Taking Christ out of Christmas, part 1.
Best Buy, formerly one
of my most patronized stores, due to its plethora of computer packages, software,
hardware and value priced movies, has joined the ranks major marketers in
eschewing use of the word "Christmas" in
their 2006 holiday print advertising.
As I was
dismayed, though not surprised, at this turn of events, I turned to the
Snopes.com web site as I often receive an abundance of email of this nature,
advising of a unique occurrence, guaranteed to be true, though often an ‘Urban
Legend” or misstated questionable quote, from well meaning friends. As Snopes
verified that this was a true statement, I decided to voice my concerns, both to
Dick Schulze, founder and chairman, as well as the generalized “consumer care”
comments forum.
This is
the text of my note: “It
has come to my attention through the media
and friends, that Best Buy has decided to follow the non-traditional
approach and cave in to the minority wishes in not using the word or
phrases Christmas or Merry Christmas in their advertising, either in
store or through printed or electronic media. As I and my family buy
all of our computer software, as well as the more expensive presents,
such as my laptop, my son and daughter's desktops, which were all
scheduled to be upgraded this Christmas with a newer model, we will have
to take our business to a more Christmas oriented retailer, abet possibly more
expensive, but worth it in the long run, as they realize that this is a
Christmas celebration, with traditional Christmas gifts, not holiday
gifts.”
As I place tags on my
missives in order to determine that they were delivered to the email address and
in some cases, determine if the message was actually opened, Mr. Schulze or a
subordinate, did in fact open his message, so one could assume that someone in
the hierarchy of his organization is aware of my concerns. This is the canned
reply from a minion of best buy:
I am Maria Concepcion
with Best Buy Customer Care.
I understand your concern about our Holidays advertisement. Best Buy
strives to make each experience you have with us positive and would
never intentionally offend our customers.
It is not our intention to encourage ideas and ideals that are contrary
to those valued by our customers. We evaluate all our customer
responses to our advertisements.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We
look forward to your next visit to one of our stores or to
www.BestBuy.com
Now, if they adhered to this
policy across the board, that is in all their advertising, then so be it. BUT,
today, while viewing a football game, the Best Buy advertisement flashed across
my screen, with a brightly lit CHRISTMAS tree as well as the traditional bringer
of gifts, Santa Claus. Let me muse for a while, only a holiday season, yet they
espouse showing CHRISTMAS scenarios on their TV ads: Is this not hypocrisy of
the highest magnitude? Do what I say, not what I do, or in easier terms, talk
out of both sides of their face.
Now this could have been a
holiday tree, with holiday lights, and holiday presents under the holiday tree
with a holiday star on top, with holiday Claus, along with the holiday stockings
hung on the holiday season chimney, I just don't know.
Yes it is a season when
several holidays are observed, and I respect those groups who observe them,
although I say to Best Buy don’t use traditional images of CHRISTMAS, be totally
generic, and only use bland winter scenes, and watch your business flock to
those merchants who still understand that presents or any gift giving, observed
on December 25th, with manger scenes, and ornamentation of this
nature, still refers to that night when a star shown on high, and gifts were
given to Jesus.
For me and mine, we will shop
elsewhere, and I only hope enough like minded shoppers do likewise.
Merry Christmas.
That's my opinion and
I'm sticking to it.
