Posted on 12/06/2004 10:19:14 AM PST by KMC1
TARGET THE GRINCH:And the beat goes on... According to this morning's USA Today, Target Inc. is sticking to its plan to kick the Salvation Army to the curb throughout this holiday season.
For those of you late to this story, Target stores had long allowed the Salvation Army to be the only charity that raised funds outside their stores using their famous red kettles and the cheerful sound of Christmas Bells.
This year the good will from the red bulls-eye came to an end. According to the USA Today the impact will leave the Salvation Army short about 9 million dollars based on last years totals.
And today a possible NEW reason has emerged as to why Target is spitting on the Army - CLASS WARFARE.
According to the article, Corporate Governance specialist Eleanor Boxham of the Value Alliance said:
"Target might have decided it could take a harder line with the Salvation Army because its shoppers tend to be more affluent than the impoverished families the Salvation Army serves, and more affluent than customers at competing retailers that kept the kettles in place."
Lehman Bros. says Target shoppers have an average household income of $60,000 compared with $40,000 for Wal-Mart shoppers.
Boxham went on to point out that there might be some political idealogy behind the move as well, citing the organization's conservatism has caused "some controversy" in recent years.
The last of which is nothing more than a veiled reference to the fact that the Salvation Army does not embrace the practice of homosexuality. Interesting to point however - the Sally Ann has never once in its organization's history ever turned a homosexual person away from assistance.
For that matter they don't turn people away at all.
And while Target is glad to take the last $10 bucks off of a homeless person who is in need of a winter coat and who purchases one in their store from the sale bin, Target is unwilling to allow the Salvation Army to raise funds to help that same homeless person make it through a blustery cold freezing night. (So they will take the business from the homeless but do nothing by way of trying to help them.)
Write Target today and insist upon the return of the Salvation Army kettles... guest.relations@target.com. You may also sign the online petition asking senior Target management to change this policy...
This is an excerpt, to read more click here...
The SA is plenty other places instead of Target this year. In my area they are at Wal-Mart and Kroger grocery stores in central Ohio. Be generous when you see them, or just send them a check if you don't see them.
Frye's in Austin is hosting the Salvation Army. I made sure I gave a donation in Target's name.
Plus I'm boycotting Target this year for this reason.
I also got information as to how to volunteer to be a bellringer.
The Target store in my town is right next door to Hastings. Well, Hastings has allowed the SA guy to ring outside their store, and he kind of stands close to the border between the two stores, which I think is funny and kind of a neat "thumbing the nose" at Target. You know "there but not-there"!
I went to Kmart earlier to drop off film and on the way out I gave the SA lady outside some money.
I really love the Salvation Army.
I refuse to buy at Target this year.
I am not buying at Target this year either--
I have been to Kroger twice this last week, both times gave money, and the two bell ringers were the nicest friendliest I have ever encountered. I notices other people going out of their way to APPROACH the kettle instead of going to the door without the kettle.
Way to go guys, give often and thank them and the stores they are at!!
Target had said that it will raise money for the Salvation Army in other ways besides bell ringing in front of its stores. And that the SA was kicked out because they were getting requests from less savory groups that they did not want soliciting on their property.
This whole story is way overblown. The SA is not even leading the charge.
At least, I assume it's still there. Haven't seen it since the anti-Salvation Army story hit the streets.
And while Target is glad to take the last $10 bucks off of a homeless person who is in need of a winter coat and who purchases one in their store from the sale bin, Target is unwilling to allow the Salvation Army to raise funds to help that same homeless person make it through a blustery cold freezing night.
...this statement makes NO sense! Target is a retailer that will gladly take the last $10 from anyone! As well they should if supplying a coat! This article implies that Target represents evil and capitalism. If Target chooses to keep the SA away from their stores, fine. If it upsets you that much, stop shopping there. Why the big deal? Having your hand out to the SA doesn't give you the right to force your way onto a business' property!
Funny how I can't recall ever seeing any "less savory groups" in front of Wal-Mart, K-Mart, the grocery, or any of the countless other stores which somehow found a way to let the SA ring its bells outside their doors. Maybe it's a pre-emptive strike by Target.
Regardless, I have no problem if Target or anyone else chooses to ban the bell-ringers from their property, since they apparently have no problem with the inevitable, negative consequences.
No big deal, though. Target's a chick store.
That's exactly what we've done. We'll drive a few more miles to a store that allows Salvation Army bellringers rather than shop at Target. And we won't go back.
I'm sorry to dispute anyone who is set in their ways to boycott a store, but more than likely you will return to Target. They'll have a sale on DVD's that can't be passed up and that'll be it.
Most of our shopping is done at Fleet Farm & Menards (those are Guy Stores). We also have Shopko and Kohls.
Never shopped at Target and never will. I hope this whole thing bites them in the butt big time.
No, I won't be going back to Target. They're new in our market, and Kohl's and Shopko are better than they are.
This was the last straw for me with Target... they've done lots of dumb things over the years, sexualized clothing for children... etc etc etc...
But this was the last straw for me.. My family usually does a large amount of our Christmas shopping at Target, dropping anywhere from 1000 to 2000 every December....
Guess what... Not any more. Target (prounounced tar-zhay) can kiss those profits goodbye.... on and just for the record, our household income is far above their nationwide average....
Target sells the same stuff that Wal-Mart sells.
Target wants to project an air of urbane sophistication; they can do without patronage from the sort of working class Christians who actually care about their fellow man.
Isn't Target/Mervynn's and a couple other large retail chains the result of the Dayton family of Minnesota? The same Minnesota congresscritter that bears the family name. If I remember right he was the one that wanted to close his D.C. offices due to terrorist fears.
Just another example of "wonderful" (dripping sarcasm) liberalism at work.
How and where people choose to spend their money is none of my business. What type of solicitation or none at all a private business permits on their private property is also none of my business.
Businesses make business decisions everyday, if you don't care for them don't shop there. It's not like the government is involved here telling them they can or can not have solicitors. I would have an entirely different position if this in any way involved government forcing their hand.
I've shopped in both - the only reason I don't shop in Target any more is the nearest one to me is 50 miles away and the prices and selections in Wal-Mart are better, and it's only 15 miles.
Amen.
Supposedly Mervyn's published something a few days ago that said that THEY have not banned the kettles.
When the Target story first broke, someone on here said they thought it might have to do with the union - and that if they allowed the bell ringers, they'd have to allow the union to distribute info. That could be the "less-savory" group they're referring to.
All I can say is that Target is NOT getting any more of my business. I'll shop at the Salvation Army store right across the street!!!
I only wish we had a Macy's store nearby - I'd enjoy boycotting them, too.
A few friends and I were bell ringers at a Krogers in Michigan, and maybe it was because the area is a low income town, but people would go out of their way to AVOID us. But, the greatest thing to see is when there are little kids who will come and donate their handful of pennies. It is so reassuring during the 3 or 4 hours shifts!
I heard over the weekend that Target had sold off Mervyn's....and Mervyn's is allowing the Salvation Army to ring out front. I went to Trader's Village (a huge flea market) over the weekend and for the first time, the SA is there this year! I go out of my way now to put $ in every bucket i've seen....i'm going broke...joke!
For what I would buy at Target, I can buy the same items cheaper at Walmart -- dog food/cat food comes to mind plus a host of other items. Walmart provides a lot of jobs in communities throughout the Country especially senior citizens who I see all over our stores. In talking to them, they enjoy what they are doing. Walmart here in Norman (two stores) is also supporting the Josh Heupel #14 Foundation for underprivileged children that you can take a card from a tree and buy a gift which we are doing.
I am a volunteer in several organizations and over the years we have always been able to count on Walmart several times a year to give us a donation for items we wish to purchase. Target -- NEVER! Walmart is a huge participant with various non-profits in our area.
BTW, I don't for a minute believe that income level disparity either -- think Target would love to have people believe it though but here in Norman I don't see it.
Are all of you who are boycotting Target saying that you can't envision some "unsavory" group suing Target, K-Mart, or any other store or mall so that they can also set up shop outside the entrance like the Salvation Army does? I certainly can. In fact, I'm shocked that they haven't yet.
The Target nearest my home has had a table set up for about a month now to sign a petition for parental notification for abortions. I was very surprised at that.
Personally I don't care for Wal-Mart...their stores are cluttered, its impossible to move about in them, POS displays block every isle, and its ALWAYS OVER CROWDED with not enough checkers working. To me, going to Wal Mart is about as close as you can come to feeling like a cattle being herded.
I have shopped target in the past for a few reasons, generally they have wider open unobstructed isles, cleaners stores and carry higher and better quality products that Wal mart does not carry. They always have enough people working the checkouts so I can get in, shop and get out without being stressed.
Now, with that said, I won't be shopping at Target any longer, this was the last straw. I also don't plan on going to Wal mart either, as I just don't need that stress. I know Wal Mart/Sam's does lots of charity work... THey have helped my wife's Girl Scout troop on many occassions allowing them to raise money outside their stores.... They just aren't stores that I personally care to shop at.
I'll probably end up at Sears/KMart this season and spend the money there that I would have spent at Target.
When you go to pick up your film, may I suggest you stop at the Customer Service desk to thank Kmart for hosting the Salvation Army? I'm Kmart and the SA would appreciate it.
You're right about the SA not leading the charge. But I completely disagree about the story being overblown. You're seeing grass-roots response at its best. And just like it's Target's right to decide how to conduct charity work, it's our right to decide how to spend our money.
I've boycotted Target ever since they stopped selling smokes back in '99. It's just an overpriced Walmart anyway.
I'm looking forward to it. Target's foolish PR move motivated me to donate some time as a bellringer this year.
Maybe the possibility of litigation was in the back of their mind. But, I tend to think Target did this more to (1) take the pressure off of store managers ("Sorry, it's nothing personal; we don't allow anyone to solicit on the premises. Have a nice day.") and (2) remove any appearance of bias ("Yes, we allow the S.A. to solicit but, sorry, you folks from the Church of Satan are not welcome here.")
As I said, if Target wants to lead this effort, I've no hard feelings about it. Surely they came to this decision knowing full well it would cost them some customers. I'm just exercising my consumer rights in the free enterprise system.
If/when their competitors ban the bell-ringers -- for whatever reason -- I might decide to shop at Target.
I've done my best to avoid KMart for years and I used to love shopping there.........but as a few of the other discounters in town started closing, KMART pretty much had a captive audience and stopped caring.....the store was perpetually dirty, with mistocked shelves, only 2 registers open, etc......and nothing, not complaints to management, letters to the editor, even an unflattering article did anything to wake them up.
That is until Wal-Mart came to town.........practically overnight, KMart changed. Wal-Mart was a hassle to get to, so I rarely went, but did prefer it to K-Mart. Then along came Target, practically on my corner. I was underwhelmed, but it was convenient and resonable for things like paper products and printer cartridges.
Now that I've moved I'm back to shopping at Wal-Mart of occassion, because it's convenient, well stocked, well lighted and the staff is very friendly and helpful.
I guess it is all a matter of personal preferences and our own perspectives. I don't particularly like to shop so when I am in the mood I like to head for one of the small towns around here and meander the different shops. But I need time and the right mood. sometimes Wal-Mart is just far easier.
Baloney. Although I do give Target credit for informing the SA back in January and not waiting until later.
While I plan on writing my check to the Salavation Army, but there is something to be said for demonstrating and witnessing through action. It is an important lessons for our kids and children to not only see us put a donation in the kettle, but to be able to help put a donation in the kettle. Kids start to see that they too can help and starts them on a path to future giving as an adult.
Yes, I can certainly have kids sit down with me when I write the check, but it's not the same and it does not make the same impact.
Because of that, we will shop where a kettle is present and where kids can play a part!
I was not in a K-mart since the Rosie O'Donnell flare up. At first, you remind yourself not to go there, next thing you know it's been four or five years and you didn't even miss it.
Now I'm not some highly paid executive, but to me this backlash was very foreseeable. Makes me wonder if someone sought advice from sycophants.
This will reflect in Targets quarterly earnings, and I fear Bob Ulrich won't be getting a raise this year.
Normally, I hit Target once a week. I haven't been there since they stiffed the Salvation Army. Consider how much the Salvation Army did in Florida when we were hit by four hurricanes. I guess Minnesotan ceos forgot to calculate that the SA is a really good cause and another American tradition that is getting the boot due to cries of sep of church and state.
If this thread gets really long, the author should email it to Target so they can see that freepers are saying "no" to Target.
Are you emailing your thread to Target?
As do I. But I completely disagree with your assessment that Target should not face any consequences for its action. Free market means accepting responsibility for one's actions. And it also means I can do whatever I like with my money - which will NOT be going to Target in the future.
Thank you, have a merry Chri...., uh, merry holiday...
Evidently the Salvation Army has received P.C. marching orders to eliminate "Christmas" from their holiday vocabulary......
I said to the individual that we are celebrating the birth of Christ and that I would have preferred "Merry Christmas".....
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