I haven’t donated in a long time. Back when I was in college and almost broke, I would often give plasma donations and get paid about $8. I’m guessing the blood industry is gambling that there will be enough people in my category ( healthy, but temporarily low on funds) who will give consent and sufficient blood donations. Be glad they didn’t handle your Opt Out decision the way TSA people will do, get rude, verbally abusive and combative. That may come in a few more years.
Ha! These days they don't even do that. You get "credits" at an online store that let you get tshirts and such. It's a bit if a scam for them, as they charge quite a bit to hospitals for the donated blood they receive, but I don't really mind that. It's a business. They've just reached a point now that I don't think I can continue to do business with them.