Posted on 09/16/2004 12:01:26 PM PDT by BlueNgold
I wrote to Border's regarding the comments found on BordersUnion.org about Unfit for Command.
Their Response: Thank you for contacting us with your concerns about postings at www.bordersunion.org.
First, I'd like to stress that as a company, Borders is absolutely apolitical. We take no stance whatsoever, and for over 30 years we have been committed to our customers' right to choose what to read and what to buy. Our stores are highly regarded for featuring a very deep and diverse selection of titles in hundreds of subject areas--including politics--representing a wide range of thought.
We take great measures to communicate this on an ongoing basis to employees and to emphasize the importance of not expressing political viewpoints while working in our stores. In fact, Vin Altruda, the President of Borders Stores Worldwide, has personally communicated strongly to all employees that it is not appropriate to share their personal political viewpoints in any way while at work- through conversations with other employees or customers, by wearing T-shirts or buttons of a political nature, or by taking any actions to express a political viewpoint.
That said, with more than 32,000 employees worldwide, it is challenging to manage the actions of each individual. And of course we cannot control what employees say or do on their own time outside of working in our stores. This includes posting their thoughts on websites that are not associated with our company. It is important to note that the site you've referred to is not accessible to our employees at work, nor are any of the statements on it a reflection of our company policy.
Of course, we realize that this particular posting is claiming that an employee has taken actions of a political nature while on the job. At the current time we have no evidence that any inventory in our stores has been diverted or destroyed by an employee. I assure you that this type of behavior would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Should we become aware of specific actions and can verify that a specific individual has indeed taken these actions, we will certainly take appropriate disciplinary action.
On the subject of the book "Unfit for Command," it is in Borders stores and continues to be a top-seller. The publisher of this particular book underestimated the popularity of the title and therefore did not print enough copies to meet the initial consumer demand. Although it has been challenging for Borders to secure a continuous supply of this book, we are working with the publisher to meet ongoing demand and are doing our best to assure that our stores have appropriate quantities in stock .
Howie Carr did an hour a couple of weeks ago on obtaining locally, "Unfit". It turned in to an hour of unpleasant
bookstore stories in general.
The most memorable was a parent and kid ask a clerk "...comic books?". The haughty, annoyed response was "They are
called 'graphic novels', and they are over there."
Little Suppressors - Dealing with the bookstore clerk who hates you
Same argument used by the left to claim the media is by nature conservative. Corporations and their heads can be liberal.
You are kidding right. An anonymous posting on some Internet site is evidence of what to you? You have to be a little more critical that that. It is evidence that someone made a posting, but not evidence that anything actually happened. I am sure they will look for that evidence.
What would you have them do, based on an Internet posting? Start questioning 32,000 employees? C'mon
To be fair, someone who claims to be an employee said they did it. That's hearsay at best, not evidence.
has borders done an audit of the number of conservetive authors books that are returned to their publishers due to damage?
You can't ask for anything else.
Secret shoppers...not a bad idea. Unfortunately, not necessarily always effective. If each store is open 10 hours a day and has 10 employees working the entire day, that is potential 100 hours of "face time" with customers per store. It only takes one or two minutes of one "bad seed" employee to do what was discussed on the bordersunion website. I liken it to what President Bush or Secretary Ridge says about fighting terror, the terrorists only have to be right once...we have to be right all the time. The Borders Mgmt faces similar prospects...and I think their corporate resources would be wasted on trying to rein in idiots...and our energies would be better spent trying to convert the liberal idiots rather than trying to get them fired or punished or whatever and giving them another reason to cry "I'm a victim"... JMO...
But it alludes to the fact that they don't consider policing 32,000 employees as a priority.
Every manager of every store can set a strict policy - and then enforce it.
Exactly. And, most of us wouldn't want it any other way. I wouldn't want my employer to discipline me for comments I make here that some liberal might deem inappropriate. And yes, I do realize the comparison isn't apples to apples, but hopefully the point comes through anyway.
Two years ago I walked into the downtown Border's bookstore at Christmas time and found myself facing at an enormous display of gay erotica. Never again.
It is "evidence". I didn't say it was "proof". The two are not the same concepts.
They should follow up the evidence they have however they can, but they are wrong to say there isn't any "evidence".
With a perfect example being the major Hollywood Studios. I'm still waiting for a real movie about 9/11 to come out with a pro-American, patriotic bent. It would make the company millions, but they won't make it.
Amazon. 16 hours keyboard to desktop. $1.47 less than Borders, including overnight shipping, when local Sales Tax considered.
I had a similar experience at Barnes & Noble in Minneapolis. I went in expecting to get the run around, but there was a stack of them displayed on the table just inside the door. Sort of took the wind out of my sails.
Good for their bottom line though. I also picked up a copy of "If it's Not Close they Can't Cheat" as well as a copy of "The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Handbook" for a co-worker.
I used to take my little boys to Borders' story time. The guy who did it really was terrific.
But once, he wore this T-shirt, that said, "Love is what separates us from the Republicans." (He's a government-school teacher, natch.)
I complained, was listened to nicely.
He wore it again. And, I think, again.
Dan
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.