No More Ringing Bells at Target
 

This may be old news, but I just found out last night that Target is not allowing Salvation Army ringers on their premises this year:

http://target.com/target_group/commu...citation.jhtml



According to snopes, http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/charity/sallyann.asp

I can understand their reasoning behind the change, and it is their private property to do as they wish. Just, somehow, it's gonna seem a little less like Christmas this year, with another store following behind Walmart's restriction of their Sally Ann's 3 years ago. I know my friends who made me aware of this are actually boycotting Target because of their decision. I wonder if this has hurt Target financially at all this season?

more power to target on this one. the s army has blackmailed several cities by threatening to cease assistance to the poor if same-sex partner benifits ordiances were passed.

assholes...

I read today that Wal-Mart is taking advantage of this by saying they will match what people donate to the Salvation Army in front of their stores, up to a million$.

That is as bad as The Home Depot and the old verterians selling poppies

Canada only I believe.

While this is unfortunate I still think people should adopt the policy of just finding a person to help on their own during the holiday season rather than plunking down some change in a red bucket. World would be a much better place if people did.

A million for Walmart is like a dime for me. They are giving a million, hoping that the good publicity will earn them back this amount, and more.

I hereby declare that target sucks.

You doubt the charitable nature of Wal-Mart? Haven't you ever seen that Wal-Mart commercial where they help out that town by building a Wal-Mart in an old abandoned building? Or the commercial where Wal-Mart offers to be the local hangout for old people? ;)

Their success lies in their ability to induce upon entry a coma-like state that leads their customers by distractions through their stores and into a haze of senseless consumption. I can respect their right to a home court advantage but this excuse is just terrible.

They're paying to keep the lights on so they should be able to do what they want.

I haven't heard anything like this about the SA. Are you willing to support this with something concrete?

I like how they give this lots of media, Target is evil, go to Wal-Mart, serve Wal-Mart, worship Wal-Mart.
Target just does not want to listen to that damn bell all day.
It isn't like anyone only shops at Target and that is the only time they would see the SA.
If people want to give to SA, they can do it. In fact, you can do it with out going to the door of a department store as well...

Target should just start a "no change" for the hungry. People can offer to take no change, and at end of day that change is donated to some local charity. Makes lines shorter, people’s pockets lighter, and gives to a cause.

Agreed except that I think were they helped throught the year they would require less help at the holidays. While most feel that the Salvation Army is to charity what Viagra is to erections, they would find that people would be better served by actually finding some way that they can help people rather than throwing dimes in the buckets. Then again I think people could be helped more by learning self sufficiency and getting the tools for helping themselves than getting handouts.

I can see how Target has some sense in banning the buckets. If you ok one kind of charity asking for money, then you have to ok all of them. But come on, its the salavation army, they have been doing this for how long? Im sure they could of found some way to make this happen.

With so many "charities" popping up after September 11, especially scam ones, the presence and reputation of the Salvation Army is part of how they draw their support. I donate all year long, but for the people tight with their money unless it's a place they trust, the SA has earned their trust.

I haven't heard anything specifically about blackmailing cities, but their official website does include a position statement on homosexuality that says it is against scripture and that same-sex unions or marriages are not an alternative of traditional marriage. Though to their credit they do argue against treating anyone differently because of their sexuality at the end of their statement.

Salvation Army Position Statement on Homosexuality

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/121/22.0.html

IIRC, there was a similar case in San Fran. I can't find it ATM, but i can look around more if you like.

Basically, they have a right to make that kind of choice. But i cannot and will not support such a choice.

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I have read both sides of this, and i feel if they want to ban the slvation army fromt heir store more power to them. The salvation army earns more than emough money as it is. They go around on xmas and throw out this pitty story. Yes people are suffering, but there is so many other programs that they can get involved in.

I do some vol work for the salvation army about 4 times a year. Maybe target was thinking of their customers when they banned the salvation army. I know i have been to 4 different walmarts, the mall ect. and every place i go they have a salvo guy ringing that bell. They force this guilt trip on us like if we dont give atleast 50 cents that we want all childern and "starving families to die"

I don't have a problem perse, but the thing is its almost like The Salvation Army is part of christmas...and its kind of weird when they aren't there. I guess i'm just old fashioned.

I purposefully shop at Target, because of my Bocott mentality towards Wal-Mart. Banning the SA from collecting the Tithe in front of stores, if anything, solidifies my descision to shop there. Personally, I dont take confort in the ability of the Salvation Army to live up to thier name, but I do see the good they accomplish. I prefer to donate my time, and help my local community by supporting food banks.

To each thier own.

As with a lot of other businesses, Target's "no solicitation" policy does have one major loophole. They'll hound their employees for donating to the United Way, and they try to guilt trip you a bit if you don't want to. I've applied for positions at other local businesses and I've even ran across a business that you are required to donate at least x% of your pay to the United Way to work there. Is it really considered a donation if you're required?

No solicitation is no solicitation.

Why should they be able to hang out in front of target but no one else can?

i work for a non profit corp, and we are not so much requested to donate, it is more like forced.... but hey we get alot of funding from them so what the hell is five bucks? i mean they pretty much pay my pay check

I will continue to shop at Target.

Like Tecoyah, I boycott Wal-Mart. I also think Target is one of the few corporations that pays its employees what I consider a decent wage.

I hope that people don't boycott a respectable company like Target over something like this. The Salvation Army has plenty of venues and the company's reasoning is certainly plausible--they don't want to inundate their customers with solicitors.

good, because I don't want to be inundated.