Toys 'R' Us: Boycott.

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thx997303

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I was in toys r us yesterday, open carrying as usual.

My wife spoke with an employee about a toy, and the employee spoke to her and left.

After she left, my daughter was playing with the toy train display they have, and I was approached by the same employee.

She informed me that they don't allow guns in the store, it is a new policy, and that there was a sign posted on the door.

I responded "Ok, I better go stop my wife from spending money here then."

I picked up my daughter, and approached my wife, and from about 15 ft away told her "Don't buy that, they are anti gun."

Several people were standing at the checkout line and heard me say that. Not sure what they thought.

My wife expressed concern, since we wanted to buy a toy for my daughter, so I assured her (loudly, but not overly so) "Don't worry, we'll buy the same toy from a place that respects our rights."

We left. On the way out I verified that there is a no firearms sign on the door.

As such, I will be writing a letter to toys 'r' us detailing my disappointment in their policy, and asking if it is a national policy or if this local store is acting on it's own. I will also be informing them that I will not be spending money in their stores unless and until they fix their policies.

I ask others to join me until this is resolved.

sign.jpg

This is the text of an email I sent to Toys 'R' Us.

To whom it may concern,

Earlier today I was open carrying a firearm in accordance with Utah law in the Orem, Utah Toys 'R' Us store.

I was going to buy a toy for my daughter, but before I was able to, I was informed by an employee that I could not have my firearm in the store. I was further informed there is a sign to that effect on the front door of the store.

I replied that I would leave, and not spend any money there. I put the toy back and left.

I went to a local Wal-Mart and bought the exact same toy there, despite the slightly higher price.

I am a concealed carry permit holder, and carry a firearm for defense of myself and my family.

I would like to inquire if this is a corporate policy, or if this might be an individual store doing it's own thing.

Pending your response, I will not be spending any money in any Toys 'R' Us stores, or Babies 'R' Us stores.

I will also being asking members of www.utahconcealedcarry.com and www.opencarry.org as well as everyone with whom I regularly associate with, to join me in such a boycott.

I would appreciate a timely reply on this matter.

Sincerly,

Thx.
 
I just got off the phone with Mike, a manager at the Orem TRU location.

According to Mike, the no guns policy is a new policy that was enacted as little as 2 weeks ago. That is when they received their sign and instructions to post it.

The new policy is from corporate.

Mike expressed that he doesn't like the policy, and will e-mail the district manager on my behalf, and will notify me of the response.

It appears we have support even within TRU itself.
 
1-800-toysrus

Called local and national and let them know.

So fricking stupid, so I'll leave my gun in the car so a criminal can break into my car get the gun and go into the store.
 
I got a response from TRU.

Response (Richard Latner) - 09/10/2010 02:11 PM
Dear Mr. McDonald,

I have included a copy of the Corporate Policy Regarding Firearms in Stores:

General Company Policy on Firearms

• At Toys“R”Us, Inc., the safety and security of our customers and our employees is, and always has been, our highest priority.

• As a retailer that welcomes millions of kids and families into our stores across the country each year, we take our responsibility to create only the safest shopping environment very seriously.

• While we respect citizens’ rights to carry firearms in public areas according to certain state laws, our company policy prohibits customers from doing so in any of our stores out of an abundance of caution for the safety and protection of the children and families shopping with us.

• We make our customers aware of this policy by posting signs at the front of each of our Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores nationwide.

• It is also our policy not to sell any toy gun that could be mistaken for a real gun. Toys“R”Us was the first retailer in the U.S. to adopt this policy, which was established in 1994.

I hope this answers your questions for you and you continue to shop with Toys "R" Us. I apologize for any inconvenience.

Sincerely,

Rich Latner
Corporate Guest Relations
 
Here is my response to Mr. Latner.

Mr. Latner,

There are several flaws in the reasoning behind this policy.

Perhaps you recall hearing about the Trolley Square shooting in Salt Lake City Utah.

Trolley Square was, and still is a posted "gun free zone" This failed to stop the shooter.

Perhaps you recall the Columbine shooting.

Per federal law, schools are gun free zones, this once again failed to stop the shooters.

What your corporation is creating is a "victim disarmament zone"

I refuse to shop anywhere that so ignorantly creates such a zone.

I have and will continue posting this information in various locations, and am calling for a nationwide boycott of Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us stores.

Here are links to the discussions I have posted on various gun related forums. As you will soon see, there is support for this boycott.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=92947

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?80532-Toys-R-Us-Boycott.

http://www.utahconcealedcarry.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=9505

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=543355

http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/rkba-news-information/158598-toys-r-us-boycott.html

You can rest assured that more forums will be notified of your policy and the boycott. These are merely the posts I have had time to post since the incident yesterday evening.

In this economy, it appears to be a horrible idea to alienate ANY customers at all.

Blockbuster is a fine example of the backlash such signs create.

I sincerely hope this matter can be resolved.

Sincerely,

Thx.
 
I wrote them and got the following reply:

Thank you for contacting the “R” Us Team.

At Toys “R” Us, Inc., the safety and security of our customers and our employees is, and always has been, our highest priority. As a retailer that welcomes millions of kids and families into our stores across the country each year, we take our responsibility to create only the safest shopping environment very seriously. While we respect citizens’ rights to carry firearms in public areas according to certain state laws, our company policy prohibits customers from doing so in any of our stores out of an abundance of caution for the safety and protection of the children and families shopping with us.​

I won't be going there again. I don't live in a state that allows non-employment or non-politically connected carry, but I would hope you CCW guys would pull together for us sport shooters.

Funny that they would do this right before an IPO. The company had two straight years of profitability. I think they are about to get a dose of reality.
 
Just sent them this:

To Whom it may concern,

I have just been made aware that it is now a coporate policy of your stores to prohibit legally armed citizens from entering. I must inform you that I will happily buy toys for my children elsewhere from here on, as I carry a firearm legally for the protection of my family. The protection of my children is of highest importace to me, so I will not enter a store that feels I am not qualified to handle my own safety as well as that of my family. Policies like yours serve to keep law abiding citizens who have been trained, fingerprinted, and thoroughly background checked from entering your store, while doing nothing to deter any criminal element. I regret that I must curtail my dealings with you, but unless this policy changes I will not do business with any of the entities listed on your corporate information page.

Sincerely,
My legal name


Oh, and not in the email, but here's the page for all of the businesses they own:
http://www.toysrusinc.com/our-brands/
 
I’m staying away from there now. I can see the reason they think it would be a "Responsible” CYA policy, but I just don’t like the ignorance. I’ll shop elsewhere considering the signs I see here say “It is illegal to enter this establishment with the UNLAWFULL possession of a firearm.” And their corporate policy just bans them all together. Also, I am not speaking for everyone, but the people that are licensed to carry that I know, shoot more and train more than the police I know.
Food for thought:
To ban guns because criminals use them is to tell the innocent and law-abiding that their rights and liberties depend not on their own conduct, but on the conduct of the guilty and the lawless, and that the law will permit them to have only such rights and liberties as the lawless will allow... For society does not control crime, ever, by forcing the law-abiding to accommodate themselves to the expected behavior of criminals. Society controls crime by forcing the criminals to accommodate themselves to the expected behavior of the law-abiding.
 
My email to corporate:

My wife and I have been Toys R Us/Babies R Us consumers for several years. Having spent literally thousands of dollars in your stores, we were set to spend even more with the purchase of a crib and bedroom set for our child due in November of this year.

Unfortunately, I just heard of your anti-gun policies and verified the same by personally observing one of your signs indicating that the carrying of a firearm by a law-abiding citizen, even where specifically authorized by legal statute, in your stores is prohibited.

I have also read your corporation's response to similar concerns from other citizens. I am not interested in the same canned response so you may save the energy required of a written response.

Despite your corporate claims, having over 10 years of experience as a full-time police officer, I can assure you that your policy is not in the best interest of your customers. In sharp contrast, it is leaving the safety and security of yourselves, your customers, and the children you claim to care about in the hands of those who care the least - the armed criminals. You see, they do not care about your store policy.

While I have enjoyed your store and your products, I will not sacrifice my moral integrity by patronizing your corporation. I will encourage others to take the same stance as well.

If your policy should change to recognize the personal protection rights of law-abiding citizens, I would appreciate the notification so that I may once again patronize your business.

Regards, Joshua Scott
 
Gentlemen, please remember the mission of the activism forum. I've removed several posts that wanted to debate whether one should work for a company than doesn't allow open carry if one is going to boycott business who don't allow it. If you want to discuss things along those lines, the General Discussion forum would be a better place.
 
I think maybe I should copy the receipt for all the toys I bought last night after being kicked out of TRU.

Something in the manner of $200 worth of toys I had intended to spend at TRU.

Another business got the money. Good for TRU.
 
I responded "Ok, I better go stop my wife from spending money here then."

I picked up my daughter, and approached my wife, and from about 15 ft away told her "Don't buy that, they are anti gun."

Several people were standing at the checkout line and heard me say that. Not sure what they thought.

My wife expressed concern, since we wanted to buy a toy for my daughter, so I assured her (loudly, but not overly so) "Don't worry, we'll buy the same toy from a place that respects our rights."

Making a scene isn't helpful. For any of us. I thought first-rule when confronted by these folks is not to make a scene. But whatever.
Second, private property, it's their choice. Your choice to not spend your money there and ask others no to as well...good on you for that.

But making a scene. Tsk Tsk...you know better than that. That only makes you (us) look like volatile people...with guns.
 
Wasn't really a scene. And I was speaking in a calm and rational manner.

Just a bit louder than normal. It really wasn't on purpose, I was a little taken aback by the whole thing.

But you make a valid point.
 
Hey guys, can someone post up the contact info email/snail mail? I want to get in touch with them and direct a couple orgs I am a member of to do so as well.

Being the father of 4 children, I am going to make sure they see no revenue from my family.

answered by own question

Customer Relations:


1 (800) TOYSRUS
1 (800) 869-7787
[email protected]

Media Relations:


1 (973) 617-5900
[email protected]
Corporate Sales: 1 (800) 353-8811
 
I picked up my daughter, and approached my wife, and from about 15 ft away told her "Don't buy that, they are anti gun."

Several people were standing at the checkout line and heard me say that.

(loudly, but not overly so)

Maybe I was wrong in my assumption also because I read these comments as a scene at the front of the store. I guess I read to much into them. The vision I had in my head was one of people frantically gathering up kids, leaving store merchandise where you were at, and storming out the front door while a group of customers were standing in awe watching an upset customer with a gun feeling violated. Sorry about that....Russ
 
Just sent an email with a request to search Suzanna Gratia and stating I won't be shopping there until they remove this policy. Didn't want to put a link and seem malicious.
Are the people who say anti-carry policies ok, are they trolls?
 
Oh, and...

Before we belittle the efforts of boycotters to sway business practices, please consider the sudden and complete reversal of Kroger's corporate policies regarding armed customers.

They had begun posting anti-carry signage and enforcing the new corporate anti-carry policy when the issue came to this forum and others. Lots of folks emailed and called, myself included. Kroger beat a pretty hasty retreat from their stance, and those of us who carry can again do so in Kroger stores.

Every victory matters, even the small ones.

KR
 
With our first child due in November I will be sure not to purchase from Babies or Toys R Us. I will also let them know about it.
 
Jorg posted above in #26 a reminder that this is the Activism forum, not the discussion forum.

The rules for this subforum are very specific. If you want to debate the MERITS of the Activism proposed start another thread.

This is the second reminder to do that. I've had to remove a few bickering posts as well.

Keep this on topic, please. Please start a discussion thread in Activism Discussion if you disagree with the action proposed.
 
Email Sent
Greetings,

It has come to my attention that Toys R Us recently had adopted a policy that prohibits the lawful carrying of firearms in your stores. My family is expecting our first child this fall and we will not register at Babies R Us or Toys R Us and my family will not make any future purchases at those stores until such policy is removed. I am active duty military and will spread the word of your anti-freedom policy to all military personnel I contact looking for products for their children. Please consider repealing this policy.

Thank You,
 
I sent in my own note. I don't shop there much, but now I'll shop there not at all. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
 
We had a similiar dustup over a recently enacted no-guns policy in the Harris Teeter chain (upscale food & grocery - hundreds of stores - mostly in the southeast.

Grass Roots North Carolina (grnc.org - an uncompromising all-volunteer RKBA org) got involved and so did other orgs and unaffiliated folks in NC and elsewhere in the South East. Then Paul Vallone, President of GRNC.org called the Harris Teeter HQ and because of the intelligence gathering and 'softening up' accomplished by the other callers was able to get through to the presidents office. Vallone was on the phone with them for about 30 minutes and made it clear that GRNC could mobilize several hundred thousand gunowners in NC alone. (This was after a few hundred gun owners had turned in their 'VIC' (Very Important Customer) discount cards, called HT HQ and emailed HQ). HT HQ called back within 2 hrs and recinded the policy before some stores had implemented it.

I think this is a 'CYA' policy initiative that some enterprising actuarial consultant is floating to large companies. The actuarial logic is bogus and smacks of the junk science published by CDC during the Clinton administration.

Calm heads prevail.

Run a blitz on TRU. Copy receipts from competitors and send them snail mail, email, and call - work our way up from the 'Loss Prevention' department to the executive offices and when the revenue loss is noticible they will recind the policy.

Have fun and post often.

TRU is bigger than HT so the inertia will be greater but this is quite do-able.
 
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