Best Buy Worst Buy

Dr. Michael L. Ford

December 2006

 

            Hello Best Buy, I just want you to know that I have planned my Christmas shopping without including you in it. It started with learning that Best Buy had banned the use of Merry Christmas in its Christmas shopping promotions. I already have a sore spot about that with companies from previous years, Frankly, I don’t think if you are ashamed to mention the day that you need to be profiting from it.

            But reading about your plans on Snopes.com, the website dedicated to separating fact from fiction I learned that you were not adverse to using the secular images of Christmas like Santa Claus in you advertising campaign. Wait a minute! Wait a minute! According to a news story I read on the subject Dawn Bryant, a spokeswoman at Best Buy Co. Inc., said "We (meaning Best Buy) are going to continue to use the term holiday because there are several holidays throughout that time period, and we certainly need to be respectful of all of them," Shades of hypocrisy, the only holiday that uses Santa Claus is Christmas.

            If Best Buy had the concern of not singling out Christmas above other holidays this time of the year they would have left the man in the red suit (not the devil) out of their advertising. Let us get right down to it. The problem with Best Buy is not the holiday but the Savior for whom the holiday stands. The secular images of Christmas are disconnected from the birth of the Christ child and they think these encourage people to spend money. Not me!

            So Best Buy, you might be the largest consumer electronics dealer in the nation, but you are not the only one. And, if you were, I could find something else to give than electronics gadgets as presents. Every time I have seen a Best Buy commercial on television thus far it has only served to strengthen my resolve to not buy from Best Buy. As far as I am concerned Best Buy is the Worst Buy in town. If I bought from you I would feel like I was doing a disservice to the Lord Jesus Christ. While Best Buy will not be mentioning Christmas, they sure do want the shopping dollars from those who remember the “Reason for the Season.” Guess what? Not mine!

            Jonsquill Ministries

P. O. Box 752

Buchanan, Georgia 30113

171001-1