Wal-Mart Pulls Maxim, Stuff and FHM Off Racks
By George Anderson
Wal-Mart said yesterday that it would no longer sell three men’s magazine titles,
Maxim, Stuff and FHM.
A spokesperson for the retailer, Melissa Berryhill said Wal-Mart took this
action after receiving complaints from customers and associates about the magazines.
“We try to understand what we think they are going to want when they come into
a Wal-Mart. We just try to make good decisions that are going to appeal to the
majority of our customers.”
The New York Times describes the three banned publications as going
“to some lengths to avoid being labeled as pornography” although each contains
“a mix of scantily clad starlets and bawdy humor.”
Moderator’s Comment:What are your thoughts on Wal-Mart
deciding not to sell Maxim, Stuff and FHM?
Wal-Mart is entitled to carry or not carry any products
that it chooses. We can’t pretend, however, to completely understand the company’s
logic here.
The retailer is pulling the publications (Maxim, Stuff
and FHM) because customers and associates find them objectionable. But, there
must be even greater numbers of Wal-Mart shoppers who have problems with other
items the chain sells. Somehow we can’t imagine Wal-Mart discontinuing tobacco
sales anytime soon. [George
Anderson – Moderator]