A Conversation with Sheetz Inc.

Sheetz Inc.

Wednesday morning I happened to be getting some breakfast at the local Sheetz because I like their coffee, especially the dark roast. While waiting for my "MTO" I walked over to their magazine rack to see if they sold any "adult" publications. To my disappointment, right in the front of the top shelf was Playboy with nearly the whole cover visible. I sighed and began waiting impatiently. Later during my lunch break I took the time to visit Sheetz Inc.'s website where I was able to email them directly. [I thought I saved my original email to Sheetz but I did not.]


Thursday I received this reply from Sheetz.

---- Original Message ----
From: Josh Campbell
To: newkewler-generic@yahoo.com
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 8:13:53 AM
Subject: Sheetz Customer Call

Thank you for your recent email concerning Adult Magazines. We always
appreciate our customers taking the time to talk to us. While we
understand that you may not care to read some of the magazines we sell,
it is important you know that Sheetz does not sell pornography. The
adult magazines we sell are not pornographic, as this is illegal.

Understand Sheetz is committed to being a responsible retailer. Not
only do we abide by the law, we take many extra steps to address the
concerns you have about products ending up in the wrong hands. We have
taken the utmost care with how magazines are displayed, being sensitive
to the fact that families shop in our stores. We require adult magazines
to be sealed in a plastic bag with only the title exposed. We also
display the magazines only on the highest shelves, in the back, to limit
viewing to adults only. We also restrict the sale of adult magazines to
customers over the age of 18, and require identification at the point of
sale to ensure the age restriction is not violated.

We are in the business of providing all our customers with the kinds of
quality products and services that they are looking for. It is not our
intention to offend any of our customers.
--


Josh Campbell

*Beverage / GM Sales Manager*

*Sheetz, Inc.*

I then sent Sheetz the following reply.

Mr Campbell,

Thank you for your prompt reply to my comments regarding "adult magazines". Thank you also for prompting me to actually look up the term "pornography" for a proper definition. I don't know what the law in PA considers porn vs adult. I would appreciate an explanation if you have time. I may be willing to acknowledge that a more suitable adjective for this genre of publication is PRURIENT.

From Merriam Webster.com: PRURIENT: marked by or arousing an immoderate or unwholesome interest or desire ; especially : marked by, arousing, or appealing to sexual desire.

The magazine I saw in your Whitehall store, that raised my hackles, was on the top shelf and in a clear, plastic bag, however nearly the whole cover was visible to anyone two feet or taller because it was placed in the front of the rack. Granted, a customer may have returned it to the shelf there so I must give you the benefit of the doubt.

My last point is that while it may be legal to sell adult magazines, the question I ask is should you? Just because something is legal does not mean it is healthy or beneficial. Recently, an independent grocery chain decided to stop selling tobacco products in all of it's stores. I appreciated Wegman's making this decision even though it was risky for their business. My wife passes two other grocery stores to shop there regularly; primarily for their higher quality produce and consistent low prices. l realize, Mr Campbell, that you are in business to make a profit and that selling prurient, adult publications is no doubt very profitable for Sheetz. If Sheetz Inc. is truly committed, as you say, to being a responsible retailer they should stop selling these types of magazines.

Sincerely,
Mr Martin

To my readers I ask this question: Do you patronize businesses that sell or promote things you consider wrong? Vote your answer in the poll to the left.