Do you ever avoid certain companies / products and if so why....

[darkskinee]

Nike-quality sucks, never bought anything since '98. When someone gave me a Niketown gift card I just gave it away.

Starbucks-well I don't drink coffee anyways. Hate them since they blind young children to drinking coffee by positioning them as hip. Kid's should be drinking juice instead.

 

[jennifer~]

I avoid Starbucks because they make a terrible espresso, even when I'm not planning to buy an espresso, because it's an irrational matter of principles...

And I know I'll break down and order the usual anyway, once I become overwhelmed by choice.

 

[Whitelinen]

I try to avoid chainshops like H&M, Zara and Mango. I like smaller companies, and I don't like the clothes these places sell. Quality over quantity.

I don't think I would ever purchase anything from Dior or Chanel either. I am horrified by how these houses are still alive and how they have destroyed the legacy of their founders.

 

[Lovin_It]

Pucci_mama I avoid starbucks becuase they are probably one of the most unethical companies out there and yet they insist on trying to pretend otherwise.....

http://www.oxfam.org/en/news/pressreleases2006/pr061103_starbucks

GAP are an odd company for me, they were really bad using sweatshops, etc. But then again they did participate in the (red) campaign, which I really like. The jury is out on them for me.

(thanks for your replies - found that interesting)

 

[kanita]

All that is known of the hypothetical 'someone' posited is that they exist and they eat chocolate. Therefore, the hypocrisy must lie in a contradiction between chocolate and existence?


Some call it larceny but I prefer to think that I no longer subscribe to the money system because I'm an anarcho-syndicalist.

Lovely way of putting it, but what I meant is that I don't eat chocolate because I know (child) slaves are used to produce it. BUT, that goes for most products, so it's just symbolic. I'm not helping anyone, or convincing anyone to join me.

 

[unplugged66]

All fast food places, as much as I can ofcourse. Also H&M because the quality sucks.

 

[TheKiwi]

Lovely way of putting it, but what I meant is that I don't eat chocolate because I know (child) slaves are used to produce it. BUT, that goes for most products, so it's just symbolic. I'm not helping anyone, or convincing anyone to join me.

Some of the more "expensive" chocolate supposedly doesn't do that. I've heard that Lindt doesn't.

 

[travis_nw8]

i avoid chain coffee and chain bookstores- because the people who own and work in the independents actually care about what they do.

 

[Curious]

I now avoid all companies and products, because I have spent too much money and now I'm broke.

Poor you! I'm sure you'll make a comeback soon

I join in on the anti-Walmart chain. Or anything ending with Mart for the most part!
Crappy quality, crappy service, crappy layout, crappy parking... sensing a theme??

 

[iLoveCouture]

^^I join in too! It takes an act of God to get in and out of Walmart.

Also, I do not shop at those cheesy clothing stores in the malls like LVLX, Rave, 579 etc...Horrible quality!!

 

[Vanessavz]

I avoid;

Clinique !! There "3 step face wash" was the worst thing I ever tried. I got the kind for sensitive skin, it made my face dry,red irratated. horrible . Also , I think there makeup is just so...ok...

Clothes from OLD NAVY : first, whenever I buy something there I think is cute, as soon as I get home, I think its " not so cute", plus its poor quality.

Awww I love walmart ! When I first moved to paris, everyone was talking about "montmartre", and I was sooo excited because I thought they were talking about "walmart" . hehe mis-understanding with the accent.

 

[Trista]

Yeah a bunch of us at work have boycotted Wal-Mart.

Yes, I do occasionally have Starbucks but when there's an even better coffee place closer to my store, I go there.

 

[FashionGrrrrl]

kanita - I know Green & Black's chocolate is also ethical. I wish I could find that website with the list of chocolate producers I was looking at not too long ago...

(Also, I'm a chocolate addict, so I admire your restraint. )

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Most of them. I am trying to eat raw so that is just fruit, veg and nuts mostly. I have pared down my cosmetics and my moisturiser is pure coconut oil. I barely shop anymore and when I do it is exclusively vintage. And other than that I buy electrical equipment (food processors is my latest 'grown up' interest) and little else. I have a particular hatred of Microsoft and Marks and Spencers obviously.

I would recommend Shazzie's chocolate. It is good if you are a raw foodist.

 

[Lovin_It]

Trista - why boycott Wal-Mart?

 

[TheKiwi]

I am also anti-Walmart! I hate how they come into small towns and drive all the family-owned local businesses out. It's so terrible what they do to small towns! I go to college in a small town, and people come from miles around to shop at Walmart. It creates traffic that the small town isn't able to handle! If you want to drive 2 miles, it can sometimes take you 20 minutes (I usually end up walking because that's not that far, but in the winter I have to drive). Also, if you travel to the towns surrounding the town I go to college in, you'll see old local hardware stores and other stores that I'm sure were booming just a few years ago, but have had to close because of Walmart moving in and taking away their customers. Plus I've seen their sweatshops in Asia. They are pathetic!!! I hate Walmart and I will not support them with my business unless I absolutely have to because of an emergency.

I try to buy as locally as possible. In New Hampshire (where I go to college), there are many local coffee shops, tea rooms, grocery stores, etc which I love to go to. Even though I'm a poor college student, I don't mind spending a little more to shop at local stores rather than chain stores.

Chains that I will NEVER shop at/eat at: Walmart, McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Taco Bell, KFC, etc... Basically ANY fast food chain!

 

[PrinceOfCats]

I go to college in a small town

Location: NYC

 

[TheKiwi]

^ I live in NYC, I go to college in a small town in New Hampshire.

 

[MulletProof]

I'm honestly not that big of a consumer to have favorites or even a blacklist.. I buy food in the nearest grocery store, buy clothes in a second-hand place downtown, it's all too simple really. I guess I'd feel more inclined to be all heroic by ditching western companies if I didnt pay electricy, phone and water bills.. same evil behind them.. starvation and hypocrisy are pretty much on the same boat if you ask me.

 

[Diamond Star]

I refuse to buy anything from fast food places...I also make an effort to go into local cafes/record shops/book shops rather than a big chain.
I agree with TheKiwi I'd rather support small local businesses even if it costs a little more, although this very difficult when you're living on a student budget.