from me, the money went to the PTA and we all felt like we were doing our part. At the last office I worked in we were a very close nit group and even though my daughter was already grown, I still bought because we always helped each other in whatever way each of us needed help.

We don't get solicitors and we also don't usually buy from the stands outside of the stores, though I probably should to help the kids out. hmmm...

My parents wouldn't allow me to have them solicit for me. I had to work and get the sales myself.

I'm like you in that I won't buy from parents; or kids who simply hold out a brochure.

Give me your pitch!! Make me want to buy it! It teaches great skills, how to be confident and present information, how to handle rejection, life skills you will need in a business environment. Parents selling for their kids are defeating the purpose IMHO.

I simply say no thank you.

A case by case deal for me. I LOVE girl scout cookies and if a friend has a daughter selling some I'll happily buy. Same with those bars of chocolate which are pretty good.

My standard response to adults is that I'm sorry, but yours isn't one of the charities we support -- and we don't give cash.

A kid coming to my door will be heard out, and we will give if it's a LOCAL thing. We only give to local causes we have checked out where we know they squeeze the dimes and have vetted the recipients. They get a check once a year.

Just today I checked on a Purple Hearts Veterans solicitation that came in the mail, asking for clothing -- because I have some ready to go. Yuck. No Way! (Another no-no that turned up during my search was the Wounded Warrior charity you see constantly soliciting on TV. Almost *nothing* goes to help anyone; it's all sucked up by the solicitors and the organization.)

I think many of the fundraising "sales" that many organizations pursue are a waste of time. Many would raise more money by simply soliciting cash. I used to share that suggestion at PTA meetings, a few tried it (at various schools my kids went to through the years) and found I was right. Still, people (and certain organizations) get stuck doing the same thing over and over again without realizing how much time is unproductively spent.

As one of the bosses in the office, I really couldn't turn down a reasonable request from a staff member for money. But people had to ask me, not put a box out in a coffee room and expect me to respond to that. Once it became know that I always responded Yes, it seems I would get tagged at least once a month, sometimes more. I would always write a check to the organization involved and decline whatever junk was being sold.

I used to buy the Thin Mint GirlSscout cookies, but I finally read the list of ingredients and I no longer participate in that scam. Plus, when I did buy them, they sat around here for six months or so before I finally threw them out.

There is one fundraiser I will always participate in, even though I might not "purchase" anything, although that will depend. (In such cases, I just donate.) It's done as a bake sale and an auction, and many of the bakers (and always myself) use real wholesome ingredients. One of my co-workers lost his daughter in the Newtown shooting a few years back, and he now spearheads a really worthwhile non-profit.

When I worked in an office I would sometimes buy stuff from coworkers that their kids were selling, usually for the school....the point being that most parents thought it too dangerous to send their kids door to door. I always bought Girl Scout cookies because, well, Tagalongs! Sometimes wrapping paper or gift bags because you can always use them. Sometimes pizzas or other food items. I didn't mind supporting schools if I could use or eat the item, even if they were overpriced. Our high school would have athletes sell those discount cards to restaurants and services in the area for $10 or $15 and those were a waste...I never used them.

We used to walk my kid's door to door for blocks for Girl Scout cookies etc. DD was allowed to take her brochure with her to things like dance or skating but she had to approach people, not I.

I don't care for GS cookies these days but I would buy a box or two if a GS actually came up and gave me her pitch. But it seldom happens. I saw one stand outside a store last time they had their sales. Two sullen Junior Girl Scouts sitting at a table while adult was waving boxes in front of those exiting the store.

I no longer give to school fundraisers. While I feel bad for the kids/teachers/classrooms the schools get plenty of money in our area. They simply misapply it to top heavy administrations and bells and whistles like giant electronic signboards instead of giving it to the teachers and kids.

watch me, many schools have foundations or PTAs that earmark where the contributed money gets spent. I've even heard of some that provide a materials allowance to each teacher so that their personal funds need not be used to buy classroom items the schools may no longer provide.

Our neighborhood has a lot of kids who peddle a variety of things. I always listen, always write a check, and always decline the merchandise. I like to tell them, " Thank you for the opportunity to donate to your cause!"

Wait, I don't always decline.....I do buy the big bags of oranges and grapefruit that one of the area marching band sells! Who can turn that down?

The Adventists who patrol the area ring the bell but I don't answer. ANY salespeople get a very cold shoulder....polite, but firm. If they get pushy, I'm not so polite, but never abusive.

Two or three weeks ago, some folks were doing a bake sale in front of my local mom and pop grocery, to benefit the high school volleyball team. Seriously, I avoid this sort of thing, but I started thinking about my own long-ago high school volleyball team of which I was a member for two years. I gave them $5, and didn't take any of the sweets, mentioning that I just seldom eat dessert.

One of the really nice adult women over with the kids rushed over with a fruit platter apparently hidden down below, and offered it to me as I got back into my car.

If I hadn't already had a ton of fruit in my fridge, I would possibly have accepted.

When I worked, it depended on what was being sold. If I would use the item, I'd buy it. If not, I simply declined, no explanation. If I liked the organization, sometimes I'd just donate some money.

After being a Girl Scout leader for 14 years, I will never refuse a Girl Scout selling cookies! My girls would go door to door (with me). Many neighbors bought.

I would buy wrapping paper from neighbors kids after mine were out of the school.

Here is the interesting part though. One neighbor joked it was pay back time. Her son was on Crew Team, but donations were much higher than a few boxes of cookies!

Other than scouts, I will not buy anything from someone knocking at my door.

Luckily, no on asks at work.

I don't remember people bringing their children's fundraisers to work, when I worked. But I cannot refuse kids selling cookies, tickets or whatever. Many people bought from my kids back in the day, so I welcome the chance to pay back.

Over time I have become a fundraising curmudgeon. Although I don't have a workplace problem, they do come to the door. A stream of high school students show up every year, each requesting I give $25-35 so they can take a trip to Europe. I have never been to Europe! And if you decline, the majority of them begin to make snide comments. It is unreal. They have been so rude, so often, now I don't help any of them. I don't even sight recognize any of these solicitors; many probably do not even live in this city.

Then there are the Girl Scout cookies--that taste so awful they are not even edible to this sweets-lover. The mug and gift wrap sellers, that may or may not ever deliver the goods purchased. The raffle ticket sales that will never even make it to the raffle tumbler, because I found the draw stubs dropped on the ground.

I volunteer my time, I buy and donate books for libraries, I will cook or purchase goods to serve at events, but I am done giving money to people I don't even know.

A friend brings her daughter's Girl Scout form around the office. Unless I have already got my annual Thin Mint fix, I'll order several boxes. But its for me not for her. :-) For anyone else, or anything else its "no thanks". The university even sends around an annual solicitation for United Way, and ask that even if you decide to not give anything, you still at least return the envelope. I usually leave the distinctive envelope sitting untouched in my office mailbox.

Sorry, don't bring cash to work was my answer... but now, that I quit, I no longer need to worry about that. :)

I bought a $50 first aid kit from my boss' son's Boy Scout fundraiser. It is really nice!

We live in an area that offers sign - up for a 'do not knock' service but some that don't register with the city still come to the door. My big old pittie guards momma always and I just hold him back at the door while I tell them 'no thank you'. No one tries to offer me any further 'deals' and they exit the property.

It depends on who is asking and what it is for. My standard answer is, "No, thanks. I gave at the office." It takes a few seconds for that reply to sink in and hopefully enough time for me to duck out of sight.

Actually, that reply is almost appropriate because the company I worked for encourages employees to give, by paycheck deduction, to a local bonafide charity such as United Way. By this method, they feel they have done their civic duty and at the same time reduced the reasons for individuals to dun their fellow employees.

We usually buy from our local students, scouts too. But nothing else. My kids when they were kids would bring fund raisers home from school but in those days it was safe to send your kids out alone. Today NO. too many kooks out there. I now have a couple of young neighbors who will ask us to buy things from them and we just did this week. I do miss the Sally Foster wrapping paper. It was good quality and seemed to last a long time for me. I always buy girl scout cookies from our great niece and anything from the boy scouts as we were a big scouting family. Local schools too. We were also big band supporters when our grandchildren were in band so we still buy anything if they come by our home. Sadly not many come this way. My husband just bought a 13 week subscription to the newspaper from a college student. Sadly hard to get off this subscription when it expired and all those pesky calls we received at our home was the worst part. No more newspapers.

I'm on the receiving end. I work at a health-related facility. In cardiology. When others don't walk, shouldn't they sponsor someone who does? That, I think, should get a pass when one does the AHA walk. But alas, no.

Texas Gem is right on with what I do. Ditto!

I always buy when a kid comes to the door. Heck - I don't want or need the stuff, but if the kid is learning how to interact with people, soliciting for some activity they're involved in, or whatever, I'm going to support them. Plus, I don't want to be known as the witch in the neighborhood - those kids'll be teenagers some day! Haha - only (sort of) joking on that one. But seriously - I'm going to help the kids do what they're trying to do if THEY are doing the selling/requesting.

For Girl Scout cookies (or Boy Scout popcorn or whatever), I'll buy it and then take it to church for the donations to food banks or give it to a friend who happens to love them or something like that.

As far as parents soliciting for their kids at work? No, I've usually politely declined.

Our local volunteer fire dept. comes around once a year selling a portrait package. We always support them, but have only had our picture taken twice. We usually pass the certificate to some one else.

There was an office that was next door that I knew the mother plus both of her daughters, always bought girl scout cookies from them. There was another lady that the only time she would speak to us was wen she came over to sell something her daughter was selling for school. We never bought from her, she quit asking. My co-worker's son would sell fruit & nuts, always bought that. We live out in the country so thankfully no door to door stuff.

Interesting conversation. Maybe I should carry some of feline rescue/shelter brochures so when asked to buy cookies, etc. I can respond with, "great, would you like to donate to my favorite charitable organization?"

I'm annoyed when parents bring their children's fund raising materials to the office and I never buy from them. When the neighbor children come selling things, I usually hand them a $5 bill and tell them that's my donation for the year. Thank goodness we don't have many local children although a new family with two children just moved in.

Never pass by kids' lemonade stand.

A comment bothered me: Kids have to learn too handle rejection. Really!! Ever hear of bullying in schools and suicides by kids who couldn't take anymore. I'm not asking you to buy a thing but you can thank them for asking you or offer a dollar to brighten their spirits. I sold Girl Scout cookies and I was scared. My speech was: you don't want to buy some Girl Scout cookies do you? I was too young. Thank heaven my parents bought the bulk and told me they appreciated the effort I made. I felt successful because of them. Now days kids have competitions as well. I buy when it is something I need or am able to help out.

I usually bought the discount card every year. A few uses at the local cleaners or hamburger stand paid for the card. And I love the quality of the Inverness wrapping paper that kids used to sell here and always bought some. But a lot of the kids or people selling were not from our area, and I just don't get involved.

Thank you plllog, you said it better than I could have.

About Girl Scout cookies: I don't know about your area, but at my location, a number of people regard those as a rip-off. First, these are grossly over priced. You get only a few cookies in the package. What is happening is the bakery get hundreds of cute little salesgirls (and parents) to peddle their wares for free. Most of the profit goes to the baker.

Our official workplace asks us to donate to the united way we get the envelopes, this is as far as workplace fundraising should go. There is no negative response if you don't, no one knows if you did or didn't so there are not any judgments on your character either way. Fundraising by individuals does not belong in the work place. Anyone who brings in such fundraising junk into the lunchroom at work finds it moved off the kitchen table and shoved on top of the fridge or the shelf unit in the corner of the room. Expecting co workers to pony up for your kid is not ok. If you want to walk you kids all over your neighbor hood or hit up relations more power to you. But I suspect many don't want to make that effort when they can just dump it in the lunchroom and guilt there co workers who they see everyday to just give them the money. Our department collects money at least once or twice a month for showers, going away gifts secret Santa etc. There are also people requesting to be sponsored for this ride or walk as well. Those fundraising say if you don't want to donate you don't have to. But when you don't what they really mean is why can't you just give us money everyone else gave whats wrong with you. They speak negatively about those who do not want to participate. It doesn't matter that you may not have the money to share or you don't want to give to that charity or school, or you already give to you own favorite charity. I ignore their request regardless of how they feel and move what ever it is away from the table. And let it be know that the table is kept clear except when you are eating at it.

So my opposition would be, why was the United Way selected by an employer? It has a score of only 85 (out of 100) by charity navigator. Paws-Chicago has a rating of 99; yea, I know some people don't like dogs & cats.

Disclosure - my employer also solicits for United Way and I volunteer as the President of a 401c3 non-profit foundation (no, not an animal rescue one).

those websites that rate the various charities are very helpful. Once I learned about the low score UW had, they get nothing from me. I also tell people, let me ck your rating on charity navigator and if OK, come back tomorrow and I'll contribute. They never come back, even those with good ratings. My neighbor's old company made UW donations MANDATORY. he took them to court and won, but eventually got another job as it became obvious he was never going to move up there

The workplace should totally free from donation pressure of any kind, by any individual or organization. It can so easily get out of hand. I'm appalled at the idea of a 'boss' peddling something on behalf of a child.

When I was a Girl Scout leader, I really didn't encourage girls to have their parents sell at the office. I would rather they sold a few boxes on their own. Selling the actual cookies is only one piece of "how the cookie crumbles." Girls learned planning, budgeting , scheduling and marketing strategy.

When you buy the cookies, you are supporting scouting. So, the amount of cookies you get is really beside the point.

I don't' like the fact that the Girl Scout troop selling the MANDATORY cookies only get about 25 CENTS on each box of cookies.They also taste horrible anymore. Nothing like they tasted years ago.The only ones making money on their outrageous price is the bakery and the big shot salaries. But, to be fair, MOST pre-packaged things these days are so full of preservatives and other junk, they aren't very tasty.

I personally prefer to buy from Scouts setup out in front of a store.

I always participate in a co-worker's kid fundraiser. First, it's usually only a dollar or two, secondly its a small price to pay to support a kid, and lastly it does support the school or charity in some small way so I don't feel it's wasted. As for Girl Scout cookies, they are more than the average $1 candy bar, but my husband and I both enjoy them, so I don't begrudge buying a box or two. And I get a kick out of having the kid deliver them personally - they are usually so proud.

Most of my coworkers don't approach each person directly. They put up a signup in the lunch room and anyone who wants to participate can, so there's no face to face embarrassment if someone says no.

So personally, the 3 or 4 times there's an opportunity to support a coworker's kid I have no problems pitching in a few bucks.