TMTM
A frustrated woman uses a self-checkout counter. The girl does not understand how to independently buy groceries in the supermarket without a seller

inside-studio/istockphoto

Cheapism is editorially independent. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site.

At the self-checkout, you scan your own groceries, bag them yourself, load them in your cart, process your own payment, grab your receipt, and usually saunter off without a "have a nice day." And now, somewhere in the process, the payment kiosk will often encourage you to donate money to a charity. Not surprisingly, shoppers are fed up. 

@pinkypatelofficial

how bout that big box donate instead?!

♬ original sound - Pinky Patel

In a viral TikTok video, user @pinkypatelofficial discusses the absurdity of big box stores like Walmart and Target asking for donations at self-checkout kiosks, noting that when she uses those checkout lanes, she isn't bothering employees and she's not getting paid to basically do the job of a cashier, either. 


Big box stores, as the TikToker points out, have about "10 billion dollars more" than she does. And if those stores can't — or won't — cut the charities they're promoting via self-checkout screens a check, they shouldn't ask their customers to chip in, either.


Plus, as one commenter pointed out: "Not to mention THEY get the tax write-off for the charity donation, not you. So if you want to donate, do it directly to the charity." Another comment shared a bright idea we're fairly certain the likes of Walmart and Target would never go for: "They should donate for every time someone goes through the self checkout!!!!!"

TikTokers aren't the only ones tired of the donation-ask bombardment. A recent Reddit thread

titled, "Yeah. What’s up with the self-checkout lately?" includes a picture that says, "I f***ing hate grocery store checkout screens asking me if I want to donate $20 to end child hunger or whatever. You're a $10 billion corporation. I'm using a coupon to get 50 cents off a bag of potatoes. Why don't YOU donate to end child hunger?" 


Hammer, meet the nail, directly on the head.


Want more Cheapism in your inbox? Sign up for our free newsletters. And be sure to like us on Facebook, too! 


Cheapism in the News
msn
today
nytimes
cnbc
newyorker
cbs