BlogHer - Buy Nothing Day - Comments

If only all marketers were

greenlagirl — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:00:18 -0600

If only all marketers were as thoughtful as you are! Unfortunately, it's no secret that much of the Black Friday marketing has to do with trying to get people to buy stuff they don't need, simply because it's on sale -- something I think we can all agree needs to be avoided!

About the Whirl-A-Mart thing -- I haven't done this myself, and don't plan to, but my feelings about it aren't quite as outraged as yours. For one, I think the goal is not to make life hard for low wage workers, but to target media / higher ups in the corporation to draw attention to overconsumption and, even worse, the literal people trampling that happens at Wal-Mart on Black Friday.

Of course, any protest will affect the workers in that particular store -- who, in the case of Wal-Mart especially, are badly compensated for their work. But corporations have often argued that important and meaningful protests by activists are done "on the back of low wage workers" -- which I think is a very insidious tact for trying to shut down needed activist work. By that logic, we should protest least the corporations that treat workers the worst -- because it hurts the workers!

But I do think you're pointing more to a fine line -- meaning we can both support legitimate protest but disagree as to what extent it's ok to inconvenience the workers (I believe that for you, the Whirl-a-Mart dealio's crossing the line -- a perspective I can certainly appreciate even if I don't completely share).

green LA girl

Wikipedia

Maria Niles — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:04:23 -0600

I should make clear (apologies for late night ranting and not linking) this is what set me off (not Siel's post nor Ad Busters' description). I was curious about the "whirl marts" idea so searched for more information and from Wikipedia:

Some variations of the whirl-mart protest involve filling carts but then simply abandoning them or, when checking out, claiming to have forgotten the money to purchase the items in the overflowing cart, leaving said cart for the employees to clean up.

BlogHer Contributing Editor PopConsumer Beyond Help

I Completely Agree

InkAndPixelClub — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:03:10 -0600

The fastest way to turn anyone off to any cause is to show them that you don't care about them and their situation. While the intention might not be to abandon the filled shopping carts (the Adbusters website describes it as several people with shopping marts continually looping through the store without buying anything), the idea that so many of these Buy Nothing Day actions seem designed to annoy or mock low level employees or shoppers makes me feel like the actions are more about the people doing the action showing off how smart and non-consumerist they are and less about convincing anyone of anything. By all means, g out with signs and literature and try to convince people not to buy things they don't want, don't need, and can't afford. But these suggested "actions" are probably going to do more harm than good for the cause. Would you be inclined to reexamine your buying habits because someone is shuffling around the tore you work at dressed as a zombie or if you couldn't find a shopping cart because six people are tooling around the store in the last few without actually buying anything?

With all due respect, I'm a little disappointed by this article overall. This year especially, we're being bombarded by messages to buy buy buy because if we don't, the economy won't recover, stores will close, and our friends and neighbors will get laid off. In the face of that, I was hoping for a little more practical advice on how to balance enjoying the holidays with being environmentally conscious and thrifty, not just "rent this movie" or "read this book." It's a good start, but I'd really like some more advice about how to priortize and still enjoy the holidays without breaking the bank or the planet.

Sara

www.inkandpixelclub.com

I'm doing an article now on

Sierra Black — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:31:05 -0600

I'm doing an article now on having a non-consumer holiday. One of the big tips I keep coming across is the value of sharing one or two nice gifts with family members and children, rather than a flood of cheap ones. Sierra Black - embracing the wild heart of parenting - www.childwild.com

Filling and abandoning shopping carts?

Maria Niles — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:54:09 -0600

Filling up a shopping cart and leaving it to the clerks to clean up and restock? I have to say that tactic sounds appalling. Yay for promoting a message of mindful consumption and purchasing what you need rather than useless items. As a marketer this is what I want people to do - to buy something I'm selling because it is really what they want and need. My job is to give them the information they need to make such a decision not to push or trick them into buying something which unfortunately happens often enough to give marketing a bad reputation.

But boo for the idea of doing it on the back of low wage workers who likely feel fortunate to be employed in this economy and are probably stretched thin and struggling to support themselves and their families. And sending a message to clerks and cashiers doesn't really hit the appropriate target. As most of the other actions you offer for consideration show, we can raise our individual and collective consciousness without self-righteously punishing others who are simply trying to earn a living.

BlogHer Contributing Editor PopConsumer Beyond Help

I love the Kiva organization

thesignificantothers — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:19:46 -0600

I love the Kiva organization - a friend bought all her friends Kiva gift cards a couple of years ago and since then it's what I call a "feel-good stocking stuffer" - it really is the gift that keeps on giving! Thanks for all the other links as well - very helpful!

Mahalo!

skeeterbess — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:12:23 -0600

Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much!) Rachelle, for adding the Keiki Slippah Wish Fund to your list! This is one project where even very small donations can make a big difference. Giving this year is down from last year, but there are still so many children we'd like to help, so your help in spreading the word is really appreciated!

Love Kiva

Creatively Belle — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:23:31 -0600

I love the Kiva site and all that it is achieving. It makes a real difference - be the change you want in the world.

Smiles,

Belinda

Great Earring Holders - great Christmas presents and no more messy jewelry tangles!

great post!

imabima — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:32:31 -0600

great post - and thanks for the links:-)

The Shopping Challenge

Susan Wagner — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 20:24:30 -0600

Dana, we could probably turn that into a reality TV show.

Friday Style | The Working Closet | Friday Playdate

Before I had kids, I used to

Dana J. Tuszke — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:45:22 -0600

Before I had kids, I used to go shopping the day after Christmas with my mother. We thought we were getting the best deals of all time. Turns out the better deals came out a few days before Christmas and I've resorted to doing my shopping then. Usually at 9 p.m. while my son is in bed. I'm probably creating more stress for myself, but it's actually quite fun. Like a challenge of sorts. ;)

Dana from The Dana Files.