Current Events > Reminder- in US tomorrow...it is buy nothing day

(+) Yeah! (+)

Because of someone else, I now gotta go into Walmart briefly tomorrow. Not even gonna buy anything, just walk from front to back to front like an asshole before leaving. I'll take note how crowded/empty it is.

I haven't got anything there for over a month anyways, so it's not like I'm skirting around it by buying everything the day before/after.

The only thing I may buy tomorrow is beer from a gas station, does this qualify? Actually, upon further consideration, I'll just buy them tonight before midnight (that's when TX stops allowing sale of beer anyways except for Saturday and maybe Friday, when it's 1 am).

Of my personal boycotts I do on a daily basis, I haven't given any money to Walgreens because they started pulling mifepristone after 14 or so state AGs merely threatened banning it (preemptively giving into fascist demands should not be rewarded or ignored), I don't buy any Annhauser-Busch products after Bud Light gave into the right-wing domestic terrorists and haven't been to Target since they've done the same. I've stopped using Amazon. I wasn't really buying them in the first place, however I make a mental note to not even consider Goya products after their CEO verbally fellatiated Trump. I don't go to Chick-fil-a, though that one isn't really hard to do because even before I knew about how shittily anti-LGBTQ their executives were I still thought their chicken was just ok so no big loss there. I won't go to McDonald's anymore after that one in Altoona let Trump do is stupid publicity stunt there (Mangione was also arrested in an Altoona McD's, I looked it up and that town only has 3, giving it a 1/3 chance it was the same one, though I've not seen anybody make a connection). I'm trying not to watch any Spyglass made movies after their firing of Barrera for daring to call for recognition of Palestinian humanity. I don't click on or promote any sort of U.S. mainstream legacy media, specifically NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, WaPo, NYT, and now MSNBC, the last of which I used to give mild defense of. Firing Joy Reid and keeping Scarborough when her show had higher ratings than Morning Joe is a clear sign of their groveling to Trump as she was the last one there still calling out white supremacy for what it is and what it's doing to our country.

Hospy posted...

I am actually really curious about the consumption habits of people who can't go a week without buying stuff, let alone a day. What are you buying?

I am not including groceries, utilities, rent, insurance, etc for the purposes of that question.

Food (not groceries, I hardly buy those at all), booze, transport and gym sessions are all daily or near enough expenses for me. Obviously major purchases can be put off for a day easily, but if you still end up buying whatever it is anyway, Im not sure how that really makes a difference.

lol

Here's to hoping one day leads to two, then three, and many more.

What I'm hoping happens, is people learn to entertain themselves with more free sources of fun like parks and libraries.
Heck, just going to your local library more and supporting it would be a great thing, too. They have so much free entertainment.

Cheetaluv posted...

This is just going to encourage those who typically don't shop on Fridays to do so knowing there might be fewer people.

Im off today and got paid today. I have a long list of stores to go to and Im pretty excited now, just hope theres not that many with the same idea.

It's not too hard to buy local on a regular basis...for me at least. I know many others don't have a choice due to health or transportation issues.

Shopping habits can be hard to break, but it's not impossible. I think doomers, trolls and defeatists are a huge portion of the people that claim "things won't change". Too bad! Things are already changing. Go read or watch independent media more to hear about the news.

How many of these "buy nothing" people do you think are on social media rolling ads and generating wealth that way today? Should have also been a media and T.V blackout on top of it that I think of it.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Use your best judgement I guess. Or do some research? Maybe the chain is shady and shouldn't get your money.

NintendoFan81 posted...

To hurt the rich in their wallets, because they sided with Trump and because many ditched DEI due to threats.

If this is your goal, a one-day boycott will do precisely nothing. CEOs of multi-billion dollar corporations could not give less of a shit about one-day sales; their views are on monthly, quarterly, and yearly profits.

You want to make an impact? Stop buying at those places for good. Find all the CEOs supporting Trump and stop frequenting their businesses. Stop going in Wal-Mart, cancel your Amazon Prime subscription, stop shopping at the Home Depot, so on and so forth.

A one day sales-freeze, even in some hypothetical universe where you could get every single person in the US to get onboard, would not change a single mind.

darkknight109 posted...

If this is your goal, a one-day boycott will do precisely nothing. CEOs of multi-billion dollar corporations could not give less of a shit about one-day sales; their views are on monthly, quarterly, and yearly profits.

You want to make an impact? Stop buying at those places for good. Find all the CEOs supporting Trump and stop frequenting their businesses. Stop going in Wal-Mart, cancel your Amazon Prime subscription, stop shopping at the Home Depot, so on and so forth.

A one day sales-freeze, even in some hypothetical universe where you could get every single person in the US to get onboard, would not change a single mind.

You are right but frankly you still don't get it.

The boycott today is also about bringing more awareness. Many people ARE avoiding Amazon, Walmart and the rest on a regular basis.

Many companies are feeling the loss, and it will get worse. Every little bit does help, even if you refuse to believe it.

thronedfire2 posted...

Companies had a panic shit fit about business being slow for two weeks because of a deadly pandemic. They'll notice one day of abysmal sales.

Pressing X to doubt.

And even if it was noticed, they would get over it fast when they realize that it was just pushed to the days before/after, like I said.

I fucked up and bought some tacos on the way home from work before remembering about this! I'm sorry! Please see fit to punish this traitor as he deserves!

Have any of you worked retail when sales were slow for a day? You start job searching. People will notice if something happened.

pedro45 posted...

Have any of you worked retail when sales were slow for a day?

Merciful days.

Philip027 posted...

Pressing X to doubt.

And even if it was noticed, they would get over it fast when they realize that it was just pushed to the days before/after, like I said.

And bus companies didn't go bankrupt during the bus boycotts. It was still worth doing.

The goal of today wasn't about a body blow to bring them to their knees, it was about showing people are ready to do something. What they noticed today is all the people who a pissed at what they're doing, and even if they shop at those stores tomorrow, these are the people that are looking for alternatives.

This was the first step, not the last.

Just like during the civil rights movement, what Rosa Parks did may have seemed like a minor incident to some at first, but became a huge impact in the right direction. This boycott is trying to do something positive for people.

UltimateWing posted...

Just like during the civil rights movement, what Rosa Parks did may have seemed like a minor incident to some at first, but became a huge impact in the right direction. This boycott is trying to do something positive for people.

Exactly.

This is the first time I'm hearing of this. >_>

Is there any chance of this boycott being noticeable or is it just some fringe Twitter thing?

hmnut7 posted...

And bus companies didn't go bankrupt during the bus boycotts. It was still worth doing.

The goal of today wasn't about a body blow to bring them to their knees, it was about showing people are ready to do something. What they noticed today is all the people who a pissed at what they're doing, and even if they shop at those stores tomorrow, these are the people that are looking for alternatives.

This was the first step, not the last.

And just like the million other protests over the years, they know it won't matter. People will get bored and go back to their usual habits and all those companies will see at most one quarter of sales slump. But then the next quarter, they are back to their usual profitability.

If it is the first step, it is also probably the last.

So... anecdotal of course and I live in one of the most conservative states in the country... but my store had one of the busiest days we've had in 2025 today.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/28/feb-28-economic-blackout-protest-2025-what-to-know/80727498007/

According to them, Amazon sales were slightly up today. So this probably didn't really work.

I didnt spend anything today. I have enough self control to not spend money for a day.

Im not surprised about Amazon sales. People are addicted to buying on Amazon and Im sure right wingers made sure to buy more today to stick it to the libs

chaos_knight posted...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/28/feb-28-economic-blackout-protest-2025-what-to-know/80727498007/

According to them, Amazon sales were slightly up today. So this probably didn't really work.

Yeah right....I doubt the numbers are out this early. I would bet some people did buy more today to "show the libs".

But just wait...months from now (maybe sooner)- they will struggle more when tariffs hit. Red states will be hurt by tariffs more. It will be the wake up call for many. Everyone won't act like it's fine.

pedro45 posted...

Have any of you worked retail when sales were slow for a day? You start job searching. People will notice if something happened.

Yes, but that's just something that happens once in a while. Even slow weeks are a thing. It's noticable, but it's not going to be anything more than a minor blip on the radar if it's not a long-term sustained effort. Especially from a head office's point of view.

Trumble posted...

Yes, but that's just something that happens once in a while. Even slow weeks are a thing. It's noticable, but it's not going to be anything more than a minor blip on the radar if it's not a long-term sustained effort. Especially from a head office's point of view.

Yeah. At most this is going to register as "Slow for a Friday, but Thursday and Saturday were slammed so it evens out."

hmnut7 posted...

The goal of today wasn't about a body blow to bring them to their knees, it was about showing people are ready to do something.

They're ready to make a pointless one-day stand for internet clout?

Well, I'm convinced. Big corpo is quivering in their boots, I'm sure.

Crazyman93 posted...

Yeah. At most this is going to register as "Slow for a Friday, but Thursday and Saturday were slammed so it evens out."

Dang whodathunkit

I swear that protests like these are psy-ops meant to fail.

Interesting how those of you who are poo-poo the boycott, none have provided a link to something more effective that they are doing.

I am legit asking, what is current best organized protest that people should take part in. Post a link, I'll spread it to everyone I know and I recommend everyone else do the same.

Come on CE, prove you're better than the people you make fun of.

It was very busy yesterday. I don't think anyone in my area participated. I was hoping for a slow day too.

I bought nothing, didn't even order pizza

I walked through Walmart, just like I said I'd have to. Place was actually more packed/active than usual. So, I guess so much for that.

I also admit I failed because I bought a cheetah head/face pillow that was in clearance. Now I'll have this thing staring at me in judgement. At least I had something to hug in shame.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/d/d7a854a1.jpg

hmnut7 posted...

Interesting how those of you who are poo-poo the boycott, none have provided a link to something more effective that they are doing.

It is not my job to come up with what would work. I just derive enjoyment from ridiculing the things that clearly won't work.

I didn't buy anything but I spent $3000 with Sysco

I had to for work though.

nocturnal_traveler posted...

It was very busy yesterday. I don't think anyone in my area participated. I was hoping for a slow day too.

I'm guessing many people didn't know or just didn't care. Too many people acting like things are normal unfortunately.

Ordered a salad from a local pizza place.

The point of these things isn't to not-support small businesses. It's to boycott and black out the huge ones. Which I almost do on a daily basis. I pulled my Amazon Prime support a month or two ago and deleted all my accounts on fascist platforms.

Sayoria posted...

The point of these things isn't to not-support small businesses. It's to boycott and black out the huge ones.

I think trying to draw the line there really misses something about the MAGA movement. Small business owners were all over the Capitol on January 6th. I'd sooner support Costco than the average car dealership.

Anyways, this gives a succinct explanation of the trouble with boycotts on a large scale:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGqhN7hxy3P/?igsh=MXJ3ZHhxamJjNzRzZg==

Antifar posted...

I think trying to draw the line there really misses something about the MAGA movement. Small business owners were all over the Capitol on January 6th. I'd sooner support Costco than the average car dealership.

I can play that too. There's lots of business owners that are struggling to get by that don't support the MAGA movement that losing a day's business could really cripple them.

Big companies don't look at daily purchases. They look at monthly. Mom and Pop are the week to week.

Sayoria posted...

I can play that too. There's lots of business owners that are struggling to get by that don't support the MAGA movement that losing a day's business could really cripple them.

So why boycott them instead of planning and focusing your boycott against the MAGA business owners?

A_Good_Boy posted...

So why boycott them instead of planning and focusing your boycott against the MAGA business owners?

That's my point.

Purple_Cheetah posted...

I walked through Walmart, just like I said I'd have to. Place was actually more packed/active than usual. So, I guess so much for that.

I also admit I failed because I bought a cheetah head/face pillow that was in clearance. Now I'll have this thing staring at me in judgement. At least I had something to hug in shame.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/d/d7a854a1.jpg

very cool. id have gotten one also. or a tiger one.
that said, i bought stuff. it was from a "small business" on amazon so its cool.

Purple_Cheetah posted...

I also admit I failed because I bought a cheetah head/face pillow that was in clearance.

At best, Walmart makes almost nothing off a clearance item. At worst they lose money. Especially if it's something that's been taking up space for too damn long and they want it to go away.

Antifar posted...

Anyways, this gives a succinct explanation of the trouble with boycotts on a large scale:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGqhN7hxy3P/?igsh=MXJ3ZHhxamJjNzRzZg==

That makes good points, but I still think every little bit does help. Too many defeatists are a big reason things don't get done.

hmnut7 posted...

I am legit asking, what is current best organized protest that people should take part in. Post a link, I'll spread it to everyone I know and I recommend everyone else do the same.

There aren't any, there is currently no real opposition to the Trump Regime.

NintendoFan81 posted...

That makes good points, but I still think every little bit does help. Too many defeatists are a big reason things don't get done.

Yep.

"This one protest won't single handedly solve the problem so why bother?"

Is a lot like "This one chemo treatment won't stop the cancer so why bother?".