They won't let the ringers stand outside their stores and collect for the needy. I think it is shameful when this wonderful organization does so much good for those in need. Your thoughts?
2006-12-04 15:17:14 · 21 answers · asked by ? 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
I agree 100%. They also will not allow their employees to say "Merry Christmas," which I find to be even more offensive. Unfortunately, I forgot about this a bit earlier in the season and shopped there. I'm not planning on going back.
2006-12-04 15:37:59 · answer #1 · answered by dino00digger 2 · 2⤊ 5⤋
I'm totally shopping there. They are kind enough to donate money so I don't have to hear that ringing. I know the SA does help a lot of people... but I also I know how to donate on my own without someone ringing a bell at me when I go into a store. I don't like to be guilted into donating. Plus now that I know they pay their bell ringers I'm kind of bitter about them. I never once hear a call for volunteers for bell ringing.
Plus that whole David Blane thing was part of a big Salvation Army thing with Target.
I don't think that is true about the Salvation Army not taking a donation from the Dixie Chicks though - they were part of their big Gulf Coast Relief concert last year.
As far as Target not letting their employees say Merry Christmas - that isn't true. They did choose not to use the word Christmas in their ads last year - and used Holidays instead... until a bunch of people totally over reacted and boycotted the store... So they threw the word Christmas back into their ads (despite the fact that they they weren't recognizing Other people's religious holidays by making this change.)
So by all means feel free to shop at Target. They give the Salvation Army AND they allow people to say Merry Christmas!
2006-12-05 00:53:55 · answer #2 · answered by Donna W 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
While I do think it is rather selfish on their part and makes no sense what so ever, I have a different perspective on it. You see, my husband was fired from a well-paying contracting job on a military base due to what we believe was his sleep apnea (we have no way to prove it). After spending 2+ mos. unemployed, receiving half of what he had been making and watching our bills pile up....out of all the other companies he applied for, Target was the only one willing to give him a chance. So when I hear about people refusing to shop here or there for whatever reason, I've come to look at the broader picture....when a large group of people decides to boycot a store, it doesn't just affect the bigwigs. It affects the people who maybe didn't have the skills or opportunity to get a better paying job by way of the little man getting laid off because sales have plummeted...because we know corporate would never lay off their own first. So I guess do what you think is best but just remember that the person suffering for your actions is usually not the person you intended to do the suffering.
Also, my local news station did a report on local charities..one of them being the Salvation Army bell ringers and when they did a break down of how much of the donations actually go to the charities...only 10% of the money is donated to the charity and the rest go to paying the ringers, supplies, start up costs, etc. Correct me if I'm wrong and excuse me for sounding callous, but if you're a charity and you're ringing the bell for charity....shouldn't you be doing it out of the kindness of your heart and not to get paid?
2006-12-04 23:31:38 · answer #3 · answered by AverageMom 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Target did this because of a policy they have to to allow anyone to solicit money outside the stores. This includes homeless, boy scouts and girl scounts. Unfortunately they have to enforce the ban for everyone, including charities. Target donates million to charities and does a lot of good themselves.
They give over $2,000,000 a week to charities. They are giving the Salvation Army $1,000,000 in addition to all they collect online and in the stores.
So before you condem a company for a little piece of information you heard you should get the facts and research the subject. You may find that people and the press rarely tell you the entire story.
2006-12-05 00:07:33 · answer #4 · answered by smohs 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I shopped at Target this afternoon and at the checkout They had a display at each register for the Salvation Army where you tear off a $1, $2, or $3 dollar donation and it goes straight on your total bill.
Maybe the annoying bell-ringers are gone, but the money is still being collected.
So, let's not get too down on Target.
2006-12-04 23:21:47 · answer #5 · answered by Tanya D 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Technically, where I live, I don't see any Salvation Army Ringers standing outside Target. I see them over at Walmart all the time though.
2006-12-05 00:21:04 · answer #6 · answered by Christina 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They banned the ringers because con artists were saying they were Salvation Army workers, then taking the money for themselves. I saw it myself today in front of a Dunkin Donuts; some spooky looking dude with no bell said he wasn'tallowed to ring the bell,but was still collecting money. Seemed fishy to me. Anyhoo, I will still shop Target over Wamart any day.
2006-12-04 23:47:20 · answer #7 · answered by Flea© 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
the reason they booted the salvation army was because of a threatened lawsuit, some other groups demanded equal sidewalk space at target to ask for money. rather than have some questionable groups there, target banned them all together. they didn't really have much choice
it's the same reason the girl scouts can't sell cookies in front of my supermarket anymore
2006-12-04 23:48:45 · answer #8 · answered by kitkat 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have not shopped at Target since I heard this last year. I think it is shameful. Christmas is the time when caring for others should be tatamount to everything else. It goes to show how commercilazation has taken over. They (Target) have forgot the true meaning of Christmas,not that they cared in the first place,but they showed their true colors to me. Will never shop at Target again,not even if they change the rule.
2006-12-05 07:17:43 · answer #9 · answered by mrsreadalot 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Although I always put money in the red kettles, I have no illusions that this is a major source of income for them. I found out from a reliable source that their thrift stores generate millions and because they get such an excess of donated clothing,much of it is sold in bales to third world countries, another huge source of income. But please don't stop donating at Christmas, any little bit helps and they do so much for so many.
2006-12-05 00:53:10 · answer #10 · answered by jidwg 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are alot of stores that aren't as involved maybe as they could. But who knows what other works they are doing. Not only that but it might just be in your town where this isn't happening. Honestly I didn't look when I was in there a couple days ago.
But you could be almost against everyone and every company. B/c there are so many that need help, and they are wealthy stores.
2006-12-05 03:15:00 · answer #11 · answered by mke 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋