I am ticked off at Target. We shop there regularly, but not today. You may ask "why Joel, why?", and I'll tell you.
For years, the Salvation Army has stood in front of various department stores and chain outlets ringing their bells, spreading good holiday cheer and collecting funds for very worthwhile causes, such as feeding the hungry and clothing the poor. When I was at Target earlier this week, I remember noticing the absence of an Army representative and wondered what the deal was.
Today, I read this story.
As it turns out, Target has told the Salvation Army that they may no longer ring bells and collect spare change in front of their stores! The cite "fairness" towards other non-profits as the reason. BAH, Humbug! It reeks of political correctness and I, for one, am going to do what I can to see that it hurts them where it counts.
I phoned my local Target store and spoke to a store manager named Scott. I told him that my family shops there ALL the time, and we do. It is our home away from home. I asked him why there was no Salvation Army rep and he spoke to me of Target's non-solicitation policy. Apparantly, other non-profits want to have the same privileges as the Salvation Army. Rather than have the cajones to say "Yes" to who they want to and "No" to who they want to, they cut of the Army completely. I told Scott the following.
"The Salvation Army is a holiday tradition and I miss them at the Target store front. He explained how Target gives a sizable portion of their revenue to charitable organizations. I told him it didn't matter. This was not about their charitable giving. It was about a holiday tradition and giving consumers the opportunity to band together and help a worthwhile organization. I told him that I was going to shop at Target today. However, I am on my cell phone in my car and I am currently pulling into the Wal-Mart parking lot, where I will be doing much more of my holiday shopping this season."
He thanked me for my opinion and we ended the conversation.
I say "STICK IT TO TARGET!". Let the Salvation Army ring their bells, spread holiday cheer and collect coins in front of Target! I hope you will join me in boycotting Target this season. Take some time to phone your local store or call corporate headquarters at (612) 304-6073. You can also Send them email here.
For a history of the Salvation Army Kettle, Click here.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
December 2, 2004 03:35 PM
So let me get this straight. You're all for them being able to say "No" to who they want to as long as it's not the Salvation Army people?
Companies change policy all the time, why are you so defensive about this one?
December 2, 2004 11:33 PM
Marco... POLO!
It just rubbed me the wrong way. It is a matter of good will.
December 3, 2004 01:36 AM
In this post you say they already give a large portion to charitable organizations. Why doesn't that count as 'good will?'
You think it's Target's job to get other people to donate money to charities? I think it's up to the individual.
I went to a popular deal site and didn't see any sign of a place where people could donate money to charitable organizations. Are you going to boycott them too?
;-)
December 3, 2004 08:56 AM
You miss the point. You are correct that they can choose to not allow the Army to ring their bells. As a consumer, I can not like it. And I can choose to shop somewhere else. If they don't like it, they can change their policy and attempt to welcome me back :-)
October 3, 2005 09:23 AM
hey i am 12 years old nd i go 2 the salavtion army nd love it they do alot of help soo take dat pic off of the dog thank u !
October 3, 2005 09:29 AM
i think target r stupid :(