"The arguments they are giving for banning the ringers are rediculous and insulting. Sure they have a right to do it, but at least stand up and be honest about it instead of lies like "if we let one on, we have to let everyone"... or "they accost our customers"... its crap. It shows that the priorities of these corporations is out of whack in terms of their place in their communities. "
Please - get the facts before you pontificiate.
Target has been granting an exemption to their no solicitation policy for only the salvation army for years. They told them in JANUARY that their exemption would end. The SA had nearly a full year to find other locations - but they failed. That's not target's fault.
Know why target has a no solicitation policy? Because of bad court rulings by activist judges that ruled places like malls 'public spaces', and that if a business allowed one solicitor (like the SA), they must allow all solicitors (like moveon.org, ANSWER, freemumia, etc).
For years target held themselves at risk of expensive litigation to let only the SA solicit at their stores. This year they decided not to do it anymore. They gave them a FULL YEAR to prepare alternate locations. What heartless bastards they are at target, right?
The fact is that this a great way to discourage any business from getting involved with a charity - you can can help them out for years, with space, money, and merchandise - but when you need to make the decision to end just ONE of the ways you help out, people crawl out of the woodwork to cry 'BOYCOTT!!!!' because it makes them feel good.
It's just pathetic, and the boycott crowd are the ones tyring to get on the high horse and look down at people who try to interject some common sense and facts into the discussion.
But go ahead, bluster away, if it makes you feel better.
I don't know where you live, but I haven't EVER seen a TARGET as part of a MALL. So the public space thing is of course puff.
Sears manages to survive just fine with Kettles, even to this day and they are PRIMARILY in malls. As do hundreds of retailers across the country.
Yes, I have no doubt some lawyer on their executive staff has said, guys you know you could get sued... but this is america if you are afraid of being sued go out of Business NOW! Cowardice is cowardice, not matter how you sugar coat it.
If Target doesn't want the ringers, then why not do the whole "ROUND UP" concept used by grocery stores with the proceeds going to a corporate selected charity, that just happens to be the Salvation Army? This is bulletproof legally, and would have been a killer PR nullifier in terms of their fear of being branded in the press for kicking the ringers out.
Sorry, just not buying the line Targets still cares and is a good corporate citizen. Hard line to buy when they are selling sexualized clothing to prepubesent kids, even harder to buy when they shut off one of the most efficient charity on the planet.
Yeah, right.