Boycotting LL Bean is a huge MISFIRE! It is a GREAT company!!

[saditurn]

47. Torn

Like most of the people responding here, I've been a long time supporter of L L Bean - the company may not embody all of my ideals but it's generally there, especially its basic brand identification with nature.

I woke up to the Linda Bean issue last week and started to feel queasy - so immediately did some research and felt comfortable with the company's response which echoes what many here have said - that it's one relative who happens to hold a position (one of many) on the board. Obviously every organization is going to be seeded with people who one agrees and disagrees with, so I was willing to look past that.

BUT, my tipping point was yesterday when I woke up (thanks, 3am ranter!) to trumP's tweet that literally demanded people to "Buy L.L. Bean". Fine, one can read it as a demand or an endorsement or whatever, but it clearly puts LL Bean in a flash point position which it didn't ask for and frankly doesn't deserve. But it's there.

In my case, my primary connection to the company is my credit card - the one and only I've ever had, and now for probably 15 years. It suddenly feels dirty, like an admission of some kind of collusion any time I would have to pull it out and use it at a store. Most people wouldn't notice or be clued in to the issue, but those that are would either (a) wrongly think I'm on their side or (b) wrongly think I'm not on their side.

This is probably why, per the NY Times, "Federal law prohibits employees of the government’s executive branch from endorsing products". Unfortunately for the world, the quote goes on: ", but the rule does not apply to the president or the president-elect."

LL Bean is unfairly victimized here no matter what. And trumP is going to win on this issue no matter what as his calls will be answered by some, and probably more than the supporters who are willing to (at least temporarily) boycott - so he'll be able to claim that his side is right & he saved the company or whatever. (Even though people who stand by their principles and stick with the company know that it is their strength that is ultimately triumphing)

Regardless, for me, I will be canceling my LL Bean credit card. If the ACLU offered one it would be in my pocket in no time! (Does anyone know of any "use for good" cards?) I'll probably still purchase from LL Bean from time to time (the irony is that their products are so good & lasting that you don't need to buy often). So I guess I'm the lucky one who can thread the needle and boycott while still not completely boycotting. Which makes me loved by all or hated by all. What a lovely world.