With Christmas Shopping Soon, Which MegaStores are Naughty or Nice?
The Free Press, December 11, 2003, With additional unedited text

         Attention holiday shoppers. While you're makin' a list and checkin' it twice, has your favorite mega-retailer been naughty or nice this year? It took a golf outing, and an e-mail from my mother, but I am developing a social conscience for my spending habits. All of Santa's helpers should be interested in what I found.

         Huge chains like Walmart, Sears, and Kmart spend sacks of money in ho-ho-hopes of getting you in the doors. Their balance sheets read like the budget of a small country. Even Kmart, which is just emerging from bankruptcy, has hundreds of millions of dollars in assets. Generations of customers have been very, very good to all of them, but what have they done for us in return? If you have - or are developing - a shopping conscience, who should you patronize around here?

         I recently had the time-consuming honor of being the chairman of the First Annual Richland Township Golf Outing. The short version is that it went very well, and raised about $7500 to be used for Open Space. That success was due in part to the donations of prizes by generous local merchants. My first stop - the megastores. They are all, well, mega. Surely each would donate a small gift certificate for a charitable event in their own township. Surely.

         I found the manager of Kmart hard at work dragging boxes, but he cheerfully took time out to explain, with some embarrassment, that Kmart was not yet out of bankruptcy, and was not permitted by the courts to make any contributions. Yet. But, he continued, the approval should come soon, and please, please make Kmart my first stop next year, when he would like to be the first donor. I didn't get a golf prize, but I did realize that here was a store, and a manager, who appreciated their community. Though I came up empty, thumbs up for Kmart!

         Across the street, at Walmart, it was a wholly different story. Along with being the largest retailer in the world, the store has the largest chip on their corporate shoulder. Although they had one general manager, and three floor managers on duty (one of whom walked by as I was waiting), no one had the time to spend even two minutes with me. I was told to make an appointment and come back for the 120 seconds I needed to beg for the $25 gift certificate. Please, I asked, could I just leave the letter explaining about the event, and perhaps someone could call me later? Nope. No time. Make an appointment. I didn't. I was teed off long before tee off.

         Altogether, I requested contributions from more than 70 stores. Only the Grinchs at Walmart required an appointment. Looks like coal in their stockings this year. No wonder there is now a spiffy website (www.Walmartwatch.com) devoted entirely to their nationwide unpleasant community relations. Bah, Humbug. Thumbs up to you too, Sam Walton. But up a different place.

         And, finally, Sears. I didn't ask them for a golf contribution. But I did receive an e-mail from my mother entitled "Fwd. Kudos to Sears". This immediately presented me with a problem. I love to hear from dear old mom, but I believe absolutely nothing I see on the Internet, especially those messages preceded by "Fwd". However, in the holiday spirit, I took a deep breath and peaked. Just for her.

           The story was about how Sears treats it's employees. Specifically, those who were called up to active military duty. By law, employers are required to hold the jobs open and available, but nothing more. It is a sad fact that most reservists, in addition to risking their lives for their country, take big pay cuts from their civilian jobs, and lose benefits as a result of being called up. This e-mail must be just more annoying spam about another corporate Scrooge. Thanks, Mom.

         But no! I read further, and discovered that Sears is really the jolly old Santa here! According to the e-mail, the company is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries, and maintaining all benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all of it's called-up employees, for two years. Could this really be so? A company with a heart as well as a conscience? I was still skeptical, so I e-mailed Sears myself. Webcenter@sears.com.

         In the twinkling of an eye, I had my answer. Not only is the story true, but Sears claims that they have had this policy in effect for many years. They don't advertise it, don't beat their chests or use it for public relations. They just quietly do the very right thing. Holiday cheer all year, every year. So if you have a choice of megastores, and we do around here, wise men (and women) bearing gifts might want to keep all of this in mind.

         And for Sears, two thumbs up, followed by the rest of my body. A standing ovation.