Ethics when shopping - does it matter to you?

[Natalka]

I hope to come back later and respond when my blood pressure goes down.....

[SmackUTwice]

These are all very good replies! I was not trying to spark a debate on the validity of unions, the use of child labour and other very controversial issues. I think we all have opinions on this and I was trying to understand if any of these opinions guide where you shop and what you buy.


The thought was about the scrubbing bubbles and its use of a rape scenario to sell its product. For those interested in the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_g2vTFert4

For me, the way women are portrayed in the media and how women are exploited in advertising is enough of an incentive to buy or stay away from a product.

I was just wondering if anyone out there thinks like this. Some very good posts! Thanks for participating!!

Have never seen that commercial on tv here and I hope never to.

However, that isn't for Scrubbing Bubbles... their commercials I have seen and they ARE good commercials, imo.

Shiny Suds... Method... I'm not so keen on buying anything of theirs now. That commercial turned me right off. On a few levels. Wow.

[anisa]

Oh, I wrote a paper on this! Like outsourcing to developing nations. It's a lot harder, and not black and white to argue, because as others have said, this affects, litterally *everything* we buy and consume. I have *nothing* against outsourcing to developing nations, it's just the "race to the bottom" that has occurred BECAUSE of this. I know people here don't like to spend real money on things they purchase, but that's part of the problem. Since we aren't paying what it would cost to actually pay workers at reasonable rates, companies that produce these items aren't going too!

We *ARE* the problem.

true. a lot of ppl have also placed priorities where they don't need to be.
when you start thinking that luxuries are necessities, and fall into debt making these extra purchases, you think that you are living paycheque to paycheque because of the high cost of living. then you start buying dirt cheap when it actually comes to the necessities in your life. i think that the midpriced items have the actual costs attached to them, the cheapest items out there are falsly cheap, because of factors like the ones you mentioned.
there is no shame in not having the 2 new cars (leased) the bigger newer house, the giant tv, the brand name clothes (that make ppl into ridiculous looking walking billboards) warehouses of airfreshners and candles, etc.
when ppl start prioritizing, and spending money where it matters, it's strange but somehow you find you have the money you need for better quality items (bought on sale of course), you have the money for quality outings with the kids, you have the money for the MID-sized tv, slightly used car. none of it on credit, and still money left over to put into savings

[anisa]

as for the raping commercial, it's not a scrubbing bubbles commercial. it's a commercial trying to get ppl to think about the chemicals in their cleaners.
so why the stink and boycot about scrubbing bubbles?

[NancyM]

as for the raping commercial, it's not a scrubbing bubbles commercial. it's a commercial trying to get ppl to think about the chemicals in their cleaners.
so why the stink and boycot about scrubbing bubbles?

exactly it has nothing to do with scrubbing bubbles so i'm a little confused as to why it is being mentioned by name i love scrubbing bubbles

[itsjustmebub]

I laughed out loud at the commercial personally.
It has nothing to do with selling products in ANY way ... it's from a group trying to raise awareness ... that's fine, the commercial made it's point.
Doesn't influence my shopping whatsoever personally.

I also shop happily at Walmart. Whomever has the cheapest price, that's where I'm headed that week.

note: I also removed the reference to Scrubbing Bubbles in the post ... has nothing to do with them and I'd hate for their consumers to be influenced

[save_girl]

Its funny, Method is usually thought of as one of the more ethical, environmental choices when it comes to soaps. The ad is encouraging people to question the chemical ingredients in their usual cleaners - which is what responsible world citizens should do. Somehow it looks like the message and product were completely misunderstood by some viewers.

[renegado]

The commerical depicts a voyeurism scenario, not a rape scenario.

The joke is that the chemicals used supposedly to clean the tub and shower actually leave it dirtier than before, but dirty in a different and invisible way. This other kind of "dirty" is represented by dirty-minded bubbles. The suggestion is that a woman might feel uncomfortable if she knew about the toxic residues in her chemically cleansed bathroom the same as if she knew perverts were watching through her bathroom window.

Many ads for cleaning products exploit stereotypes of women (of idealized womanliness, motherliness, wifeliness) in order to increase a woman's feelings of dependence upon household chemicals. They are her trusted friends and helpers. This ad shows the dark side of that dependence.

Obviously, the use of cartoon talking bubbles is meant to call to mind cleaners whose ads feature similar characters (such as Scrubbing Bubbles?). It may even remind us of other smiling cartoon household helpers. Now, if this ad had used a cartoon Mr Clean lookalike, we might be talking about a rape scenario.

[pippinelkhound]

Whatever happened to tall, stacked with muscles and bald Mr. Clean?

[Natalka]

Whatever happened to tall, stacked with muscles and bald Mr. Clean?

Yeah, and not the animated one!!!

[Justine]

tall, stacked with muscles and bald? sounds hot.

[Nice Sass]

Returning to the original question, ethics play only a small part of where I shop. For that reason I try to avoid Walmart; I perhaps shop there about two to four times per year, because although I try to adhere to some personal beliefs, there are times when good deals (that are more affordable to my family) trumps my values.

That said, what does make me avoid a store is always based on past experiences, that offend my personal values system: I will not linger in Canadian Tire: I go there to get what I need because I have had four miserable service experiences. I won't shop at Sears any longer after my sister bought four brand new appliances there upon moving into a new house, and every single one of them broke within a few months but she had to fight to get Sears to do anything about it. Unless they're having a great sale, I won't go to Toys 'R Us because of my avoidance of stores that are absolutely depressing and ucky to shop in - my local store is just old and dirty.

I try to support local and Canadian, but that's tough: The HBC chain was bought out by Americans, leaving no (truly) Canadian department stores. And anyone who claims that they shop Canadian-only is a saint as well as a great researcher - when I leave the grocery store I probably have purchased items made in twenty different countries. I laugh when I see preachy bumper stickers in Windsor-area about how important it is to support "Made in Canada" or "Buy Canadian", and then when I'm in the states shopping I see Ontario-plated vehicles with the same bumper stickers on them, parked in front of Target.

That whole argument that we create the poor conditions by demanding lower prices...ummmm...I'll refer back to my Customs days, where I saw the actual real value assigned to commercial goods being imported into Canada. From toothpaste to laundry detergent to vegetables to furniture: The retail markup from declared value for tax purposes is unbelievable. Believe me when I say that companies can DEFINITELY afford to decrease their prices as their profits, whether absorbed by the retailer, wholesaler or distributor, are more than you would ever have believed. When I think of a certain top-selling infamous brand of laundry detergent, an entire case of it (as in, something like 80 large boxes of powder detergent), was valued at less than $40; broken down to a per box level, we're talking less than $0.50 per box. When you break down the pricing of many of the goods we habitually purchase, we pay more for the marketing of that good to us than we do for what it took them to manufacture it.

As far as ethical companies go, any company can claim to be ethical: Whether they are claiming to be cruelty-free, environmentally-friendly or community-minded, these are claims that are rarely investigated. The Globe and Mail has a great article about this right now regarding Melissa & Doug products that have been recalled; the gist of the article is that M&D claimed that their products were safer and "green" compared to other products, but in truth, no one validates their claims, which ended up being untrue. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1375064/

On the other hand, I had occasion to meet the founder and CEO of Roots - Michael Budman. He was nice, interesting, and was willing to take the time to answer a few questions that I had once I learned who he was, instead of dismissing me. He was so genuine that he built brand loyalty in me that would never have existed without that chance meeting.

I guess what I'm establishing is that for me, it's all about past and current experiences. I like to save a buck, but the amount I'm saving must be pretty great if it compromises my values to shop there.

[lekate]

I'm not talking about "real commercial" values assigned to items, I'm talking about the amount that "sweatshop" labourers are paid per hour, well that's a moot point considering most of them get paid pennies per day! and yes the exchange rate is different and a (USD) $1 is worth more over there, that still doesn't make the fact that most workers are still paid waaay less than living wages. And it doesn't matter what you buy, whether it be a 20$ shirt, some gadget from the Dollarama or a 300$ coat, the person in the factory in Asia got paid for it, got paid probably less than what you could find on the ground in the grocery store that you shop at.

[Valiant]

Let's not forget that there are plenty of people in Canada who live on about five thousand dollars a year, unemployed or under-employed.
We shop according to our means. Personally, I don't have a vehicle, don't own a home (I rent), don't have vacations or social activities, etc., haven't bought clothes except at the Thrift Shop for about 13 years.
And if it wasn't for coupons and deals and sales at stores that sell their goods for less, I'd be in a lot of trouble just buying basic necessities, since being crippled by the 2007 flu shot, and losing my employment steadily as a result.

I believe this whole topic really has a judgmental, argumentative aspect. Here we are, accusing others and defending ourselves on a website that is specifically about savvy shopping, saving money while shopping, and wisely making the most of every opportunity to meet your needs. So why spoil other people's happiness in getting a good bargain?

As far as TV commercials go, I'm limited to 2 TV stations now, and 1 of them is fuzzy, so I watch TV only a couple of times a week. I usually pay no attention to commercials; I buy the products I need at the best deal I can get, and if there is something wrong with the product, I contact the company directly.

PS: I once spent a few years of my life doing volunteer work for a Socialist party, spurred on by their dogma, and thinking I was helping to change the world. As a result, they got built up, my resources got used up, and in the end I was worse off than before. I've found it better to try to understand my life from God's perspective, doing my share as it relates to specifics in my daily life, and praying to God to help me to meet my needs with His answers and provisions.