Shop Smart - Putting Our Money Where Our Mouths Are

[OrlandoMike]

Rob and I just had this conversation this morning about Chic-fil-A, not on the list, but he did a little research, and it's not good.

Someone else asked me the other day which I preferred, Lowes or Home Depot, and I said either....Well it looks like the Orange Palace wins!

 

[rpmdfw]

Yeah. The more I look at the HRC buyers guide, the more I realize that it's just the beginning of the research for me.

Both Hess and Publix are not rated and lumped into the "avoid" category, but had acceptable ratings in 2008, mainly due to non-discrimination policies in their hiring. Why would it have changed? Or is it simply that someone didn't fill out the HRC's questionnaire this time around and they got dropped to the "avoid" category?

And Yum Brands. They've got non-discrimination, they've got domestic partner benefits, they've got a company supported gay organization, gays are covered in diversity training (though not required for all employees). The only things I don't see are GLBT targeted marketing and Transgender therapies and surgeries covered by insurance. That seems very good to me, but their rating is only 65? When other companies that don't have that much in place are listed as 77 (as Hess was last year)?

Definitely just a jumping off point. I think I'm going to have to start checking the corporate web-pages of companies that we patronize on a regular basis.

 

[merryweather20]

I go to Lowe's for other reasons so went back to check on the difference between them and Home Depot. It looks like they didn't even send Lowe's a questionnaire?

Anyway I noticed Monsanto was on the green list I don't care how good their DP benefits are they have, I'm not buying their products

 

[OrlandoMike]

Rob, FYI Publix has come a long way! I work with a guy who's FT job is at Publix, and we were discussing this the other day. As a matter of fact, two of the main managers of my Publix are family!

Remember the days when you would walk in and the pics of the managers behind the service counter were all middle aged white men who looked like they just got out of the service?

 

[rpmdfw]

Rob, FYI Publix has come a long way! I work with a guy who's FT job is at Publix, and we were discussing this the other day. As a matter of fact, two of the main managers of my Publix are family!

Remember the days when you would walk in and the pics of the managers behind the service counter were all middle aged white men who looked like they just got out of the service?

I'm fairly certian one of the assistant managers at our local Publix is gay, too. And they do have a non-discrimination policy.

I appreciate what the HRC has done, and how far in-depth they've looked at every issue, but as long as a company isn't supporting causes that work against gay rights, I'm okay with it.

Yes, I'd prefer that they all have the fantastic track record that BP, Disney, Universal, and Target have, but you really can't expect fast food chains to have gay specific marketing. They're marketing strategy is to assume that we're all the same and we all should want their product. To me, that's better than something targeted directly at the GLBTQ community. Because they choose to treat us like everyone else, not a niche market.

 

[hematite153]

Yeah. The more I look at the HRC buyers guide, the more I realize that it's just the beginning of the research for me...
Definitely just a jumping off point. I think I'm going to have to start checking the corporate web-pages of companies that we patronize on a regular basis.

Hey, you could take on the job for all of us. We could send you a list of our favourite places to eat/shop and you could give us info.

I appreciate what the HRC has done, and how far in-depth they've looked at every issue, but as long as a company isn't supporting causes that work against gay rights, I'm okay with it.
...
Their marketing strategy is to assume that we're all the same and we all should want their product. To me, that's better than something targeted directly at the GLBTQ community. Because they choose to treat us like everyone else, not a niche market.

Yeah, I generally agree with this perspective. I don't actually think I'm that different from a "straight" person.

 

[rpmdfw]

Hey, you could take on the job for all of us. We could send you a list of our favourite places to eat/shop and you could give us info.

Are you offering me a JOB?!?!?! How much does it pay? Does it come with Domestic Partner benefits?

Yeah, I generally agree with this perspective. I don't actually think I'm that different from a "straight" person.

Especially things like FOOD! Hello, everybody has to eat!

 

[glenpreece]

Can someone please explain why "we" hate Cracker Barrel so much? I only go there when we go to Buffalo and want to have bfast etc. I personally can't stand the food there. I would much rather just pick up some candles etc and go. But my mom always insists we eat there.

 

[hematite153]

Are you offering me a JOB?!?!?! How much does it pay?

Well...you'll get paid with kind comments, and a variety of emoticons responding to your reports.
(Of course, given the board we're on, I can't keep everyone worshipful and you'll likely get teased some too.)

Does it come with Domestic Partner benefits?

I'd be happy to direct emoticons in your DPs direction too.

 

[hematite153]

Can someone please explain why "we" hate Cracker Barrel so much?

Well, I hate it because they don't have a single vegetarian thing on the menu -- I can't remember what the problem was, but, even the garden salad and baked potato couldn't be prepared vegetarian.

But, I think Mike's earlier post is a good example of the reason others don't like it.

 

[rpmdfw]

Well...you'll get paid with kind comments, and a variety of emoticons responding to your reports.
(Of course, given the board we're on, I can't keep everyone worshipful and you'll likely get teased some too.)


I'd be happy to direct emoticons in your DPs direction too.

Um . . . yeah . . .

I'll get back to you on whether I take that job.



yeesh, what a bunch of cheapskates!

 

[rpmdfw]

Well, I hate it because they don't have a single vegetarian thing on the menu -- I can't remember what the problem was, but, even the garden salad and baked potato couldn't be prepared vegetarian.

But, I think Mike's earlier post is a good example of the reason others don't like it.

Plus the whole firing people for being gay thing . . .

 

[OrlandoMike]

Plus the whole firing people for being gay thing . . .

They "say" they have stopped this pratice, but to even have it to start with boggles the mind! I believe there was a cook in Georga who was fired after 10 years with them just for being gay....

 

[rpmdfw]

And they were FORCED to stop discriminating by the courts.

It'd be like going in to work for someone who says "We don't like you, we don't want you here, but the judge is making us take you on."

Who'd want to work in that kind of environment?

 

[hematite153]

Um . . . yeah . . .

I'll get back to you on whether I take that job.



yeesh, what a bunch of cheapskates!

Did you think I had money???
(I'm a full-time student, you know)