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[PezKat]

That's absolutely ridiculous!! And they are *paying* people to spend time destroying them, when with one phone call you could have someone from a charity gladly come pick them up. (I bet they'd even be willing to help x the tags or whatever they have to do, subject to the store's supervision of course.)

On a happier note though related, I just saw Jane Kaczmarek (the mom from Malcolm in the Middle) on a talk show today. She & (apparently ex, I just found out they split last summer) Bradley Whitford started a charity years ago called "Clothes off our Backs". She said celebs get *SO* much free stuff sent to them, that they of course can't possibly use themselves. This is a special auction (I know some do it through eBay but seems kind-of nice to have it separate) and ALL 100% of the proceeds from sales go to children's charities. I thought this was soooo awesome!! She said they get stuff donated from other celebs all the time, and have raised millions of dollars!! (She also said you should deprive your children, lol, and told how when her young son first wanted an iPod she gave him her old Discman instead!)

[MOM2SNOX]

Funny that people complain about Target not letting the Salvation Army be outside and won't shop there, but they will support a store that ACTIVELY denies help to people.

I'm not a regular Target shopper (too far away for me) but I remember the Salvation Army fiasco... who's the other store that actively denies help to people?

I was referring to these 2 stores not helping.

Ah! Thanks for the clarification :) I'm having a blonde day :P

[MOM2SNOX]

It is standard practice at most retailers and I'm sure Target isn't excluded. It isn't the store's decision - it comes from the makers of the items.

I'm not saying it's right.

I've seen plenty of Target items at our local Goodwill so I KNOW they DO donate unsold items.

But, it's Target brand items....do you see brand new other brands? Target gets to decide what to do with their unsold stuff because it is their stuff. It's a odd process, but many companies don't want unsold stuff back and in order to get back what they have in it, stores are required to destroy versus shipping it back to the manufacturer. Yes, it's better to give, but it's not just a tax right off...you have to store and transport the items. And, you have to find someone to take it all.

Thanks for the explanation. Unless I'm mistaken, I do believe there have been other brands donated from Target. I usually just notice the Target price tag still attached. Will definitely look closer next time I'm there!

[1luckymama]

just disturbing............

[jcsmaestra]

I think that's deplorable! They aren't making money on the unsold merchandise anyway, so why not donate it? To destroy and throw these items out when there are so many in need is the absolute worst thing.

[bellaconsmom]

I think that's deplorable! They aren't making money on the unsold merchandise anyway, so why not donate it? To destroy and throw these items out when there are so many in need is the absolute worst thing.

I agree. That's such a waste, when it can be used elsewhere.

[mykidsmom]

Disgusting...

[scraptag]

I was asking a clerk at Michaels about some scrappy stuff (tools) on clearance about the price. He looked. 1 cent he said. They should have been taken off the shelf but the clearance lady hasnt been in for a while. If you want them, get them now, because now that I know about them, I have to take them off the shelf. They are going to be crushed, because we get compensation from the vendor if we dispose of them and they know they can't be resold.

ugh! Some charities could really use those supplies too.

No doubt that Walmart will be changing their policy soon, now that the public knows. But don't think this hasn't been going on for a very long time. Most "shortages" are fabricated for financial gain.

[PezKat]

...you have to store and transport the items. And, you have to find someone to take it all.

I can list 5 groups off the top of my head that would come pick stuff up in our city with one phone call; I'm sure there are lots of others I don't even know about. Most large churches would take things as well. The store is "storing" the items anyway before they're thrown out. (Worst case they can put them in the trash bags or whatever they were going to throw them away in!) And after it's been done once, they can call them ahead of time so they pick them up as soon as they're ready & no "storage" at all is needed.

[3 Pals]

Chalk another one up to Walmart ...ya they did not know it was happening...right! I know Walmart sells cheap and many people need that right now I can relate more than y ou know and some have jobs there and I would not want anyone to lose their job but...read about them they are evil! They have taken away so many jobs because their goal is to sell cheap so they coax US companies into selling there wares (who wouldn't want a Walmart account?) and then after you are all settled tell you to sell it cheaper ....MUCH cheaper so the company either has to fold or move to another country. There was a great show on PBS about 4 years ago....I am not sure shipping nearly everything outside the US to sell it cheaper at Walmart (who is known for its poor compensation and benefits) is helping the American public...OK I am off my soapbox now...

[naney1952]

Heart breaking story:waiting:

[deerewife]

I agree that it's wrong - how ever stores do not get compensated by the manufacturer unless they destroy the item - it's just the way it is. I can guarantee that Walmart is not the only company doing this. It bugs me so much when people will blanket things and say that Walmart is the source of all evil in the world...trust me other companies are bad too. If you have problems with this, you should be contacting the companies making the items, not the stores following the order to get compansated.

Off my soapbox. And yes, I did work in retail as a department manager and was responsible for pulling and destroying items. I questioned it and went round and round with management...you don't win.

[scraptag]

I agree that it's wrong - how ever stores do not get compensated by the manufacturer unless they destroy the item - it's just the way it is. I can guarantee that Walmart is not the only company doing this. It bugs me so much when people will blanket things and say that Walmart is the source of all evil in the world...trust me other companies are bad too. If you have problems with this, you should be contacting the companies making the items, not the stores following the order to get compansated.

Off my soapbox. And yes, I did work in retail as a department manager and was responsible for pulling and destroying items. I questioned it and went round and round with management...you don't win.

You have such a valid point. Don't shoot the messenger.

[Nikki_E]

The amount of stuff we waste in this country is unbelievable.

I agree 100%!!

It's sad.

[MLee]

Jenna - thank you for being the voice of reason.

I'm not a huge fan of Wal-Mart; however, I'm not a huge fan of most of corporate America right now and that goes for Target as well. The story on PBS was done several years ago and many, if not all, of the complaints that were made against Wal-Mart at that time have been changed. Do you realize they have had two CEO changes in the past few years?

Wal-Mart is actually one of the leading retailers making strides in the "green" market right now. Because they have so much buying power they can literally make a difference in how we, as consumers, purchase hence the increase in fluorescent bulb choices, biodegradable detergents, all cotton/all natural clothing, organic or bamboo sheets that are affordable for the working class. Doesn't have anything to do with today's story but it has everything to do with the fact that they are trying to make things better and every time something happens, some one brings up crap from years ago. You gotta love people who do that...

If you have a problem with what you read today, and who in their right mind wouldn't, then write your local papers, contact your local stores, and most importantly STOP buying from the manufacturers who TELL these stores to do this. Do you honestly think that stores would rather do this than write it off as a charitable deduction or a loss? I hardly think so. Think.

The designers and manufacturers don't want their clothes to go directly to these places - who wants to tell Vera Wang that her gosh awful ready to wear just got donated to Goodwill? Slashed and burned, yes, but worn by a homeless teen on the streets of Indianapolis - I don't think so.

It's so easy to rip on Wal Mart when your real beef is with the designers and manufacturers and crapped out tax laws and crooked politicians who make the crapped out tax laws...

[3 Pals]

My beef is not with deisgners


I too worked in retail for a very long time and there are other solutions...



Fact: Walmart out sources nearly everything to other countries...if you want to sell to Walmart that is what you have to do to get it made cheap enough...as for going green I saw that report as well... the huge carbon foot print they have implanted on the world will take a lot of greening up to come close to making a difference.

[PezKat]

So is there any way other than contacting every clothing manufacturer individually to find out which ones are the culprits?

Btw, there are store brands. So if those are thrown out, it *is* that store's/company's fault.

[greenmatter]

if the tax law benefitted them it would be done

[jannyf]

No wonder our landfills are overflowing! That is totally wrong and thankfully this student turned these companies right over to the press! I agree- I couldn't work for a company that carelessly throws away good merchandise. Heck, you can even line the cages at a humane society with old clothes!