Michael Marks
New member
I thought I would share a clear-cut example of the kind of myopic discrimination that contributes to the violence problem in America. We went through the formal process of offering SafetyOn to Best Buys.
In speaking with a Mr. Greg Levchek at the Best Buy HQ in Minnesota, I was informed that a gun safety CD-ROM "did not fit Best Buy's product line".
I was a bit taken aback and I asked Mr. Levchek if Best Buy sold other types of educational CDs (which of course they do, offering everything from language to gardening to accounting, ad nauseum). Mr. Levchek assured me that they did sell educational CDs.
I then asked if Best Buy sold hyper-violent game CDs like Doom, Quake, Unreal, etc. Again he readily agreed that they did.
"So" I concluded "let me get this straight; you do sell educational CDs, and you do sell CDs relating to the violent misuse of firearms, your distinction is that your product line has been defined to specifically exclude educational CD that gives a POSITIVE message regarding firearms and safety... is that right?"
About this point his 'career danger light' flicked on and he dropped to a mumble, stammering "uh.. I think I need to talk to my boss about this." Yeah, no kidding. While you're at it, maybe check with your legal and PR departments as well.
Needless to say, he never called back with a clarification. I am certain they are in "maybe he'll just go away" mode.
So in spite of folks like the President and Attorney General saying "all gun owners should learn gun safety" and in spite of the fact that we ALL know education can save lives, its the formal position of Best Buy that firearm safety education has no place in the Best Buy product line. I can tell you, when the "anti-violent video game" lawyers start suing game makers and game retailers in exactly the same manner as anti-gun lawyers are suing gun makers and gun retailers, I'll be sure to have my timely notes ready and waiting. It will be interesting to see how a company like Best Buy reacts when placed under the spotlight to explain why, when it knowingly sold games that are linked to wanton public violence, that they intentionally excluded public safety information that could have helped offset those negative examples.
Just thought you would like to know where your store's heart is...
Mike
In speaking with a Mr. Greg Levchek at the Best Buy HQ in Minnesota, I was informed that a gun safety CD-ROM "did not fit Best Buy's product line".
I was a bit taken aback and I asked Mr. Levchek if Best Buy sold other types of educational CDs (which of course they do, offering everything from language to gardening to accounting, ad nauseum). Mr. Levchek assured me that they did sell educational CDs.
I then asked if Best Buy sold hyper-violent game CDs like Doom, Quake, Unreal, etc. Again he readily agreed that they did.
"So" I concluded "let me get this straight; you do sell educational CDs, and you do sell CDs relating to the violent misuse of firearms, your distinction is that your product line has been defined to specifically exclude educational CD that gives a POSITIVE message regarding firearms and safety... is that right?"
About this point his 'career danger light' flicked on and he dropped to a mumble, stammering "uh.. I think I need to talk to my boss about this." Yeah, no kidding. While you're at it, maybe check with your legal and PR departments as well.
Needless to say, he never called back with a clarification. I am certain they are in "maybe he'll just go away" mode.
So in spite of folks like the President and Attorney General saying "all gun owners should learn gun safety" and in spite of the fact that we ALL know education can save lives, its the formal position of Best Buy that firearm safety education has no place in the Best Buy product line. I can tell you, when the "anti-violent video game" lawyers start suing game makers and game retailers in exactly the same manner as anti-gun lawyers are suing gun makers and gun retailers, I'll be sure to have my timely notes ready and waiting. It will be interesting to see how a company like Best Buy reacts when placed under the spotlight to explain why, when it knowingly sold games that are linked to wanton public violence, that they intentionally excluded public safety information that could have helped offset those negative examples.
Just thought you would like to know where your store's heart is...
Mike