Boycotting companies?

[stonemonkey]

I have a friend who won't buy products from a certain confectionary company because apparently they donated or sold some cows or milk or something to some villages in Africa, but there was something wrong with the cows/milk so all the children in the villages ended up sick (OK, details are a little sketchy, I wasn't really paying attention, my fault...)

I thought this was interesting. She's a very moral person, and realiistically, it's not gonna matter shit to the company whether she buys their products or not. So I'm wondering: Does anyone else here boycott companies because of ethics? Like if a corporation runs sweatshops or they have shoddy environmental practices, does that influence whether you purchase their products?

[Kitty]

I don't shop at Wal-mart because I think its evil.

[Taza Tikha]

If I boycott one company for sweatshops or animal testing or whatever, I'd have to boycott them all or be a hypocrite. Frankly, I'm too lazy to do consumer research. And I've grown rather fond of wearing clothes.

[SunDevil]

Wal-Mart is evil.

Well most companies are evil, that is why I tend not to buy that much stuff. But that hurts the sweatshop worker just as much. They won't have a job at all if everyone stopped buying what they are making.

[natbumpo]

If I boycott one company for sweatshops or animal testing or whatever, I'd have to boycott them all or be a hypocrite. Frankly, I'm too lazy to do consumer research. And I've grown rather fond of wearing clothes.

Ding, Ding, Ding...we have a winner. Taza ia 100% right. You must pick and choose you battles if you must because no matter how big or small, you will find some "moral" reason not to buy something from someone.

[stonemonkey]

Yeah, that's sort of my reaction too. If you look hard enough, EVERY company's gonna have some dodgy work practices.

[natbumpo]

Oh and not that I love Walmart or anything, but they do employ somewhere in the order 1.2 million people, so let's give them a slight break.

[stonemonkey]

I don't buy Microsoft products, nor do I pirate them.

It's also a big target for viruses, and their programs aren't the most effecient.

[WeirdBrake]

I frankly couldn't care less what questionable practices certain companies do.

[shimmer728]

I won't go into certain stores or buy from certain companies where the salespeople have been rude and/or snotty.

[biodork]

I pretty much avoid old navy because i HATE their commercials. :rolleyes:

[kimmer23]

I frankly couldn't care less what questionable practices certain companies do.


yeah that is me too. sorry if it sounds like i am a jerk, but i really would only stop shopping somewhere if the people were rude (like shimmer said). i dont have time to find out the ethics of all of these compaines.

[bridgetjones]

I avoid buying brandname food products and major fast food chains. However, that is more of a health preservation thing since they tend to be unhealthy and loaded with more chemicals than non-branded. Plus you pay extra for the stupid commercials and toys in the package.

Plus if I can do it I do not wear companies that people know are sweat shoppy.

[wordsmith]

I had a well-intentioned roommate once (a peace studies major who is now a nurse and doing medical care camps in third world countries) who kept a LOOOONG list on our refrigerator of various companies where animal testing, unethical labor practices, etc. were reported. But it takes, in my opinion, a tremendous amount of effort to keep on top of these things, and it seems highly likely that MOST large corporations, even the ones that claim to be green, etc. have questionable ethical practices.


As far as personal "boycotting," I don't buy anything I consider to be priced solely due to the cache of a certain label. I guess you could say I boycott a lot of "designer" things (particularly clothing) for this reason. I just have never bought that something's label alone makes it any more high quality...some companies DO have superior craftsmanship...but to pay a certain price strictly for the prestige of label seems very wasteful to me. A t-shirt from a high-end store is no different than a t-shirt from Target.

[blueyes]

I have two - that's it. And they're only b/c I'm an environmental freak. :redface:

Wal-Mart - I know things that I wish I didn't know and just generally hate them. Plus, they continually screw my pharmacist friend over. And they're evil.

Outback Steakhouse - those idiots have a H2 as their promo vehicle. Um...wtf, guys?

[Benwa]

I won't go into a walmart. It doesn't matter how many people they employ if they are treated questionably. They decimate local business and I gladly sacrifice the savings to support my neighbors. They increase the traffic in the area yet don't help with increasing the infrastructure. They like to brag about the tax revenue they bring in but that isn't honest because they bring in revenue from the businesses they decimate. In order to get your product sold in a walmart, they squeeze you so bad that you are forced to participate in business practices you normally wouldn't do. I find that most of their stuff is of poor quality, its cheap but its crap. It has an air of generic sameness which is terribly boring. Any book or cd has been chosen to cause the least amount of trauma or thought in the customer. And frankly I don't like the people who shop there because they are usually just as generic as the products. People who occupy the fattest part of the bell curve. People who think its wonderful to own a piece of crap as long as its cheap. I hate the entire experience so I just don't even go in. I'm not hurting them too much by not giving them my business, I avoid it mainly to save my own sanity.

In theory boycotts work. But we're so awash in the sea of consumerism that its just tiring to keep up with who's screwing who. Business is generally a dispicable affair. For a boycott to work the company has to do something exceptionally shitty, like burning puppies to heat their corporate headquarters. Thats the only way to stir people inot action because we've grown accustom to companies doing shitty things. Just like we expect our politicians to lie to us. In fact if a politician tells the truth we immediately get skeptical and don't elect them. The public needs those lies, they believe them because they want to. And people don't care too much about how horrible a business is because they kind of like the product. And no one wants to feel the guilt of knowing the product they like is hurting people or the environment. Thats why things like boycotts seldom take hold because they offer all the guilt of religion without any of the salvation. "Don't buy those pickles because they are picked by migrant farm workers who are abused." "But I like these pickles and I don't even know any farm workers." And thats pretty much it. We don't want to hear the details of the misery of the farm workers, we just want our goddam pickles. We conveniently bury that info of the abused pickle picker. Bury it before we can attatch an emotional tag to the pickles, so we can enjoy them in peace. We don't want to be faced with the misery of the world, we just want a fucking pickle.

[Benwa]

Outback Steakhouse - those idiots have a H2 as their promo vehicle. Um...wtf, guys?


I forget which book I read it in... maybe Affluenza. But as far as using your consumer power, the worst environmental thing to do is drive your SUV to a steak house. Because Fossil fuels and cattle industry are the largest polluters of the planet. Fitting they should have the biggest damn SUV as a promo.

[blueyes]

EXACTLY, Benwa. I almost spit my tea out when I saw the H2.

And I KNOW they take it places b/c it moves from parking spot to parking spot. I just want to slash that thing's tires...it's infuriating.

No one fucking thinks.

[J-girl]

I dont buy anything J. Lo or Britney Spears or the likes. I remember I was passing through Sears once and some dude goes "Wanna try Miami by J.Lo?" I said "By J. Lo, no thanks" :cool:

Other than that it's really very difficult for corporations to be ethical in this day and age so I dont really boy cott something because of that. But if i encounter bad customer service somewhere I stop going there. Bad as in rude CSRs not bad as in "she is taking too damn long to serve my lunch" when the place is packed.

[bridgetjones]

Well I would go out of my way to not go to Outback Steakhouse because I am health concious and think that chain restaurants are more likely to have crappy unhealthy food. I rather like my food to taste like food, not like chemicals. Call me a health freak - I dare you. I shall be laughing at your funeral. :p

It just pisses me off that it is harder to eat healthy unless you make a concerted effort to not ingest crap. It is easy to reduce your risk by just limiting branded food products as much as possible. Their profit motive means they put preservatives, use cheap ingredients and then use chemicals to add flavour to fatten their bottomline (and my waistline)...

Benwa, if I am in a small town I tend to support local. Walmart in my city is not a threat to its culture and all small business. So I only buy things that are definately cheaper there than elsewhere and get the hell out of there. No food products though! Its crap!!!

[Kitty]

They did this entire frontline on Wal-mart and ever since then there is just no way in hell I'd walk into one. Granted, you can't boycott every single company that may have unethical business practice - but you can boycott the biggest motherfucker of them all.

[MetFanL]

On the OUtback, I agree that their food is unhealthy and the H2 is not the car ou use as promotion (although, with their clientele, it probably makes sense). However, you can't forget the fact that the Outback does all of those school fundraising and other various charity food events. They REQUIRE their employees to help at these things w/o pay and give them a bonus at the end of the year for participating. They donate the food or charge a seriously discounted rate and give the charity 100 of the proceeds.

Yes, they get tax credits for the donation and yes they probably got a federal tax credit/deduction for the H2 b/c they're considered a commercial truck/SUV purchased for the business (which is tax deductible, even if it's a H2), but they're still helping.

[blueyes]

Nope. You can do all the charity work and fundraising and whatever you want - -

It's just fucking irresponsible to roll around in a promo H2.

[paiger81]

Heehee, I never eat at Outback, cause I just find the food nasty, but I guess now, I can say it's for moral reasons :p As I drive away in my compact SUV

[wordsmith]

Benwa, if I am in a small town I tend to support local. Walmart in my city is not a threat to its culture and all small business. So I only buy things that are definately cheaper there than elsewhere and get the hell out of there. No food products though! Its crap!!!

Problem being, from a small town perspective, that it's too late. Wal-Mart and Target and the like ALREADY drove out the small local businesses. They each moved in between 10-15 years ago 12 miles down the road. We have a downtown of empty storefronts. We used to have two downtown hardware stores, a two shoe stores, three women's clothing stores, two jewelry stores, an electronics store, a hobby and craft shop, a children's clothing store, an independently run card, stationary, and gift shop, a decent furniture store, and a toy store all in our tiny two block downtown. Now they all sit vacant, except for one of the jewelry stores, which really only stays afloat because they do class ring orders for all the area schools. You really haven't any choice now; supporting local isn't an option, because in towns this size, they were driven out years ago. They're not going to reopen because I stop going to Wal-Mart and Target, and I couldn't, anyway, because those are my only options. People boycotting them earlier would have been helpful.

[bridgetjones]

Dang Wordsmith, I am sorry about that! I still try to support small businesses anyways. Sometimes when I need service and knowledge, they are the better option over any big chain any day.

This sort of thing is what I kinda hate about these chain stores taking over everything. It is one of the reasons I do not want to live in the suburbs. I do not like that now many towns practically look identical! Like they have no character. I especially hate chain restaurants. Blah! Heck I go to a town, I wanna eat local because I can eat at those places anywhere.

[wordsmith]

This sort of thing is what I kinda hate about these chain stores taking over everything. It is one of the reasons I do not want to live in the suburbs. I do not like that now many towns practically look identical! Like they have no character. I especially hate chain restaurants. Blah! Heck I go to a town, I wanna eat local because I can eat at those places anywhere.

I am with you on that. There are grant programs in place here to restore downtowns (one is called the Mainstreet, USA Program) and make them historic districts, which tends to bring back commerce, but it takes a LONG time. We've currently got some of that going on. There is a late 1800s historic railroad freighthouse here that's been a million things and sat vacant for a while, and is now being refurbished and restored with the help of the historical society, and being developed as an independently owned cafe and steakhouse and museum of sorts showcasing the town's heritage. You'll find me there over Outback in a heartbeat, I guarantee.

[bridgetjones]

Yeah it is just that sometimes there is no other option but chain restaurants when you need to eat out in some areas.

[Benwa]

Problem being, from a small town perspective, that it's too late. Wal-Mart and Target and the like ALREADY drove out the small local businesses. They each moved in between 10-15 years ago 12 miles down the road. We have a downtown of empty storefronts. We used to have two downtown hardware stores, a two shoe stores, three women's clothing stores, two jewelry stores, an electronics store, a hobby and craft shop, a children's clothing store, an independently run card, stationary, and gift shop, a decent furniture store, and a toy store all in our tiny two block downtown. Now they all sit vacant, except for one of the jewelry stores, which really only stays afloat because they do class ring orders for all the area schools. You really haven't any choice now; supporting local isn't an option, because in towns this size, they were driven out years ago. They're not going to reopen because I stop going to Wal-Mart and Target, and I couldn't, anyway, because those are my only options. People boycotting them earlier would have been helpful.

Now the previous proud owners of those stores get to wear a blue smock and name tag! I think thats the saddest thing. People who once owned themselves and who made their business succeed based on their wits and people skills. Now working at a walmart, forced to listen to mission statements and managers trying to train them on how to treat customers. They did know how to treat customers, that why their business lasted as long as they did. What a demoralising thing. One minute your swingin it, using your individual talents to make a living, the next minute your stockin underwear for the mega corp that raped you. But hey, they get a smock out of the deal.

[J-girl]

As for eating out I prefer local restaurants to chains unless I am with non experimental people. :mad:

[MetFanL]

Yeah, I try to shop at local businesses whenever I can. It's good for the community and the staff tends to be more knowledgeable. And, when it comes to restaurants, there are so many great local places, you just can't go to Friday's or somewhere like that... You'd totally be missing out.

As for the outback stuff, I think you have to be fair. Walking the line between staying profitable and successful and doing what you can for charity, the environment and everything else is tough. It can be done, but not easily and probably not with a large scale chain.

I mean, look at Loreal. They do a TON of research on skin damage and skin cancer and a million other things, but, since it's not cost effective to put UVB AND UVA protection in their products, they don't.

Don't kid yourselves. It's ALL cost/benefit analysis. If your clientele doesn't demand it, companies don't do it.

[natbumpo]

I won't go into a walmart. It doesn't matter how many people they employ if they are treated questionably. They decimate local business and I gladly sacrifice the savings to support my neighbors. They increase the traffic in the area yet don't help with increasing the infrastructure. They like to brag about the tax revenue they bring in but that isn't honest because they bring in revenue from the businesses they decimate. In order to get your product sold in a walmart, they squeeze you so bad that you are forced to participate in business practices you normally wouldn't do.

Not true, I have been invloved with sales into Walmart and they do no "squeeze you" anymore than any retailer does. Do they have strict guidelines as to what they want? Sure, as we all should peronally or in business. But you make it sound like they force you into unethical behavior, which they do not. I actually enjoyed working with them.

[shimmer728]

I'm a HUGE proponent of shopping locally. I love the shops in town, I know most of the owners, and let's face it, the local economy needs it.

Here, though, the Wal-Mart has driven out a lot of the small businesses, as wordsmith pointed out (we live in very similar little towns.) It's a shame. Wal-Mart's merchandise isn't nearly as nice, and you don't get nearly the same level of customer service there, but it is cheaper.

[kimmer23]

I'm a HUGE proponent of shopping locally. I love the shops in town, I know most of the owners, and let's face it, the local economy needs it.

Here, though, the Wal-Mart has driven out a lot of the small businesses, as wordsmith pointed out (we live in very similar little towns.) It's a shame. Wal-Mart's merchandise isn't nearly as nice, and you don't get nearly the same level of customer service there, but it is cheaper.


well i know the walmart stuff is cheaply made and price wise, but where are low income people to go?? in my experience local small businesses usually charge more too. i know they HAVE to, but most low income people just cant afford that. i myself will shop at local stores (the local jewelry and furniture store and you always see the owners when you go) but they do charge more.

[summergold]

My personal boycott is AOL. I realize that in recent years they've been losing business, but overall, I still think they're a shady bunch. I just read an article on how they give bonuses to those employees who convince customers to NOT cancel their service when that was the intention of the customer in the first place. Some employees just decided to not process cancellation orders as these bonuses were worth thousands of dollars.

[bridgetjones]

Hey I do not use AOL because they suck. Too bad there are not that many choices when it comes to commonly used software so I am stuck with Microsoft much of the time. They suck too! I heard they do not even use their own products for their corporate security - they use Red Hat.

[Benwa]

I don't use AOL because their software is like napalm. You can't get that shit off your computer. theres always a piec of it there and it gives you pop-ups or it kicks you to their site. You have to wipe the hardrive to get rid of it. And then they never stop sending you stuff in the mail. I wonder how many of those stupid aol cds are in our landfills.

[Kitty]

I wonder how many of those stupid aol cds are in our landfills.

No kidding. Its depressing. AOL sucks. I had it for way too long and when I was trying to cancel they kept trying to ask me why I wanted to cancel my service. The sales rep basically had a list of common reasons why people cancel, and then what he should say to those reasons.

So, example - someone says, "I can't afford it anymore." This guy would look that excuse up, and then say, "Well, did you know that we now offer 10% off for signing up for this service - which is a huge cost saving..blah blah."

So, when he asked me why I wanted to cancel I said, "because I think AOL is an evil company."

He goes silent for about a minute and then says, "What?" So, I say again, "AOL is evil."

Then he starts laughing and goes, "I don't know what to say to that - I've never heard that one before."

[bridgetjones]

I don't use AOL because their software is like napalm. You can't get that shit off your computer. theres always a piec of it there and it gives you pop-ups or it kicks you to their site. You have to wipe the hardrive to get rid of it. And then they never stop sending you stuff in the mail. I wonder how many of those stupid aol cds are in our landfills.

I still have alot of AOL floppys around that I wipe clean and use for my own purposes.

As for the CDs, you can do the following for shits and giggles:
1) Optional - Invite friends over
2) Put microwave popcorn into microwave. Remove popcorn.
3) Turn off the lights in kitchen.
4) Insert AOL CD into microwave. Put it on for a minute or two.
5) Enjoy the fireworks display in your nuker!

Cheers!

[summergold]

I still have alot of AOL floppys around that I wipe clean and use for my own purposes.

As for the CDs, you can do the following for shits and giggles:
1) Optional - Invite friends over
2) Put microwave popcorn into microwave. Remove popcorn.
3) Turn off the lights in kitchen.
4) Insert AOL CD into microwave. Put it on for a minute or two.
5) Enjoy the fireworks display in your nuker!

Cheers!

Careful though. This can also destroy your microwave. I'll be damned if I let an AOL product destroy another one of my electronic devices.

[MetFanL]

AOL CDs could replace Clay Pigeons... PULL!!!!

[Tayl405]

I will not eat fast food. Ever. I won't even buy a bottled water there, because I refuse to give them money. I will use their bathrooms if I'm desperate though.

[Kitty]

I was at a salvation army once and they were selling AOL cd's for a buck a piece. I guess they didn't realize what they are and that they're free everywhere.

[bridgetjones]

I will not eat fast food. Ever. I won't even buy a bottled water there, because I refuse to give them money. I will use their bathrooms if I'm desperate though.

Yeah you can usually count on McDonalds to have a clean washroom when you need it!

[Taza Tikha]

http://www.responsibleshopper.org/

How does your favorite company rank? It's not an all-inclusive list, but it contains the biggies like the Gap and Mickey D's.

[wordsmith]

That's an interesting site. I really like that it tells details about WHY particular ethical points are objectionable. Part of the reason that boycotting issues irk me on some level is because it makes me think of all the bandwagon jumpers...like people picketing that Johnson & Johnson is a bad company for doing business with Burma, but, if pressed, couldn't tell you WHY doing business with Burma could be considered an ethical dilemma.

[wordsmith]

I also liked that it noted ways in which each of the companies have also been praised for their ethics. It shows that things are not so black and white.

[bridgetjones]

Hey that reminds me about a boycott that worked. Pepsi used to have a plant in Burma. Enough campuses had boycotts of it because it was seen as supporting the military dictatorship in that country. Well I guess the bad PR from the generation (ie socially concious university students) that Pepsi claims to be a part of made it withdraw from Burma.

That is an interesting site Taza.

[wordsmith]

That IS a success story, bridget...even if half the college students protesting and boycotting couldn't necessarily find Burma on a map or tell you what's so bad about the human rights situation there *cringe*.

[bridgetjones]

That IS a success story, bridget...even if half the college students protesting and boycotting couldn't necessarily find Burma on a map or tell you what's so bad about the human rights situation there *cringe*.

Lets be fair. Burma is hard to find on a map. It is a small country and is sometimes called Myanamar (sp?). Many people have a hard time finding their own country on a map nevermind some country in SE Asia. Apparently it is hard to go there as a tourist and not support the regime there.

Now if only the government would require that they label their food products that contain genetically modified ingrediants. Until then, it is safer to avoid their snack stuffs too. Pepsi also has lobbied against labelling so I assume that they have products that use genetically modified ingrediants. Although genetically modified or no, their products are still crap for you.

[stonemonkey]

Outback Steakhouse - those idiots have a H2 as their promo vehicle. Um...wtf, guys?

I have heard much of this Outback Steakhouse you speak of. As an Australian, I find it very intriguing.

[wordsmith]

Lets be fair. Burma is hard to find on a map. It is a small country and is sometimes called Myanamar (sp?). Many people have a hard time finding their own country on a map nevermind some country in SE Asia. Apparently it is hard to go there as a tourist and not support the regime there.

No doubt it's hard to find...but my point is just that there's a fair percentage of protestors who aren't very knowledgeable about their "causes" (ESPECIALLY on college campuses, sadly), but jump on board because it's trendy or whatever. Which is really kind of sad. I also think it's lame that anyone in the world can't find their own country on a map, though, now that you mention it. I don't think that's too much to expect of educated individuals.

hah, stoney - Outback Steakhouse is VERY Australian. :rolleyes:

[Taza Tikha]

Lets be fair. Burma is hard to find on a map. It is a small country and is sometimes called Myanamar (sp?). Many people have a hard time finding their own country on a map nevermind some country in SE Asia. Apparently it is hard to go there as a tourist and not support the regime there.


Burma was in the news earlier this summer because of how expensive it is to own a car there. A brand new car (think basic sedan) is over $100,000 and a 20-year old Toyota is worth $20,000. In a place where people live on pennies a day. Has something to do with import rules of the dictatorship.

I learned how to find Burma on the map when I had to write a report on Aung San Suu Kyi.

[kimmer23]

No doubt it's hard to find...but my point is just that there's a fair percentage of protestors who aren't very knowledgeable about their "causes" (ESPECIALLY on college campuses, sadly), but jump on board because it's trendy or whatever. Which is really kind of sad. I also think it's lame that anyone in the world can't find their own country on a map, though, now that you mention it. I don't think that's too much to expect of educated individuals.

hah, stoney - Outback Steakhouse is VERY Australian. :rolleyes:


i remember it was trendy to want to "Free Tibet" when i was in college. if you asked those people what were we freeing them from i am sure they couldnt tell you.

[wordsmith]

We had a tent community that sprang up on the quad in a statement of solidarity with displaced peoples in Kosovo. So you'd walk up to somebody and say, "Tell me about the situation in Kosovo," and they'd get a wild look in their eyes and scurry around to try to round up one of the handful of poli sci majors who were actually plugged into what was going on in the world. We had a lot of protests like that. I feel like they were probably started by knowledgeable, tuned in students with something to say, but eventually, you'd inevitably get a bunch of hangers on who just wanted to be out sitting by the fire singing Kum Ba Ya, regardless of what the cause was.

Disclaimer: I'm a person who LIKES to sit around the fire and sing Kum Ba Ya. But you look like an ass if you don't know the first thing about the action you are protesting against.

[bridgetjones]

i remember it was trendy to want to "Free Tibet" when i was in college. if you asked those people what were we freeing them from i am sure they couldnt tell you.

I do not know dudes and dudettes but that was one RAD concert and Richard Gere showed up or something.

I think some people at Live Aid did not know why they were there but they might have been stoned out of their minds at the time.

[shimmer728]

I will use their bathrooms if I'm desperate though.

Not me! I think most of the bathrooms in fast food restaurants smell like moldy ass, and there's usually piss all over the floor. We stopped in one McD's in Quantico, Va. on the way to the beach this summer and there were these pools of water all over the bathroom. Nasty.

I'd sooner........pee on my floor. :neutral:

[kimmer23]

Not me! I think most of the bathrooms in fast food restaurants smell like moldy ass, and there's usually piss all over the floor. We stopped in one McD's in Quantico, Va. on the way to the beach this summer and there were these pools of water all over the bathroom. Nasty.

I'd sooner........pee on my floor. :neutral:


i'd rather be in a lion cage WITH a lion than sit on some of those toilet seats! ugh!