Tuesday, December 02, 2008

ChristCo CostCo: Just Say No [to selling out Christmas]

Oh my goodness-gracious, yet another store is refusing to cater specifically to Christians who hate their religion so much, they've made shopping a critical part of one of their holiest holidays. This time it's CostCo, the bulk item superstore that directs advertising to members who pay to join their shopping club. CostCo told one of Don Wildmon's minions at the AFA that the store doesn't set up Christmas sales or have Christmas signs in the stores leading up to Christmas and that they *gasp* purposely use the word holidays in reference to the Sacred Sale Season™ between Thanksgiving Halloween and New Year.
Last week, a customer wrote to Costco and asked this direct question – "Does Costco use the word 'Christmas' in your store advertising or on any signs anywhere in your stores during the Christmas season? That's a pretty simple question, yes or no."

Kory Rosacrans, staff manager for Costco replied, "I guess the answer would be No."

Rosacrans said, "Costco does not advertise on television, on radio or in print like other retailers. We only advertise by mailings and e-mail messages sent directly to our members who have paid for the privilege of shopping with us."
I don’t know why a group of people who are supposedly devout would want to continue to focus on how to best continue the over commercialization of one of their holiest days when conventional wisdom would dictate that a devout person would actually be offended by companies diminishing the sacredness of a religious holiday as a sales ploy but then again, these are people who are actually against people being good for goodness' sake.

You can let CostCo know how you feel yourself:

James D. Sinegal, President
Costco
999 Lake Drive
Issaquah, WA 98027
Phone: 425-313-8100
Fax: 425-313-8114
E-Mail: James D. Sinegal

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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is really sad these days when someone like you has nothing better to do with their time than to harass hardworking employees that are just trying to do their job. Get a life.

Ol Cranky said...

huh??? What hardworking employees am I harassing? I'm assuming misread/misunderstood my post because, otherwise, I have no clue what you're talking about and would love for you to clue me in.

Anonymous said...

Then explain to me what exactly is your point? It seems like you are harassing Costco as a whole......makes no sense to me. If I was in high management at Costco I would be pleased how Kory R handled the call.

Ol Cranky said...

It sounds like you misunderstood my post. I think the AFA and those alleged "Christians" who believe that demanding companies turn their religious holiday into a marketing ploy are the ones disrespecting Christmas, Christ and Christianity in general.

Catch the whiff of snark:

CostCo told one of Don Wildmon's minions at the AFA that the store doesn't set up Christmas sales or have Christmas signs in the stores leading up to Christmas and that they *gasp* purposely use the word holidays in reference to the Sacred Sale Season™...

Catch my telling them they completely miss the point of Xmas
I don’t know why a group of people who are supposedly devout would want to continue to focus on how to best continue the over commercialization of one of their holiest days when conventional wisdom would dictate that a devout person would actually be offended by companies diminishing the sacredness of a religious holiday as a sales ploy but then again, these are people who are actually against people being good for goodness' sake.

If my point still isn't clear, you should read some of the posts under RELATED (I kinda like Jesus was born under the light of a spectacular fireworks display myself)

Anonymous said...

thanks for clearing that up, just wasn't sure just who you were trying to get at. Who is the AFA? Right now I'm glad I'm not a member....

Ol Cranky said...

AFA is "The American Family Association" and organization of mindless sheeple who are, basically, trying to ensure everyone in this country is legally required to the dogma espoused by their particular fundamentalist bible. There are a group of organizations like this (Focus on the Family so obsessed with the sex lives of other people that they can't control themselves, Liberty Counsel, etc.)

The religious right and conservative political movement and their pundits (Bill O'Reilly and the folks at Fox News) have created a fake "War on Christmas" in which they try to show that we need republicans in power to save Christianity and, allegedly, "put Christ back in Christmas". They way they're doing the latter is by insisting Christmas is THE marketing tool used to spur retail sales this time of year and that everyone at every company and every school (public or private) celebrates Christmas in some way.

Anonymous said...

Christians are the ones waging war on the rest of the world! I mean what about all the other religions out there? What about those of us who believe reason dictates that religion is a lie made to control people?

The best and most professional way for companies to cater to all during the busy HOLIDAY season is to call it just that...HOLIDAY! Because there are more HOLIDAYs in between Halloween and New Year's than Chirstmas.

Those who believe America is a Christian- only club are anti-Americans as America is about diverse peoples. Don't believe me? Look around at all the different people around you.

Ol Cranky said...

bingo!

Anonymous said...

Holy Cow!!!!! I've been reading up on the AFA and they are flat scary!
I'm so sorry I misunderstood where you were coming from in the beginning. I've learned alot today that I did not know about before. To be honest I'm sick of all the religious fanatics out there. Religion is the cause of wars...such god loving people, killing each other off in the name of God. Unbelievable.

Anonymous said...

Linked to you at http://costcoblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/wackos-accuse-costco-of-saying-no-to-christmas/

Good post.

Anonymous said...

"Focus on the Family" has a list of stores categorized by the extent to which they recognize Christmas. Those high on the list include Walmart, where a worker was trampled to death, Toys R Us, where two customers shot each other to death, and Target and Lowe's, where I shopped yesterday and not only were there no signs using the words "Christmas" or "Holidays" the clerks said only, "Have a good day." Did they lie to FOF?

It is the far right that is waging this war on Christmas and every year i get sick at the stomach just thinking of what is coming from them. I can no longer enjoy the season.

Anonymous said...

Cory Rosencrans lives in my neighborhood. I find him to be a person of high integrity and is someone I call "friend."

When he told me of this flap, I had to check it out for myself.

As a Christian, I could not agree with your sentiments any more.

Peace to you and yours this holiday season.

Sincerely,
Todd Lyons

Ol Cranky said...

I'm glad he's getting support from friends and neighbors :)

Merry Christmas to you, and best wishes for a safe and happy holiday to all your friends & family