Best Buy Black Friday Eid Al Adha ad causes disappointment to many
Other | Hans | November 24, 2009 at 2:14 am
In Best Buy’s Black Friday ad, they included a Happy Eid al-Adha message to recognize the holiday that Muslims around the world will be celebrating this week. For Muslims, Eid is like Christmas and this year it happens to be in the same week as Black Friday and Thanksgiving. Surprisingly, it looks like this ad has caused disappointment among many Best Buy customers.
A topic on the Best Buy forums is full of 10 pages where customers are complaining about Best Buy wishing Muslims a happy Eid. As I was reading the topic I noticed that many people were saying that they will no longer shop at Best Buy, some were saying that Best Buy should have put something about Christmas, and some said that they were shocked. Due to the complaints by a lot of people, a Best Buy supervisor, Elizabeth had to post the following response:
Thanks for sharing your point of view regarding our recent ad, which included a wish for a “Happy Eid al-Adha”.
Best Buy’s customers and employees around the world represent a variety of faiths and denominations. We respect that diversity and choose to greet our customers and employees in ways that reflect their traditions.
We do use the word “holiday” in some of our advertising because it is meant to be inclusive to everyone. However, just as we have in the past, we will also reference specific holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa in our weekly ads, store signage and other advertising vehicles.
We encourage our employees to interact with customers naturally and feel free to wish them a Merry Christmas if they are celebrating that holiday. Thanks again for your feedback.
~Elizabeth
Community Supervisor
Best Buy® Corporate
I really don’t see anything wrong with Best Buy adding a “Happy Eid Al-Adha” text in their ad. It just proves that Best Buy appreciates diversity. It is unfortunate that people are taking other meanings from this ad. What are your thoughts on this? I’d like to end this post with: Happy Eid to any of our readers who are celebrating Eid this week, and happy Thanksgiving to any of our readers who are celebrating Thanksgiving this week.
Tags: Best Buy, Black Friday ad, Eid Al Adha, Thanksgiving-
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I think this was a great idea! I celebrate the holidays and no one should be left out. It’s actually great that a big business like Best Buy appreciate other holidays. I hope others will do the same.
Many Muslims also celebrate Thanksgiving, as it has been suggested by many Muslim scholars that this holiday is not specifically religious in nature – it’s a uniquely American holiday, and is centered around giving thanks for the blessings that God has given us – also a concept central to Islam. In fact, a mosque in the Hudson Valley of New York had a huge Thanksgiving dinner with 15 turkeys.
I think that Best Buy did a wonderful thing by recognizing the diversity of their customers (and many of their staff).
thank you!
this is a progressive company shown by actions like this, we need a more understanding corporate vision throughout this country to live in the pluralistic society that is already reality
I agree best buy did a great thing! People just need a reason to stir up controversy and create drama, I will def be shopping at best buy! Those who say they won’t u can almost guarantee are either racist or will sometime in the future be at a best buy do to thier low prices & are hpocrits. I feel sorry for those people and hope they don’t procreate bc that kind of negative attitude is taught and the world could use a little peace than ignorant people complainig about an ad.
Well done, Elizabeth! That was such a dignified response with no apology (as none was needed) and for pointing out that diversity and fairness was the objective here. As we get into the Christmas spirit, why not also get into the Eid spirit, which is all about love and happiness as well?
Happy holidays to everyone of all faiths and spiritualities!!
Its a shame that some people found this negative. I think Best Buy has alot of class. Thank you Best Buy and i will always shop there.
Thankyou Best Buy for acknowledging our holiday, as well as all other faiths. You do have our support! Sincerely ,Dawn
thanks for caring about ur customers.. it really touched our hearts.. God Bless You. its time that we dont spread hate on bases of religon
I’m from Indonesia it’s very common in my country the moeslem said merry Christmas and the Christian said happy Eid Al-Adha or Eid Al-Fitri.i wonder why some of American people still racist bases on religion? i thought America is a free country..?now i’m proud Indonesia is the real free country,even Moeslem is majority but respect to the Indonesian Christian brother.and Indonesia is the best pluralism country in this world.
thank you best but……. your thoughtfulness has touched people of all faiths…….
Thank you Elizabeth! And thank you Best Buy! It is efforts like these that move us towards understanding and mutual respect. We should not bow down or get intimidated by haters who wish to incite misunderstandings and create divisions. Keep up the great work! I will definitely continue shopping at Best Buy and tell everyone I know to do the same.
Best Buy,
Thank you!!!!!!!
Thank you, Best Buy, for being inclusive.
In an environment where the petty-minded will oppose diversity, you had the sense to do what is right. You do America proud!