Are there any stores or companies you refuse to shop from or deal with?

[User1055]

As the thread title says - I have just decided to shop anywhere except a major high street electrical / computer company from now onwards after a couple of poor customer service issues. I shopped there from convenience, but I'm fed up with them now.
This got me thinking. I avoid any MLM, even though I really like some products I was given as a gift, and stores with poor ethics regarding production, worker treatment, etc.
Do you have any you actively avoid?

Brewdog. Refuse to stock their stuff.

@LobotomisedIceSkatingFan

Anything Murdoch has dipped his wizened old bollocks into.

That bra woman. Michelle Something.

Bensons for Beds. Unbelievably shite.

Can we do this without being ageist? @LobotomisedIceSkatingFan

Oh yeah -

Lush
Oxfam
Save The Children

Alpkit

Used to love them, but their customer service has plummeted in recent years, as has the quality of their products. About 18 months ago they decided to sell shares in the business as a bit of a cooperative. All the marketing said that they wanted to have many smaller investors, were looking at their wider customer base, wanted to thank their loyal customers etc, and would keep the share sale open for 48 hours. What happened was they closed the sale after 45 mins, with a handful of big investors.

The crux came when my friend ordered a bike in Feb for March delivery. It arrived in August, many understandable delays, but their comms around this were appalling.

An outdoor kit shop locally, never been so rudely treated. I’d like to support independents, but if I can get the same stuff online more cheaply and without being insulted, that’s fine by me.

Ditto a particular bike shop in Barnsley.

Zara - been in once. Asked for an explanation of the sizes. The sales girl looked at me and said “we don’t do clothes for people as big as you”. I was a size 14 at the time, which is not huge for 5’8”.

Holland and Barrett (because they sell shark fin products).

Dyson
Wetherspoons
The Daily Telegraph

All brexit related.

Ryanair and Sports Direct
both of the above because they think consumer law doesn't apply to them

Boots I was already boycotting them before covid because of their rubbish customer service and then boycotted them because of their ridiculous attitudes during the first lockdown.

Local shoe shop - the staff were scary. Don't need to use it anymore anyway as ds is grown up and doesn't need school shoes anymore.

I would also like to boycott any retailer which "gifts" things or sells things for "gifting" and any that uses influencers, but as a pp said, that is most of them.

@PathOfLeastResitance

The butcher in the next village - So overpriced. I’m happy to pay more for quality produce but he takes the piss. Primark. The Clark’s in the town near me. The manager is awful to her staff and not much better to customers. DFS - shocking customer service and shoddy sofas. The furniture shop with Oak in its name - that’s down to the awful adverts. Texaco - when I started to drive many many years ago they had porn mags all over the place. That was over 20 years ago and I still don’t use them. Ryanair - I refuse to give that awful man who owns it a penny of my money. Dunedin - poor customer service. There must be loads more.

I wonder if you live near me! Local butcher and Clarks both ringing a bell.

I boycott Lush and Body Shop because of their politics, as PP. They wouldn't want TERFy old me, anyway, apparently.

And for charities:

The children’s society
The RSPCA
The NSPCC

Oh yes Zara. Tried to take back a scarf that had a whole in it after one wear the the manager accused me of putting it in myself and wouldn’t exchange.

Ryanair
Sky
RAC
Currys
Yodel or Hermes if its possible to avoid them

All for shit service one way or another

The Salvation Army.

Worked for them for several years - very insular, hypocritical and dealt with workplace bullying, to the point I had a break down, yet they claim they’re a Christian charity. Refuse to give them a penny and say the same to friends and family. It’s a shame because they do good work and individuals within the organisation are lovely, but I refuse to support them. Most of their work is under government contracts anyway (well, it was when I was there) so I’m sure they’re ok without the support of my friends and family!

Also the RSPCA. They do fuck all in so many cases where other charities will and with the money that have it stinks.

Lush
Tesco
The RAC - unbelievably bad service and when I complained , wrote back to me basically disputing everything that happened instead of apologising profusely. Mate , I know you abandoned me at a closed unlit services at two in the morning - I was there ! And then refused to get me home despite being a fully paid up member . Well fuck you. Green flag do a much better job

@hiplip

Purina cat foods due to their failure to address concerns regarding cats falling ill and even dying after eating Felix cat food.

Me too - I am usually allergic to Facebook theories but all these cats can't be a coincidence- mine luckily recovered (and I have switched food - she is much perkier now - no lethargy / vomiting/ smelly poi and wind! Are you a member of the Facebook group cats affected by Felix - it is v fast growing

Local butcher: lamb chops turned green after I'd got them home 😖🤮
Lush: wokesville
Smiggle- overpriced carp
Local chemist- arrogant, nasty, patronising owner
Boots- rubbish customer service
Ryanair... where do I start??😠

A local independent women's clothes and children's shoes shop. I've not set foot in there in 10 years after the (then new) owner used some underhand and fraudulent tactics to successfully put his rival, my friend, out of business. I learned that the children's shoe business in a small town is truly ruthless!

Curry’s ever since I bought a washing machine which they plumbed i wrong and were son useless we had to pay a plumber to do it.

Lush and body shop for the reasons listed upthread
Dreams beds due to taking my cash and then telling me about the ridiculous delivery time (pre covid)
I regularly boycott Cadbury because of the disgusting waxy stuff they produce these days (the Irish bars are still top notch though!)

A local independent gym. I wanted to join when they first opened and they were so rude and unhelpful that I never went back. They then got a hefty fine for breaking lockdown restrictions by holding classes for a few select members, the owner threatened and harassed someone who left a bad review on Facebook (it was a justified bad review) and I then found out from someone else that the owners ex partner has a restraining order against him because he assaulted her. So I think I made the right decision there.

Lush
Flora
Anything MLM
NZ specific:
Hubbards cereal (c.f Laurel Hubbard)
Sanitarium

Boots .several by me and all have terrible customer service. Also the pharmacist was less then helpful. So now use a independent pharmacy or superdrug.
A local Argos ..staff including managers /supervisors rather stand around chatting and making plans for evening or weekend then serving customers .

@peaceanddove

I'm not inclined to use a local M&S because they currently have a trans male working in the women's changing room. Teenage DD felt too uncomfortable to try on anything because of it.

Well don’t you just sound like an enlightened freethinking spirit 🙄

That's right. Teenage girls who feel uncomfortable undressing around men are BIGOTS.