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Canadian Shilly-Shally

tracer

Graduate Poster
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Joined
Jul 4, 2003
Messages
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In Randi's latest commentary at http://www.randi.org/jr/200511/112505psychich.html#i17, he reprints mail from reader Rene Jaspers to the Canadian Superstore chain, in which Rene admonishes the store for carrying Kevin Trudeau's harmful book.

While Rene makes a good argument for the harm that Trudeau's book could cause, more headway could probably be made with the store by pointing out the following:
  • Canadian Superstores usually have a pharmacy, and sell over-the-counter medications.
  • Trudeau's book encourages its readers to eschew conventional medicine.
  • People who follow the advice in Trudeau's book will, thus, buy fewer pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter medications.
  • Therefore, Superstore selling the book will ultimately hurt future Superstore sales!
That ought to get their attention.
 
Good point. Kick em in the wallet! Unfortunately, they usually also include "organic" and homeopathic remedies as well. Heirs to the snake oil salesmen.
 
Walgreens, at least in my area of Florida sells homeopathic remadies. Oh well at least when I aske the Pharmacist about them he did tell me "those don't work".
 
Okay this is a totally pointless content free post because I want to reach the 100 post mark.

Thank you for your indulgence.
 
im still getting to the point of being able to post links.

but, i havent been able to find this book anywhere, (i live in the toronto area) so ive been relieved so far.
 
I sent the following letter out shortly after Randi's report. Not surprisingly, haven't heard a peep - although CBC Marketplace did send me a 'thank you' and stated they have a file on Trudeau.

Dear Ms. Stene,

I read with interest correspondence you had with a Mr.
Rene Jaspers in relation to The Real Canadian Superstore
carrying a book by convicted fraudster Kevin Trudeau. The
exchange has been posted on a website read by thousands of
critical thinkers around the world.
http://www.randi.org/jr/200511/112505psychich.html As a
Canadian and as a shopper in your stores, I need to add my
thoughts on this matter in the hopes you will reconsider
your position on continuing to carry this book.

In your response to Rene you imply that there is no legal
barrier to Real Canadian Superstore carrying this book.
Indeed, you acknowledge that while Mr. Trudeau is banned
from selling a number of different products in the USA,
books are not so banned, and as such Real Canadian
Superstore can proudly offer the books for sale. While
you are technically correct, I ask you whether Real
Canadian Superstore would be interested in carrying a book
written by Kenneth Lay on ethical stock market investing,
or O.J. Simpson on how to keep a marriage happy?

The Real Canadian Superstore plays a major role in many
Canadian communities. It allows shoppers to purchase a
variety of goods and services in one convenient location,
including getting a prescription for medical services
filled. Offering such blatant garbage for sale such as
the Kevin Trudeau book shows that Real Canadian Superstore
is concerned only with the bottom line and not with the
overall betterment of our communities.

You also imply that since other retailers are selling the
book, and that it's a best-seller, that Superstore can
sell the book with impunity. Are you suggesting that
if 'Mein Kampf' became an overnight best-seller, that
Superstore would stock the title at the checkout counter?
Or that any snake-oil salesman can write a book, and
provided it is a good seller, that Superstore will carry
it? Secondly, Superstore is not Amazon.com - a business
which sells predominantly books. Superstore sells a
variety of goods that includes prescription medicine.
Superstore hires qualified pharmacists to dispense
medicines under the direction of a doctor's informed
opinion. As such, Superstore , and especially the
Pharmacy section of Superstore, should display discretion
when selecting items for sale.

I would like to point out that in August 2005, Walgreen's
pharmacy chain stopped selling the Kevin Trudeau book, for
a number of reasons that made sense to their corporate
structure. http://www.randi.org/jr/081905time.html May I
suggest that Real Canadian Superstore revisit its decision
to continue to carry the book in its stores? At the very
least, if Superstore feels it is consistent with their
corporate vision and mission to profit from the sale of
goods written by a convicted fraudster, perhaps the book
should be moved out of the pharmacy department and moved
to the book and magazine section alongside the National
Enquirer and Harlequin Romance novels.

I look forward to hearing back from you in response to my
concerns.

Best regards,



cc: James Randi, JREF, CBC 'MarketPlace'
 
Antiquehunter said:
At the very
least, if Superstore feels it is consistent with their
corporate vision and mission to profit from the sale of
goods written by a convicted fraudster...
Click to expand...
Minor nitpick: I have no problem with fraudsters writing books. The point here is that we're talking about a book which is actually promoting and perpetuating the fraud.
 
Fair point on the fraud vs. fraudster - I think I was letting my emotions get the better of me at that point in the letter.

Its all a bit moot at the moment, since Stupidstore has not deigned to respond to my rant.
 
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