Do Retailers Really Want My Money?

Image by *SMILING PUG* via FlickrI was recently listening to Focus on the Family and I was challenged by what Dr. Dobson had to say. He talked about retailers and their acknowledgement of Christmas. For example, do they allow or prohibit their employees to wish shoppers a “Merry Christmas”. Dr. Dobson personally stated that it was his intention this Christmas season to not purchase anything from retailers that did not recognize the real reason for Christmas – Jesus Christ’s birth.

When he made these statements, I was challenged myself to follow his leadership and do the same. So I thought I should first investigate things further in regards to specific retailers, which he did not mention on the air but did reference to the website Focus on the Family. When I went to the website to investigate I was sent to the sister site CitizenLink.org and this is what it said:

Last updated: 11/13/08

We welcome your use of these ratings in your shopping decisions. As an additional way to help you communicate with the retailers we evaluated, we are providing the convenience of a petition which you can sign by visiting focuspetitions.com.

Retailers will be presented with petitions — thanking those that embrace "Christmas," and alerting those that have purged or marginalized "Christmas" that you object to the secularization of Christmas. We hope you will "stand for Christmas" with us and encourage the continued acknowledgement of this historic Christian observance in our culture.

"Christmas-friendly" retailers — prominent acknowledgment of "Christmas"

Cabela's
Crate&Barrel
Dillard's
Eddie Bauer
JCPenney
Kohl's L.L.Bean
Lands' End
Linens 'n Things
Lowe's
Macy's
Neiman Marcus Nordstrom
Pier 1 Imports
Sears
The Home Depot
Target
Wal-Mart

"Christmas-negligent" retailers — marginalized use of "Christmas"

Barnes & Noble
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Best Buy
Borders
Circuit City Dick's Sporting Goods
GAP
KB Toys
Kmart
Toys "R" Us
"Christmas-offensive" retailers — apparent abandonment of "Christmas"

American Eagle
Banana Republic
Bloomingdale's
Lane Bryant
Old Navy
Originally published by Focus on the Family Action. Copyright © 2008 Focus on the Family.

What do you think about how retailers treat the Christmas holiday? Will it have an impact on where you shop? Why or Why not?