Post by megalicious on Jun 25, 2012 18:23:11 GMT -5
Are there any companies/businesses you won't shop at/buy from because of their political, social, or environmental practices or affiliations? What would it take for you to stop shopping somewhere?
I've pretty much given up Chick-fil-A due to their contributions to entities which are firmly on the anti-gay rock of judgment. My boss likes it, and a few of our staff last week were devouring some of their chicken nuggets when I dropped that bomb - I think I just lost them three more patrons.
WalMart, Curves, Salvation Army (donations or "buying" their stuff), Chick-Fil-A.
I guess it wouldn't take much for me to stop shopping somewhere, if a company was very obviously donating to causes with which I disagreed. That's capitalism.
However, it's easy for me to say that, because I live in an urban area with many options for fast food, thrift stores, gyms and big retailers. I would actually have to go out of my way to shop at WalMart vs. Target, for example. If I lived in a very small town with fewer options, had less access to transportation, or were on a tighter budget, my morals might not be so pure, KWIM?
Someone once said that we have the luxury to choose to not shop at WalMart (and for the life of me, I can't remember if it was someone here, Rachel Maddow, or Elizabeth Warren). I agree with that.
Post by mominatrix on Jun 25, 2012 18:36:59 GMT -5
Walmart Wendy's Domino's Pizza
I have this book, someplace... I think it's called The Blue Pages... It lists corporate political donations. It is fascinating. I used to look stuff up before I bought, but that was back before I had no time. now, I try to keep it local.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using ProBoards... So excuse any wonky autocorrect.
I used to refuse to eat at Cosi because the owners also owned a company at which they discriminated against victims of domestic violence (I was working on a case about it at the time, so I knew for a fact they were doing it). They've since split with those owners, so I'm fine with eating there again.
I don't eat at Dominos pizza because of it's owners donations to to anti-choice terrorist orgs like Operation Rescue.
I don't shop at Forever21 because of their sneaky religious messaging (and rumours I've heard that they donate to anti-choice orgs, as well).
I also refuse to ever step foot in a Curves because 10% of their profits go to anti-choice groups.
And I try not to by from P&G (though I'm not always successful) because of their animal testing policies.
Post by rupertpenny on Jun 25, 2012 18:41:18 GMT -5
I try to avoid Monsanto products as much as possible. This means avoiding processed foods, gas with ethanol (when I fill up the tank, which really isn't often since we only have one car and H uses it 20 times more than I do), and not buying Miracle-Gro soil or Burpee seeds to use in my garden. I realize that I will probably not be able to avoid all Monsanto stuff 100%, but it is something I keep in the back of my mind when deciding what to buy.
I used to refuse to eat at Cosi because the owners also owned a company at which they discriminated against victims of domestic violence (I was working on a case about it at the time, so I knew for a fact they were doing it). They've since split with those owners, so I'm fine with eating there again.
I don't eat at Dominos pizza because of it's owners donations to to anti-choice terrorist orgs like Operation Rescue.
I don't shop at Forever21 because of their sneaky religious messaging (and rumours I've heard that they donate to anti-choice orgs, as well).
I also refuse to ever step foot in a Curves because 10% of their profits go to anti-choice groups.
And I try not to by from P&G (though I'm not always successful) because of their animal testing policies.
Wow, I didn't know that about Domino's or Curves. Damn, and I love me some spinach feta cheesy bread. I personally won't eat at Chick-fil-a. I'm a dirty rural wal-mart shopper.
I would have thrown chik-fil-a on there, but being a veg, I don't have a lot of reasons to go there, anyway.
And Wal-mart, well, I refuse to step foot in them when I can, but when you're riding in a car with family, and they decide to stop at Wal-mart, what can you do? I do refuse to buy anything there, though. I'm a Target girl, through and through. (Unless I can get it at a mom & pop place near me, in which case I"ll probably get it from them)
'trix - can you clue me into the Wendy's thing? I haven't eaten there in forever, but they're among the "healthier" veg fast food options for roadtrips so I'd like to know if I should start looking elsewhere
Domino's Chik fil a Hobby lobby I always try to buy from Home Depot over Lowe's and Target over Walmart
What else? I try to read through the HRC ranking a couple of times a year just to remind myself what companies to support. Oh and I try to avoid Dupont products.
Post by heightsyankee on Jun 25, 2012 19:15:39 GMT -5
Walmart
I tried to stop shopping at Anthropologie but I find it difficult. I know that is weak, but a friend and I started donating to pro-GLBT causes every time we shop there so it, hopefully, comes out in the wash. My $ means more to GLBT groups than the paltry amount would be missed by Anthro and they would have no idea why...
What's the deal with Hobby Lobby? Anti-choice/anti-gay as well? I don't think I've ever been to one. Just wondering, since a few people have mentioned it.
Post by lyssbobiss, Command, B613 on Jun 25, 2012 19:22:41 GMT -5
I believe Hobby Lobby is purported to be one of the worst offenders of the donating to anti-choice, anti-gay groups. And they pipe religious music in. I don't go there because arts and crafts make me want to nut punch someone AND Jesus rock makes me want to dig around in my ears till I find blood. And I don't go to Wal-Mart. I try to avoid Chick-fil-A, but every time my mom comes to town, she wants to go there, and their chicken nuggets are one of the few things my son will eat so sometimes it's a necessity. Pick your battles, bro, and all that.
"This prick is asking for someone here to bring him to task Somebody give me some dirt on this vacuous mass so we can at last unmask him I'll pull the trigger on it, someone load the gun and cock it While we were all watching, he got Washington in his pocket."
Post by lyssbobiss, Command, B613 on Jun 25, 2012 19:24:16 GMT -5
And I am also needing an answer for the question about Pamela's husband not going to Sbux. I don't want to go around assuming someone is anti-fair-trade and anti-being-open-on-Sundays-with-delicious-goodness.
"This prick is asking for someone here to bring him to task Somebody give me some dirt on this vacuous mass so we can at last unmask him I'll pull the trigger on it, someone load the gun and cock it While we were all watching, he got Washington in his pocket."
And I am also needing an answer for the question about Pamela's husband not going to Sbux. I don't want to go around assuming someone is anti-fair-trade and anti-being-open-on-Sundays-with-delicious-goodness.
Sure sounds like he doesn't want to support a company that believes in equality for all people regardless of sexual orientation, but I may be reading it wrong.
I would have thrown chik-fil-a on there, but being a veg, I don't have a lot of reasons to go there, anyway.
And Wal-mart, well, I refuse to step foot in them when I can, but when you're riding in a car with family, and they decide to stop at Wal-mart, what can you do? I do refuse to buy anything there, though. I'm a Target girl, through and through. (Unless I can get it at a mom & pop place near me, in which case I"ll probably get it from them)
'trix - can you clue me into the Wendy's thing? I haven't eaten there in forever, but they're among the "healthier" veg fast food options for roadtrips so I'd like to know if I should start looking elsewhere
I thought the Wendy's thing was at least a little borderline. Dave Thomas was really pro-life but I've heard that in terms of donations from the profits of his restaurants, they go more toward pro-adoption causes than strictly anti-choice ones. Am I wrong?
Post by StrawberryBlondie on Jun 25, 2012 19:30:06 GMT -5
I don't think there's a company or store I flat-out refuse to go to. There are some I try not to as much as possible, but generally I'm not going to feel like a bad person if I make a stop at the Wal-Mart directly on my way home from work to pick up something I need immediately instead of going to the completely out-of-the-way Target.
I do try to avoid Monsanto products. And most things made with high fructose corn syrup, if there's a reasonable substitute available. We don't have a Chick-Fil-A.
I do think I'm more apt to patronize places where I agree with their policies.
DH won't buy at Starbucks due to the opposite of the reasons some boycott chick fil a.
I don't want to make any assumptions here, so could you please explain this?
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he said it was overt support of pro-gay agenda. I like froo-froo coffee too much to care. Really, companies have to do something I don't like closer to home for me to boycott.
However, I'm a hypocrite. The only bulk place we have by us is Sam's, so if I want to do bulk shopping, I'm forced there by default. I wish we had a Costco closer.
Walmart, Chick-Fil-a, Curves (although it doesn't appeal to me anyway), the little mail place that blasts Christian music - mainly because it is annoying, and other places that I am probably forgetting right now.
Walmart & Salvation Army are my biggest two. When we drink we have vodka and after the 'rape ad' I won't buy Belvedere. I also pretty much avoid fast food of any kind, anything with red dye 40 and anything with high fructose corn syrup. That's more for health reasons though.
I don't want to make any assumptions here, so could you please explain this?
Sent from my HTC Glacier using ProBoards... So excuse any wonky autocorrect.
he said it was overt support of pro-gay agenda. I like froo-froo coffee too much to care. Really, companies have to do something I don't like closer to home for me to boycott.
OK, then. Yeah. I guess my assumptions were right on.
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Post by stephiehun on Jun 25, 2012 19:47:32 GMT -5
I didn't want to open this because I didn't want to find out about a long list of places I should be boycotting. I already avoid Wal-Mart like the plague, and I've never even seen a Hobby Lobby. I'll never donate to the Salvation Army.
I eat at Chik-fil-a once in a while, but I have the decency to feel guilty about it.