I’m talking about specific businesses you avoid for political reasons, issues of discrimination, etc., but NOT businesses you avoid just because they sell crappy products or services.
I’ve been boycotting Whole Foods since last year when their CEO came out against health care reform in an opinion peace he wrote for the Wall Street Journal.
Another store I boycott is Benetton. About ten years ago they had an ad campaign featuring death row inmates, wanting you to feel sorry for them. I’d never been in a Benetton even before then, but this stunt has led me to never even consider going to one of their stores.
Hyatt, Hilton, and Holiday Inns…for incidents of inexcusably terrible customer service followed by absolutely no acceptance of responsibility or apology from local or corporate management.
I don’t deal with Amway because of the dishonest nature of their sales/recruitment presentations. At no time did the ex-co-worker who invited me to one say that it was Amway, and when I got there, it was all emotional demagoguery which did not leave a space to think. Demagoguery is disastrous in the long term for political affairs; it is not good for business affairs either.
Curves, for the CEO’s support of anti-abortion organizations. It’s a little murky if he uses company money or not, and certainly some of the charities the company does support aren’t something I’d want to (e.g. abstinence education).
Sorta-kinda counts: I’ve been boycotting the Eagles since they picked up a post-jail Michael Vick. I have no idea if he’s still there, actually, so thorough my media blackout towards them has been - but it doesn’t actually make any difference, as I fully intend to keep on punishing them for many years into the future either way.
Interestingly, I discovered a couple of months ago that one of my cousins (who works for an animal rescue) has been doing the same exact thing, independently.
Samuel Adams beer. Because they were actively keeping Anchor Steam off of tap in a bar we used to go to in Cupertino. This was about 15 years ago, but I still avoid them.
Sonic. For their commercials with two people sitting in a vehicle being stupid. Just makes me want to go out and stomp on some small defenseless animal.
And since I like small defenseless animals more than I like Sonic.
However, for a while now I have been thinking about boycotting Mel Gibson movies because of his anti-Semitism. I haven’t had to act on this because since his famous tirade he hasn’t actually been in any movies I might have wanted to see.
I don’t like Sam Adams beer that much but I respect their owner for selling some of his hops supply at cost to smaller brewers during a shortage a few years ago.
I boycott Exxon, not for the spill itself but for the way they handled the cleanup and their multiple lawsuits to reduce their penalties.
I boycotted Circuit City for years because of the asinine DIVX crap they tried to push to the studios years ago. But they’re out of business now , I won.
Walmart, for various reasons, some of which have already been mentioned on the SDMB over the years. Most recently, Walmart has decided to cut most of its fabric and crafts departments, and put in party supplies instead. Now, Walmart had destroyed the business of a great many small fabric and craft stores, especially in small towns, and now it’s going to quit carrying fabric by the yard and most crafts. My boycott is halfhearted, though, because if my husband goes there (and he DOESN’T boycott them at all), I’ll ask him to pick up the Equate version of Slimfast. I have to admit, Walmart’s version tastes better, and it’s cheaper. I’ve gone to Walmart a couple of times since deciding to boycott it, when my husband and I were out running around and he wanted to buy something there, and I didn’t want to wait in the car. I didn’t buy anything, though.
I boycott some local businesses, for my own personal reasons, which wouldn’t matter to anyone else.
Not a boycott so much as I just prefer to shop elsewhere: Rite Aid for a myriad of poor customer service, including:
Calling in a prescription and driving out the next day to find that they had to order the drug (often.) They have my number, call me and save me the 40 minute round trip.
The checkout clerk handing me back my basket and telling me that the basket stack was “over there.” (I don’t work here, I’m not putting your baskets away.)
The clerk mistaking my 20 for a 10 and the manager suggesting that she will count the money at the end of the day and if they are over, she’ll send me my change.
Well, there’s more, but you get the idea. I’m not surprised that the analysts predict that they will fold this year. (I’m doubtful that they will though.)
In many Ford trucks there is a switch that is part of the cruise control. The switch was sold to Ford by Texas Instruments. Inside the switch is a membrane made by DuPont.
Long story short is that if the membrane ruptures the vehicle catches fire. The vehicle doesn’t have to be running. In fact it doesn’t have to have run recently.
It is now, I believe, the largest recall in automotive history.
Ford’s response: Sorry for your loss.
A couple thousand fires, and a handful of deaths and millions in property damage. (including a 4 year old girl who had the misfortune of having her bedroom above the garage)
For those who sue, you can expect 4-5 years of delays as Ford asks for continuances on the eve of every trail date; only to offer 10 cents on the dollar after they’ve softened you up by time.
My offer was simple: Knock off $5000 off a new truck. You’ll keep me as a Ford customer, and I’ll feel like I’ve been treated as a human. (and $5000 would not have made me whole)
Ford’s response (to me and every other victim of their fire): Sorry for your loss.
I will never buy another Ford product, including Volvo, Mazda or any brand they own.
Citgo. I figure that Hugo Chavez actively wants to be our enemy and I see no reason not to oblige. If anyone counters back that I’m hurting the franchisees more, they’re always free to change affiliations.
Well, Ford divested controlling interest in Mazda, so they’re now just a common stockholder like the rest of us schmucks. Geely will soon own Mazda. Tata owns JLR. I can’t remember who bought Aston Martin – some private investors, I think.
