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#Post#: 2334--------------------------------------------------
I can't sell you that if you're going to use it that way
DIR By: Peasblossom
Date: March 27, 2012, 4:24 pm
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Yay! My first topic!! teehee ;D
Anyway, here's the hypothetical I was pondering to myself today:
If an individual has a business selling religious objects
(crucifixes, rosaries, religious texts, etc.) and they discover
in the course of helping a customer that said customer intends
to use the item being purchased in a
profane/sacrilegious/blasphemous/obscene manner, is it rude of
the shopkeeper to refuse to sell the customer the item?
To be clear, I'm not envisioning a scenario where the shopkeeper
starts mercilessly interrogating every customer who comes in as
to their intentions regarding that menorah, but rather one in
which the customer voluntarily offers up the information in the
course of the conversation. Something like:
Customer: Hi, I'm looking for a crucifix.
Shopkeeper: Sure, we have several right over here. Let me show
you. Anything in particular you're looking for?
Customer: Well, I need it to be really big. I'm using it in a
black mass, and it needs to be a pretty good size.
Shopkeeper: *politely explains that, sorry, but he cannot in
good conscience sell the item knowing that it is going to be
used in that manner*
What say you? Rude or not?
#Post#: 2344--------------------------------------------------
Re: I can't sell you that if you're going to use it that way
DIR By: Pron
Date: March 27, 2012, 11:00 pm
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You aren't rude if you decide to not sell to someone as long as
you decline in a polite way. It's business, not a social
situation.
As for selling/not selling religious items, it's the owner's
call. Would it bother them? Do they care what happens to the
merchandise once it leaves the store?
#Post#: 2345--------------------------------------------------
Re: I can't sell you that if you're going to use it that way
DIR By: aventurine
Date: March 27, 2012, 11:17 pm
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Would this fall under the right to refuse service at any time,
to anyone, for any reason?
#Post#: 2347--------------------------------------------------
Re: I can't sell you that if you're going to use it that way
DIR By: Floofy Cat
Date: March 28, 2012, 2:20 am
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I would say so Adventurine. I think a shop jeeper has the right
to refuse service to anyone.
#Post#: 2349--------------------------------------------------
Re: I can't sell you that if you're going to use it that way
DIR By: StarFaerie
Date: March 28, 2012, 4:24 am
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Not rude but it may be illegal in some places I think. After
all, your example is discrimination against someone's religion.
#Post#: 2354--------------------------------------------------
Re: I can't sell you that if you're going to use it that way
DIR By: Nerdling
Date: March 28, 2012, 12:18 pm
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I'd say in this situation, the rude person is the one who came
out and told the owner of the Christian store that s/he planned
to use an object sacred to the owner in a manner that would
violate the owner's moral code. There was no need to share that
information; just say, "I'm looking for a large crucifix to
display." Coming right out and saying what it's for requires
the owner then to either violate his/her moral code or to be
potentially in violation of anti-discrimination laws.
I think that this is a situation that only applies to businesses
that are clear representations of a religion. I wouldn't go to
a Muslim store for a copy of the Qur'an to turn into artwork or
a Jewish store for a Menorah to display with my Christmas tree
-- or, at the least, I wouldn't tell them that's what it was
for. It's a situation where discretion is very much called for.
#Post#: 2364--------------------------------------------------
Re: I can't sell you that if you're going to use it that way
DIR By: stars afire
Date: March 28, 2012, 3:05 pm
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I honestly thought this was going to be a post about, ah,
smoking-supply stores. ;)
However, that idea might still apply. Most smoke shops have
signs stating, in summary, "Anyone saying they're going to smoke
illegal substances with our fine tobacco products will be
refused service and asked to leave the store. For more info,
see (insert local law here)." In other words, they're not just
exercising the right to refuse service to someone making that
claim, they're stating their obligation to refuse said service.
As Aventurine stated, a simple "we have the right to refuse
service..." sign will cover this situation perfectly.
#Post#: 2381--------------------------------------------------
Re: I can't sell you that if you're going to use it that way
DIR By: Swan Swan H
Date: March 29, 2012, 7:26 am
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I agree with Nerdling. Why would one share that kind of
information? For the shock factor?
A business owner is not rude for refusing service to someone.
#Post#: 2391--------------------------------------------------
Re: I can't sell you that if you're going to use it that way
DIR By: PaulTate
Date: March 29, 2012, 4:23 pm
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I don't think the refusal itself is rude, as long as it's not
done in a rude manner.
Then again, depending on one's local laws, it may be illegal.
#Post#: 2393--------------------------------------------------
Re: I can't sell you that if you're going to use it that way
DIR By: TychaBrahe
Date: March 29, 2012, 7:24 pm
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Interesting point about local laws. In many places, it is
illegal to refuse to do business with someone based on their, or
your, religious beliefs. For example, if I, as a Pastafarian,
believe that it is against my religion to do business with
Atkinites, it would be illegal for me to refuse to sell them
t-shirts or shoes or services such as banking. I'd love to see
the outcome of a case where someone refused to sell someone
pirate eye patches, which are sacred in Pastafarian, when it was
known that Atkinites use them for profane purposes.
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