So if you haven’t heard yet (and I’m sure you have) Target has banned the Salvation Army from soliciting for donations in front of all Target stores for this season and all upcoming ones.

While I strongly disagree with this ban, I do understand and support their “no soliciting” ban. I just hate solicitations at locations like this, but I feel that Target is being way to inflexible in their stance here. All rules, all, should have exceptions. Ok, so I understand they don’t want to make one (and at least they gave plenty of notice – they let the Salvation Army know in January of 2004), but they should stand firm on this.

Here’s the problem. Today while shopping at my local Target store WE WERE SOLICTED TO! That’s right, a local Denver radio station, Alice 105.9 was setup broadcating from there and they, in association with others, were handing out solicitations asking for donations! I was AMAZED! When we got in the car I called the store manager to express my amazement. The manager handled it well and let me know that these decisions, both the Alice 105.9 issue and the Salvation Army one are not in their control, but rather come from their corporate office. They gave me the Guest Relations number (1-800-440-0680 – Email Here – PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL THEM) and asked me to discuss it with them. So I did.

The woman I spoke to was less than polite and less than apologetic about the Salvation Army issue. She said their policy is firm, and that there should be no way this would be allowed under any circumstances. She said she would contact the store and *others* to see what was going on. When I asked how I could find out the resolution I was told there was no way for that to happen. No one else I could talk to. No one that would call me back. Nothing.

So should we ban Target? Well in some ways I would say yes, but the fact is it is just way to convenient to shop there, I like the store, the prices, the selection, etc. Also according to Target they donate, no average, 2 million dollars per week to charities. That’s great. While I strongly disagree with their firmness on this issue I can agree with the ban. I was just amazed that they would break their rule for a local radio station and not the Salvation Army and I wanted to share.