Email from Ocado

[IamPeas]

Not sure if others have received emails from Ocado after withdrawing their custom due to the billboard issue - but I received this today:

^Dear Peas

Recently one of our customer services representatives, in a response on Twitter, inadvertently entered into a debate that did not relate to Ocado, our marketing, or our values. This issue was not for Ocado to comment on and as a result, the Tweet was withdrawn.

We apologise for any confusion or offence that this message may have caused. At Ocado we believe passionately in a culture of inclusion and creating an environment around our business that is completely free from discrimination, harassment and victimisation of any sort.

I apologise again for any confusion or offence caused, and I do hope you reconsider.

Kind regards,

Stephanie Richardson
Ocado Customer Service Team^

I just think a boycott is an over-reaction.

I can understand the anger and the immediate cancellation of orders. I was angry myself. That action obviously panicked them and made them think.

But to keep up a boycott? And even if they apologise publicly, to still boycott them, as some are saying they will?
Exactly what do they have to do to appease you?
And what is anyone doing about the company that actually took down the poster and started this whole thing?

Two tweets, as far as I recall, that seemed to come from ignorance, not from active TRA support, and were removed once Ocado realised what was actually going on.
Do they really deserve to go out of business for that?

Some of you are still watching the BBC and using their websites, despite agreeing that they are supporting the TRA argument. It took far more than two tweets before people resigned membership from political parties, and decided not to buy the Guardian.

I'm rather appalled that two tweets, based on the misinformation they were given, is enough to justify all this.

They are still sending out emails?
It's taken up weeks of their time.

Tanith there was someone on the original thread about Ocado as well saying you're over reacting stop it.

Was that you I think it was. Why do you care so much?

I had the same email. Requested a public retraction. But I've left Ocado and short of a more public statement won't be back. Over reaction? I don't think so but that's just my personal judgement on the matter. And Waitrose deliveries have been great.

They could easily put out something acknowledging that this is a heated debate, that there are differing views and that their initial response was wrong. But though they will say it privately they won’t say it publicly. Whty not. Surely their customers deserve an apology, or have every right to take their custom elsewhere.

Look, a Boycott and public shaming of any company openly supporting AWA is a step in the right direction if we are to make any headway. Ocado is a big name unlike that billboard company no one can remember anymore.
A public statement is needed because Ocado has a large audience.

What have virgin done? Just had a look at their Twitter, and all I can see I t wit feed is their retweet of stonewalls ordinal tweet

They were one of the 40 or so companies who allowed their logo to be attached to the Metro advert which linked directly to the Stonewall guidance on completing the GRA consultation. There is a long thread

Big offenders there were government agencies such as GCHQ and the IPO, who really should not be taking sides. But Barclays and Virgin Money were there as well. I am POA for my mother who has Alzheimer’s, and most of her savings are with Virgin. She needs dignity and trust, and there is no way she would understand that a man is a woman because he says so. I need to be able to demand that intimate personal care is given by someone she perceives to be a woman. Ditto there are issues in elderly care with things like sexual disinhibition, where safeguarding demands separation between sexes not gender.

So I was disproportionately cross at Virgin not caring about their customers. The first reply was reasonably well crafted, and created a distance from a standard Stonewall line. I have gone back to correct inaccuracies, and am curious as to how much they were mislead by Stonewall. Three on the list have apparently confirmed they had no idea their logos would be used in this way.

Ocado, in contrast, have not publicly rowed back at all, and had no need to support the removal of Posie’s poster. Adult human female = hate speech...indeed.

If you want complain about overreaction, why complain about customers taking their business elsewhere and not complain about bomb threats to venues or vandalism of historic buildings or threats to punch a terf or threats to kill or smoke bombs which can be very serious for those with asthma?

One side withdraws custom, the other threatens to murder and main.

Virgin now have an all trans flight attendent shuttle to the US. Good luck getting one of them to help mop up your kids vomit or change your food order.