by Joe Grundy 37 Replies latest jw friends
Excuse my ignorance, and I've read on boards about the US not selling/inviting contributions issue, but do individuals JWs in effect pay for the publications they give out? If so, is that only for their magazines or for hardback books as well? How is this organised, please?
Thanks.
some people do, some people don't...everyone is supposed to, only the delusional think everyone does.
It's a lot like a Multi Level Marketing(MLM) organization.
The members join up, pay for the product(mags, books etc) and also try to get new members that will in turn pay for the mags, books, etc.
The only difference to that of a typical MLM is that the only financial return goes to the goobers at the WTS.
I think a good number do. Prior to the "donation arrangement", there was a set amount of money that you had to pay to get anything you picked up at the literature counter. I know many dubs who never made a big deal out of getting money from those they left the magazines with, even when the price was printed right on them.
Somewhere in the 80's (after Jimmy Swaggert had a lawsuit brought against his ministry) the Society abuptly stopped printing a price on the mags and suddenly we were merely to donate what we thought the Bibles, books, magazines and tapes we ordered were worth. From that point on, I think the WTS started having some difficulties with expenses. It was all too easy to skip throwing money into the box for things. All dubs had to go on was if they'd ordered something in the past and what that cost them at the time. Very few wanted to put in what such items would go for in the retail world. I think it was hard to remember to facter in inflation, etc...
At any rate, I always "paid" something for the magazines because I didn't feel like asking for donations from people out in service. I suppose you could handle it any way you wanted to really.
It used to be before March 1990, that JWs paid for the magazines/books when they picked them up from the magazine/literature servant. After that, it was on the "honor" system if you gave and how much you gave. There is a separate box for monies donated for the literature marked "worldwide work" not to be confused with the box marked for "kingdom hall" expenses. JWs are expected to ask for donations from people at the door for the "worldwide work" and put that in the box marked "worldwide work." 99.9% of JWs never ask...embarrassed to do so. Interestingly, I have never seen where the WTS asks JWs to ask for money when the people don't accept any literature..........
Blondie
Thanks for the info. I was prompted to ask it because of the books etc. given to me by my neighbours, which I have considered returning (if I can think of a way to do it without causing offence).
But I went on to think - if the road to glory for JWs is going out and 'placing' publications, and seeing that JWs seem to be most active in developing countries (or at least the less rich ones) and they seem to attract (perhaps) the less well-off or successful recruits, this may be quite a financial burden for some individual JWs?
In countries other than the US, they still pay a certain fee per each magazine, book, etc.
In other words wherever the huge publishing company know as the Watchtower can charge without being subject to taxes, they do charge. If they have to pay tax, it is a voluntary donation with "suggested" prices listed in the KMs.
wherever the huge publishing company know as the Watchtower can charge without being subject to taxes, they do charge.
I guess the WTS is exempt from paying 'ceasar's things to ceasar'
I used to pay for mine, more than it would probably have cost had there been a price on it, but many didn't pay much and some paid nothing at all, despite appeals from the platform. The wts expects jws to pay, however.
Actually, since 2000, the WT implemented the donation arrangement in every country.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Watchtower
*** yb01 pp. 18-19 Highlights of the Past Year ***
Another factor in reaching more people with the good news has been the simplified literature distribution arrangement. Jehovah has blessed the faith shown by his servants in this matter. The voluntary donation arrangement is explained to people, but no charge is made for the literature. As of January 2000, that arrangement was extended to all lands where it was not already in operation. The Central African Republic branch wrote: "This means that anyone, no matter what his or her financial situation may be, can have the necessary printed material to become a disciple of Christ. This arrangement has been greatly appreciated by both the publishers and the public." Indonesia said: "Accordingly, the brothers looked for those interested in reading our publications more than those who could afford the printing cost." The South Africa branch reports: "Magazine production has more than doubled, with some languages increasing more than fourfold! . . . All of this indicates that more ‘seeds’ of truth are being sown now than ever before.—Matt. 13:3-8."
