This whole LL Bean thing...

[Blue_Warrior]

We are supposed to boycott because one of 50 family members working for the company is a repuke? Or because Trump tweeted to patronize LL Bean? LL Bean is a good, American company. It's employees are diverse. It's values are solid. While it stays out of politics, it is generally a progressive company.

This boycott seems poorly thought out.

[AJT]

1. I agree

I do wish they would consider removing her from the board.

[tazkcmo]

2. I agree

I suggest not doing business with them due to the over priced Chinese made products they now sell.

[Blue_Warrior]

4. They do?

I always thought their products were high priced but high quality American made..

[tazkcmo]

5. Me too.

And they did in the past. A year ago I sent off for a catalog because I was looking for high quality cold weather clothing. I was shocked to see the only American made items being little trinkets of one kind or another. Everything else was made in China. I was very disappointed to see that.

[cwydro]

36. Nonsense.

Everything I own from them is American made.

Good quality, lasts for years and years.

[tazkcmo]

38. Nonsense to you, too.

I stand by what I've said.

[Squinch]

3. They really ought to boot her off the board, though. She's causing them to lose business.

If she were not on the board, the problems would most likely go away.

[Abq_Sarah]

42. No

People need to grow the fuck up and stop trying to use intimidation to punish others for not following them politically in lockstep. What is this? High School on a national level?

[Squinch]

47. Trump is a threat to humanity. If a board member of a national chain is shilling for him,

then a boycott of that chain until that board member is removed is a legitimate form of protest.

And no, dear, I have no intention of "growing the fuck up" and sitting quietly while people shill for a con man who is going to wreck our country.

If "lockstep" (nice right wing word, by the way) includes non-support of people who are pushing Trump on us, then lockstep it is.

[Crash2Parties]

6. Not because of one member; because they stood up for her.

In doing so they made it clear which side they favor.

We should buy jeans, boots & the rest from companies who say, "we will fight Trump and the GOP" instead of one that makes excuses for a board member.

[Blue_Warrior]

7. No they didn't

They made it clear that her views are not those of L.L.Bean.

[Squinch]

48. Then they need to boot her from the board. She is publicly shilling for Trump, and she is

associating the company with that shilling.

[juxtaposed]

8. this is how stupid it is..

http://www.pressherald.com/2017/01/06/linda-bean-in-trouble-with-fec-over-pro-trump-pac/

what ll bean does

http://www.llbean.com/customerService/aboutLLBean/environment.html?nav=ln

http://www.llbean.com/customerService/aboutLLBean/corporate_citizenship.html?nav=ln

http://www.llbean.com/customerService/aboutLLBean/conservation_partners.html?nav=ln

[baldguy]

9. Yes, we must shun anyone we isn't pure of heart & untainted by any *corrupted ideas*.

[Lurker Deluxe]

19. No. No. No.

We must not shun them ...

We must burn them alive in the town square, how else to you get people on your side?

Only the pure must be allowed to live, everyone else should be herded into ... I dunno, maybe a giant oven??

Anyone ever tried that? I bet it would get the whole world on their side.

[baldguy]

20. First they came for those preppy pastel polos, but I did not object because I wore button fronts.

Then they came for the boat shoes, but I did not object because I wore sneakers or dress shoes.

Then they came for the bulky wool sweaters, but I did not object because - seriously, they're really overpriced.

Then they came for the khakis, and I had nothing left to wear.

[Iggo]

10. I, not we.

Last edited Sun Jan 15, 2017, 11:19 AM - Edit history (1)

I quit giving to Susan G Komen when the pink ribbon turned political.

I quit eating at Chick-fil-A when they reveled in their own homophobia.

I quit buying New Balance shoes when the chairman gave half a million to Romney.

I waited to see if LL Bean would remove Linda Bean from the board. They didn't, so I'm done with them.

I, not we.

I'm not asking you to do anything.

[LaydeeBug]

18. Love this. I'm not buying another bleeping thing from them until she's ousted. nt

[crazycatlady]

30. I feel bad, I just bought a pair of New Balance

But then again they were $19 at Marshall's on clearance, so most likely they lost money.

[cwydro]

11. I've been a customer for years.

All my outdoor wear is Bean. Lots of other Bean clothing; I'm wearing one of their corduroy shirts now. Had it for at least 15 years.

Nothing wears out. But they'll replace it if it does.

I won't be boycotting.

[TrekLuver]

12. Because he tweeted. She has a right to her opinion and she can support who she wants...the

problem is the 'president elect' who needs to SHUT THE FUCK UP. Buy LL Bean ...FUCK YOU. Nothing personal LL Bean but it's about whomever this Trashfuck inappropriately promotes...

[Blue_Warrior]

14. He knows they're a progressive company

He's playing you! What if he tweets support for planned parenthood? Boycott them too?

[TrekLuver]

16. He does not know shit...I think you are giving him way too much credit.

He is not supposed to promote a private company PERIOD. Especially because "they" gave $$ to him campaign (super pac). He is playing himself.

Now with that being said when I often participate in a "boycott" I don't actually boycott. I know the deal with LL Bean but that didn't stop me from pretending that I'm all pearl clutchy. So yes I did give them a call and if all the calls prompted them to release a statement to clarify the situation than well done.

As far as him tweeting or saying something I agree with (like supporting Plan Parenthood) well I'm waiting. If he can come up with something ...anything that I can support than I'll do that. I'm still going to think he's an asshole but I like to think I'm objective. If he does some "good" I'll give him credit...but so far NOTHING.

[Greybnk48]

13. I agree.

I'm not joining this boycott either. It's wrong.

[grantcart]

15. You cannot seperate the company from its Board of Directors

She obviously violated the spirit if not the letter of their company's policy to be non political.

Not in that market but if I was I would boycott it until she is removed from the board and then I would return and double my purchases.

They may not respect the ballot box but they will respect the cash register.

If the company does well then the credit will go to Trump, even if it isn't true. The company could quickly solve the perception problem by removing her from the board.

[LaydeeBug]

17. this...and if they *can't*, or they *won't*, they face boycott.

I'll buy my outdoor stuff somewhere else.

This is *capitalism*, Jack. We vote every day with our dollars.

[MoonRiver]

21. I've been boycotting LL Bean for years, because of this:

https://www.change.org/p/christopher-j-mccormick-ceo-l-l-bean-please-stop-selling-real-fur

[llmart]

22. Don't think we'll have to worry about boycotting......

after the Orange freakshow takes office none of us peons will be able to afford any of their overpriced crap anyway.

[dembotoz]

23. ya

tho we could always use a good pair of boots when they send ya to the camps

[nini]

24. This is another example of the 'Purity test'

It's getting scary how we end up hurting our own cause with this inability to see the big picture.

[Fla Dem]

25. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. If you want to boycott Linda Bean,

then boycott the company she runs.

Bean, the granddaughter of L.L. Bean founder Leon Leonwood Bean, is a member of the retailer’s board and runs a lobster company called Linda Bean’s Lobster Dreams.

http://www.pressherald.com/2017/01/06/linda-bean-in-trouble-with-fec-over-pro-trump-pac/

This from her web site Linda Bean's Lobster Dreams

While her core principles are libertarian — she was a high-profile supporter of Ron Paul last year — she’s also a social conservative, supporting groups and candidates opposed to gay rights, gay marriage, abortion, and multiculturalism. She is a trustee of the Eagle Forum, the influential “pro-family” interest group of her close friend Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative Republican icon. She’s supported the Maine Grassroots Coalition (whose core mission is to “adamantly defend traditional marriage”) and Concerned Maine Families (which fought against anti-discrimination laws protecting homosexuals.)

“Those are biblically-based issues with me,” explains Bean, who is a member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, which teaches that the Bible is infallible and homosexuality sinful. “It’s helped me to go to the Bible for direction — there’s a lot of truth in it, and it’s a great book of learning if people would take time with it.”

Her political activities must have made for occasional tension at L.L. Bean board meetings, given that her cousin Leon Gorman and his wife give to Democratic causes. (After Bean’s 1992 Congressional bid, gay activists in Philadelphia organized a brief boycott of the company.) But in recent years, Bean says they’ve come together on two issues: gambling and the environment.

Indeed, members of the Bean clan gave $175,000 to Casinos No! in 2007 and $260,000 in 2008, accounting for more than 40 percent of all donations to the group. Last year Linda, who refuses to sell lottery tickets at her Port Clyde store, gave $45,000. She says gambling is harmful and contrary to Maine values: “We don’t need it. If other states want it, fine, but this is Maine.”

Bean says the family increasingly finds common ground on green issues, including her current effort to get Maine lobster certified as a sustainable product by the London-based Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). “I appreciate a little more that we’re on a planet that needs to be protected, and I’m going kind of green,” she says, with biodegradable packaging and an advertising campaign touting the Maine lobster fishery’s environmentally friendly practices. And with major retailers like Wal-Mart requiring all wild-caught seafood to have MSC certification, she says it makes good business sense, too.

“I hope I can take what I make as an L.L. Bean shareholder and put it to use in creating a more viable, growing lobster fishing community that can pass it on to their kids and grandkids,” she says as a visitor finishes one of her very plump lobster rolls. “It gives me great pleasure to do that, honestly. It really does.”

http://www.lindabeansperfectmaine.com/2009/07/linda-beans-lobster-dreams/

[Iggo]

29. L.L. Bean is one of her companies, and the only one that's received my dollars.

So they're not getting my dollars anymore.

[Fla Dem]

32. No it's not her company. She is only on their BOD. Other BOD members support Dems

and their causes. But do what you want. Just make an informed decision.

[Iggo]

34. She's not one of the owners?

[Fla Dem]

35. Yes she is. The bio I read on her only mentioned her BOD position. But so are other family members

owners who lean left. That was my point. The whole comapny shouldn't suffer because she supported Trump.

[Iggo]

39. "The whole comapny shouldn't suffer..."

I hope the rest of the Bean family members see it that way, too.

Until then, I'm done.

[eShirl]

44. everyone has someone like her in the family

[RBInMaine]

28. Please allow me to provide you with some information:

They run great deals. They have outlet stores where they sell close-outs and seconds at GREAT prices. They sell THOUSANDS of products and it is overwhelmingly GOOD merchandise. I should know because I have shopped LL Bean for years as have most people I know. People are VERY satisfied. Customer service is AWESOME. I was once trying on a pair of pants and nicked my finger and got a little blood on the pants. They said NO PROBLEM and just let me have another pair. They will allow you to return just about ANYTHING for exchange or refund no questions asked. They are a very progressive business in MANY ways and give tons of money to all kinds of good causes, especially environmental related causes. I would become more informed if I were you before making such a judgement.

[marzipanni]

33. They have a very liberal return and replace policy.

When you buy something you must be helping to pay for every replacement made.

Here's a 29 minute story about it on NPR "This American Life"
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/591/get-your-moneys-worth?act=2

transcript:
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/591/transcript

[RBInMaine]

27. The "boycott" is MEGA STUPID and is BACKFIRING in a big way. Total and complete NONSENSE.

[smirkymonkey]

31. I agree. It's overkill.

It would be nice if they would remove her from the board, but I see no need to punish the other board members and hard working employees for this one bad egg.

[marzipanni]

37. Hah- I propose a game. Let's take off our clothes and try to find "Made in U.S.A." labels

I'll go first-
Jacket- R.E.I. (old hand me-down from teenage nephew, to my son, to me) "Made in Taiwan"
Fleece pullover- Eddie Bauer (at least 14-years-old, Christmas present) "Made in Hong Kong"
Turtleneck- Eddie Bauer (at least 14-years-old Christmas present) no "Made in" label found
Pants- Cotton pajama-bottom style, bought from Banana Republic when the couple who started it in one tiny store in Mill Valley, CA in the late 70's traveled and bought lots of old military and other surplus clothing around the world. If these pants ever had a "Made in" label, it wore out!
Footwear- Acorn cotton/leather sock slippers (brand new from Goodwill - $ 6.00!) "Made in China"

The more I think about it, I may have to assuage my guilt by retiring to a vegan, solar powered, self-sustaining nudist colony!

[boston bean]

43. Be sure you are living some place warm!

[usedtobedemgurl]

40. I am pretty sure hardly anyone would boycott the company if not for Trump....

The big thing here is not boycotting because of what she said but, rather, because of what he said. That is a VERY big point. You see, a president (or president elect) can sway and make or break a company by their endorsement or their critique of a company. Kelly Anne, herself, seemed gleeful talking about how Trump influenced the stock market with his tweets.

There is a reason other Presidents have not done endorsements or even put down companies. It is wrong. At this point Trump may as well be wearing a NASCAR jumper any time he goes out in public. It can have the patches of all the companies he approves of. He might as well do this the way he tweets trying to bring down some companies and raise up others.

What Trump is doing is wrong and as much as some of us may disagree with a statement an owner might make, there is a very bad situation happening here. Trump would not tout Costco as an American company who people should support. Of course not, that is a blue company and he would not do that because if you are not with him, you are the enemy.

Never lose site of what is happening here. If any company crosses him then he will do his best to bring it down. If any company kisses his ass, he will do his best to promote them.

This should have a chilling effect on the way everyone is thinking about this asshole. Everyone should be backing up and condemning his actions. But, of course, that is hard to do if you are a company because he will throw everything he has behind bankrupting you....because, you know, he represents all citizens of this country.

[Stinky The Clown]

41. "Leftist" loons acting looney

[RandiFan1290]

45. Welcome Back to DU

[Lee-Lee]

46. You are going to have to look real, real hard to find a company with no conservatives

On its Board of Directors or its ownership.

Kind of silly to start boycotting one just because you learned about one persons activities, if your not going to sit down and research every company you would buy from to make a huge blacklist.