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Ban on charity bell ringers makes shoppers think twice Boycotts threatened; Westlake kettle OKd
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 12/2/4 | Tanya Schevitz

Posted on 12/02/2004 8:07:01 AM PST by SmithL

The Salvation Army has received an outpouring of support after reports that two major department store chains -- Target and Mervyn's -- had banned the charity's holiday bell ringers from collecting donations in front of their stores, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The Salvation Army's office in San Francisco received scores of calls from people who said they were shocked by the chains' decision to boot the little red kettles off their property after years of permitting the collections. Some callers said they were writing letters to the corporations; others promised to boycott the stores.

"People are saying they are saddened that the stores won't let the bell ringers be there,'' said Jennifer Byrd, the Salvation Army spokeswoman for the area from the Bay Area to Bakersfield. "People are really coming out to tell us stories about how important the Salvation Army is."

A spokeswoman for Target said its no-solicitation policy would remain in force. Representatives for Mervyn's did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Target and Mervyn's have banned the kettle collectors altogether. Safeway has cut back the number of days that Salvation Army collectors can stand in front of its supermarkets this holiday season.

That means the loss of big money. Donations to the kettle pots, a tradition that started in San Francisco in 1891 with a crab pot at the foot of Market Street, accounted for $93 million nationwide last year.

In response to the ban by Target and Mervyn's, other retailers have called to offer their storefront locations to the kettle ringers.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bells; mervyns; salvationarmy; target
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To: Quinotto

I see you just recently signed up, so I suppose you work for Target and can readily pass along the message that my family will be boycotting their store this Christmas season.


61 posted on 12/02/2004 10:54:11 AM PST by madprof98
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To: Moral Hazard
I've always found those bell ringers annoying. Looks like I may have to start shopping at Target and Mervyns, since that seems to be a good way to avoid them.

You apparently get annoyed very easily.

62 posted on 12/02/2004 11:01:18 AM PST by usadave
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To: marty60

Suprisingly, WalMart is where I've encountered the only kettle fo far this year.

Shamefully, those same merchants afraid of the SA's kettles banned the VFW from "selling" poppies this past Veteran's Day. I specifically looked for them and couldn't find a one.


63 posted on 12/02/2004 11:04:43 AM PST by azhenfud ("He who is always looking up seldom finds others' lost change...")
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To: usadave

Well the bell is at a pretty grating pitch and decible level for me. But probably what causes the most irritation about the bell ringers is that for many they symbolize everything that's wrong about Christmas, with their traditional place in front of department stores that bell is the symbol of annoying crowds and crass commercialism because they stand at the border of all that during the Christmas shopping season. It's for a worthy cause, and I try to stick a buck in in the bucket periodically, but I can fully understand why they drive some people batty.


64 posted on 12/02/2004 11:06:59 AM PST by discostu (mime is money)
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To: SmithL

Personally I have no problem with this policy. These are publically owned, if the stockholders have no problem with it, then why should anyone else...la


65 posted on 12/02/2004 11:07:39 AM PST by TheSuaveOne
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To: Moral Hazard
"But I want to go to them, not have them pushed on me."

Yep, better watch that Salvation Army. Their troopers are a mighty force to have to contend with...

66 posted on 12/02/2004 11:11:12 AM PST by azhenfud ("He who is always looking up seldom finds others' lost change...")
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To: Xenalyte
FOR THE LAST DAMN TIME, Target is NOT a French company. Urban legend. It is based in Minneapolis.

UNNNGH! Ain't it something how facts always seems to get in the way.

67 posted on 12/02/2004 11:12:21 AM PST by BureaucratusMaximus ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good" - Hillary Clinton)
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To: Coop

I kinda like the sound of the bell ringers at Christmas.

And without fail, the expressions on the faces of the Salvation Army volunteers as you pass by and donate or not donate is usually gentle, friendly and it lifts my spirts to see them.

Is K-Mart allowing them this year does anyone know?


68 posted on 12/02/2004 11:13:18 AM PST by bunches (those)
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To: Coop
Awwww, poor baby! Yes, I can't count the number of times I've been tackled and even had my wallet stolen from me by those annoying bell ringers.

Wow...lighten up Francis. Not everybody is as charitable as you. Maybe more would be a little more charitable if they didn't have to pay for your Social Security. Enjoy your retirement.

69 posted on 12/02/2004 11:17:47 AM PST by BureaucratusMaximus ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good" - Hillary Clinton)
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To: SmithL
"A spokeswoman for Target said its no-solicitation policy would remain in force."

As will the blanket order issued to my family to stay out of *all* Dayton-Hudson stores.
We're even.

"Representatives for Mervyn's did not return phone calls seeking comment."

Now *that* is the response I'm used to seeing from the brainstems responsible for implementing the outrageous PC-based stupidity.

Fortunately for me.

...I've never heard of *Mervyn's*.

70 posted on 12/02/2004 11:17:48 AM PST by Landru (Indulgences: 2 for a buck.)
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To: BureaucratusMaximus

Yes, I'm the one you need to worry about, not those folks going around calling kind-hearted volunteers raising money for poor people "annoying."


71 posted on 12/02/2004 11:21:28 AM PST by Coop (In memory of a true hero - Pat Tillman)
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To: Coop

That's a play on the store's name, they aren't owned by a French company. They are owned by the Dayton corporation based in Minnesota.


72 posted on 12/02/2004 11:23:36 AM PST by Smittie
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To: SmithL
CONTACT - FEEDBACK FORM FOR MERVYN'S

CONTACT FORM FOR TARGET

73 posted on 12/02/2004 11:24:59 AM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace (Michael <a href = "http://www.michaelmoore.com/" title="Miserable Failure">"Miserable Failure"</a>)
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To: SmithL
Here's the note I just submitted via the Target company website feedback form I linked directly above:

It seems very ironic to me that a company which prides itself on "Community Involvement" has seen fit to pull the Salvation Army bellringers this Christmas season. For that reason alone, I will NOT be shopping at Target, Mervyn's, Marshall Fields and any other Dayton-Hudson-owned company and will choose to spend my money elsewhere.

74 posted on 12/02/2004 11:28:14 AM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace (Michael <a href = "http://www.michaelmoore.com/" title="Miserable Failure">"Miserable Failure"</a>)
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To: SmithL

Message to "Tar-jay" and Mervyns.

HAPPY FEAST OF MAMMON*



*the god of filthy lucre


75 posted on 12/02/2004 11:53:33 AM PST by ArmyTeach (Non nobis, Domine, sed nomine tuo da gratia.)
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To: Quinotto
Your claimed conversion doesn't fly.

First off, you signed up as a Freeper only after the lid blew off the Target screw-up.

Second, Target is more than happy to shill on their internet homepage for St. Jude's Children's Hospital (While St. Jude's is probably a worthy charity, it doesn't proclaim the Gospel as a part of its mission). Why would permitting the Salvation Army to raise money expose Target to this risk you claim to perceive but Target raising money for St Judes not do so?

76 posted on 12/02/2004 11:56:04 AM PST by Mr. Lucky
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To: azhenfud

Well that's strike two.


77 posted on 12/02/2004 1:39:44 PM PST by marty60
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To: madprof98

Pathetic conclusion and pathetic arguments. I am a healthcare professional.


78 posted on 12/02/2004 8:31:02 PM PST by Quinotto
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To: Mr. Lucky

Hey Sherlock, keep your day job, will you? I swear, looks as if the "blue states" disease has infected some of you, where spin is being utilized as a substitute for considered thought. St. Jude doesn't collect money at the door as SA does. And Walmart has decreased the alloted time this Christmas for the Salvation Army volunteers to ONLY 2 weeks. It is a trend and it has nothing to do with the retailers but with this madness which has taken over our nation where if someone doesn't agree with someone else's moral and professional stand, they are in a rush to sue. Blame the ones at fault, grasshopper and don't rush to judgement. And as far as me signing up after the Target story it's only a coincidence, I have recently discovered this website after being mentioned on a Republican blog. Chill out, I am not the enemy! And MERRY CHRISTMAS to you !


79 posted on 12/02/2004 8:39:09 PM PST by Quinotto
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To: MEGoody
That was precisely my point MEGoody :) And I found the reply received from Target!
Thank you for contacting us about the Salvation Army. Target Corporation has decided that the Salvation Army will no longer be able to solicit guests for contributions at our stores. Like most national retailers, we have a long-standing 'no solicitation' policy in place at our stores. We did not reach this decision easily and carefully evaluated all options before coming to this conclusion. Target communicated the decision to the national Salvation Army in January 2004 in hopes that it would be early enough for them to find alternative sources for the upcoming holiday season. One of our goals has always been to provide our guests with a distraction-free shopping environment in which to shop. Each year we receive an increasing number of solicitation inquiries from non-profit organizations. We determined that if we continue to allow the Salvation Army to solicit, then it opens the door to other groups that wish to solicit our guests. This "no solicitation" policy does not diminishour commitment to our communities. Target donates more than $2 million each week to neighborhoods we serve across the country. Target respects and admires the work and the mission of the Salvation Army and we have encouraged Salvation Army chapters to apply for grants at local Target Stores. We thank you for your interest in this issue and will make your comments available to our executives. Sincerely, Jennifer Hanson Target Executive Offices
80 posted on 12/02/2004 8:44:53 PM PST by Quinotto
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