What other companies should be boycotted?

[Terrie]

Personally, I don't buy Apple because it's overpriced and I dislike their propriety stance on, well, everything. (Remeber when Apple gave free computers to schools? That would never happen now). I do try to be aware of where my money goes, but it's simply one small thing among many things that I do in trying to be true to my beliefs.

[deelaem]

I'd boycott anything that's Mormon owned. And they have their greasy little fingers in a LOT of pies.

[lilwriter85]

My father refused to shop at walmart for the longest time for all the reasons mentioned. But they're really the only place that has some of the stuff we need, as we live in a small town. As far as Chick Fil-A goes... I'm vegan, so I'll just...continue to never go there.

My parents would boycott Wal-Mart completely if they could, but they also live in a small town too. It is a bit funny that a lot of Wal-Mart stores carry DVD/Blu-Rays movies and TV show DVD sets that are LGBT related.

[Minerva]

I don't go to Maccy D's for multiple reasons and don't go to the Gap because back when I was in high school they said "Any worker who has problems with our policies is free to email us" in response to the criticism of them exploiting sweatshop workers.

:doh: Oh dear Lord, I'm glad I'm not into buying new clothes.

[ADoyle90815]

I'd boycott anything that's Mormon owned. And they have their greasy little fingers in a LOT of pies.

I would love to do that myself, but one of Jet Blue's major hubs is my local airport, and their flights to Las Vegas is cheaper than any I can get out of LA or Orange County. Another thing is that on morning flights, they give out free Dunkin Donuts coffee as part of their beverage service. Basically, that Mormon owned company serves something that is against the CEO's religious beliefs.

[Witsec7]

I see it more as what local businesses can you support to sustain your communities and be congruent with your own values?

[Anxious Girl]

Question: If pro-LGBT rights companies like Oreo sell their products in anti-LGBT companies like Walmart; can they ask Walmart to stop selling their product; or no? * is asking this because she doesn't know how business situations works when it comes to openly supporting hate groups and selling products that were made by companies that don't discriminiate; such as oreos * Please help; as I'm confuddled. :|

[slickcat79]

Question: If pro-LGBT rights companies like Oreo sell their products in anti-LGBT companies like Walmart; can they ask Walmart to stop selling their product; or no? * is asking this because she doesn't know how business situations works when it comes to openly supporting hate groups and selling products that were made by companies that don't discriminiate; such as oreos * Please help; as I'm confuddled. :|

As far as I know, any manufacturer can make the decision about which retail outlets can carry their products, as long as the company is buying directly from the manufacturer. It's most likely done through nuanced contracts, so I'm not sure how quickly a manufacturer could "pull" their product if they wanted to.

I would find it very strange for a large manufacturer to refuse to have their product in walmart over ideological reasons, though. Walmart has a MASSIVE market share and a wide geographical distribution area. The only way I could see a manufacturer refuse to have their product in walmart is if they were not getting the price they felt they deserved.

[Anxious Girl]

As far as I know, any manufacturer can make the decision about which retail outlets can carry their products, as long as the company is buying directly from the manufacturer. It's most likely done through nuanced contracts, so I'm not sure how quickly a manufacturer could "pull" their product if they wanted to.

I would find it very strange for a large manufacturer to refuse to have their product in walmart over ideological reasons, though. Walmart has a MASSIVE market share and a wide geographical distribution area. The only way I could see a manufacturer refuse to have their product in walmart is if they were not getting the price they felt they deserved.

Ah, ok. Thanks.

[Seven Severn]

I'd boycott anything that's Mormon owned. And they have their greasy little fingers in a LOT of pies.

Isn't In-and-Out Burger owned by Mormons? They also control much of the tree nut market in the U.S. (almonds specifically come to mind). The amount of land the church owns is simply staggering.

ETA: Because I'm not completely stupid, honestly.

[Anxious Girl]

Isn't In-and-Out Burger owned by Mormon's? They also control much of the tree nut market in the U.S. (almonds specifically come to mind). The amount of land the church owns is simply staggering.

Don't forget genealogy sites. Even though I'm against their ceremony of proxy-

baptism; ancestry.com and familysearch seem to by the genealogy sites that have the most info... (slightly off topic; if anybody knows of non-affliated genealogy sites; please share) I have been a genealogy nut lately...

[DistantStar]

I now work for what is ultimately a Mormon-owned company. And the resort serves booze, coffee, and you can get PPV porn if you like. I'm told when the current owners bought the place they tried not serving alcohol but that didn't last long. I think making money won that battle pretty easily.

If I was going to avoid anything Mormon-owned, in this part of the country, I coudn't realistically go anywhere or buy anything. But I won't go to anywhere directly church-owned if I know it, like their thrift stores, though I've heard the one in Twin Falls is pretty awesome. Too bad.

[NJMom]

Thanks for the replies, everybody. I was aware of WalMart and hate it too, for the way they treat their workers as well as the reasons others have mentioned. To the poster who asked, I meant any company who was practicing discrimination of any kind. And to the one who thought boycott was maybe too strong a word or concept...well, think of the time that Denny's had to pay millions of dollars because they practiced discrimination against black customers. The few Denny's we had around here went out of business not long after that happened. Chick Fil A might wind up with an equally costly class action lawsuit if they don't watch their step.

[JesusFightClub]

:doh: Oh dear Lord, I'm glad I'm not into buying new clothes.

That was over 10 years ago and strangely internet access was not common amongst the workers in certain areas. It came across as so fucking malicious I would not touch the Gap with a bargepole.

People gave me Gap clothes for presents. I gave them the clothes back. They can get a refund and the Gap can fuck itself and die.

Some things, some things, are not forgivable. I always practised this. I remembered it anew yesterday.

[JMarie]

Good Question!

I just did a google, and found these 10 listed in [link=http://www.queerty.com/dont-buy-here-10-companies-that-hate-the-gays-20090224/]this article[/link]:

10. A-1 Self Storage Company

9. AutoZone Inc.

8. Brown-Forman Corp.

7. Cinemark

6. Domino’s Pizza

5. Salvation Army

4.Manchester Grand Resorts

3. Urban Outfitters

2. Walmart Stores Inc.

1. ExxonMobil

PS; Not my opinions just linking the article ;-) Not in the USA so this stuff probably doesn't apply, just figured I'd google

The founder of Domino's helped found Ave Maria University.

Quote: The role Ave Maria University intends to fill is not merely catechesis (although that has been woefully deficient in other institutions), but rather the ongoing reflection of theologians and philosophers on the integration of the truths of the faith with the social, cultural, economic, and political developments in society. This is perhaps the single most vital task for Catholic academicians: to explicate the truths of the faith, and measure against them the evolving societal propositions or practices in politics, the arts, the economy, etc. Two hundred or more years ago, those practices included slavery, laissez faire capitalism, and child labor. Fifty or more years ago, they included Marxism, Nazism, and Freudianism. Today they include abortion, fetal research, cloning, same-sex "marriage," moral relativism, and world terrorism. It is the graduates of Ave Maria University who will become the Catholic intellectuals needed to bring the truths of the faith to bear on these issues.

http://www.avemaria.edu/AboutAveMaria/O ... ssion.aspx

[thoughtful]

I see it more as what local businesses can you support to sustain your communities and be congruent with your own values?

This.

It can't be done perfectly, but I prefer to attempt to reward those who do good work and good works, :D and avoid my money going to hateful folks.

It's not instead of speaking up or or doing other things I feel are important.

[lilwriter85]

On the topic of Mormons and business, a college friend of mine worked for a Mormon couple who owned a Baskin Robbins franchise. She worked for that store for a year and she got along ok with the owners, but the owners were assholes to a single mom who worked there.

[deelaem]

I now work for what is ultimately a Mormon-owned company. And the resort serves booze, coffee, and you can get PPV porn if you like. I'm told when the current owners bought the place they tried not serving alcohol but that didn't last long. I think making money won that battle pretty easily.

If I was going to avoid anything Mormon-owned, in this part of the country, I coudn't realistically go anywhere or buy anything. But I won't go to anywhere directly church-owned if I know it, like their thrift stores, though I've heard the one in Twin Falls is pretty awesome. Too bad.

I really wish the Democratic Party would point stuff like this out more often.

[PennySycamore]

I would love to do that myself, but one of Jet Blue's major hubs is my local airport, and their flights to Las Vegas is cheaper than any I can get out of LA or Orange County. Another thing is that on morning flights, they give out free Dunkin Donuts coffee as part of their beverage service. Basically, that Mormon owned company serves something that is against the CEO's religious beliefs.

There was a coffee maker in my suite at a Marriot where I recently stayed on a business trip. The hotel restaurants also served booze! Is the worst thing a Mormon could drink an Irish coffee?

[PennySycamore]

Don't forget genealogy sites. Even though I'm against their ceremony of proxy-

baptism; ancestry.com and familysearch seem to by the genealogy sites that have the most info... (slightly off topic; if anybody knows of non-affliated genealogy sites; please share) I have been a genealogy nut lately...

You have to be careful of what you find on genealogy sites. I recall when the Mormon Church first opened up their records online. It didn't take me long to find a conflict in the records. It may have explained a dilemma, though. One of my ancestors may have had half-sisters and not just full-sisters.

[synchroswimr]

I think it is unacceptable that businesses make enough money to donate to political campaigns instead of giving decent benefits to their employees, and decent salaries. If they are funding anything I think it should be clearly stated in their shops and on their websites.

But I also think that we should have more details about where our products are manufactures (by whom, what conditions) and how our produce is produced and harvested.

I'm just sick of living in this capitalist society (and I mean any around the world) where all decisions about economy are made as if we were all rational actors knowing all information beforehand which is an absolute lie.

To the bold, here is one place to find some of that information: http://www.free2work.org/

[dawbs]

This will be unpopular splitting of hair's opinion, but I do wish more of the lists drew a distinction between passive support of an issue and active support.

Trying to track where money goes and not support hate groups and causes I detest is overwhelming and the exhaustive lists don't help.

So while Meijer may not offer domestic partner benefits, I'm probably going to shop there (because they're the only grocery store in town. Well, there is another one, I saw mouse droppings last time I was there) and because they "merely" passively support the issue.

I'm not going to go Hobby Lobby because they give money to Gothard and they ACTIVELY support the issue.

The 'dirty dozen' type lists that give me 10 or 12 of the 'worst offenders' and good information as to why theyr'e considered that do so much more, IMO.

[DistantStar]

I really wish the Democratic Party would point stuff like this out more often.

Do you mean the way sometimes it's impossible to boycott certain businesses for whatever reason? Because yes, that would be useful. I can avoid Walmart, as I have options. A lot of people don't have much choice depending on where they live. The only pharmacy within reach of a coworker (who lives 50 miles south, gah what a drive!) is a Walmart, the others closed down years ago. That sort of thing.

This is why I drew the line at directly church-owned businesses. I don't want my money going to that organization, but at least I can try to minimize. Better 10% of a purchase than 100% of it.

[Shasta ODonegal]

It can't be done perfectly, but I prefer to attempt to reward those who do good work and good works, and avoid my money going to hateful folks.

It's not instead of speaking up or or doing other things I feel are important.

(bolding mine)

This sums up my thoughts and feelings about watching who gets my money. Most of the people I know look at it as an all or nothing way to approach responsible consumption. I don't think it has to be and honestly believe that if everyone did what they could, it would make a difference.

This past Friday, I nearly bought some paint storage jars at Hobby Lobby. Then I remembered what someone had written here about the company supporting Dominionist groups, did a quick search on my phone, and went across the street to JoAnn. I bought what I needed and know that my money did not go to helping spread the hateful message that women are second-class citizens. win/win.

It would be nice if there was some reachable level of responsible consumer activism. I figure if I can avoid giving money to companies that aggressively pursue the abbreviation of the the rights of others, I'm helping, even if it's in a small way.

[smores]

This will be unpopular splitting of hair's opinion, but I do wish more of the lists drew a distinction between passive support of an issue and active support.

Trying to track where money goes and not support hate groups and causes I detest is overwhelming and the exhaustive lists don't help.

So while Meijer may not offer domestic partner benefits, I'm probably going to shop there (because they're the only grocery store in town. Well, there is another one, I saw mouse droppings last time I was there) and because they "merely" passively support the issue.

I'm not going to go Hobby Lobby because they give money to Gothard and they ACTIVELY support the issue.

The 'dirty dozen' type lists that give me 10 or 12 of the 'worst offenders' and good information as to why theyr'e considered that do so much more, IMO.

I believe the Meijer info may be old, as in before Fred Meijer died. I've tried to find more info on it and haven't, so I continue to shop there, too.