Target, not on target

From Carol Platt Liebau(Shame on Target) Target stores will not be allowing the Salvation Army to put the familiar red collection kettles in front of their stores this holiday season.

Bah humbug on Target! Estimates have the loss to the Salvation Army in the NINE MILLION DOLLAR RANGE!!!  That's a whole bunch of folks that won't get helped out this year.

Carol has an email link and the Customer Service 1-800 number to let Target know what you think of their "decision".  Give 'em both barrels and let them know you'll be heading over to Walmart and here in the Northwest Fred Meyer!  (Try to use polite words when informing them that they are lower than scum, please!)

Need I remind everyone that Target is the a product of the Dayton family, as in SENATOR MARK DAYTON (Democrat-MN).  Is this the kinder, gentler more caring society the Dems are telling us they want to give us?  Thanks, but no thanks!  Is it any wonder they got creamed at the polls.  Maybe this will just be more ammunition for Rep Mark Kennedy (R-MN6) when he takes on Dayton in 2006.  Then at least some good will come of it!

UPDATE:  I was at a Target store in California (northern) on Tuesday (not saying where cause it might get the manager in trouble) and there was a Salvation Army Red Kettle out front (and you bet I put in some cash!).  Good for the "Rogue" Target store manager!

UPDATE II:  I see that Hugh Hewitt and Captain's Quarters has picked up the gauntlet as well.  Hugh spent his entire radio show on it the other day.  Glad to see more folks are just as offended as me and Mrs. Hamilton's Pamphlets are (and the Mrs. is a HUGE Target fan, this really gripes her...).

UPDATE III:  Unfortunately, James Lileks doesn't see this as the slap in the face that some of us do.  Too bad, I hope he changes his mind.  I usually agree with him on these kind of things... Maybe it's because he has a serious lack of shopping alternatives...Oh well.  Can't agree with everyone all the time.

UPDATE IV: (Okay these updates are starting to get silly, I'm gonna have to do a new entry soon) I checked the Target website to see if there was any mention of this policy and/or this controversy.  Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch.  Not surprising.  They did have lots of info on their other corporate giving, etc.  The really DO sponsor and support some great stuff, but it doesn't change the wrongness of the banning of the Salvation Army.

Comments

[TimF]

I'd just be happy if they'd just enforce the policy evenly as I get sick of kic... uh, being panhandled by (professional) initiative signature gatherers outside my local store.

I think I'll check if the Salvation Army can benefit from my corporate matching funds. Heh.

[Todd]

The giving that Target does in the community is just as much marketing as it is giving. I get email from my kid's school saying "Buy at Target because then Target gives to the school." The red kettle is truly philanthropic because no one gets any points for it.