To ask: What do you boycott?

[Vagabond]

I boycott Starbucks (bad coffee, too ubiquitous), and any film with Scientologists in it. Tom Cruise, you're dead meat!

What do you boycott?

Any trader whose service is inadequate; any trader who does not open when I want to do business; any trader who forgets, or whose staff forget, for one moment, that the customer is always right. So a Starbucks where the service is good gets my business over an independent where it is not.

But any company or country which I am urged by a council or a union or an employer to boycott will get my business. Boycotting is an individual choice and must remain so.

The daily mail - of course
non free range eggs
Costa coffee - Who in their right mind pays nearly £4 for a cup of coffee?
Primark - despite the fact that their clothes are cheap as chips, its like a fecking jumble sale
ASDA - for no reason other than the acoustics of our nearest asda building means that every wail and scream of the ubiquitous toddlers is amplified to a deafening crescendo
A local cafe - stuck up moo of a mother didn't invite my DD to her party this is actually true and my DP insists that we are never to darken their door again, despite this transgression happening two years ago (although woman owner isnt that nice) and me really not giving a shit.

I have three lists. They've not yet made it to paper but one fine day I may finally flip and laminate them .

One is things I don't buy - Coke, McDonalds,Primark,Air fresheners, disposable cleaning things, overpackaged products, things with food miles off the scale, meat, battery eggs etc. I can't really call them boycotted as some I simply don't buy cos I think they're shit/will kill me/are wasteful/whatever.

A boycott (IMVHO) has to be a more concious decision to give your money to someone else - a competitor of the company you hate - and ideally, you need tell the company you're boycotting why. So on my shitlist would be the big chemical cosmetic/cleaning companies (Lever, P&G etc), Monsanto (and that includes 'branded' fruit like Pink Lady apples), Bernard Matthews etc.

List three (you keeping up?) would be People Wot Have Done Me Wrong. That'll be your local cafes, Currys, Lloyds Bank,BT,that smelly shop with the rude lady etc. I add to that list daily and I never forget

I boycott non-free range eggs and will only buy meat if I know the provenance - which farm it has come from and if I am happy with their methods. Won't go to ASDA but that's personal choice as the one near us is pretty minging but then I very rarely shop at Supermarkets anyway other than Booths which is local to me.

Bloody love horse racing though especially the Grand National. Love horses and have 2 of my own

Nestle
Paying money to see any of the following:
Jason Statham
Angelina Jolie
Brad Pitt
George Clooney

There'sMoreJustCan'tRememberTiggaxx

The Daily Mail
The Guardian
The Labour Party
Chuggers
British Airways
Ryan Air
Greenpeace (I am not scared of your cardboard wheelclamp)
Community Support Officers/Traffic Wardens (train to be a real officer/soldier if you crave power)
Dubai (full of leather faced expats in versace complaining you can't be rascist like the good old days)
Argos Online
Four Seasons (5 star??)
Manchester Airport (Vile vile Immigration officers slinging abuse at vulnerable people)
Thailand (esp. Pattaya, making money out of selling children;s bodies
BP
Anything from Zimbabwe
North Dorset District Council
Dorset Healthcare NHS Trust

Anything tested on animals
any form of horse/dog racing,
Nestle
Ryanair

ImeldaM, what about medications? I am not judging, just interested

jasminetom, how on earth do you boycott the council/NHS trust?

Topshop. Awful place. "You're too fat and old for me" alarm goes off when I walk in, despite being 28 and a size 14 (when not pregnant!).

They seem not to put clothes in my size out on the shelf, although they do make and sell them, forcing you into having to ask the morose staff's permission before being able to try them on. Last time I went in there, I asked for a dress in my size, and was told to check the maternity section. I was not pregnant, this was about 4 years ago. I spoke to the manager, and have never been in there again. AND I NEVER WILL!

Also, Topman sells awful slogan t-shirts to blokes that say things like 'If I drink more, you'll look better', which is vomit-inducingly offensive, IMHO.

The Bride put it so much better than I could.
The only things I consciously boycott now are Switzerland (will never step foot into that country again) and battery eggs. I do try to avoid imported food, but my principals don't extend to Twiglets and Crunchies.

"Asda

Morrissons

Tescos

Aldi"

If I boycotted them we would hungry. I know Tesco are trying to take over the world, but they are so much better than other supermarkets at what they do (round here anyway) that I would be cutting my nose off to spite my face by boycotting them.

That said I buy all my meat from a local farm shop (It is free range meat and the animals have a good life) and my vegetables from another farm shop. I also support other local small businesses as much as I can, buy only free range eggs and chicken and toiletries that aren't tested on animals. I don't actively boycott anything, but avoid buying foie gras, veal, battery eggs, intensively reared meat, artificial sweeteners and diet foods, junk food, trans fats, fake butter and pirate copies of CDs/DVDs

I know this is probably a stupid question, but which washing powders are ok to buy? I've just looked at the list of P&G products and they seem to make most of the big brand powders. Can anyone give me a list of acceptable ones so I can adjsut my shopping accordingly. Thanks

Ecover. It works just as well as the big brands and is more environmentally friendly.

Sorry another question, how do you find out where own-label things come from. i assume that they must be made somewhere and there are only so many manufacturers. So is there a list of who makes what for own label things?

to clarify, try to boycott toiletries/household products that are tested on animals, AFAIK

It depends what your issues are mumof2. Ecover ticks most boxes - not animal tested, less damaging to produce/wash away, fewer nasties. There was an issue about the company being part-owned by Group 4 back in the day I think but I don't know if that's still the case.

Many own brands will be BUAV approved - try the Co-op or Sainsbos own. But they're not as good environmentally and you may have your own issues with the parent company.

An eco-ball type product or something natural like soap nuts will be environmentally fine and cruelty-free but may need to be used alongside another product if you have mucky children. I find that the best option - soap nuts for everyday washes, Ecover or similar for the really grim washes.

Nothing really, there are a few shops I dont use but more because there online security is lax or cheap clothes shop but not really a boycott more I just dont like them.

Thanks for that sue, I'm going to have a closer look at the packaging next time I go shopping.

iceland
anything trendy liberal left
anywhere chavs and the like hang out or shop
carol vorderman

nothing

SuePurblybilt-It's very easy, I pay no tax. Both of these are a complete waste of taxpayers moeny and should be held accountable. I have a tax free job with free accomodation and utilities. I keep the rental income on my properties low enough not to have to pay income tax and always keep them occupied to avoid council tax. I pay all of my salary into offshore and invest in overseas. I recently tried to get my name taken off my GP and NHS list to save them money as they seem to waste pounds and pounds writing to me because I am due a smear (it affects their targets to have outstanding) . On a visit to Dorset I needed to get a repeat prescription. I pay no tax, why the hell should I get that for free. I tried to make a private appointment to get a private prescription and the idiotic receptionist refused because I am still an NHS patient. Why??? I ended up having to get it for free at the taxpayers expense even though I have a hefty medical insurance package from my employer who would have happily footed the bill.

animal circuses

I have chickens for eggs and I kill them myself for food. It is the only meat I eat.

Sorry, also I worked for Dorset NHS for 14 years and seriosly wouldn't trust the elderly care services with my old chickens.