Posted on 12/06/2004 10:19:14 AM PST by KMC1
TARGET THE GRINCH:And the beat goes on... According to this morning's USA Today, Target Inc. is sticking to its plan to kick the Salvation Army to the curb throughout this holiday season.
For those of you late to this story, Target stores had long allowed the Salvation Army to be the only charity that raised funds outside their stores using their famous red kettles and the cheerful sound of Christmas Bells.
This year the good will from the red bulls-eye came to an end. According to the USA Today the impact will leave the Salvation Army short about 9 million dollars based on last years totals.
And today a possible NEW reason has emerged as to why Target is spitting on the Army - CLASS WARFARE.
According to the article, Corporate Governance specialist Eleanor Boxham of the Value Alliance said:
"Target might have decided it could take a harder line with the Salvation Army because its shoppers tend to be more affluent than the impoverished families the Salvation Army serves, and more affluent than customers at competing retailers that kept the kettles in place."
Lehman Bros. says Target shoppers have an average household income of $60,000 compared with $40,000 for Wal-Mart shoppers.
Boxham went on to point out that there might be some political idealogy behind the move as well, citing the organization's conservatism has caused "some controversy" in recent years.
The last of which is nothing more than a veiled reference to the fact that the Salvation Army does not embrace the practice of homosexuality. Interesting to point however - the Sally Ann has never once in its organization's history ever turned a homosexual person away from assistance.
For that matter they don't turn people away at all.
And while Target is glad to take the last $10 bucks off of a homeless person who is in need of a winter coat and who purchases one in their store from the sale bin, Target is unwilling to allow the Salvation Army to raise funds to help that same homeless person make it through a blustery cold freezing night. (So they will take the business from the homeless but do nothing by way of trying to help them.)
Write Target today and insist upon the return of the Salvation Army kettles... guest.relations@target.com. You may also sign the online petition asking senior Target management to change this policy...
This is an excerpt, to read more click here...
The SA is plenty other places instead of Target this year. In my area they are at Wal-Mart and Kroger grocery stores in central Ohio. Be generous when you see them, or just send them a check if you don't see them.
Frye's in Austin is hosting the Salvation Army. I made sure I gave a donation in Target's name.
Plus I'm boycotting Target this year for this reason.
I also got information as to how to volunteer to be a bellringer.
The Target store in my town is right next door to Hastings. Well, Hastings has allowed the SA guy to ring outside their store, and he kind of stands close to the border between the two stores, which I think is funny and kind of a neat "thumbing the nose" at Target. You know "there but not-there"!
I went to Kmart earlier to drop off film and on the way out I gave the SA lady outside some money.
I really love the Salvation Army.
I refuse to buy at Target this year.
I am not buying at Target this year either--
I have been to Kroger twice this last week, both times gave money, and the two bell ringers were the nicest friendliest I have ever encountered. I notices other people going out of their way to APPROACH the kettle instead of going to the door without the kettle.
Way to go guys, give often and thank them and the stores they are at!!
Target had said that it will raise money for the Salvation Army in other ways besides bell ringing in front of its stores. And that the SA was kicked out because they were getting requests from less savory groups that they did not want soliciting on their property.
This whole story is way overblown. The SA is not even leading the charge.
At least, I assume it's still there. Haven't seen it since the anti-Salvation Army story hit the streets.
And while Target is glad to take the last $10 bucks off of a homeless person who is in need of a winter coat and who purchases one in their store from the sale bin, Target is unwilling to allow the Salvation Army to raise funds to help that same homeless person make it through a blustery cold freezing night.
...this statement makes NO sense! Target is a retailer that will gladly take the last $10 from anyone! As well they should if supplying a coat! This article implies that Target represents evil and capitalism. If Target chooses to keep the SA away from their stores, fine. If it upsets you that much, stop shopping there. Why the big deal? Having your hand out to the SA doesn't give you the right to force your way onto a business' property!
Funny how I can't recall ever seeing any "less savory groups" in front of Wal-Mart, K-Mart, the grocery, or any of the countless other stores which somehow found a way to let the SA ring its bells outside their doors. Maybe it's a pre-emptive strike by Target.
Regardless, I have no problem if Target or anyone else chooses to ban the bell-ringers from their property, since they apparently have no problem with the inevitable, negative consequences.
No big deal, though. Target's a chick store.
That's exactly what we've done. We'll drive a few more miles to a store that allows Salvation Army bellringers rather than shop at Target. And we won't go back.
I'm sorry to dispute anyone who is set in their ways to boycott a store, but more than likely you will return to Target. They'll have a sale on DVD's that can't be passed up and that'll be it.
Most of our shopping is done at Fleet Farm & Menards (those are Guy Stores). We also have Shopko and Kohls.
Never shopped at Target and never will. I hope this whole thing bites them in the butt big time.
No, I won't be going back to Target. They're new in our market, and Kohl's and Shopko are better than they are.
This was the last straw for me with Target... they've done lots of dumb things over the years, sexualized clothing for children... etc etc etc...
But this was the last straw for me.. My family usually does a large amount of our Christmas shopping at Target, dropping anywhere from 1000 to 2000 every December....
Guess what... Not any more. Target (prounounced tar-zhay) can kiss those profits goodbye.... on and just for the record, our household income is far above their nationwide average....
Target sells the same stuff that Wal-Mart sells.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.