Need Advice re: Susan G Komen

[jobob]

Personally, I'm not inclined to purchase anything advertising or benefiting the SGKF. But that's just me, others may feel differently.

[Selkie]

Personally, I'm not inclined to purchase anything advertising or benefiting the SGKF. But that's just me, others may feel differently.

I'm with Jo on this one.

[lph]

Since you asked directly "what should we do", here's what I think (coming from a complete outsider who had never heard of Susan G. Komen before now and still just has a vague idea of what it's all about):

- set up a anonymous poll letting people vote on whether they would buy a garment supporting the foundation or not. There may be lots of people who do support them but don't particularly feel like piping up. Your own personal opinion should play a part too, of course.

- if the majority do say "no", get in touch with the vendor, let them know that you would like to buy from them but your customers have made it clear that they do not want to support the foundation, and that that is the reason you are cancelling. If you feel like pursuing it, contact the foundation too.

The vendor may choose to stop supporting that particular foundation. The foundation may get so much bad feedback that they reconsider. I dunno, but if you do choose an active boycott, it's a lot more effective if you clearly state why.

Good luck whatever you do. And thank you for asking for our opinions!

[OakLeaf]

It's not a boycott at all. If SGK were on the list of charities to which TE donated, then taking it off that list would be a boycott, but I don't think they ever were?

Maybe you don't even have this kind of thing in Norway. SGK is most notorious for it and may have started the practice, but in the USA we have all kinds of products sold by private corporations, tagged prominently with the logo of some charity, sometimes costing more than the identical non-tagged product, and promising to make some minuscule donation to that charity for every product sold. I find the whole practice repellent, honestly, much as Tulip said, whether the alleged beneficiary is Komen, Livestrong, some phony invented veterans' charity (a particularly common front for scammers in the US), or even something that I would support with a direct donation. It's a purely profit motivated attempt by manufacturers not affiliated with the charity to make themselves seem benevolent. And to take a tax deduction (albeit usually an exceedingly small one) from money collected collected from their customers, not from their own profits.

Susan's question was whether to offer some of that product in her store. Not whether to boycott other products of whatever manufacturer it is. Which she wisely hasn't said, and shouldn't.

[lph]

okdoke. Like I said, I'm not very familiar with the details.

eta: but yes, I did use the term boycott wrongly. What I meant was simply refusing to buy something for political or ethical reasons, whether it's her own reasons, or the reasons given by her customers.

[goldfinch]

If your agreement/understanding with the vendor allows you to cancel the order my inclination would be to cancel. I question what kind of sales you would have for that product at this point.

FWIW. My view may be colored by the fact that I would not buy these items but like many here, I wouldn't have bought them before the kerfuffle.

[pll]

Interesting discussion. I do not buy 'advertising' items, so I would not have bought a Komen branded jersey before. As several have mentioned, it is a business decision, but I think it is also one personal to TE.

[Sky King]

Susan,

What a quandary, ugh. I appreciate that you are also concerned for your supplier. I had a great conversation with a friend who said "why celebrate cancer?" that is her perception of SGK. So let's celebrate life, living, biking, each other - why I have always liked the Life is Good logos

Good luck with the decision and I will do my best to purchase a jersey or something from TE to help shoulder the cost of any loss of income from the decision to not bring in the SGK clothing.

[Crankin]

The whole "pink" thing has always pissed me off, as if you were "for" breast cancer if you didn't buy into it. I did a walk one year, on the urging of a friend, and it was way too much pink brainwashing for me. I would much rather give to a local hospital or institution (like the Brigham or MGH) that does real prevention, research, and care.
Just my opinion. I wouldn't have bought the product before and I won't buy it now.

[TsPoet]

Surprising how many "wouldn't have bought it anyway", and I'm another one.
But, I guess I "forgive" SGK, they claim their decision was not based on politics, and I'd like to cut them a break and believe them. They've also fired a sacrificial lamb and apologized.
All of the objections to SGK are valid, but big organizations like that do get attention, we've all heard of them! and that's what's needed.
Sorry you are having to make this decision.

[Susan Otcenas]

I'd like to thank all of you for your thoughtful answers. It was a big help.

I'm inclined to cancel the order based on your feedback. I've sent an email to the vendor and am waiting for a response.

[redrhodie]

I bought a Shebeest pink ribbon Jersey from TE a few years ago, way before knowing anyone with BC, or having it myself (in hindsight, it's kind of freaky). At the time, I ordered it because of the fabric (bamboo), color and cut. It's still one of my favorites. The ribbon wasn't a deciding factor, but I thought,"cool, a great jersey, and some proceeds go to charity." I don't even remember what charity was being supported, but I would have bought it anyway. Now that I have BC, I guess it means more, or at least it looks that way.

So, here's my question... if you really loved one of these jerseys; it's the perfect cut, a color you've been dreaming of (with no elastic in the waistband!), would you still not buy it because of the Komen kerfuffle?

[Blueberry]

So, here's my question... if you really loved one of these jerseys; it's the perfect cut, a color you've been dreaming of (with no elastic in the waistband!), would you still not buy it because of the Komen kerfuffle?

My answer would be absolutely yes - I would not buy it. There are certain things I will not buy for ethical reasons (not getting into those here, as it's OT), and sometimes it can be less than convenient. Suffice it to say, once I've decided I'm not supporting something for moral or ethical reasons, I will not support it. No matter how much I like/want it.

[szsz]

would you still not buy it because of the Komen kerfuffle?

I would not.

I am a breast cancer survivor. I like pink. I would support a different breast cancer charity jersey. Never again Komen. That ship has sailed.