Posted on 11/23/2004 11:16:59 AM PST by FairfaxVA
Some consumers and advocacy groups are upset that retailers including Target have banned the Salvation Army's Christmas tradition of bell-ringing volunteers who solicit donations for the poor.
The bans have touched off controversy among retailers. Some top sellers seem to be catering to the charity to win over consumers ticked off at other stores for kicking the bell-ringers off their property.
"The Salvation Army has a remarkable history of providing year-round service to families, and Big Lots is proud to continue our tradition of helping with their fundraising goals," this Columbus, Ohio, retailer said in a statement after Target's announcement it would ban the charity.
They were followed by auto parts chain AutoZone and the nation's No. 3 bookseller chain, Books-A-Million Inc., the Boston Globe reported. BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. has also stepped in to help by allowing the kettles at its stores.
The nation's No. 1 retailer, Wal-Mart, has also welcomed the bell-ringers, but with restrictions: They must stand outside stores and are limited to 14 days, the Globe said.
The bans by Target, Circuit City, Best Buy, Home Depot and others come amid the Salvation Army's 113th year of doing what it can to fend for the poor and unfortunate.
Shoppers "are coming here for a reason, and the reason is not for solicitation of any kind by a third party," said Steve Mullen, a spokesman for Circuit City.
Target's decision "was a huge shock and a huge source of discouragement for us," Lt. David Grindle, a spokesman for the charity, told Fox News Channel.
The retailer pointed to its corporate policy forbidding solicitation.
"Like many nationwide retailers, Target Corporation has 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," the company says in a statement posted on its Web site.
"Target does not permit individuals (including political candidates and/or their campaign organizations) or non-profit organizations to solicit donations, distribute literature, sell merchandise, or hold events on our premises.
"Our company has many other means by which it can support organizations whose charitable programs fall within our corporate giving guidelines." Target says it gives $2 million annually to "neighborhoods, programs and schools across the country."
The policy will no doubt be a blow to the charity, which last year collected 10 percent of its $93 million in holiday collections from Target shoppers, Fox News said.
'A Lump of Coal'
It's unclear whether the kettle-kicking retailers dislike the Salvation Army or are merely acting out of concern for customers. What is clear is that not all customers like their decisions.
"It's a disgrace," South Boston resident Phyllis McElaney told the Globe. "The bell ringers remind you of the meaning of Christmas, that it's about love, caring, and giving."
"Call it a safe bet - maybe even a bright-red, bull's-eye, fashionable, smartly priced bet - that American life has become too corporate or complex when Target banishes the Salvation Army's bell ringers," Indianapolis Star columnist Ruth Holladay wrote.
Others say they'll take their business elsewhere.
"I thought it was wrong because the Salvation Army is a good cause. They take care of lots of good people around the country and in our community. I won't be supporting Target this year, at all," once-loyal Target shopper Jeffrey Trimm told Christian World News.
Robert Knight of Concerned Women for America told CWN, "Millions of Christians give Target millions of dollars in their Christmas shopping, and what they've gotten from Target in return? A lump of coal.
"We had one tangible aspect of Christmas, beyond the commercial reason. We had the Salvation Army out there, a Christian charity collecting money for the poor at Christmas. What a great counterweight to the all-mighty dollar which is being worshipped in these stores," he added.
The opposition has even produced a Web site called bantarget.org, calling on all shoppers to spend their money at businesses that support bell-ringers.
Grindle says if the charity can't replace its losses, it will have to cut services.
First vulgarity has no place in discourse; it is the refuse of the challenged. In my post there was no statement, or implied imposition, pertaining to where someone should conduct their consumer transactions. I wanted to ascertain, if there was some litmus test or standard to be applied, or was being applied, as to where people were conducting their shopping activities, and if there were standards, or a litmus test, if it was being applied in a consistent manner.
This is just one in a long series of threads, addressing various retailers, and other consumer marketers in which some litmus test, though not clearly defined, a derived standard was being applied to conducting business with these various retailers. Target on this thread, any many other threads, Wal-Mart on several others, along with the varied assortment of grocers, auto-stores in which the constructed purpose and continuing dialogue was to use economic boycott to implement change at the particular retailer-dejour. If such standards exist, can they be defined and applied consistently. I merely wanted to be informed which retailers meet these standards, or litmus test.
Freedom of choice, thank a Vet.
Personal choice by people takes precendence over you wanting things defined. Freedom of choice by each individual makes the difference, not some catch phrasing you wish spelled out. I am a vet, so you are welocme.
Personal choice by people takes precendence over you wanting things defined. Freedom of choice by each individual makes the difference, not some catch phrasing you wish spelled out. I am a vet, so you are welcome.
target is wrong, because there is no other way to give money to the salvation army.
but then again, everyone who is boycotting target can just shop at salvation army stores!
there are plenty of target stores at malls...stip malls, enclosed malls...
less likely that than pressure from groups like PFLAG and their ilk... must give in to the dark side...
Do you work for Target? It sure sounds like you have a hidden agenda. I will not be shopping there again. Frankly, Wal Mart has better prices than Target does. The store is clean, the personnel help you, and they are friendly. Having the SA there only helps!
Isn't that the truth?
Target sales are down, hopefully, they will drop you as a PR shill.
The store chain Target has decided this Christmas to ban the Salvation Army from placing their bell ringers outside their stores to solicit funds for the wonderful work they do for our nation's most vulnerable. In my opinion, giving to the causes that the Salvation Army serves is a lot more about the Christmas season than the merchandise I buy from Target, so we are banning Target from our shopping until they change their policy banning the Salvation Army. If it takes them until next year, or the next, that is entirely Target's call. Join me in this effort by not shopping there, and encouraging your friends to do likewise. Then communicate this to Target at:
http://www.targetcorp.com/targetcorp_group/contactus/contact_general.jhtml
This is what I said:
"My family regularly shops at Target, yet the news that Target has banned the Salvation Army from soliciting donations this Christmas will change that. Like you, the Christmas season is their major source of revenues. They do an extraordinary amount of good for the nation's most vulnerable. The damage Target has inflicted upon that effort cannot be measured. I will not shop at Target until they change their policy toward the Salvation Army, and I will encourage my friends to do likewise. Please let me know when you change your policy."
Please pass this onto those in your address book & Merry Christmas!
a winner! I suspect that is the real reason they caved so quickly to the demand by a particular interest group to stop the bell ringers.
A nearby target does not seem to be hurting but I don't care. Target has nothing special that is not available everywhere else for the same price or less.
a winner! I suspect that is the real reason they caved so quickly to the demand by a particular interest group to stop the bell ringers.
A nearby target does not seem to be hurting but I don't care. Target has nothing special that is not available everywhere else for the same price or less.
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