I refuse to spend money that contributes to anti-LGBTQ candidates any longer (this is my largest issue, however I have been branching out), and I have shopped at Best But and Target rather frequently, so I sent emails to both Target and Best Buy letting them know about my boycott.
Target sent me a generic response that they sent most people who expressed similar concerns. See http://www.towleroad.com/2010/07/emmer.html#comments for that response.
I sent Best Buy a more thoughtful response, and in fact received two thoughtful answers from two different people in the company. While these were not enough to make me break my boycott (and indeed one made me angry), I appreciate the responses and I think I will share them here.
To Best Buy, I sent the message:
Hello,
I recently was debating between buying an mp3 player at Target vs. Best Buy, and I chose Best Buy because of the excellent customer service I experienced. However, I now realize that I should not have gone to either. Today I read that Best Buy has donated $100,000 to Tom Emmer who is running for Governor of Minnesota. Tom Emmer is very anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) equality, and I care deeply about LGBTQ issues. Therefore, I no longer plan to shop at Best Buy, or any store that contributes to such anti-LGBTQ politicians' campaigns.
When I emailed Target, I received a mass-produced response stating that they only consider their "retail and business objectives" when contributing to a candidate. Frankly, especially as an anti-capitalist individual, I find that a ridiculous way to conduct politics. I don't know if I will receive a mass-produced response from you, but I want to let you know that I don't care for similar defenses.
Trey
I first received this response from the Executive Resolution Specialist:
Hello Mr. XXXXXXXX,
Thank you for taking the time to contact the executive offices at Best Buy’s corporate headquarters. Your email has been forwarded to my attention to review and respond.
With global operations headquartered in MN, Best Buy has a strong interest and stake in the success of MN’s business climate. MN Forward is an important opportunity to support candidates with policies that will encourage job creation and economic growth as the state and nation work to foster an economic recovery.
Best Buy does not support candidates or campaigns based on party affiliation, but rather based on their support of issues important to the company and retail industry. Best Buy’s political activity policy and annual report is available on our Web site at www.bby.com
Does Best Buy Support Tom Emmer?
No – As a company we do not directly support any individual state candidates in these races.
We support MN Forward’s objective, which is to elect candidates from both parties who will put job creation and economic growth at the top of the legislative agenda.
Thank you again for contacting Best Buy to share your concerns. Your feedback will help us build a better customer experience for all our customers. We appreciate your patronage and hope you will let us know of any future questions.
The first thing I noticed about this email was that it addressed me as "Mr." The second was that it was from Best Buy.
So, I first chewed out the sender for assuming my gender. I also don't care for his defense, just as I said about Target's defense. Candidates are not, or should not be, elected for a single issue. I also find equality much more important than business. I realize that people need jobs, but there should be alternatives (e.g. green energy) and I think taxing people who can afford it and putting that money into programs to help people who need support is more effective than the arbitrary claim that "high taxes mean fewer jobs."
After sending my response, I noticed another email from Best Buy, this time from someone in Public Relations:
Hello.
Best Buy’s CEO, Brian Dunn, asked me to respond to your email. I hope I can give you some context as to why the decision to support MN Forward was made.
Best Buy’s political giving strategy – and its decision to support MN Forward - is based solely on the need to help elect candidates who will make jobs and economic issues a top priority this election. As a business in an industry highly sensitive to consumer uncertainty, unemployment and market instability, a successful economic recovery is critical.
We sincerely appreciate and understand the concerns raised regarding the governor’s race. The reality is candidates across the political spectrum have a lot of different positions on a lot of different issues – and Best Buy may not necessarily agree with all those positions - but from a jobs and economic perspective, Best Buy joined other MN businesses in supporting the objectives of MN Forward. Consistent with Best Buy values, we also believe our employees, shareholders and customers have a right to know how Best Buy engages politically which is why we informed employees of the contribution and publicly post our political policy and annual activity report on www.bby.com/advocacy.
Please know that Best Buy remains completely committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace in which employees are encouraged to bring their whole self to work. For the past six years Best Buy has received a perfect 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index recognizing our commitment to GLBT workplace equality. In addition, Best Buy supports policies and organizations committed to diversity and has worked closely with Best Buy PRIDE (our GLBT employee network) to support issues including working with the Human Rights Campaign and other businesses in advocating for the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) .
And we always encourage our employees to make their voices heard on issues and decisions that are important to them and give them the tools to do so. They have multiple channels to express their points of view – in person, via social media, etc. – and the ability to join in our grassroots political action work.
I know you have a choice of where you can shop for consumer electronics and I am sorry that we may lose you as a customer because of this political contribution.
This email was much more friendly and sympathetic, but in the end will not make me shop at Best Buy in the near future.
My decision to only support stores that have my values in mind both in policies and in donations will probably force me to spend a bit more money on individual products and will certainly cost me in convenience. But, it will hopefully help me curb my consumerism and, hopefully, I will make an impact. If nothing else, I think sending the emails was a good move.
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