Please help--Take Direct Action against LAND's END

[MADem]

DODGEVILLE, Wis. -- Some Lands' End employees said Tuesday they were hoodwinked into attending a speech by former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani at the company's Dodgeville plant.

Viewers said the company told them Giuliani's speech would be motivational in nature. Instead it was a political speach supporting President George W. Bush for reelection.

Prior to the speech, CEO Mindy Meads e-mailed workers, saying, "Excitement is building this morning. In a few short hours we will hear from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Please note, Lands' End does not endorse any political candidate."

Many viewers expressed outrage at what ensued....One employee said he "decided to attend the meeting after being told it was a motivational speech focused on bettering ourselves. The whole speech focused on bashing Kerry, using the fear of terrorism to sway your vote, and using nonsense like not remembering baseball players' names as an excuse for not voting for Kerry."
Full story here: http://www.channel3000.com/politics/3768833/detail.html

This is disgraceful behavior, and in a KEY SWING STATE!! I've written to them and told them they will never get a dime more from me, and that I am switching to LLBEAN. In the 21st Century, these Tammany Hall tactics are totally unacceptable, and we need to tell these clowns that they can't engage in this kind of crap and get away with it.

Here's a link to LAND's END's feedback page: http://www.landsend.com/email_opt.cgi?mode=GRAPHIC&sid=0912055566397154130

Please send them a sharp, but civil comment telling them what you think of this kind of worker bullying and extortion. It's bad enough that workers in America have to work harder for less, but when they are herded, like sheep to the slaughter, to listen to propaganda, there's something horribly wrong. Please don't let them think they can get away with this kind of crap. Thanks for your help, in advance!

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. My daughter's friend's mom

works at LE, and she said that when Guliani started his Kerry-bashing, she got up and left... and she wasn't alone.

I was furious when I heard about this disgusting tactic. So many of the people who work there are not exactly the most highly educated (don't slam me for saying this - I'm related to several of them), and I am afraid that they'll be suckered by this shit. x(

edited to add that LE is now owned by Sears, so you might want to include Sears in your correspondence list.

[Wwagsthedog]

5. Sears is on my bad list for other reasons

Most prominent is the fact that they are donors to that most profane person's (delay) PAC in Texas. Here, along with other companies, they are under indictment for those illegal donations.

http://www.offthekuff.com/mt/archives/004191.html

on edit, added link

[missjudy6]

18. done

included in email:

"...Or to be fair, perhaps equal time? A "motivational" speaker such as James Carville or George Soros?"

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Done!

And I just spent a bunch of money there yesterday. Here's my e-mail:

Dear Land's End:

I just read a news report about how Land's End arranged for its employees to attend a speech by former NY Mayor Giuliani. Althoough the employees were led to believe this would be a motivational speech -- an entirely appropriate event -- in fact it turned out to be a partisan political event during which Mr. Giuliani blasted Senator Kerry and promoted the re-election of George Bush.

I am disturbed that any employer would dupe and coerce its employees to attend a partisan political event; I'd be furious if my own employer had pulled such a stunt. But I am especially disappointed that Land's End -- up to now, one of my favorite clothing stores -- has evidenced such a bias and inflicted it on its employees.

Ironically, just yesterday I spent about $160 at your outlet store in Minneapolis, where I have often shopped. Unfortunately, now that I am aware of the company's bias and its attitude towards its employees, I will no longer be doing business with Land's End.

[DebJ]

3. This reminded me of an old Coal Mining Company town, the song

I owe my SOUL to the company store....

[saracat]

4. I sent them a stinging email. Action must be taken!

[Not Me]

6. done. And while I was at it I asked them to remove me from

their catalog mailing lists.

This is dishonest, deceptive and downright deplorable.

[Carla in Ca]

11. That is what I did, too. Removed from mailing list.

n/t

[Not Me]

7. And, while you're at it, pass the link on to your distribution lists.

Let the marketing suckers in LandsEnd crisis control group work this weekend.

[catchthefever]

8. Companies to avoid

www.followyourmoney.com

I also read in NYT that Sears, Cracker Barrel, and 6 other companies illegally dontated to DeLay.

[CBHagman]

24. Thanks for that link.

By the way, after 17 years of shopping quite a bit at Lands' End, I asked them to take me off their mailing list, and I told the CSR why. She suggested I talk to Richard Mensch at Customer Relations. I tried to phone him one day but was put on hold.

I also e-mailed the company to explain my position. It's rather sad, because I've relied on them a lot over the years for various items. However, they lost me with this move.

[NV Whino]

9. Done

Damn. I'm gonna miss those turtlenecks.

[MADem]

10. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!

And please keep it up! Tell all of your friends and neighbors!

I hate worker coercion. It is just so damn un-American!

[RebelOne]

12. Done.

Told them that I was outraged and was boycotting their store and urging all my friends and family to do the same.

[wildeyed]

13. done

Damn, I liked Land's End, too.

[MADem]

14. LL Bean isn't bad

Tell them you are switching to that outfit!

[Francine Frensky]

15. Done. I do a lot of shopping there too!

I am really disappointed in them after hearing this.

I bet they'll write back, and I'll post here with their reply.

[Ruby Romaine]

16. it's LL Bean for me!

[monarch]

17. Response from Land's End

Reasonably apologetic. Said that nobody was coerced but that the timing was probably inappropriate. Said that they were sorry to lose us as a customer.

Thanks for the alert, MADem.

[bigpathpaul]

19. Done. Sent them an email. Asked to be removed from their mailing list.

Will also alert everyone on my email list to this.

[bigpathpaul]

20. Just got this message from Land's End when I went on their Live Chat.

Here's the transcript of my chat before I was disconnected:
Lori R: Welcome to Lands' End Live! How may I help you?
Me: I'd like to be removed from all your email and catalog postal mailing lists.
Lori R: Do you have a catalog with you that has your Customer Number on it. That would be the C number above your name on the back of the catalog.
Lori R: I would also need to know your e-mail address.
Me: Yes I do. But, don't you want to know why?
Lori R: If you wish to share that information, you may, but it is certainly up to the customer if they wish to remain on our mailing list.
Me: I'm shocked at the news I've just read at http://www.channel3000.com/politics/3768833/detail.html detailing the underhanded way that Land's End executives duped employees into a Kerry-bashing speech by Rudy Giuliani after being told they were attending a motiviational session.
Lori R: We appreciate your comments. Employees were not required to attend and the company states they were not supporting a particular candidate.
Lori R: Thank you for using Lands' End Live.
At this point I was disconnected!

[Arancaytar]

21. Re: "they were not supporting a particular candidate."

Bush, of course, not being a particular candidate, but rather a very 'unparticular' one...

[Tesibria]

22. Ok -- I keep hitting send -- but nothing happens

What's the deal -- did they shut down their web email service?

[MADem]

23. Here's my correspondence with them

You will find the email address of Mr. Mensch, their customer relations non-mensch, within this text. I wasn't satisfied with their bullshit lameass excuses, so I wrote them AGAIN. The below-listed exchange is most-to-least recent:

Dear Mr. Mensch,

I have spoken to one of your employees, who told me that they were lured to the Guiliani meeting under blatantly false pretenses. They understood the event to be strictly a pep talk, not a political rally. You failed to mention that in your response to me.

I was also told that the event instead, completely lacked PEP. It was PURELY political, with childish Kerry-bashing the order of the day. Your employee told me that people wanted to leave, but were AFRAID to because they feared that they would LOSE THEIR JOB. So I would suggest to you that, while attendance was not mandated, departure was strongly discouraged.

Here is what Land's End LOST in that poor decision. They lost the no doubt outrageous fee they paid to the former mayor. They lost the respect and fidelity of many of their workers. And they lost ME, a big spender, and I am sure many others, as loyal, active customers.

This wasn't simply a case of poor judgment. It was worker exploitation bordering on extortion, and it was done with a blatant political agenda in mind. I cannot tell you how much it disgusts me. I have a good fifty years of vigorous consumer activity left in me, and LE will no longer be a part of the equation.

I would like you to forward this letter to the company's board of directors, or owner. They NEED TO KNOW that this kind of nonsense is un-American, and they need to understand how real customers feel about this sort of thing.

It simply has to stop.

Sincerely,
xxxxxxxxxxxx
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mensch, Richard D" <[e-mail]>
To: xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 11:12 AM
Subject: RE: General Comments
> Dear xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
>
> I’m very sorry we disappointed you with our decision to grant Mr. Giuliani the opportunity to speak to our employees here at Lands’ End. From your concern we realize the timing of the visit may not have been well considered. However, politics aside, the former mayor of New York is still thought of by many to be an important figure in a very tragic and terrible event of our country’s recent history. And, our employees were not coerced to attend.
>
> We apologize that we disappointed you and lost you as a customer, but thank you for sharing your thoughts, concerns and decision.
>
> Sincerely,
> Richard Mensch
> Customer Relations
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xxxxxxxxxxx
> Posted At: Saturday, October 02, 2004 4:50 PM
> Posted To: bush/kerry
> Conversation: General Comments
> Subject: General Comments
>
>
> The following message concerning General Comments was received
> from (name deleted at email address deleted).
> --------------------------------------------------------
>
> I have ordered from your catalog in the past, many, many times,
> but I want you to know you have received my LAST ORDER. I am
> switching to LLBean. Here's why:
>
> You herded your employees into a room and forced them to listen
> to a speech by the former mayor of New York. It was a POLITICAL
> SPEECH, endorsing GW Bush and BASHING a sitting Senator who is
> running against him.
>
> This Tammany Hall tactic is absolutely DISGUSTING. In this day
> and age, where jobs are hard to find, you made your message all
> too clear to your employees--have a political opinion other than
> the one we approve of, and you're fired. Well, guess what--I
> can fire you, too, and I intend to tell every friend and neighbor
> I know to do the same. Shame on you, you are the lowest example
> of American business I have ever encountered.
-----------------

Note my original email was posted by SOMEONE at LE to "bush/kerry." Obviously I am NOT the only one who wrote and bitched to them, if they subcatagorized the "general comments" emails in that fashion.

Don't let them off the hook--keep slamming them, the baaaastids!

ON EDIT--Note that the asshole brings up 9.11 ( ...an important figure in a very tragic and terrible event...) . Christ, they CANNOT WIN WITHOUT TERRA and 9.11!! How very, very DISGUSTING!