Hawk Your Crap at Work

Wannaplan? · Oct 31, 2003

How many of you get these kinds of e-mails at work? I get many a week. This is an example of one that just came my way:

"My oldest son, Boner, is selling cheesecakes so that he can take a history class trip to Gettysburg. He has to pay for the whole thing because his mom is so cruel!

He has sold $619 worth with no assistance from me. Of that, $150 goes toward his trip. I figure I could at least try to sell some for him at work.

I hear they are good . . . many different kinds. Something like 14 precut slices to a cake. Cost is $16 and $19, depending on what you get. They freeze well and will be here before Thanksgiving.

His order forms are due today. I will be putting one in the break room. If you are interested, please look it over. I must deliver the form and money to the school late this afternoon.

Its an easy way to tell provide dessert for Thanksgiving or Christmas and not have to do any work!"

I don't mind an entrepreneurial spirit, but sometimes I think that my fellow employees over-use their companies information network. An e-mail like the one above every once in awhile is okay. But these types of last minute pleas suck big time.

H · Oct 31, 2003

I don’t know. Seems like a no pressure take one if you want one flyer. Parents have to at least make the effort to clear the conscience. At our office though it is just left in the break room with out the email.

Is the email work related? No. But either is probably half the email sent. :-S

Tranplanner · Oct 31, 2003

You're not allowed to use company email for that stuff here. Over the past week I've had people canvassing for 50/50 draw tickets for their best friend's son's hockey team (nay), girl guide cookies for their daughter (aye), and a hockey pool for their son's hockey team (aye).

When I have kids, it's payback time!

Repo Man · Oct 31, 2003

I prefer the e-mails that say "Its my birthday today, so there are bagels and donuts in the break room!"

I guess I don't mind those too much. I don't get a lot here...the occasional Girl Scout Cookies or Candy Bars for little league. I don't like the ones like Wanigas listed, where they give this whole sob story and try to sell them to you like they are a telemarketer. Just tell us whats being sold, what its for, and how much it costs.

Planderella · Oct 31, 2003

We don't get those kinds of soliciations here, but people will occasionally leave a box of that school candy with the envelope in the kitchen. I don't mind supporting them, but I certainly don't want to hear a sob story unless they want to hear mine.

Duke Of Dystopia · Oct 31, 2003

I love the candy solicitations. Just put the box out, and let me have at it. I just want to know why you have to be in some sort of freaking CLUBE to get some of those damned mint grils scout cookies! GRRRRRRR!

ilikefish0 · Oct 31, 2003

Duke Of Dystopia said:
I love the candy solicitations. Just put the box out, and let me have at it. I just want to know why you have to be in some sort of freaking CLUBE to get some of those damned mint grils scout cookies! GRRRRRRR!

I feel your pain man. My cousin just quit the girl scouts, so I can't get the cookies anymore. Lack of shortbread is making me restless and irritable.

el Guapo · Oct 31, 2003

Speaking of: Anybody need some Boy Scout popcorn? Just name your price between $12 and $1200 and I'll ship you what I think you need (or deserve).

It would be better for everyone if my son could just go door to door and beg for $5.00 in cash. I hate fundraisers.

Cardinal · Oct 31, 2003

I usually take a pass on fundraisers, except for the Girl Scouts. Nobody here sends out e-mails like that. I don't suppose it would bother me, I'd just delete it with the other fifty junk e-mails I have waiting for me every morning.

Rumpy Tunanator · Oct 31, 2003

Wanigas? said:
"My oldest son, Boner, is selling cheesecakes so that he can take a history class trip to Gettysburg. He has to pay for the whole thing because his mom is so cruel!

Boner from "Growing Pains"? No way.

SlaveToTheGrind · Oct 31, 2003

I hate the work emails selling stuff, too. Of course, I sent one out last year when I was selling my house. I don't mind people trying to sell something, just those who are asking for a fundraiser "donation".

ludes98 · Oct 31, 2003

Re: Re: Hawk Your Crap at Work

Rumpy Tuna said:
Boner from "Growing Pains"? No way.

Yo, Seaver!!

We actually had to have a policy about this because someone felt pressured! I mean I told them to stick it, but some folks can't I guess. It can only be left in the breakroom with a note. No solicitation in person or via email.

Big Easy King · Oct 31, 2003

I don't receive those types of e-mails, but it seems like raffle ticket solicitation always occurs in this office. Damn!

moose · Oct 31, 2003

I find it very easy to turn down email requests for stuff like school fundraisers, but I did cough up $14 for my admin's kid's school fundraiser (wrapping paper). I tell you, the stuff they sell now is way better than the stuff we sold for drama club when I was in high school. Not to mention, Oregon's schools are completely broke, so I felt for the kids.

I am a fan of the I'm-moving-and-my-planter-box-needs-a-good-home emails though. When I moved to OR, I got rid of a juice maker, a TV/entertainement center and the afore mentioned planter box in the 15 minutes following the email. I also bought a car from someone at my dad's work who did the same thing.

nerudite · Oct 31, 2003

They locked down the e-mails here due to too many soliciations like those. So now they waste even more company time by going cube to cube and selling their kids' stuff. I don't usually buy in to any of them, except for the 50/50 draws and pools (kind of like Tranplanner). They switched over to a bulletin board (kind of like vbulletin) on our intranet now so people can post merchandise for sale/trade. Usually it's last minute ticket sales to Oilers games...

Jeff · Oct 31, 2003

I love the ones that try to sell pre-season football, hockey, etc tix for face value.

Just give the damn things away and MAYBE someone will take them.

BiteMeElmo · Oct 31, 2003

I'm not sure about policy here, being relatively new, but it seems the common practice here is to leave the stuff in a visible place with an envelope. All I like are the chocolate almonds and the girl scout cookies. I swear, those things must be laced with crack.

Chet · Oct 31, 2003

We forbid them. Sign up sheets left in the mail room are okay, just no active solicitations.

plannerkat · Oct 31, 2003

My biggest peeve are the "parties". Um, it's not a party if the point is to sell crap. I get invites for jewelry parties, candle parties, basket parties. Very annoying, especially when the email is broadcast to all women in the department.

H · Oct 31, 2003

nerudite said:
They locked down the e-mails here due to too many soliciations like those. So now they waste even more company time by going cube to cube and selling their kids' stuff.

LOL. I love unintended consequences like this when people try to tight-n-up in the name of 'efficiency' and take away from the few social pleasures that some workers have.

Score one for the slackers.

:-D

Not that I promote peddling crap for your kid.

SW MI Planner · Oct 31, 2003

I'd much rather get an email than have them come into my office asking if I'd buy something. I can just ignore the email - I find it hard to say NO face to face. I'm such a sucker. Of course, leaving it in the break room is the best option.

Richmond Jake · Oct 31, 2003

plannerkat said:
My biggest peeve are the "parties". Um, it's not a party if the point is to sell crap. I get invites for jewelry parties, candle parties, basket parties. Very annoying, especially when the email is broadcast to all women in the department.

I've heard thru the grapevine that some of these 'parties' are for the sale of toys....of the adult variety...

Queen B · Oct 31, 2003

RichmondJake said:
I've heard thru the grapevine that some of these 'parties' are for the sale of toys....of the adult variety...

See I told you that you were my kind of person! You just got to it one step before me.

nerudite · Oct 31, 2003

plannerkat said:
My biggest peeve are the "parties". Um, it's not a party if the point is to sell crap. I get invites for jewelry parties, candle parties, basket parties. Very annoying, especially when the email is broadcast to all women in the department.

Ugh! I know what you mean... I'm invited to one next week (not going). I looked at the catalogue and it was all florally girly valences and heart-shaped sconces and crap. Bleh.

nerudite · Oct 31, 2003

RichmondJake said:
I've heard thru the grapevine that some of these 'parties' are for the sale of toys....of the adult variety...

Well, those kind of parties aren't the ones that you usually get invited to over the work e-mail system. But yeah, they are becoming more common.

Zoning Goddess · Oct 31, 2003

el Guapo said:
Speaking of: Anybody need some Boy Scout popcorn? Just name your price between $12 and $1200 and I'll ship you what I think you need (or deserve).

It would be better for everyone if my son could just go door to door and beg for $5.00 in cash. I hate fundraisers.

We did the Cub Scout popcorn thing for 4 years. Luckily, the little guys can look really needy and sell quickly. But, it was mostly around the neighborhood. I sold at work in my old position, just because I had been there for several years and just about everyone in the building knew my son from his visits to the office, but I skipped it at the new job last year. We just doubled up on neighborhood selling (we had our "regulars").

giff57 · Nov 2, 2003

RichmondJake said:
I've heard thru the grapevine that some of these 'parties' are for the sale of toys....of the adult variety...

The wife is one of these ladies http://www.surpriseparties.com . She makes quite a few bucks at it too....

Richmond Jake · Nov 2, 2003

giff57 said:
The wife is one of these ladies http://www.surpriseparties.com . She makes quite a few bucks at it too....

Interesting....but I refuse to click on Man to Man...(sorry man to mans).

mike gurnee · Nov 2, 2003

I, too, hate fundraisers. One little league coach rounded up the fathers at a practice, and gave us an alternative. "We need to sell candy as a fundraiser...or...if each dad can give $5.00..." One fellow immediately interrupted, "Here's a $50 for those who don't cash on them."

Thank you Charles.

Rumpy Tunanator · Nov 2, 2003

RichmondJake said:
Interesting....but I refuse to click on Man to Man...(sorry man to mans).

I clicked on it and man I'm sorry I did.

Rem · Nov 2, 2003

Emails forbidden, a bulletin board is available and chocolates at the cafe bars and lunch room are OK. Also our weekly staff newsletter have a trading section for more substantial items.

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