The Sharper Image = Bad Corporate Citizen

In this season of thanks and gift giving I think it would do us all well to consider to whom we bestow the honor of our business. It is my personal philosophy that corporations are equally responsible for conducting themselves in a manner for the betterment of humanity. When it comes to my attention that a corporatiion has not been conducting itself in a manner which I consider proper, I will then choose to not reward them with future business.

I recently read that The Sharper Image has been conducting itself in a manner in which I would consider to be very harmful to the welfare of our nation. Specifically, last year they brought a lawsuit in California against Consumer Reports seeking to silence that publication. Consumer Reports had rated their ‘Ionic Breeze Quadra’ as “ineffective” and The Sharper Image sued.

There are many better ways The Sharper Image could have reacted to this report. They could have followed the example of Tylanol who pulled their products off the shelves when they were found to be harmful. They could have done nothing. They could have simply sought to improve their product. Sadly, though, they proved to be a bad corporate citizen.