Charity collector, grrrrrr

We were running some errands at the local shops this morning and the collectors were out in force for an appeal.
I got approached by one as a passed and politely declined as we'd dropped our donation in the box at the chemist yesterday. The woman cheekily replied "Oh that's ok, you're allowed to donate as many times as you like!"
I had a laugh and tried to move on but she stopped Ella and said "Don't you want one of these lovely flowers to wear? You should tell your Mummy to get one for you."
I was really pissed off with that. I now had to be the meanie and say no to Ella because of this stupid woman making her want something she didn't care about 2 seconds ago.
5 minutes of tantying later we went in to get our bread and were joined by the offending woman who demanded that the staff people buy the flowers to show that the business support the cause.
The staff (Who had to stop serving me because this woman had bowled up and started bellowing at them) politely said no, they didn't have $2 for the flowers so she told them to take it out of the till! "That's what all the other businesses have done, they bought them for the staff to wear" They explained that their boss was out on a break and that they couldn't take money without his permission, but she just said "Go and get him, I'm happy to wait here for you"
Ella in the meantime had decided she wanted the flower again so was crying and pulling on me and telling me how mean I was, plus I was rapidly getting fed up with waiting for my abandoned bread while the staff hunted the boss down to buy them flowers as well.
The boss finally emerged and gave the woman her $2 for the flower but this wasn't enough for her, she said he needed to buy 3, one for him and one for each of the salesgirls, because that's what all the other local businesses had done.
He cracked me up though, he said to the girls "Do you want a flower each?" She couldn't really argue when they both said no.
As she left she said to Ella "Has your mummy still not got you a flower?" I swear if she hadn't been collecting for a good cause I would happily have bopped her over the head with her bucket!
I'm all for a bit of enthusiasm when you're collecting for charity, to rally people into donating, but this woman was waaaaaaay OTT and really quite rude, especially seeing as we'd already donated money. Grrrrr!

Edited for poor spelling.

Edited by caraMel

Yeah I agree, I had thought of giving them a call to let them know how she was behaving.
There were others out with her collecting too, I saw a couple of people go over to talk to them after being approached by crazy collector lady, so I don't think I'll be the only one they hear from today.

That is shocking. I think you should ring the charity too.

What an idiot, like you would want to give money to someone so rude.

That is so incredibly rude!!! I hope you do report her, I can't believe she has the nerve to hound people like that!!!

Chuggers!!! Love it

I think I would have gone all PMS on her (except I don't have it right now) That's giving them a really bad name, and there are those out there who aren't as bolshy and rude... I'd rather they let me approach them. I have my charities who I give to and explain that to them if I decline to donate. Still that womans behaviour in front of your little girl is totally unexcusable.

I am very happy to put money to charities on my own accord, I hate going to the mall for urgent items not just leisure shopping and they make you stop to hear them talk about it. Just because I am in a mall doesn't mean I have a lot of money, if I want to give i will give and not be forced to.

There is nothing wrong with Charities, but harassment is not acceptable.

That is so bad - I saw some people collecting today for the same thing, but luckily they left me alone (an older couple).
I hate it cos normally I would like to give something, but when they say its a minimum amount of money or I dont have any cash on me, I feel bad, so most times I just avoid eye contact.

That was also really bad of her to try and guilt you into buying one cos of Ella! I would ring up and complain - but I don't think it would probably amount to much cos they are all volunteers!