Dear Walgreens

By popular request (well, Erin's anyway) I'm posting a copy of my letter to Walgreens. She probably just couldn't believe it when I told her it was polite. But it is, thanks to the help of Heidi and Dana. [Actually, I later learned how to do this even better. See my blog entry "Sometimes You're the Windsheild, Sometimes You're the Bug" for a better approach]. By the way, feel free to plagerize if you want to:

Walgreen Company Consumer Relations
200 Wilmot Road, Mail Stop #2273
Deerfield, IL 60015

RE: Inappropriate Display of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

To Whom It May Concern:

I love the convenience of having my corner Walgreens. I fill my family’s prescriptions there. I get my pictures developed there. The customer service in the pharmacy, at the photo processing, and at the checkout is exemplary. I run to my Walgreens if I need anything because I know I can find whatever I’m looking for.

Unfortunately, a week ago I found something that I was not looking for. As I passed the magazine display, I was shocked to see the soft porn cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Thank heavens I didn’t have my young children with me! But I was not happy to see it myself! As I went down the aisle I heard a group of teenage girls pass the same rack and exclaim, “She’s not wearing any clothes!” Apparently I wasn’t the only one who noticed. As I checked out, I left a comment for the manager, requesting that the magazine cover be removed, or at least displayed with the offensive picture covered. A few days later I went back to my Walgreens and was disappointed to see that no changes had been made. This time the manager was on-site so I spoke to him directly. He told me that he could not do anything to change the display of the magazine because men’s shaving companies had given Walgreens quite a bit of money so that Walgreens would run a coupon promotion of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

I was disappointed enough to see such inappropriate material on public display, but to find out that Walgreens would actually promote the distribution of soft porn absolutely horrified me. I’m sure that there must be a mistake. Maybe the information I received from the manager was incorrect. Maybe those who make these decisions at Walgreens are unaware that seeing these sexual swimsuit images are often springboards into harder pornography. Maybe those same decision-makers are unaware of how much damage pornography causes to relationships and families, not to mention to the men who view it. I have read enough academic literature on the subject and seen too much personal heartache of friends whose families have had to deal with the fall-out of porn in their homes. If the information I received from the store manager is correct, I would ask you to please reconsider and stop promoting all such material. I understand that Walgreens is involved in many worthwhile projects, and that you have a tradition of being a trusted community presence. The current display and promotion of soft-porn material seems to undermine your good reputation. It certainly has with my friends, all of my extended family, and me.

I have been a consistent customer and want to continue to shop at my Walgreens. However, I cannot feel comfortable bringing my family into a place where they may be confronted with inappropriate images. I look forward to receiving news from you that (1) you will remove the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues and all similar material from public display, (2) that you will discontinue your promotion of such material, and (3) that I can expect the same family-friendly actions from Walgreens to continue in the future. Once I have been assured of those changes, I will happily resume my status as Walgreens biggest fan.

Sincerely,