Boycotting LL Bean is a huge MISFIRE! It is a GREAT company!!

[RBInMaine]

LL Bean takes great care of its workers, makes some of its products domestically, gives millions of dollars to great causes including environmental conservation organizations and efforts, and has good products with AWESOME customer service that is unparalleled.

Yes, Linda Bean, company founder LL Bean's granddaughter, is a right wing nut who gave way too much money to a pro-Trump super pac. But she is just one of ten members of the board of directors, and LL Bean had and has NOTHING AT ALL TO DO with the nutty things Linda Bean does. LL Bean is entirely NON-POLITICAL!! Also she has other businesses, so if GrabYourWallet.com wants to boycott something then boycott THOSE. But they are listing LL Bean just because it is a nationally recognized company.

Know all the facts here folks and tell those behind this call for this extremely misguided nonsense to STOP IT NOW!!

It is backfiring is a very, very big way! And rightly so! Even the PROGRESSIVE commentators in Maine are writing about how STUPID this is!!

[liberal N proud]

1. I have only ever bought one item from LLBean, so not a difficult move for me

I just don't pay their inflated prices.

[RBInMaine]

2. It is an AWESOME company and very PROGRESSIVE in many ways. The boycott is MEGA-STUPID!!!!

[terip64]

4. I love LL Bean. However, we need to let them this is not okay.

They can come out and make some kind of statement to clear this up, but until they do I won't be shopping there and I let them know that. We have to use every method we can to resist. The publicity will help us and send a message that people have had enough.

[tecelote]

6. They have tried but the media does not care.

http://www.pressherald.com/2017/01/09/l-l-bean-chairman-responds-to-call-for-company-boycott/

You are hurting a company in a very blue area of Maine.

"...Leon Gorman, the former president and chairman of L.L. Bean who died in September 2015. According to FEC records, Gorman contributed $70,800 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2012 along with an additional $73,700 in contributions to primarily Democratic or left-leaning candidates, PACs and super PACs."

http://www.pressherald.com/2017/01/12/donald-trump-tweets-praise-for-linda-bean/

[cyclonefence]

8. All well and good, but

I'm going to boycott them (and I am a customer) until they do something about Linda. They need to make her understand that her hijinks are costing the company money and she'd better back off. She benefits from my purchases from LL Bean, and I do not want to give her any more money to send to the likes of Trump. Either get her to back off or remove her from the profits flow, and I'll continue to buy Maine hunting boots from them. Otherwise, I'll find boots elsewhere.

[tecelote]

10. May make you feel empowered but good people are going to lose their jobs over this.

Boycott Linda's businesses.

LL Bean is an exemplary company and deserves the respect they have earned.

[cyclonefence]

21. This is not an easy decision for me to make

but the responsibility for saving their workers' jobs lies with LL Bean and how they deal with Linda. They are aware of the movement to boycott them, and why; the ball is in their court.

BTW, this is how a boycott is supposed to work. Consumers pressure management to make changes or lose business. The fact that LL Bean is a fine company with values we support is actually irrelevant in this particular circumstance imo. They have a canker in their apple, and they need to cut it out.

[tecelote]

26. Boycott Linda's businesses.

It won't hurt her much to lose a board seat. She still has her inheritance.

The people that could lose their jobs don't have that benefit.

[cyclonefence]

27. All LL Bean has to do

to save their workers' jobs is to cut Linda out of any association with the mail-order business. If they are as progressive a company as it seems they are, this should be a no-brainer for them.

[tecelote]

32. Maybe. If it wasn't a family owned business.

One that started from scratch.

[Ghost OF Trotsky]

43. There is a good chance they can't

If she's a stockholder they can't just fire her.

I am going to continue to support them. Good stuff, made in America. In a blue area of a blue state and they treat their workers well.

I have worked for companies where one of several owners was an asshole - so by your logic I should be thrown out of work, too. Thanks

[Iggo]

50. I am.

And LL Bean is one of those businesses.

[cwydro]

40. Maine hunting boots are very good, and they don't wear out in a year.

You must really do some serious hunting/walking if you have to "continue" to buy boots from them lol.

I've never had a problem with anything I've bought from them. When I lived in the Keys, I put a lot of wear in my water sandals; they never wear out.

[LAS14]

55. If they "do something about Linda," they give up their non-political position.

[ehrnst]

15. They did make a statement - this is from FB:

(instead of boycotting - ask that they remove the one woman involved that is supporting Trump)

We were disappointed to learn that Grab Your Wallet is advocating a boycott against L.L.Bean solely because Linda Bean, who is only one of 50+ family members involved with the business, personally supported Donald Trump for President.

L.L.Bean has been a family-owned business since it began back in 1912. L.L.Bean is a values driven company that has long been inspiring people to live life outdoors. For the last 105 years, L.L.Bean has been singularly focused on offering high-quality, satisfaction-guaranteed products and outstanding customer service in the Maine tradition. This commitment has allowed us to not only employ 5,000 hard-working people, but also donate tens of millions of dollars to non-profit organizations promoting environmental stewardship, educational attainment and a host of other worthy causes at the local, state and national levels.

Our owners, employees, and customers hold views and embrace causes that are individual and diverse. We are united by our love for the outdoors and our guiding principles established back in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean himself who believed “do unto others” was not just a saying, but a way of life. We fully acknowledge and respect that some may disagree with the political views of a single member of our 10-person board of directors. Like most large families, the more than 50 family member-owners of the business hold views and embrace causes across the political spectrum, just as our employees and customers do. And as every member of the family would agree, no individual alone speaks on behalf of the business or represents the values of the company that L.L. built.

With this in mind, we are deeply troubled by the portrayal of L.L.Bean as a supporter of any political agenda.

L.L.Bean does not endorse political candidates, take positions on political matters, or make political contributions. Simply put, we stay out of politics. To be included in this boycott campaign is simply misguided, and we respectfully request that Grab Your Wallet reverse its position.

Shawn Gorman
L.L.Bean Executive Chairman

[RBInMaine]

67. They have. They have said they had nothing to do with it. ENOUGH!!!!

Again, and for the last EXTREMELY CLEAR time, LL Bean had NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING to do with the private actions of Linda Bean who is the granddaughter of the founder and just ONE member of their board. So enough of this nonsense!

VERY progressive political commentators in Maine are even saying how STUPID this is!

[PotatoChip]

11. Also, the Bean family (minus Linda) donated to Obama's 2012 Victory Fund.

The late L.L. Bean president Leon Gorman and his wife, Lisa Gorman, hosted fundraisers for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Michael Michaud, shelled out $70,000 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2012 and donated to members of Maine's congressional delegation, including Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. Lisa Gorman has donated to Democratic parties across the country and donated $33,400 to the Democratic National Committee last summer.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article126047109.html#storylink=cpy

[Maine-ah]

71. if anyone wants to hit her in the pocketbook

then they should actually be staying away from Linda Bean's restaurants and lobster products. Too bad that it will hit the lobstermen in my area that sell to her, but I'm sure they can find other buyers.

[hlthe2b]

3. Yes... I would support them, but I have contacted them to let them know...

that the company MUST find a way to remove this woman from their board of directors--something that threats to the bottom line fully justifies. I let them know that I intend to support them because of their past good record, but going forward, this situation MUST be dealt with.

[Chasstev365]

5. These Things Get Difficult

I am a life long Chicago Cubs fan, yet really hate the owner Ricketts famity who are not only pro-Trump; Todd Ricketts is IN Benedict Donald's administration.

[obamanut2012]

7. They need to dismiss her from the board today

I have bought many things from them over several decades -- clothes, lines, skis, fishing rods, a kayak. I stopped yesterday. Only REI will get my money until she is removed from the board, which is what I told them yesterday in both an email and a call.

It is time to get tough, and people need to sever all business contacts with Trump supporters if they want my money. These people need to be made pariahs.

I have been to the original store several times, and I know they help the community. But they need to axe Linda Bean.

[LAS14]

56. Then they are no longer "non political"

[AgadorSparticus]

9. It won't be hard for me to boycott LLBean. I tend to buy Eddie Bauer anyways.

[Vinca]

12. I've shopped from Beans since the 1960's and I'll keep buying their flannel sheets and tote bags.

Linda Bean sounds like a grade A nutball. Every family has them. The company doesn't appear to be involved in her wingnuttery so I'll be hitting the store the next time I'm traveling through Freeport.

[IronLionZion]

13. Linda Bean was under fire for illegal contributions to Trump

which is why Trump tweeted his endorsement of the company.

I like their products and service and many of their products are made in America. Didn't know much about their politics.

This picture is from their Maine factory:



https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/us/politics/linda-bean-ll-bean-boycott.html

[Vogon_Glory]

14. I will not boycott LL Bean because a director is a wing-nut

I will not boycott LL Bean because one director is a wing-nut. If I'm going to boycott a company, it's because the company as a whole is doing something reprehensible, the majority-stockholders are knuckle-dragging reactionaries, or because the CEO has become a dark lord of the Sith. Having a wing-nut director isn't enough.

[RBInMaine]

68. She is just ONE member of the board of directors and this had NOTHING to do with the company.

[Vogon_Glory]

72. Hey, I agree with you. It's not like she's a majority stockholder. N/t

[mainer]

16. Leon Gorman was a big Obama supporter

as was his wife.

Lisa Gorman, who is married to L.L. Bean Chairman Leon Gorman, is No. 4. Gorman has given $57,800 to committees to re-elect Obama, $10,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and $6,000 to the Jewish activist group Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs.

http://www.pressherald.com/2012/10/20/top-political-donors-betting-on-democrats_2012-10-20/

[cwydro]

17. I've been a customer for years.

I have no intention of boycotting.

[dreamland]

18. LL Bean can make amends, have them donate to the DNC

There are lots of great companies out there, like Hobby Lobby , who also treat their employees well. They give great customer service to those who BUY . Heck, they even have health benefits for their employees but that doesn't mean I will ever step into one. One bad apple can spoil the bunch, solution.. remove the apple (Linda Bean) or make apple sauce (donate to a Democratic cause).

[B2G]

19. I'm wearing one of their waffle T-shirts as I type this.

Love their products, won't boycott.

[Stinky The Clown]

20. Yeahbutbutbutbut . . . . . .

. . . . . It is something people can do while sitting around ranting impotently.

[cwydro]

41. Lol.

Nailed it.

I bet half the posters threatening a boycott have never bought a single item from Bean.

[stonecutter357]

22. If she voted for racists trump she is a deplorable POS just like him...

Times have changed and now many of their items are no longer American made,

[TheCowsCameHome]

23. Linda is the crazy aunt in the family. An outlier.

We will continue to buy their merchandise, as we have for well over 50 years.

[CousinIT]

24. I have asshole wingnuts in my family too.

I can buy that Linda Bean (she has her own restaurant, boycott that!) is an asshole wingnut while the company LLBean may be OK or even support "liberal" causes ie: environmental protections, etc.

I posted about boycotting them the other day but a few have said the company itself isn't Linda Bean the asshole wingnut.

So...OK. I will relent on that. I've not heard of #GrabYourWallet though. (?)

Their prices are - yes - higher than WalMart or JCPenney. However, I've been buying from them for years and their products are far superior to others and last - FOREVER. IOW the quality of the stuff is top notch. Flannel sheets, boots, gloves, fleece tops, pajamas, pants, flannel shirts, etc. And shipping is always free. So there's that.

I would personally hate having to give up my LLBean stuff or not shop there again. So....I'll wait and see.

Meanwhile that crusty old idiot Linda Bean...maybe the locals can boycott her restaurant or something?

[Iggo]

25. So, kick her off the board then, oh great company.

[dembotoz]

28. as a family memeber what if they CAN NOT kick her off the board

i have seen strange stuff with family operations,..,,,

their hands may be tied

[hlthe2b]

45. If that is the case, they need to make that clear in their response (including the specific "whys"

[dembotoz]

65. again....lawyers

[Brainstormy]

29. May be. but they're overpriced as hell

I've pretty much been boycotting them all my life

[tecelote]

33. I have boots from ten years ago and they're still good.

I consider them as saving me money.

[brooklynite]

63. You can probably buy cheaper boots manufactured in China, rather than in Maine...

...we like foreign trade, don't we?

[blue cat]

30. Boycott LLBean!!! N/t

[Freethinker65]

31. I will continue to boycott Lands End

because of that company's recent appeasement to conservatives. I will not be boycotting LLBean because if one pro-Trump heiress/board member. If I hear/read that LLBean, the company, does something to warrant a boycott, I will do my own research and not rely solely on a random blog, or even just DU, to make my decision.

[alarimer]

34. Liberals shooting their nose off to spite their face, once again. n/t

I wonder if this wasn't some Machiavellian move on Trump's part. He tells us to support a company because he knows progressives will start a boycott and hopefully (in his mind) do damage. This would require Trump to be smart, so I doubt he is actually capable of tha kind of multi-level thinking. He's just uniformed, because the company itself has distanced itself from Linda Bean.

[IronLionZion]

39. The eager willingness to throw American workers under the bus

is among the biggest reasons we lost the election and winnable Senate seats in traditionally blue states

Boycotts of companies that make stuff in America really screws a lot of good liberal voters and normal people who just want to feed their kids.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

46. I agree entirely.

Telling workers they can just find some other job, because someone they've never met is on the board of directors, is no way to win elections.

Elsewhere, I noted that L.L. Bean contracts out its work (or least it used to), so the jobs will be lost all over.

[alarimer]

49. I don't know their overall record.

I have heard pretty good things overall. But I think we need to be skeptical of anything Donald Trump tweets and not just run to do the opposite.

Ultimately this is going to blow over, as most boycotts do. It is possibly bad publicity for the company and they should address it more thoroughly.

This does speak to larger issues regarding Donald Trump and his power to move markets with a single tweet. That is very bad, no matter who is the target. It could potentially destabilize the economy.

[JI7]

73. no the reason we lost was because of russia comey

[IronLionZion]

80. Those damn Russians

[JI7]

81. So you want to ignore the hacking and comey not informing about

What ge recieved on trump but making the email bs public ?

[IronLionZion]

82. Comey and Russians

Did not stop people from voting D in traditionally blue states. They voted based on things like trade policy and misguided beliefs about manufacturing and energy jobs, and more than a few were against immigrants and feminists

[JI7]

83. they did not vote on trade as pro trade republicans got the most votes

And Hillary got more votes than anti trade republucans.

And those states have been moving right with scott walker and other republicans winning.

So based on actual votes it's the pro trade which got the most votes and anti trade the least.

Plus she won the votes of all groups that said economy was their top concern.

And hillarys numbers went down with comey making public the email nothing crap.

[Rustyeye77]

35. Boycott.

I don't want my money going to Pee Brain.

[RBInMaine]

69. The "boycott" is MEGA STUPID and is BACKFIRING in a big way. Total and complete NONSENSE.

[lambchopp59]

36. L.L. Bean does have a few gaps in their HRC equality score of 60,

but not altogether a bad company.
Anyone know of a petition letter to them Re: this?
I'm also an REI shopper, retail outlets are more common here on the left coast. REI's HRC score is an impressive 95 to boot.

[aikoaiko]

37. I hardly ever agree with your OPs, but I do agree with this one.

I not going to stop buying things from companies because someone who was paid by the company donated to a RWer.

[hack89]

38. I have no intention of boycotting. Nt

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

42. They are stepping up production of their American made boots

Opening a new manufacturing facility in Lewiston, ME, which will be about 140 new jobs for the area. I can't complain about that. That's good news for a lot of people in my area.

[MissKat]

44. I like LLBean products

Right now, for that tweet to come from the Orange One's fingers was more than I could stand.
I sent one of my, "the pussy grabber will never be my president" post cards I keep at the ready.

I think we're all so very angry at what's going on that we're looking for a way to hit someone/something.

We need to get organized, which is what we're doing on DU. We need to find a way to strike out at this terrible, horrible, awful, man who somehow (with the help of Russia and lies) got into office.

Poor LLBean, looks like they got in the target zone.

They need to dismiss Linda from the board or publicly censure her or call her out. What she did was illegal. They have a right to chastise her. They need to. On the other hand, it looks like lots of Republicans have asked for catalogs, so they'll be busy. I hope they choose to stand up and say, our relative did something illegal and because of that we have removed her from the board/ or if they can't remove her, they can ask her to step aside--publicly. Not because of her politics, but because what she did was illegal.

[saditurn]

47. Torn

Like most of the people responding here, I've been a long time supporter of L L Bean - the company may not embody all of my ideals but it's generally there, especially its basic brand identification with nature.

I woke up to the Linda Bean issue last week and started to feel queasy - so immediately did some research and felt comfortable with the company's response which echoes what many here have said - that it's one relative who happens to hold a position (one of many) on the board. Obviously every organization is going to be seeded with people who one agrees and disagrees with, so I was willing to look past that.

BUT, my tipping point was yesterday when I woke up (thanks, 3am ranter!) to trumP's tweet that literally demanded people to "Buy L.L. Bean". Fine, one can read it as a demand or an endorsement or whatever, but it clearly puts LL Bean in a flash point position which it didn't ask for and frankly doesn't deserve. But it's there.

In my case, my primary connection to the company is my credit card - the one and only I've ever had, and now for probably 15 years. It suddenly feels dirty, like an admission of some kind of collusion any time I would have to pull it out and use it at a store. Most people wouldn't notice or be clued in to the issue, but those that are would either (a) wrongly think I'm on their side or (b) wrongly think I'm not on their side.

This is probably why, per the NY Times, "Federal law prohibits employees of the government’s executive branch from endorsing products". Unfortunately for the world, the quote goes on: ", but the rule does not apply to the president or the president-elect."

LL Bean is unfairly victimized here no matter what. And trumP is going to win on this issue no matter what as his calls will be answered by some, and probably more than the supporters who are willing to (at least temporarily) boycott - so he'll be able to claim that his side is right & he saved the company or whatever. (Even though people who stand by their principles and stick with the company know that it is their strength that is ultimately triumphing)

Regardless, for me, I will be canceling my LL Bean credit card. If the ACLU offered one it would be in my pocket in no time! (Does anyone know of any "use for good" cards?) I'll probably still purchase from LL Bean from time to time (the irony is that their products are so good & lasting that you don't need to buy often). So I guess I'm the lucky one who can thread the needle and boycott while still not completely boycotting. Which makes me loved by all or hated by all. What a lovely world.

[milestogo]

48. I LOVE MY COUNTRY MORE THAN MY OVERPRICED HIKING BOOTS

and it's not your business to tell me where to shop.

[Rustyeye77]

57. If Pee brain wants me to buy, forget it.

I feel bad that people agree with him.

[DashOneBravo]

51. No boycotting here

[still_one]

52. Perhaps they can thank trump for that then, because his tweet just put LLBean right into

the political spotlight with this:

"Thank you to Linda Bean of L.L.Bean for your great support and courage. People will support you even more now. Buy L.L.Bean."

[FreeStateDemocrat]

53. Fuck'em, the right wingnuts only understand one thing MONEY!!!

[RBInMaine]

70. Boycotting LL Bean is ULTRA-STUPID and BACKFIRING BIGTIME!!

[LAS14]

54. Excellent suggestion. GrabYourWallet should boycott Linda's sole ownership businesses.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

58. Fuck'em, the right wingnuts only understand one thing MONEY!!!

What liberals needs to understand now that it is important that we hit back anywhere we can take a shot.

The deplorable sanctimonious biddy that never wanted for anything in life needs to go away, she besmirches their corporate identity, Bean corp is an enabler of the right wing noise machine so economic pain needs to be inflicted.

Boycott cable news so when you cut their revenues, they get the message.

Past time to make nice or nuance the issues it is class war and I know what side I'm support.

[HoneyBadger]

59. I am going to boycotted them and spend my money at Macy's.

They both employ good and bad people, you need to draw a line.

[IronLionZion]

60. Trump tweet on L.L.Bean would break White House rule

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-llbean-tweet-white-house-rule-233566

[KosherPinay]

61. Whose money?

Did she donate her own personal money or was L.L. Beans money used for the donation? BIG difference in boycotting a company.

[wildeyed]

62. They really need to be mad at PEEOTUS.

He is the one who blew up their brand with his stupid, inappropriate tweet. I like LL Bean and was super-mad initially until I researched a bit. Now I feel bad for them.

[NCTraveler]

64. I don't think it's backfiring in a very, very big way.

I do think the rest of your point is very accurate.

[LaydeeBug]

66. The Board can remove her or it can continue. She is using LL Bean profit to funnel to

right wingers.

Nope.

Too many REAL American companies that deserve our dollars.

[TrishaJ]

74. I love LL Bean and I will not

boycott LL Bean. I bought something from them today.

[NobodyHere]

75. I have no idea what LL Bean is

[Historic NY]

76. Well its donaldjtrumps fault....

everything he touches from twitter eventually dies off.

[underthematrix]

77. LL Bean is not the enemy. The relative who donated personally to Trump has a right to do so.

They really are a great WOKE company

By boycotting this company we give Trump power he shouldn't have. Let's be strategic and keep going after the GOP controlled Congress. We shouldn't buy any of Trump's products. We should post pics of leaders/people who book at his hotels and drag their ass all over twitter and facebook. That would be much more powerful.

[CanonRay]

78. When they kick that idiot off the board I'll start buying again.

In the meantime I have very few ways of expressing my outrage, but my wallet is one.

[sir pball]

79. +1, they make the best mountaineering shell I own

A Sugarloaf lift jockey jacket, granted I didn't pay for it, just adopted from one of my stoner cooks in Maine, but it's absolutely bulletproof, totally weather-sealed (OG GoreTex), and full of useful pockets and accessories. It's seriously better than my $500 North Face, that's lighter but has no bells or whistles at all. I doubt you can get better gear at any price.