A Sinclair/ Lowe's exchange
Mon Oct 18, 2004 at 10:19:57 AM PDT
Dear Lowe's
I am presently building my house here in Hawaii, and I have been shopping your store in Kona since it opened last year. I just learned that you are running ads with the Sinclair Group on the mainland. I will not support with my money a media group that uses Federally funded airwaves and runs partisan movies that distort and dont represent the truth in any fashion and form. Your advertising dollars are supporting this reprehensible act by Sinclair, and I will switch my shopping to Home Depot and HPM here on the island unless you withdraw your ads. FYI last week I bought $7,000 worth of framing lumber for my garage and cottage. I like Lowe's for your selection, quality, pricing and service, and I hope to purchase from you in the future, but unless you inform me that your ads are not being run with the Sinclair group, I will shop elsewhere.
Dear Valued Lowe's Customer,
Thank you for your comment regarding concerns about advertising on the Sinclair Broadcasting network. Lowe's does not advertise in political programming. We will not advertise within this political documentary, nor will the company's local advertising appear anytime during the day this documentary airs.
As far as advertising on the Sinclair group of stations as a whole, Lowe's advertising agency is in contact with Sinclair to learn more about the program, and our company will make a decision about future advertising at a later time.
Lowe's has a strict company policy specifying that its advertising is not to run in controversial programming. The company advertises primarily in national, network prime-time television programs and on select local stations and cable outlets. Because Sinclair owns 62 television stations reaching 24 percent of all television households, some Lowe's advertising may appear on those stations from time to time, but again, not in close proximity to the controversial documentary you mentioned.
We appreciate your contacting us, and hope this information addresses your concerns.\
Lowe's Customer Care
Dear Lowe's
My letter was asking if you advertised at all on the Sinclair network, no only if you were advertising during the controversial " Kerry hour". Feeding the beast with your revenue dollars, whether its' during the program or not, is irrelevant. Sinclair has no regard for democratic values and principles of equality, fairness, or truth. Their attitude is " too bad". By buying time on any of Sinclair's stations, you are supporting these same values. To quote the president of the US, "either your with us or against us". You have shown me that you do not valve democratic principles over the corporate values of greed and profilt. Unless I am notified that you have pulled all your ads from the Sinclair group, I will buy the rest of my building supplies at Home Depot and HPM here on the island. I will not support Lowe's as you try to flush our democracy down one of the toilets you sell in your plumbing department.
Good day
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PS 2 weeks ago I spent $7000 on framing lumber for my garage and guest cottage. I still have the 2000 sq ft house, the plumbing, electrical, and fixtures to purchase. No one ever said democracy came cheaply. This letter will be posted for all to see on the internet, so your " truth" can be seen by as many people as possible. If you support a greedy, ruthless sycophant corporation like Sinclair, who makes its fortune off of the American people and then turns around and doesn't honor the basic principles America was founded on, then you too are fall into the "greedy company" category, and aren't entitled to my spending dollars. .. I will email you all the receipts of the materials I have purchased from your competitors in the next few months, so you can total the amount your money just from me your decision has cost you. You lost a "valued" customer due to your greed, so please don't address your letters with that letter head. Obviously we aren't "valued". I am also contacting the mutual funds that hold your stock, as I am sure stockholders will want to know about your bad business decision to alienate a large part of the American populace. Unlike other issues of past election, with the normal bickering that comes with the political process, this election is not a normal election. It is about the survival of the democracy. You would serve your stockholders best by standing on the sidelines on this one, and not choosing a policy that angers and alientates 50% of the American people Good business doesnt take sides in controversial issues. If you are concerned about profit and customer base, your heading down the wrong path on this issue. Please reconsider.
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Lowe's is a good one to write to as they have a lot of products, alarge budget for advertising, they are trying to get market share from Home Depot, and they are a National Brand so we can all participate in a boycott, no matter where we are. Keep up the pressure!! WRITE THEM A LETTER.
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