Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Tuesday's Rant: Solicitors at Target


On Tuesdays I usually take the opportunity to rant about something I do NOT like about Target …because although I love them to death, they certainly ain’t perfect. Today's rant is about pandhandlers and solicitors in Target's parking lot... which, according Target's web site, is against their company policy. However, I have noticed that at several stores, this policy seems to be loosely - if ever - enforced. Target's official policy is as follows:
Target has a long-standing solicitation policy at our stores nationwide. In order to provide a distraction-free shopping environment for our guests, we do not allow solicitation or petitioning at our stores regardless of the cause being represented.

Now Target got a lot of flack when they decided to ban Salvation Army bell-ringers and their red kettles from its store entrances several years ago. But what irks me is, either they need to enforce the ban across the board, or not. This haphazard ruling is not only confusing, it's annoying as well. Again, according to the details of their policy:
We ask all solicitors and petitioners to respect our policy by ceasing their activities and leaving our property. However, frequently they refuse to comply.(Therefore we) partner with local law enforcement agencies to assist us in having unwanted solicitors and petitioners removed from our property.

Huh? To me, this just doesn't make sense. If they're truly against it, why doesn't Target use their own store security officers to remove the offenders? I just don't get it.

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