Friday, April 20, 2012

Doofus Of The Day #589



Today's award goes to Bank of America for its actions with respect to McMillan USA, a manufacturer of high-end rifles and components (and a supplier to the US armed forces).  The company reported via Facebook:

McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, McMillan Firearms Manufacturing, McMillan Group International have been collectively banking with Bank of America for 12 years.

Today Mr. Ray Fox, Senior Vice President, Market Manager, Business Banking, Global Commercial Banking came to my office. He scheduled the meeting as an “account analysis” meeting in order to evaluate the two lines of credit we have with them. He spent 5 minutes talking about how McMillan has changed in the last 5 years and have become more of a firearms manufacturer than a supplier of accessories.

At this point I interrupted him and asked “Can I possible save you some time so that you don’t waste your breath? What you are going to tell me is that because we are in the firearms manufacturing business you no longer want my business.”

“That is correct” he says.

I replied “That is okay, we will move our accounts as soon as possible. We can find a 2nd Amendment friendly bank that will be glad to have our business. You won’t mind if I tell the NRA, SCI and everyone one I know that BofA is not firearms industry friendly?”

“You have to do what you must” he said.

“So you are telling me this is a politically motivated decision, is that right?”

Mr Fox confirmed that it was. At which point I told him that the meeting was over and there was nothing let for him to say.

I think it is import for all Americans who believe in and support our 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms should know when a business does not support these rights. What you do with that knowledge is up to you. When I don’t agree with a business’ political position I can not in good conscience support them. We will soon no longer be accepting Bank of America credit cards as payment for our products.

Kelly D McMillan
Director of Operations
McMillan Group International, LLC
623-582-9635
www.mcmillanusa.com

Quite frankly, I think BoA has lost its corporate mind!  The Supreme Court has found unambiguously that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms.  Concealed carry of firearms has been legalized in the vast majority of US states over the past couple of decades.  We're in an economy where almost every business sector is struggling, except for the firearms industry.  (A senior Vice President of the National Shooting Sports Federation (NSSF) joked this week that President Obama was the 'salesman of the year' for the industry.)  Furthermore, there are millions of Americans who are deeply suspicious of what they see as likely attacks on their Second Amendment rights if President Obama is re-elected for a second term, particularly in the light of the apparent media and left-wing witch-hunt over the Trayvon Martin affair, and the subsequent assault on 'stand your ground' laws.  Yet, in the midst of all this, BoA has chosen to offend a group of the more influential specialist companies in the shooting industry, whose products are at present on active service with the US Marine Corps, protecting our fighting men and women.

Very well.  If BoA wishes to behave in this fashion, that's their right.  It's my right to say that they will never again get a single cent of my business.  If I have to deal with a company that uses BoA for its customer credit services, I'll choose another supplier instead - and I'll make sure to let the first company know why they've lost my business.  I'd like to ask you, dear readers, to consider similar steps, and to transfer your bank and credit accounts from BoA to alternative suppliers if possible.

Banks like this we can do without!





Peter

8 comments:

Diamond Mair said...

B of A had lost me some time ago, when I went to a local branch to purchase a VISA gift card, only to be told in the most rude, arrogant manner that as I did not have an account with them, I could not purchase the gift card - I was looking to give them $200 + associated 'purchase fees', yet that was unacceptable to them.

Also, their ATMs have the highest rate I've seen, for non-B of A customers to use .............. on the order of $4.00 at the time .................

When I read of their behavior with McMillan, that was just icing on the cake for offering MY business to them ............ ;-)

Semper Fi'
DM

Anonymous said...

As I remember, we were all up in arms about PayPal's decision not to process firearms transactions, and eBay's decision not to allow firearms transactions, and both entities seem alive and well.
That may have emboldened BoA. Or, they might just be crazy. Only time will tell.
MichigammeDave

SiGraybeard said...

Anon 6:50 has a point. We are not a major impact to any of those other places.

Nevertheless, my bank (Wells Fargo) reissued a Mastercard I've had for decades the other day, as a BoA card. Came in the mail Wednesday. I did not seek out BoA to open an account, and I think I will terminate this account. I don't want to do business with a company opposed to civil rights.

perlhaqr said...

It would be helpful if McMillan had finished the story by telling us who they had found.

trailbee said...

Under TARP B of A received $25 Bil, then $20 Bil, and then $300 Bil in asset guarantees. And probably one of the conditions was the weapons issue.

John said...

no trailbee,

they have been anti gun for quite some time. I looked into opening a corporate acct for a reloading business I was considering. They told me no guns, no ammo businesses could have an account with them.

I took ALL my money and have not looked back.

dave said...

Wish I could get away from them. I took out my mortgage from my local small-town bank, but BofA owned it before the first payment was due.

tweell said...

I haven't done business with them for years, ever since they started a special credit card service for illegal aliens. They didn't consider me a good credit card risk, despite my middle-class income, no-mortgage house and zero debt, but were willing to pass them out to illegals making less than minimum wage. I didn't trust them with my money with decision-making like that.