IMPORTANT issue concerning Target Corporation and a call to action

[Amanda]

The following letter, which I have just sent off to both Target Corp. and Amazon.com, explains it all:

____________________________________

I wanted to make you aware of an issue within one of your Target stores that has impacted my willingness to do business with your company.

I shopped at the Foothill Ranch, CA Target location for copies of Al Franken's new book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, and Joe Conason's Big Lies: The Right-Wing Propaganda Machine and How It Distorts the Truth and found not a SINGLE copy of either book. What I found instead on the "bestseller" rack were the following: Ann Coulter's Treason, Colin Powell's My American Journey, Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity's newest releases and various bits of mass-produced fluff such as Condi, a biography on Condoleezza Rice, and a book on the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

The last I checked, not a single one of those titles qualifies as a "bestseller" on any list of which I am aware. However, Al Franken's book is currently the #2 seller on Target.com's Top Twenty and is the #1 seller on your business partner’s website, Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/new-for-you/top-sellers/-/books/all/ref=pd_ts_a_hot/002-8199894-6600046

"Big Lies" is also featured on Target's Top Twenty and is #16 on Amazon.com. Both currently far outsell any of the books that I DID find at this Target location – books that happen to be written one and all by either conservative media pundits or by/about members of the current conservative Presidential administration.

When I approached employees at this Target store about the apparent one-sidedness of their book selection, I was informed that books were pulled from the shelves if they didn't "sell well" and that this was the case with Franken and Conason's titles. When I pointed out that they seemed to have no problem stocking the Bestseller rack with NON-bestselling titles written by authors who happen to be of the conservative political viewpoint, one of the employees stated to me that he thought they needed to have "more diversity" in their book section. Yet no one offered me any explanation as to why they refused to carry the titles I was pursuing.

I would hate to think that Target does not value me as a customer based on my political views, yet through your actions you have done just that. Refusing to offer a well-balanced book selection that includes ALL political views - not simply those of conservative authors - is insulting to your consumers. I would be severely disappointed is this happens to be a trend with other Target stores and this action reflected an attempt to skew the book sales of progressive authors in certain parts of the country, such as "conservative" Orange County, CA, based on the owner's or store manager's political affiliation.

I certainly hope that this matter will be addressed within your company. I have always respected and enjoyed shopping at Target, but unfortunately this incident has made me feel less inclined to be a customer with you and I'm sure others like me will feel likewise.

I will also be bringing this matter to the attention of your partner, Amazon.com as well as other book consumers throughout the country. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
____________________________________


Now the call to action! Please take the time to investigate your local Target stores and their book selections to see if they also refuse to sell books by progressive authors such as Franken and Conason. I am curious to know if this is a demographic trend - i.e. Target stores located in "conservative" communities offer nothing but conservative titles to their customers as these stores are less likely to receive complaints (or even encounter any consumers bright enough to notice the selective exclusion). Regardless of their motive, Target is negatively impacting the sales of non-conservative authors and needs to be called on the carpet for this action.

Thanks for your help!

[anti_shrub]

1. I noticed that

I went to Target to buy Big Lies, but they didn't carry it. Lots of copies of Treason lying around.

Also at Media Play, they had new releases and best sellers in a display in the front of the book section, but neither Franken or Conanson was to be found. I found Big Lies in the political section but it didn't have the 35% off because it wasn't with the new releases or best sellers. Keep in mind they have Treason in that section.

Oh well, Amazon.com has it for 30% anyway.

[blessedleader]

2. Greg Palast. . . Nickel and Dimed. . . etc. . .

I bought The Best Democracy Money Can Buy at my local Target. . . I haven't looked at their books in a while, but at the same time they also had Nickel and Dimed and Stupid White Men. . . and probably a few others I'm missing. . . all in a political display with the Colin Powell book and the standard Right Wing Tripe.

I doubt they pulled those books, they probably didn't get any to begin with (although they might, i mean, holy shit dude, the Franken book is still brand new. . . they're not a book store, things take time to get there if they're not Harry Potter). They might get some in, they might not, who knows. I'm pretty sure my Target will have it, maybe I'll buy it there and post to this thread again. ;-)

[Amanda]

3. That doesn't jibe...

Target.com is promoting Franken's book as its #2 best seller. Yet my local Target pulled the title from its shelves due to "lack of sales". Lack of sales after one week, and while the title apparently is selling well enough in other locations to merit its position on their sales list? Sorry, but that doesn't make one lick of sense, especially considering that they had enough neocon titles in stock to serve a small community as toilet paper for at least a month. At least that's how I'd put all those books to use.

I'm not implying that ALL Targets are following this policy, by any means. But I know of one in my neighborhood that is, and if others are as well then I can't help but view it as yet another underhanded attempt by conservatives to color the opinions of consumers through exclusion and equivocation. And good, liberal authors are being cheated out of sales in the process, which is a BAD thing the last I checked.

[anti_shrub]

4. To be fair

Target.com uses Amazon for its book section, and Amazon seems to do a good job offering liberal books. I have a shopping list waiting for me to cash my next paycheck. I think Target should be the focus of any complaints, not Amazon.

[Ouabache]

7. Amanda, it almost makes me wonder if they pulled it because

you live in conservative area AND someone/group complained vociferously about the liberal books ?

There is no way of knowing unless they admit it. But, you did say they had them out for a week before they pulled them. I can check a Target near here and let you know if they are on the shelf in that conservative area, but it will probably be middle of next week.

[Amanda]

9. Thanks!

for taking the time to check into this matter - hopefully it will be an isolated incident!

[PeakOil2008]

5. It's probably just your backyard...

Already posted to your Dupe, but I'll summarize what I said...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=2015#2017

Basically, your Target sells items based upon what moves from the shelf. If you don't find Franken and Conason at your store, it's probably because progressive literature isn't all that popular in your area. Blame the popularity of your local GOP, not Target.

[Amanda]

10. I hope it IS just "my backyard" for all our sakes

So are you saying that it's acceptable for Targets to offer ONLY conservative book titles and no titles by progressive authors based on the demographics of their customers? Ya know, Southern Orange County California is also predominately WHITE, yet they still offer and manage to sell plenty of Rap/R&B and Latino music. If they sold only music by white artists, we'd be quick to have a name for them. Why is this any different, Democrats?

And my father worked for Target Corporation for over ten years. I know it is a good company - it's no "Wall-Mart" as you said. I expect this type of action out of Wall-Mart, not a "trendy, young" Target Store. Which is why I'm calling Target on it and asking others to do the same. But apparently I'm the only one bothered by this.

Perhaps I am making a mountain out of a molehill... I hope I am. But how am I supposed to react when I walk into a Target expecting the usual - a small and fairly disorganized book selection that MAY have a title I'm looking for (especially since their website is promoting the hell out of Franken's book). And what I see instead is a well-organized, well-stocked book section carrying nothing but books written by neocons.

I guess I must be a really shitty Democrat in this day and age because I actually tend to REACT to things that offend me and TAKE ACTION when I see wrongs that need to be righted. My bad.

[REP]

6. "My" Target Doesn't Have it Because

They sold out immediately! They're getting more.

On edit: a gentle suggestion - don't use meaningless phrases like "impacted my willingness." Letters that are written in simple correct English get more notice.

[Amanda]

8. Good for your Target!

And why don't you call your "gentle suggestion" what it really is - an attempt to belittle my intelligence while making yourself look superior and aloof. If you have input about the topic I raised concerning Target - why you agree that it may be an issue or why you think I'm an idiot for bringing it up - by all means, share. But your "grammatical advice" was a cheap shot and not appreciated. Thanks.