I don't know how long the policy has been in effect but I do know that I read on a FR post a few days ago that the policy affected all solicitors.
The way I understood it was that Target could, legally, allow no solicitors or all solicitors but not pick and choose.
Sure, I think it's unfortunate but a boycott? Too much for me. I'm not going to try to hurt a company's business because they had to make a tough call.
Target Corporation’s Position on Solicitation at Stores
Target Corporation has a long-standing “no solicitation” policy at all of our stores. Like many nationwide retailers, Target Corporation implemented this policy in order to be consistent with all the groups that request access to our stores and to provide our guests with a comfortable, distraction-free shopping environment.
Therefore, Target Corporation restricts the use of its parking lots and facilities to only business use. Target does not permit individuals (including political candidates and/or their campaign organizations) or nonprofit organizations to solicit donations, distribute literature, sell merchandise or hold events on our premises.
Target has received attention for applying this policy to all groups, including the Salvation Army. We receive an increasing number of solicitation inquiries from nonprofit organizations and groups each year and determined that if we continue to allow the Salvation Army to solicit, then it opens the door to any other groups that wish to solicit our guests. While some of our guests may welcome the opportunity to support their favorite charity or cause, allowing these organizations to solicit means that Target would also have to permit solicitation by organizations whose causes or behavior may be unacceptable to our guests. Target notified the Salvation Army of this decision in January 2004, well in advance of the holiday season, so that the organization would have time to find alternative fundraising sources. Target also asked the Salvation Army to look for other ways we could support their organization under our corporate giving guidelines. At this date, they have not provided a proposal that fits those guidelines.
Our company has many other means by which it supports organizations whose charitable programs fall within our corporate giving guidelines. Nonprofit organizations, including local Salvation Army chapters, can apply for grants through their local Target stores. For decades, nonprofit organizations across the country have successfully worked with Target in this manner. We are asking the Salvation Army to work with us in the same manner as every other organization and group who asks to solicit our guests. For more information on these guidelines, please pick up the Community Giving brochure in your store’s Guest Service area, or visit the Community Giving section of Target.com.
Target Corporation provides generous support to communities in many ways, donating more than $2 million each week to neighborhoods, programs and schools across the country. Nationwide, our team members volunteer hundreds of thousands of hours to nonprofit organizations. Target Corporation is committed to giving back to the communities in which we do business.
-------------
Target is free to make its own choices, as are we consumers. I've made mine.
Target is a private company, they can allow anyone they want to collect money.