What companies do you personally boycott?

[OKCCrime]

One another thread, we started discussing boycotts and it came out that many people have their own personal boycotts in place for x, y, or z reason. So, what company (retail, restaurant, contractor, etc) are you boycotting and why?

I'll start:

Dollar Rent A Car - Felt trapped without options at an off-airport Dollar rental service in San Diego around 12 midnight when they were requiring all renters to provide fingerprints to rent a car. No amount of complaining would get them to relent. Never will use them again.

Java Daves - Got fed up with repeated poor customer service and low quality of the food. Thank god for all the newly opened coffee shops in the city.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

The Post Office.

[FritterGirl]

Java Daves - Got fed up with repeated poor customer service and low quality of the food. Thank god for all the newly opened coffee shops in the city.

I, too, don't like Java Dave's. Can't stand their coffee, and as you noted, their service isn't good, either. I can't say that I "boycott" them, though, just choose not to give them my business.

As for an actual boycott, I would definitely say that I "boycott" Wal-Mart as I don't agree with many of their corporate policies.

To that end, I guess you could say that I "boycott" any local furrier because I don't believe in wearing fur. In this instance, I really just think of it more that I am simply not in the market to purchase a fur, and therein don't patronize establishments who sell them.

I guess you would have to define what "boycott" means to each individual. In my book, a boycott is refusal to patronize a place because you do not believe in a company's philosophy or ethics, which can include its - or its CEOs - politics, and attitudes towards its employees. I suppose poor customer service could fall into that, in addition to poor quality of product, but I personally don't really consider it a "boycott" so much as I just don't choose to go to a place where the service sucks.

If you include the latter definition, then I must say that I boycott Olive Garden simply because I don't believe in pre-packaged, frozen sauces and pre-packaged, frozen vegetables, and pre-packaged frozen desserts when I go eat in a restaurant. I worked in an Olive Garden one summer during college, and will never step foot in there again. I also, then, "boycott" Red Lobster since they're owned by the same group that owns Olive Garden.

I would also have to say that I have a blanket boycott on American-made cars, because generally speaking, my experience has shown that they are of lower quality than car brands made in some other coutries. (Every Am-made care I've ever had has bunked out right at 60,000 miles when the warranty expired).

But, really, is that a boycott or simply a personal preference? I guess it all depends upon what one's idea of a boycott really is.

[kmf563]

Dillards - They treat their employees like crap and their products are cheaply made and way overpriced.

Walmart - Their corporate policies and under the table operations make me ill. Not to mention their stores are always dirty and unorganized.

OU Medical Center - I would rather burn alive outside their doors than be treated by them. The worst experience of my life in that ER.

Shell - Their gas is always overpriced and their additives make my car run funky.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

Oh yeah...And anything Sony.

[MadMonk]

I guess I don't really have any standing boycotts or grudges against any company or business (at least for now). Whenever I need a product or service I like to keep all my options open, do whatever research I can and spend my money where I think I get the best value or the best product, etc.

[solitude]

I'm with Frittergirl as to whether these personal preferences are really "boycotts" in the strict sense of the term. I would say not.

I agree with KMF about the OU Medical Center. The ER is unorganized and staffed by too many interns that haven't a clue as to what's going on. I understand they have to learn somewhere - in a real world setting - but the oversight is sorely lacking. I also agree with her about Wal-Mart; that may, in fact, be a boycott on my part.

There aren't too many places that I just refuse to go to because of poor service or wouldn't recommend because many times it's just a one-time deal. BUT, if you need a dentist - I would highly recommend you stay away from the practice of Dr. Corbyn Rhodes. For a lot of reasons.

Office Depot is another one I won't go to anymore. They used to be the office "superstore" but they actually now carry a very small stock of true office supplies and never have what I need. I learned to just go to Staples first.

[Karried]

I try to stay away from Walmart.

And I won't use Enterprise rental again after we arrived at the airport and they were closed! (Yes, our plane was delayed but I did have a reservation). Had to spend another $100 on a car from another company because 'that is all they had left' - of course!

[jbrown84]

Tyson Foods

Court Order on Ark. Chicken Waste Sought: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
The Truth About Poultry Pollution


Also try to boycott Walmart, but that is very difficult in this city.

[bornhere]

I haven't set foot in a Wal-Mart in years. That's easy for me, because Target is closer. But I also avoid the Wal-Mart grocery even though it's much closer than any competitor.

I'll buy at Home Depot if Lowe's (or Westlake) doesn't have what I want, but Lowe's is my first choice because of HD's owners' involvement in far-right politics.

I haven't subscribed to the Oklahoman in decades.

I wouldn't have bought a car at Lynn Hickey Dodge if they were selling them for $50.

[OKCCrime]

But, really, is that a boycott or simply a personal preference? I guess it all depends upon what one's idea of a boycott really is.

From Wikipedia:
"A boycott is the act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with someone or some other organization as an expression of protest."

YES
You will eat anywhere else but at McDonalds because you abhor how McDonalds uses clowns in their advertisements to target small children.

NO
You rarely eat at McDonalds on road trips because you really like Whoppers and fried chicken (not at the same time though).

BUT ALSO YES
You never eat at Burger King because you can't be sure to get exact what you ordered at the drive through.

(I just got done doing taxes and I am still eating, sleeping and dreaming these types of examples - damn IRS)

Anyway, to quality as a boycott you must necessarily avoid interactions with the company. It doesn't really matter the reason why - ethical concerns, poor quality, a silly CEO who file lawsuits when Clay clearly said "black jack no take back"

[jbrown84]

I'll buy at Home Depot if Lowe's (or Westlake) doesn't have what I want, but Lowe's is my first choice because of HD's owners' involvement in far-right politics.

Doesn't Walmart have a big stake in Lowes?

[PennyQuilts]

It is not exactly a boycott but I got so mad at Staples that I withdrew my business account and told them I would never buy from them, again.

So, now I only go in wearing sunglasses and pay cash. And I only go in when I really, REALLY need an ink cartridge, right now...

And I never go to the store whose manager was a complete nazi.

[bornhere]

I had not heard anything about a Lowe's/WalMart connection. I just Googled it and got a lot of hits, didn't come up with much that was substantive one way or the other.

[dismayed]

I don't know if I'd call it a boycott but I stay away from Homeland. Mostly because I can't stand the people they hire. It's amazing the difference in attitude that occurred at my local Albertson's when it switched over to Homeland. That and I can't stand the fact that they stock their items about 2 deep and are constantly out of stock of whatever it is I am looking for.

[OKCMallen]

McD's at 23rd and 235- worst place evar.

MSNBC- I avoid their channel and website. won't even click on a link if I know it's going there.

[BailJumper]

1. Citgo - Venezuela connection.
2. The flower shop in downtown OKC just above the foodcourt - royally screwed up an order and then made it worse when they tried to correct it.
3. Petsmart - Because they sell warehouse produced birds and rabbits (heard bird sells stopped in 2008 and rabbits are only in some locations).

The wife boycotts Sears because of a royal screw-up on a bed purchase (I secretly shop there but don't mention it to her!).

Seems like a lot of people boycott Walmart - Personally I love them and Sam's both!

[kevinpate]

odd that. The 235 and 23rd McD's is one of a scant few that doesn't regularly foul up my order. Another place is in south part of okc. It's become much better after I explained, through somewhat clinched teeth, how poor customer service was not acceptable and ought not be repeated again.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

The McDonald's at 240 and Sooner is the worst on the planet. It's a scientific fact.

I've waited over 10 minutes for a cold double cheeseburger and unsalted cold fries when I was the only person in line.

[donbroncho]

Im gonna have to say wendys because the last time i ate there i threw up an entire combo meal...i never want to see that again...

And any car dealership for maintenance. They all overprice way too much. To get my transmission flushed they want $184! I just went to a shop and its eighty bucks cheaper.

The transmission shop I went to was Cottman on North Rockwell. Nicest guys working there and they were some of the most honest people in their industry. Highly recommend

[warreng88]

I am suprised no one has used this one:

Starbucks.

[Ginkasa]

I'm surprised how many people are listing only one mistake before they started boycotting someplace.

I mean, geez, leave some room for human error. Most of my bad business experiences have been at some IHOP or another, but I still go there sometimes...

[OKCCrime]

I'm surprised how many people are listing only one mistake before they started boycotting someplace.

I usually try and give a place a second and third chance, but that depends on the severity of the offense. I gave Java Daves more opportunities than I should have because I figured the service would eventually get better. My experience with Dollar rent a car was so outrageous, it was the first and last time I'll ever rent from them. Anyway, with so much competition and low switching costs in the Coffee and Rental car markets, these companies should know that first impressions count heavily.

[MikeLucky]

I will NEVER go back to the KFC on 29th St. just west of Sooner. The last time I was there I ordered the strips and I wanted a side of the their Sweet and Spicy sauce for dipping. I hate having the strips slathered in the sauce and I always order it on the side and never have any problem getting it my way.

Well, not at this location. When I asked for it I was told that I couldn't get any of the sauce on the side. I asked if they didn't have a small cup or container to put it in and she replied that they did in fact have a cup but that they would not give me the sauce on the side. She did offer to have the strips dipped in the sauce but due to "policy" they would not give me the sauce on the side. So I wanted to clarify: "you have the sauce, and will dip the chicken in the sauce, but under NO circumstance will you give me the sauce on the side, even though I get it like that at every other KFC I have ever visited?"

"Yes," she said. "I will not give you the sauce on the side." So I was left to speculate on why she wouldn't give me the sauce. My final conclusion was that since they were probably too lazy to prepare the "dipped" strips the proper way (add strips and sauce in a bucket and shake) they most likely just dipped all the strips into the sauce making it a nasty mess of a stew and most likely a less than stellar health practice......

So that was most definitely my last visit there, and I will tell anyone I can about it and to not visit that location..... That's my boycott.....

[t3h_wookiee]

I've boycotted Nestle for many years, which has been difficult, as many of my favorite brands are now owned by them. It makes grocery shopping slightly difficult, but I refuse to back down.

Also, Dub Richardson Toyota. I live within walking distance, yet I drive all the way out to Bob Howard Toyota instead. 3 times now I've been treated like I couldn't possibly know anything about cars, and was even called "little lady" once. They permanently lost my business, and while they had the car I wanted to buy on lot (a Gen 7 Celica), I walked away, and managed to find one in Tulsa instead.