Finally had a moment to contact Target Corporate (been a busy week)

[Kber]

Dear Target Executives,

I was extremely disappointed that Target Corporate has decided to use your profits to support a political agenda because I have, in the past, liked the things you sell and I am sorry that I will not be able to shop there until you change this practice.

I generally don't like mixing business with politics, but I cannot financially support a company that will use that support to assist causes or candidates that I do not.

Your decision to not remain politically neutral has forced me to follow suit. Maybe someday you will change this practice and I can shop there again. In the mean time, I will be furnishing my children's rooms and buying their school supplies elsewhere.

Good luck and good bye.

Sincerely, Mrs. Kber
Former Target Customer

Had to send a similar note to Best Buy too.

[joeybee12]

1. Good for you...KNR

[daleanime]

2. Nice!

:bounce:

[ceile]

3. Did I miss something?

Who is Target supporting....?

[Kber]

4. Tarrget Corp. defends 150K Minn. political donation to GOP candidate that opposes gay marriage

Here's the link http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8834230

The Associated Press

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Target Corp. on Tuesday defended the use of its new freedom to spend money on political campaigns as employees and gay organizations criticized a $150,000 donation that will help a Minnesota GOP gubernatorial candidate who opposes gay marriage.

[ceile]

8. Ah crap.

What were they thinking?
Well, their quality has gone down over the past year or two, so I guess I won't miss shopping there too much...

[Kber]

9. ah crap was my reaction too

I liked their stores and their on-line shopping was great.

But I cannot stomach this kind of thing. They need to know that the knife will cut both ways. If they want to meddle in politics to try to move the environment to their advantage, well, that can backfire.

Oh well. :(

[FreeState]

6. Target’s $150K donation supports anti-gay governor candidate

http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2010/07/26/targets-150k-donation-supports-anti-gay-governor-candidate/

Target has joined a number of corporations funding “Minnesota Forward”, a business-oriented PAC promoting GOP candidate Tom Emmer. Given Emmer’s socially-conservative views, this could be a risky move for Target.

Target recently donated $150,000 to Minnesota Forward, joining companies like Polaris, Hubbard Broadcasting, and Davisco Foods. A spokeswoman for Target indicated that the donation was made because Minnesota Forward’s mission is to elect candidates who make economic growth a priority. She did not comment on Emmer’s views of social issues.

Tom Emmer is known for more than a desire to cut taxes. He is an extreme social conservative; he is anti-abortion, against the minimum wage for service workers who get tips, and more. As we recently reported, Emmer actively supports and donates to a “stealth” Evangelical ministry whose leader professes that Muslims’ action in executing homosexuals is “moral”, and teaches that Jews essentially get what they deserve for “killing Christ”. According to Emmer, such folk are “good people”.

Michael Jones of Change.org suggests signing a Change.org petition to Target to share your opinion about their donation decision.

[dflprincess]

5. The sad thing for those of us in Minnesota is that , not to long ago,

Target Corp was Dayton/Hudson - as in former Senator (and current candidate for governor) Mark Dayton's family.

True, most the Daytons were Republicans (Mark never was), but they were sane Republicans and contributed a great deal to Minnesota. It resulted in a lot loyalty to the company among Minnesotans - so much so that Mark has mentioned his grandfather & the stores in some of his campaign commercials.

Sad to see what was once a local icon deteriorate so badly.

[Kber]

7. Plus I really did like their stores. Oh well.

[DevonRex]

10. Thank you. K&R. But shit. I liked Target. And what did Best Buy do?

We're running out of places to shop. But I'll join you in this.

[Kber]

11. $100K to the same organization as Target

I don't think I spend money with their other big corporate doners, though.

More info:

"As of Tuesday, Target was the largest single donor to MN Forward, which had raised more than $1 million from industry trade groups and companies including Best Buy Co., Pentair Inc., Hubbard Broadcasting Inc., Davisco Foods International Inc. and Polaris Industries Inc.

Best Buy spokeswoman Susan Busch said the company informed employees of its $100,000 donation early Tuesday and received only a handful of phone calls about it."

http://www.ajc.com/business/target-corp-defends-minn-579202.html


(Thanks to Liberal_in_LA for the link.)

[DevonRex]

13. Good thing we just paid off the big TV back in the spring and haven't

bought the one for the living room yet, then. Thank you for letting us know. We're going to get the one for the living room in the next month or so and it will be a pretty big purchase. Glad to know I won't be giving money to them again.

:hug:

[Kber]

17. Try Costco?

But check it out first. A month ago, I would have said "Try Target", so I guess that shows what I know.

[66 dmhlt]

19. Here's the direct email, phone & FAX contacts for Gregg at

Target headquarters:

Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Source:
http://consumerist.com/2008/06/target-ceo-gregg-steinhafels-email-address-and-phone-number.html

Corporate Headquarters Contact

Target
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403

Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

[mod mom]

14. Gave $100,000 to the same anti-same sex marriage group

as Target:

St. Paul, Minn. — As two "Boycott Target" groups sprang up on Facebook on Tuesday, the giant retailer defended its $150,000 donation to a group helping a Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate who opposes same-sex marriage.

-snip

Best Buy spokeswoman Susan Busch said the company informed employees of its $100,000 donation early Tuesday and received only a handful of phone calls about it.

-snip

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-0728-target-politics-20100728,0,6274128.story

[DevonRex]

16. Thank you. And here's a post about using Amazon.com instead:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8834122

I was sitting here wondering what the hell to do and bingo, that thread popped up.

[Kber]

18. Good information - Thank you!!!

[Radical Activist]

12. Will they know what donations you're referring to?

I can't tell from the letter.

[Kber]

15. Good question - but considering the publicity, I would think (hope) so.

[Monique1]

20. I will no longer be shopping at Target

there are several family owned stores where I can buy things. I don't need Target. If I remember correctly Target is not employee friendly either.