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For decades we can count on seeing panhandlers in front of 7-11s. Give them some money and if they pass on beer and cigarettes, they'll purchase poor quality/poor value food.
Meanwhile, if they went into a grocery store, they could get a huge lunchmeat sandwich for $6! Enough for 3 meals. And they could find better value food than 7-11 at every turn.
Are they chased away when in front of grocery stores? I fear they like the immediacy of 7-11s and quick access to lottery tickets, cigs, beer and the bad counter food.
I don't even mind if they buy beer (cigs less so) but it seems like they are not even trying to work with what little they have.
Many panhandlers are not poor, hungry or homeless. Many are acting the part. The operation of a convenience store makes them more appealing compared to a grocery store for revenue production.
Grocery store customers are more focused on the purpose and generally are fast getting in and out. That means any eye contact is minimal, if at all. It also reduces the loiter factor (no checking lottery tickets, opening up a pack of cigarettes, taking a bite of the snacks they just bought) so contact time is minimal.
Grocery store consumers more likely to have hands full meaning less chance to find change for a panhandler. Even if a convenience store customer's hands are full, the chances that loose change is still in the palms is greater.
Many grocery store customers probably are using electronic payments. The loose change that makes up a large portion of panhandler's intake just isn't there at a grocery store.
It's more likely a customer of a grocery store will complain or speak up about panhandlers' in front compared to a convenience store. Even if a convenience store gets a complaint, the customer flow tends to prevent staff from acting right away (usually just a waving of the hand to get away). At a grocery store, they may have staff act or they may even call law enforcement. Panhandlers don't want to be on a cops' radar.
And, a panhandler is less likely to be noticed in front of a multi entry/exit grocery store compared to a single door convenience store. They want to ask for a handout, not chasing people down.
Many panhandlers are not poor, hungry or homeless. Many are acting the part. The operation of a convenience store makes them more appealing compared to a grocery store for revenue production.
Grocery store customers are more focused on the purpose and generally are fast getting in and out. That means any eye contact is minimal, if at all. It also reduces the loiter factor (no checking lottery tickets, opening up a pack of cigarettes, taking a bite of the snacks they just bought) so contact time is minimal.
Grocery store consumers more likely to have hands full meaning less chance to find change for a panhandler. Even if a convenience store customer's hands are full, the chances that loose change is still in the palms is greater.
Many grocery store customers probably are using electronic payments. The loose change that makes up a large portion of panhandler's intake just isn't there at a grocery store.
It's more likely a customer of a grocery store will complain or speak up about panhandlers' in front compared to a convenience store. Even if a convenience store gets a complaint, the customer flow tends to prevent staff from acting right away (usually just a waving of the hand to get away). At a grocery store, they may have staff act or they may even call law enforcement. Panhandlers don't want to be on a cops' radar.
And, a panhandler is less likely to be noticed in front of a multi entry/exit grocery store compared to a single door convenience store. They want to ask for a handout, not chasing people down.
This helps. Guess grocery stores must call the police on them. 7-11s must not do this, maybe they think they don't hurt the business (I'm not judging).
Panhandlers are on corners because they want the traffic. Convenience stores are usually on corners for the quick in and out.
Grocery stores are usually in strip centers because they need the parking.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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As others have said. Most supermarkets will have signs posted that say NO SOLICITING NO PANHANDLING or similar words, and they will call the police if there is a violator. Most 7=11 stores are in strip malls or other more industrial areas with a recent immigrant owners that may actually like the panhandlers, because they will come in and spend some of their collected money. Supermarkets are more concerned with them driving away the good customers that may be spending hundreds.
A bizarre thought, but probably true. Many of the quick stop places have only a single employee working at a time, and depend upon video as a deterrent to robbery. Having even a vagrant at the entrance could limit the attractiveness to robbers wanting to get in and out fast with minimal human contact. Who knows if that vagrant is ex-military with lethal skills? Then look at it from the point of view of a clerk. Are you (unarmed) going to walk out the front door and leave the till to confront someone sitting in front of the place - someone who might be dangerous if upset?
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