CD Players Are On The Way Out

I looked around the electronics department of Target for a portable CD player. I had a feeling they would not have a very large selection of these items. But after searching through all the aisles I did not find a small selection of portable CD players…I found NO selection of CD players. So I went and found an employee.

“Do you guys still carry portable CD players?” I asked.

He looked puzzled for a moment—as if he was encountering someone who had time-traveled from the past—and then said, “Oh yeah.  Right over here.”

I followed him to an area where he pointed and said, “Here you go.”

“Thanks,” I said, expecting to look at several different models of CD players.  But there was only one model.

I turned to the guy and said, “That’s it?”  But he had already left.  (Hey, people get nervous hanging around with time-travelers.)

I was buying the CD player for Rachel who probably has well over one hundred music CDs.  But once again technology rolls on and it will soon be leaving another type of music collection obsolete.

Hold It! It's Just A Creepy Doll!!!

Earlier today we found a doll that was given to Rachel when she was a little girl.  It’s one of those baby dolls that looks very realistic. 

(Rachel had a similar type of doll when we were on an airliner last summer and as people boarded the plane some of them saw the doll and did a frightened double-take because it looked realistic in a slightly creepy way.  But that’s a story for another day.)

The doll was in a large storage bin in our basement and had been long forgotten.  Rachel was very excited when it was found.  So, it goes without saying that Rachel and I had to go to a store and get some baby “supplies” for her new doll. 

That’s how I found myself in the “baby” section of Target buying a newborn outfit, baby pacifier and tiny baby shoes.

At one point Rachel was trying to get me to buy baby formula.  I did not want to buy baby formula for this doll because it really bothers me to waste money in that way.  I have other more important ways of wasting money.

Referring to the doll Rachel said, “She needs to have food!”

A woman came around the corner, into our aisle, right as Rachel was making this plea and she heard me reply to Rachel, in a slightly irritated voice, “She doesn’t need to eat.  That’s a waste of money!”

The woman looked at our shopping cart filled with an infant outfit, baby pacifier and tiny baby shoes.  And then glared at me with a disgusted look on her face and turned and walked in the other direction.

I wanted to run after her and say, “No.  Wait.  You don’t understand.  I’m not talking about a real baby.  I’m talking about a weird, creepy doll!” 

But sometimes it’s better to just leave well enough alone.

Some Pastoral Advice For Target In Handling Their Crisis

By now most folks know that Target retailers have had a serious security breach that could affect as many as 45 million customers.

Target is a business and therefore their handling of this situation will involve certain business and economic responsibilities on their part.  That is understandable.

However, the credit card security of millions of their customers is at stake in this situation and that means there are not just business and economic concerns at play in this matter.  There are moral concerns.  In other words, “right” and “wrong” are involved.

I realize this can come across sounding “preachy” and that’s not really my intent.  My intent is to point out that right and wrong still matter, even for a business, in situations like this.  There are reports in the media suggesting that many customers are upset with the ineffective manner in which Target is handling the situation.  There are complaints of trouble contacting the company through its website and call centers.

It is important for Target to do everything possible to assist these customers who have been affected by this crisis.  Even if though it will involve some financial pain.  This is difficult because it could, obviously, be argued that Target has been victimized, as well.  But Target has the most to gain and the most to lose in this matter and so they must be the leader. 

Clearly, this is not pleasant for the retailer, however, difficulties of this nature are an opportunity for a company to demonstrate that they really are unique and special.  It is not an enjoyable opportunity but it is an opportunity, nevertheless, for them to demonstrate that they really care about their relationship with their customers.  (Most businesses will claim that this is a key concern.  Target has an unusual opportunity to show that this is true.)

This could, actually, in the long run be beneficial to Target’s brand perception—if they handle it properly.

If it sounds like I’m against Target in this matter, please know that I’m not.  I hope they come through this crisis effectively and successfully.  But that means they must do the right thing even though it will probably mean some short-term financial difficulty.

Pastor Dan Marler

Oak Lawn, IL