i dont want to be crabby but this irked me

[love2teach]

  I am trying really hard to stay cheery ( I SWEAR next year I will get my shopping done early )but when I went to a store today I got a little irked.  I first want to say, I love the bell ringers outside of stores and am always willing to give a dollar when I have the cash on me.  The sound of the  bells can just put me in a better mood.  Until today....... I heard the ringer commenting on every person who walked by her......"Be sure to see me when you leave.   Stop by on your way out.   Dont forget to see  me before you go.  Ect."    The tone of her voice was sarcastic and kind of demanding.    Ok,  I ranted, now it is back to being cheery  

[CreteGirl]

I had a bell ringer follow me for a few steps when I avoided him, ringing his bell at me.  I was annoyed.

[Scritzy]

I'd report that person to the bell-ringing organization. S/he was not acting in the spirit of said organization.

It would have irked me, too.

[HogwartsAlum]

That would bug me.  It would be hard for me not to say something to him or her. 

I WOULD say something to the one that followed after ringing the bell!  "GET THE HECK AWAY FROM ME!"

[Gambitgirl]

I love the bell ringers outside of stores and am always willing to give a dollar when I have the cash on me.  The sound of the  bells can just put me in a better mood. 

as a, i assume, nice bell ringer outside Wally World last night...thanks! i love bell ringing with my dad (it's our tradition), and anything anyone can give is greatly appreciated! 

and i never say anything to anyone except to the kind people who choose to give and my dad b/c we're killing time by talking about Xmas wish lists and how our shopping is going. if someone walks by w/out giving, which in my experience is 9 out of 10 people, i would NEVER say anything to them, not even Merry Christmas b/c I worry they might think i'm guilting them with my calling out to them specifically...and i would never use a pressure tactic to get someone to donate.

donations come from the heart.

if you want to report obnoxious bell ringer, just ask which community service organization they are from, they're usually more than happy to tell you. then call that local chapter and tell them what store, what time and gender/age/race of the person who was annoying and they'll speak to them. at my bell ringing station we have the kettle and Salvation Army sign, plus a banner for the sommunity service org that the bell ringers belong to.

[caranfin]

A couple of weeks ago there was a man outside WM playing a fiddle instead of ringing a bell. It was lovely.

Oh, and to the bell ringer I saw yesterday? Chatting on your cell phone while giving your bell a desultory nudge every few minutes isn't going to inspire many people to donate.

[Shoo]

This is why I shop at Target.

[Scritzy]

A couple of weeks ago there was a man outside WM playing a fiddle instead of ringing a bell. It was lovely.

I once saw a bellringer playing Christmas songs on a tuba! He was good at it, too.