Communication among professional beggars

[thyme4change]

I have gone to the same grocery store for years.  I go at least every week, and I've never been consistent on what day or time I go.  In all those years and those hundreds of trips to this particular store, I have been approached by someone asking for money one time - until this month.  Every time of the last 5 times I have been there, not only have I been approached for money, but their stories are all very similar.  At least the guy a few years ago told me he was hungry (he looked it.)  All of these people are using the "My car needs gas" or "I need a bus ticket."  Even weirder is that they all say they are going to the same place - Tempe, which is about 20 miles from the store.  

Does word get around that a parking lot is working and light on security?  Do they tell each other what story worked?  It just seems like too big of a coincidence that all of a sudden, 5 people all got stranded in the same parking lot.

[Sharon]

In our town they have shifts for certain corners.  I have even seen them pass off the sign to the next person.

[simser]

My church (which is in your neck of the woods) said that they are going to our parking lot because word got out among them that they can get money there. So... Yes.

[Deleted]

There's a convenience store near my house. I go in there a lot, and I pass it almost every time I leave my house. For as long as I've lived here, the same guy is outside that store every day asking "Hey miss (or sir), you got some change?" or asking if you want him to pump the gas for you. He's not persistant or rude if you say no. I wonder how much money he gets, he's there every day, year round.

A young guy who looked like he was on drugs tried to take over the same spot. He was rude and would follow you around talking crazy. The first guy was apparently scared of him because he'd leave when the crazy guy showed up. One night I passed the store and a guy was kicking the crazy guy's ass. I guess he'd said the wrong thing to the wrong person. I haven't seen him since.

One time, a young woman came inside the store asking people for 50 cents. She asked me first, I said no. Then she asked the lady behind me, who looked to be maybe in her early 50's. The lady was very irritated and told her "I don't give womens money. You got the same thang I got. You see all these men in here? You better ask one of them for some money instead of asking me". I was so surprised to hear that come out of that woman's mouth, I could barely hold my chuckle in long enough to get out the door. 

[Cass]

5 years ago, they all needed a bus ticket to Oshawa.

Apparently, Oshawa shipped them back because they trade blocks in shifts every day now.  The city installed yellow "care meters" in the most popular locations, but they are still there.

And... nobody approaches with a sad story anymore.  It's all "do you have some change" or asking for a cigarette.  Every block downtown, all the time.

[zibazinski]

Shame on the town that allows these people to harass people who live and shop there. Go to your city council and ask them to take care of the problem. You pay taxes, demand services.

[thyme4change]

My "town" has bigger problems than a few beggars.  However, I will ask the store to take care of their parking lot.  I also think I will work harder to park closer to the store.  I usually just park in the back because the lot is very congested, and I don't care - but they don't seem to get within a certain radius of the store.  I'm wondering if they know the store will hassle them if they are in the front spots, but the ones in the back are more likely shared with all the businesses around there.

[tloonya]

How about responding to 'do you have change'?
-I was just about to ask you the same thing but I need a whole dollar. Do you have one?

But seriously I am always giving them little. 
I once heard 'if person is there to beg - if you can - give and if you can't - don't judge. It is bad enough that they are asking so...basically be merciful and kind.'

[Deleted]

Gee, at least they are professionals.    The school kids are amateurs, and I am SO tired of them with their buckets and parents sitting in lawn chairs as they watch their kids beg.

Try to sell me something.  Please don't just ask me if I have change or want to support your trip to wherever.

Unfortunately for them, I rarely have money.  So it's a lost cause.

[zibazinski]

You're so much nicer. I usually say I have a car they can wash. They always looked stunned as do their prima Donna mommas. 

[tloonya]

Mar 1, 2014 21:29:03 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

You're so much nicer. I usually say I have a car they can wash. They always looked stunned as do their prima Donna mommas. 

Exactly! But schools sending them to 'go get it' trip and apparently they do not conduct car washes or anything. We used to wash cars or throw a gymnastic's shows so these kids knew they were working to go somewhere for Finals or Nationals whatevers...
I remember once telling here that I had chased out a cheerleader with her mom and I was pretty much put down for not being 'supportive to the neighborhood' and 'see if this mom tells other moms and they will stop coming to your store'...and I keep chasing them away. I want to go to Florida as well but I am busting my butt for it, because Nancy wouldn't pay for my ticket...right Nancy?

[motherto2]

Luckily we don't have that where I live, but then, I don't live in a town or city. But, the city near where I live that we have to go to shop, has professionals on the corner near the mall. My folks are in town a lot, and have actually watched them trade off, and the one that just got off shift got in a truck that costs more than most people around here can afford. I remember seeing a 60 minutes or 20/20 type show that showed that so many of them made so much money they could take trips to Vegas or wherever several times a year. Which is sad, because most people (including me) think twice about giving someone some change. I've heard one way to weed them out is to offer to buy them a sandwich. If they are sincere, they'll take you up on it.

[grits]

Hobo's used to leave a line drawing of a smiling cat on the fence at the house of a kind woman who'd share food with you.

[moneymaven]

It happens here but not frequently. I go with my gut. There was a woman and her child (a teen) who asked for money when I was getting back in my car at the grocery store. I went back in and got them groceries (bread, peanut butter, jelly, water, clementines and some crackers). They were grateful and went on their way. I recently grabbed some hot sandwiches and water for two bums by the mall. They had tears in their eyes and were very grateful.

We also have a man who wanders between two stores in the area and I think he has schizophrenia. When I worked for a local city, they knew him and that he was truly homeless. He subsists on the kindness of strangers. His favorite thing is a cup of coffee and banana bread. I'll take him that snack every now and then. He's also kind and grateful.

I don't give money out. By my old office, there was a woman who used two signs all the time. A pregnant and needs money sign and another, newborn baby and needs money. I worked there for almost 7 years and she'd change out those signs every two weeks. Fastest pregnancy I've ever seen.

[Deleted]

Mar 1, 2014 11:09:22 GMT -5 tloonya said:

How about responding to 'do you have change'?
-I was just about to ask you the same thing but I need a whole dollar. Do you have one?

But seriously I am always giving them little. 
I once heard 'if person is there to beg - if you can - give and if you can't - don't judge. It is bad enough that they are asking so...basically be merciful and kind.'

The guy that's always asking for change, one lady did flip it on him and say she was about to ask him for some change. He gave it to her! When she came back out of the store, she told him she was just playing with him and gave him his change back and a dollar.