Do you boycott companies?

[totalia]

Boycotting is worthless. YOU boyotting won't make a bit of difference. Only many people doing it will.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

It would have to be something pretty serious for me to boycott.

I generally avoid products that test on animals, and generally avoid pet stores that sell dogs for profit. The only time I have ever broken that boycott was when I got Dodger, and for what I paid for him, I know the store did not make a profit and probably lost money. I also went out of my way to tell people near and in their store about the horrible conditions we found Dodger in when we got him and how his tiny feet were cut up from only having wire to stand on. I was very happy when at least 3 of the people put down their purchases and left. And have called local humane organizations to try and get the place shut down. From what I understand, it's been investigated several times and is on it's last legs, thank god. That's the only time I think I have ever bought anything from a place like that, and the only time I ever will. He was worth breaking the boycott the one time though. aw:

I also boycott casinos that feature dog and horse racing. I have family and friends who are always trying to get us to go to the dog track. They do not understand why we refuse to go.

I generally won't boycott a company over politics, unless it's a "charity" or something where that is the only purpose. I'm also anti union and have no problem crossing picket lines.

 

[Aimeedyan]

It would have to be something pretty serious for me to boycott.

I generally avoid products that test on animals, and generally avoid pet stores that sell dogs for profit. The only time I have ever broken that boycott was when I got Dodger, and for what I paid for him, I know the store did not make a profit and probably lost money. I also went out of my way to tell people near and in their store about the horrible conditions we found Dodger in when we got him and how his tiny feet were cut up from only having wire to stand on. I was very happy when at least 3 of the people put down their purchases and left. And have called local humane organizations to try and get the place shut down. From what I understand, it's been investigated several times and is on it's last legs, thank god.

Good for you!

 

[mbw12]

Wow....interesting article pertaining to the Foo Fighters. I seem to be hainvg a dumb moment....I can'tt for the life of me think of what songs they sing? anyone?

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

The only song I can think of is "Learning to Fly". Or "Learn to Fly"..something like that. The music video is an airplane trip on acid, which is pretty funny.

TOV

 

[rayelias]

I haven't watched CBS since the (last of the many) Dan Rather bias incident.

It's been a little tough - I LOVE David Letterman. But, I'm not very fond of their extremely slanted political biases.

 

[Galahad]

Not really "boycot". Certainly not with the view that I can participate in something that changes their behavior. There are companies that I won't do business with. For example, a locally owned sporting goods chain was recently bought out by a predatory competitor that came to town, built stores, forced the local company to sell and then closed the stores they built. They put a lot of locals out of work and didn't benefit the consumer at all as well. So I won't do any business with them. Plenty of others do though so I'd say they're safe.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Boycotts rarely succeed to acheive their intent. If you don't like something, then don't patronize it. But to expect a whole society to "gang" with you, is comical.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

There are places I refuse to shop for different reasons. I am good at holding a grudge, so if a place hacks me off once they won't get the chance to do it again.

I will NEVER shop at Mervyn's because they trashed my credit rating - erroneously - and after years of battling it STILL isn't fixed. Plenty of other places for me to shop.

Gadzooks has a CRAPPY return policy and they made me so mad I will never go back there. That was probably 12 years ago if not more.

I do my best to never spend money at companies that discriminate against gays and lesbians. Exxon/Mobil and the Salvation Army actually had GOOD policies at one time that they rescinded (no more benefits being extended to domestic partners) so I avoid dealing with them.

On the flip side I DO try to do business with places that HRC gives high marks to for diversity. DH works for Frito Lay and I think they have a 100% rating for diversity policies. We always fly American because they are also into diversity. Locally I support the businesses that support my charities, and I tell them I appreciate their donations.

I refuse to allow DS to be a Boy Scout because they are so interested in perpetuating discrimination.

Rick -
The Cracker Barrel here is disgusting, so even with a revision in policy I will not be dining there!

Jenny -
The stupidity out there boggles my mind! I LIKE the Foo Fighters' music but I don't own any of their CD's and I have never been to a concert. Guess I won't start now, either! Shame on them! I don't even see where that qualifies as having "a right to their own opinion". I suppose they could start a crusade to convince people that the world is flat, too? Disgusting.

I never had a Boppy, but if I had one I wouldn't STOP using it because the print ad shows a baby with a bottle! If I remember correctly the last time I saw one in a catalog the baby was propped up with no adult in sight!

I once read an article that had references to companies that give large amounts of money to pro-life groups. I made a mental note to avoid those companies but I don't research each and every company to make sure I agree with their philosophies before I shop there. Life is too short for that.

 

[RickinNYC]

It would have to be something pretty serious for me to boycott.

I generally avoid products that test on animals, and generally avoid pet stores that sell dogs for profit. The only time I have ever broken that boycott was when I got Dodger, and for what I paid for him, I know the store did not make a profit and probably lost money. I also went out of my way to tell people near and in their store about the horrible conditions we found Dodger in when we got him and how his tiny feet were cut up from only having wire to stand on. I was very happy when at least 3 of the people put down their purchases and left. And have called local humane organizations to try and get the place shut down. From what I understand, it's been investigated several times and is on it's last legs, thank god. That's the only time I think I have ever bought anything from a place like that, and the only time I ever will. He was worth breaking the boycott the one time though. aw:

I also boycott casinos that feature dog and horse racing. I have family and friends who are always trying to get us to go to the dog track. They do not understand why we refuse to go.

I generally won't boycott a company over politics, unless it's a "charity" or something where that is the only purpose. I'm also anti union and have no problem crossing picket lines.

Actually, Sherri, like you I also don't buy products that continue to do animal testing, i.e. shampoos, soaps, etc... And I also don't do circuses that use animals in their acts. Never quite understand the entertainment value in a bear on a tricycle or lions in a cage roaring at some guy dressed as a gay magician.

 

[elliemae1192]

Yep, I've been known to boycot in my day. Most recently, I refused to patronize Cracker Barrel and any of their subsidiaries because of their discriminatory hiring policies. They instituted a company policy that called for terminating employees "whose sexual preferences fail to demonstrate normal heterosexual values, which have been the foundation of families in our society." As a result, eleven employees were fired. Enough for me to refuse to spend my money on them.

Although it took 10 years, they have since changed their position and added sexual orientation to the company's nondiscrimination policy in December, 2002. That said, I'd gladly dine at Cracker Barrel now.

I had no idea they did that. I would have boycotted them too! So glad they've decided to get off their high horses and move into the 21st century.

As for the Boppy issue, that's just a silly reason to boycott something. I breastfed two of my three children and I would never question someone's choice to breastfeed or bottlefeed. To boycott a company for saying their product can be used by all mothers is ridiculous.