# Have You Ever Boycotted Products/Stores You Really LIKED? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 3, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304 "2012-08-03T15:18:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/41 "2012-08-04T00:51:22Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I’m not but I deeply appreciate your sincere concern regarding how my consumer dollars are spent :rolleyes: I assure you I have no concern just merely curiosity at the inconsistency. You can roll the eyes back now. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/42 "2012-08-04T01:10:26Z")
I love the taste, structure and ease of eating meat. But I can’t get over the industrial farming thing. So I only eat the organic meat my supermarket offers, and that is a very small range of meats that do, at best, taste just as good as the much wider variety of torture meat the store offers. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/43 "2012-08-04T01:16:01Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Having worked in retail I can tell you “Boycotts” don’t generally work; if anything they hurt the staff (“Why aren’t you meeting your sales budgets??? I don’t care if there’s no-one in here to see things to!”). Meh. When it comes to cosmetics, I have a wide variety of places I can buy them - MAC, for instance, has online sales, stand-alone stores, and counters at higher-end department stores - and if I buy from one source then technically speaking I’m “hurting” someone else by not buying from them! (Plus, frankly, if I’m buying from one company then I’m naturally depriving other companies of my cash, and the sales staff can’t tell the difference between me actively boycotting their products versus just not buying them.) My dollar (and an ignored letter to corporate) is the only vote I get in the matter, since I’m no paint-throwing/animal-releasing anarchist. I’ve happily resumed purchasing from companies when their policies match what I can believe in, and I’ve also notified them of my approval via a fan letter when that’s happened. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/44 "2012-08-04T02:14:33Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > I’m a Korean-American and I approve this message. Thank you! I think? . . . Wait . . . is this becuase you think they should put a small English translation beside the sign? Or because you support us ignorant Irish-Americans not clogging up the aisles of your favorite bakery and poking at the sweet buns? 😉 LOL! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/45 "2012-08-04T02:19:55Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > Yes. > > There are many products I would like to use and do not, due to animal testing. Oh Lord, I forgot about that. Add another 50 or so to my list. And all those products that include HPE\*? No. Nor anything else your company makes, just in case. And any metallic cosmetics, because EW! Fish scales? Not on _my_ eyelids!! \*Human Placental Extract. Yes, they do. No, really, more than you’d think. Look, I don’t have all day to blather on about it. You could look it up. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/46 "2012-08-04T02:46:39Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Just about the only business I don’t use because of other than product based reasons is Citgo. I am fond of gasoline. If it was between Citgo and running out of gas I would use them. I’m generally non-boycotty. Often it hurts the innocent franchise owner but does nothing to the evil corporate overlords. I’ve been boycotting gasoline for at least 5 years now (I finally sold off my last gasoline vehicle back then). I won’t buy a gas powered anything unless there is NO diesel option. So, right now the only gas powered things I own are a chain saw and a lawn mower (and I do the majority of mowing with my diesel tractor instead). I buy all my diesel at a local fuel station that only sells diesel and when I go to a gas station, I never buy anything but the gasoline needed (so no snacks, etc). My next car will be a Volkswagon TDI Diesel w/biodiesel kit ( [http://web.vw.com/tdi-clean-diesel/index.php](http://web.vw.com/tdi-clean-diesel/index.php) ) > [@](#): > > TDI vehicles use clean diesel fuel and advanced engineering to achieve up to 43 miles per gallon with a range of up to 795 miles. That’s up to 30% better fuel economy than comparable gas engines. I hate gasoline and I’m certainly not going to use the ethanol (blended in most gasoline now) that is driving up feed and food prices. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/47 "2012-08-04T02:53:30Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > Yes. > > There are many products I would like to use and do not, due to animal testing. This. I also will not by any carbon-monoxide treated meats EVER because I know how the holder of that patent treats his horses (basically, he churns healthy horses through a crap trainer, then dumps the debilitated horses into kill sales). It has become so hard to find non carbon-monoxide treated meats around here, that I finally gave up and found a local butcher and make the long trip there every other week. ( [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/19/AR2006021901101.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/19/AR2006021901101.html) ) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/48 "2012-08-04T03:00:12Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I assure you I have no concern just merely curiosity at the inconsistency. I could waste time explaining why I think one place is more deserving of losing my business than the next while you try to dissect it for “inconsistencies” but, at the end of the day, we all pick our own battles. You shouldn’t worry about it so much. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/49 "2012-08-04T03:02:16Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > I boycotted Whole Foods until the ACA was passed. I shop there weekly, so it was rough. They finally put one close to me and I’d love to go there because they carry a lot of stuff that I like. But, meh… I don’t like their owner’s actions… so I just go without those really cool things until I can convince the local shop to buy some in. Fortunately, the owner is a nice guy and usually is willing to try stocking something new about 4-5 times a year on my behalf. So, I may be indirectly improving the nutrition of the local community 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/50 "2012-08-04T03:02:47Z")
I’m boycotting Gloria Jean’s Coffee because of a similar situation to Chick-Fil-A. Not only have they donated to religious groups who lobby against gay marriage, they have blatantly lied about it - so they are bigots who don’t even have the courage of their convictions. I’ll miss Gloria Jean’s because there isn’t a better coffee chain locally, but I think I’ll find the strength to carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/51 "2012-08-04T03:04:57Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Sambo’s was a cheap and convenient source of brunch until I hit about 11 or 12 and realized what the name represented. So why would you boycott a restaurant who’s name is a contraction of the two founder’s names? Color me confused. > **[Sambo's](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambo's)** > > Remaining chain sold to Vicorp (1984) > Sambo's was an American restaurant chain, started in 1957 by Sam Battistone Sr. and Newell Bohnett in Santa Barbara, California. Though the name was taken from portions of the names of its two founders, the chain also associated with The Story of Little Black Sambo. Battistone and Bohnett capitalized on this connection by decorating the walls of the restaurants with scenes from the book, including a dark-skinned boy, tigers, and a pale, magical unicycle-ri... ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/52 "2012-08-04T03:18:07Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > You said on another thread that you refuse to do business with very religious people-so does this apply to being a customer to one too? If possible, I guess. Makes me uncomfortable being around people who think that way. I’d rather be comfortable than uncomfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/53 "2012-08-04T03:50:18Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I could waste time explaining why I think one place is more deserving of losing my business than the next while you try to dissect it for “inconsistencies” but, at the end of the day, we all pick our own battles. You shouldn’t worry about it so much. Yes I’m losing sleep over it. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/54 "2012-08-04T03:52:02Z")
I’ve decided to prioritize my boycotting to companies that make a point of being anti-gay or anti-choice (not every company that gives money to an anti-gay or anti-choice organization, since that would include RNC donors). Also racism, but that doesn’t come up that much nowadays, it’s not as socially acceptable here. I also try to preferentially patronize local stores, though Barnes & Noble is technically local and I don’t get too worked up about a Starbucks in Midtown Manhattan. As a flack, I do find it a little irritating that people are saying “I’m going to stop going to Chick-Fil-A, they make lousy food anyway.” Surely it ends a stronger message to say “I like the food, but I don’t like the company, therefore…” ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/55 "2012-08-04T04:08:30Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > As a flack, I do find it a little irritating that people are saying “I’m going to stop going to Chick-Fil-A, they make lousy food anyway.” Surely it ends a stronger message to say “I like the food, but I don’t like the company, therefore…” Heh, I guess, but they actually do make lousy food. I guess it would be a stronger moral position if a decent fastfood place was run by a homophobe, but whatcha gonna do? But as to the OP, I’m not against boycotts in principal, but for whatever reason a place that I normally shop at has never been the subject of one that I thought 1) had a chance of working and b) was about an issue I felt strongly enough about to change where I shopped. ---
**Author:** ![turtledove\_river](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@turtledove\_river](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtledove_river)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/56 "2012-08-04T04:51:11Z")
I was up to season 6 in completing my Seinfeld DVD collection, when Michael Richards went on his crazy racist rant. I still love the show and still think that Kramer is hilarious, but I just didn’t feel like buying the remaining seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/57 "2012-08-04T05:01:52Z")
Rightly or wrongly, I have boycotted Nestle’ s products over their practices involving promoting formula over human milk in developing countries, despite the fact they make delicious chocolate. I fed my babies from my body and am happy I was able to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/58 "2012-08-04T06:34:58Z")
I spent years and years not eating grapes, and I love grapes. I also spent a couple of years not buying Nikes–I forget why–but this all went down the tubes when I had a two-year-old who was ready to have a meltdown because he didn’t want any other shoes. Carry screaming shoeless kid to car and keep him barefoot, or capitulate? Well, I capitulated. I boycotted Nestles for a few years, too. I didn’t think much of Chick-Fil-A’s food and I hate their stupid ad campaign. (Just as a side note, I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything because of the ads, but I have stopped buying things because of the ads.) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/59 "2012-08-04T09:47:22Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > That said… are there any products you actually like and use regularly that you’d be willing to boycott? How bad an offense would the company have to be guilty of, or how important would the cause have to be to you? > > I mean… realistically, I’d be very surprised if the people calling for Chik-Fil-A boycotts EVER ate there to begin with. My wife and I **were** regulars there. Loved their chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, which are the way fries should be. So be surprised. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304/60 "2012-08-04T09:51:22Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > So why would you boycott a restaurant who’s name is a contraction of the two founder’s names? Color me confused. > [Sambo's - Wikipedia](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambo's) Maybe your own link could deconfuse you: > [@](#): > > Though the name was taken from portions of the names of its founders, the chain soon found itself associated with The Story of Little Black Sambo. Battistone Sr and Bohnett capitalized on the coincidence by decorating the walls of the restaurants with scenes from the book… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-boycotted-products-stores-you-really-liked/630304.md?page=4)