Illegal? No. Unethical? You be the Judge

In a story posted today from KXLY.com in Spokane, Washington, it seems that Wal-Mart has found a new market, in undercutting a local high-school. A Wal-Mart store in Cheney, Washington has begun selling shirts that bear the logo of the Cheney Blackhawks, the town’s high-school sports team. Wal-Mart does not pay the school royalties for using the logo, nor do they have permission from the school to sell the shirts and this is bad news according to the school’s Activities Director, Jim Missel who had this to say:

“They can buy their stuff at a larger quantity and be able to sell it at a cheaper price.  It hurts us when this happens.”

Cheney High School uses revenues from their own apparel sales to fund school activities and athletic programs, and without that revenue, it becomes increasingly harder to finance such programs. Missel says he doesn’t want to start a war with Wal-Mart, but would likely appreciate some consideration for the situation. Wal-Mart told a journalist from KXLY that the company “tries to give customers what they want at a good price, while still being a good neighbor”.

The ironic thing is that by selling shirts with the Blackhawks logo on them, they are lessening the chance that Blackhawks athletic programs will even continue to exist.  If anyone out there knows of this kind of thing happening in their town, feel free to tell us about it in the comments section.

Is Wal-Mart undercutting local athletic programs?

CHENEY - The start of the 2008 football season hits Thursday night, but if you’re looking to get into school spirit there’s at least one team on the West Plains that hopes you consider where you buy your gear from.

The Cheney Blackhawks are selling shirts out of their high school’s store. There’s another Cheney Blackhawks shirt out at the Airway Heights Wal-Mart. While both promote the Blackhawks only the proceeds from the shirt sold by the school goes back to the school.

Cheney High School Activities Director Jim Missel says that’s a problem.

“They can buy their stuff at a larger quantity and be able to sell it at a cheaper price.  It hurts us when this happens,” Missel said.

Right now Cheney High School is selling shirts, jackets and hats.

“We’re making a few bucks. It’s not going to support all our programs. It helps a little bit,” Missel said.

So Missel was pretty upset to hear that team gear for both Cheney and Medical Lake can be found at the Airway Heights Wal-Mart. At the store you can buy Medical Lake Cardinal shorts and t-shirts and Cheney Blackhawk t-shirts.

The schools don’t see a dime from the profits generated from sales of these items.

One problem is that the Cheney Blackhawks are not licensed which allows anyone including Wal-Mart to sell logo wear. The Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association encourages all schools to trademark their names with the Secretary of State but most of them have not.

“I wish they would help us out and realize they’re competing against our programs where we’re raising money four our athletic activities and programs,” Missel said.

Cheney High makes up to $10,000 a year on merchandise which goes to sports and other activities. Missel’s not looking for a fight, just cooperation.

“This is a business that’s in our district and I want to work with them. I don’t want to put them on one side and then us on the other,” Missel said.

A spokesman for Wal-Mart couldn’t speak specifically about Cheney’s situation, but said the company tries to give customers what they want at a good price, while still being a good neighbor. Wal-Mart does sell high school apparel at many stores.

Posted by Luke West on Friday, September 05, 2008

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