Do you boycott any companies?

The UHaul article that Aske posted reminded me of a friend that will never go anywhere near UHaul.  He's had too many bad experiences with them overbooking and not having a truck ready or just poor customer service.  He'll pay more and drive further and rent from someone else just to avoid them.

Maybe boycott is too strong a word.  Are there any companies that that you go out of your way not to support?

I know some folks that will not shop at Walmart or won't buy Dominoes pizza.  Others really dislike Nike.  I'm not even talking about just large companies and their business practices, I'd also be interested in hearing about local places you'll avoid, too, maybe because of rude service or poor food or something.

I can't think of anything for me off the top of my head.  I think I was really pissed at a car rental company in one instance and vowed to boycott them, but my memory sucks and I can't remember which one it was.

Had a *feces*ty Dodge with a stalls-when-I-turn-right problem.  They couldn't fix it, then they tried something, installed a sensor improperly, and caused an engine fire.  In the shop for six weeks, got a loaner for FOUR weeks.  I had to go over their heads to corporate twice to keep the loaner and get them rolling on the repairs.  Fire repairs were done improperly and stalling problem not addressed, but neither dealer nor Chrysler corporate would make it right.  (We're talking replacement of a major wiring harness, after which essentially anything electrical could be turned on with the key still in pocket.)

Traded car in within one week of getting it back, vowed to never own a Chrysler product again.  That was 1988.  The boycott is nineteen years and going ...


My avoidance of big-box companies in favor of small, local businesses already has been documented.

I have two golf related boycotts going strong (personally anyway) - both generated from the same incident.

1)  Made a tee time through a tee time site for many local courses the day before.  Upon arrival we warmed up and were on our way to the tee box a full 15 minutes before our time - only to see a line of 12 carts already backed up.  The course had used a front/back tee sheet to book times going off the front only - 4 minute intervals.  They also double booked the times sold through the online site.  The results was a 40 minute delay is getting out, and a 5 1/2 hour round.  Upon returning to the clubhouse and asking about the screw up - the assistant pro offered no apologies - they had used 'squeeze times' (his words) to get everyone on the course (basically to make an ass load of money that day at the expense of the customers enjoyment).

My email to the head pro at the course, simply explaining what had happened and asking if this was normal, was met with a complete denial and an accusation of me being a liar.  I prompted vowed never to use that course again - Bear Creek in the St. Louis metro area by the way.

This led to beef #2 - when I posted some course feedback on the web site that sold the times (again, just explaining the situation - no name calling or anything) - that feedback (and that of two other groups from that same day) was promptly removed with no explanation.  So, someone started a thread in the 'general' portion of the site about deleted feedback - I chimed in wondering why valid course feedback was being removed, and after a few days - that whole thread was deleted with no explanation.  I promptly vowed never to use that site again - lastminutegolfer.com by the way.

Now, I have played Bear Creek once since that incident 3 years ago - I accepted an invite to a charity scramble not knowing where it was.  Oh well - it was for charity.

I have no other boycotts active at the moment.

I have a few. Oddly enough, at the top of the list is:

U-haul- Showed up on moving day to pick up my truck that I had reserved weeks ahead of time to be told they didn't have a truck for me (despite having a lot full of trucks), then treated by the manager like it was somehow my problem, not his, and then ultimately driving away in a truck but only after 40 minutes of demonstrating I wasn't planning on leaving the lot without driving away in a truck. If I'm going to get a truck anyway, why force me to throw a fit over it? Do the right thing a-hole.

Others:

Walmart- because they're evil, it's just that simple.

Domino's Pizza- Because Tom Monaghan is evil, and yes I know he doesn't own them anymore. It might just be that their pizza blows.

General Motors- Largely based on our experience with a Pontiac Grand Am that Laura brought to the marriage, but also based on other GM cars I've either dealt with or seen dealt with. (I'm not really fond of Fords or Chryslers either.)

A certain component club manufacturer and ex-FIGs sponsor- Dude rubs me the wrong way, can't honestly quantify it other than him coming off as a self aggrandizing weenie with a serious chip on his shoulder. I know he does some good things, but he must also have a double jointed elbow for all the patting of his own back he does. Also slings more mud at the competition than is my preference from a business I want to patronize.

Exxon- I've just boycotted them for so long I don't honestly know why (probably has to do with Exxon Valdez) but I truly can't imagine a life without boycotting Exxon. I also prefer to not frequent Sinclair Oil if possible, mostly because I don't care much for Earl Holding.

Olive Garden- Food sucks, never once had good service.

Apparently I'm more disgruntled than I realized. 

Walmart is really the only place I boycott on principle alone. I tend to avoid chain restaurants when possible, but only because I think their food is usually pretty average. I can't remember the last time I ate in a chain restaurant for an actual sit down, table service meal, and I can't think of a reason why I would do it again any time soon.

DirecTV.

DishNetwork.

Ruby Tuesdays (Although Karen Makes me go in there when we go to The Mall of America) 

The little pizza joint in town. (Hello??!!  Can I get a *fudge*in' beer?  This is twice now!  You're done.  *8==>*head.)

Maddie's 2nd grade teacher.  1 Parent - Teacher Conference was enough.  Bitch.  (Maddie is now in 4th grade)

Prolly some others.

Yeah, my oldest son's first grade teacher a long time ago.  Wanted to hold him back because he was immature.  Problem was, he was the most mature first grader I (and the head of elementary education in the local district) ever saw.

Companies;  they all suck once they get big.  It would hard to boycott everything.