Guidelines for Obtaining Donations
To all Associates and Supervisors:
As you are probably aware, this summer we will once again be conducting our charity fundraising drive, with all proceeds benefitting the Children’s Hospital. This is a cause that is very important to our company, and not only as a tax write-off — it is also an important public service.
Every associate will be expected to paricipate in the sale of $1 “Shining Stars”, a small gold star that the customer can write his or her name on. We will be posting these stars throughout the store as we receive them. (A customer wishing to fill out a star for each member of his or her family individually will need to purchase an additional $1 star per person. They also have the option of putting their entire family on one star.)
A target goal of 25 stars per associate on register, per day, will be mandatory. If you fail to meet this goal, you will receive a formal Write-Up. Continue non-compliance and/or non-participation may result in your termination, so please remember to sell, sell, sell!
Here are some tips for maximizing your collected donations:
1) Ring the customers merchandise up as normal.
2) After you have scanned the last item, but before you press the “Total” button, indicate to the display on the front of your register and ask the customer, “Would you be interested in making a one dollar donation to our charity fundraising drive, benefitting the Children’s Hospital?” If the customer requests their current total, inform them of what the total WOULD be, if they make the donation.
3) If the customer declines, reiterate the name of the charity, and point out that it is of great benefit to the needy and/or homeless children of the city.
4) Upon further refusal, firmly inform the customer that it is merely one dollar added on to their total, and that it is not taxable. You may also mention that if they keep their receipt, they can deduct the donation from their taxes.
5) Although rare, the customer may continue to refuse to donate. Kindly indicate one or two small purchases they might be making, if possible, and let them know that they could probably do without those, if it is about money. If the customer has a weight problem, and their purchase includes any candy, snack foods or non-diet sodas, point out that they could probably do without those, and instead donate the money to the Hospital instead.
6) At this point, the customer will most likely relent and allow the donation. If they do not, instead of pressing the Total button on your register, press the TND (Total ‘No Donation’) button. This will allow the register to insert the donation as an inflated CRV (California Refund Value) tax, scattered across multiple items, so that the customer does not become suspicious.
Please note: If the customer attempts to leave the store at any point, please inform Security immediately.
Thanks everybody, and let’s make this a year to remember! The kids are counting on us!
The Management
