Sears resolves rule violation in gift program

[unhappycamper]

Sears resolves rule violation in gift program
By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Oct 24, 2008 10:11:21 EDT

The more than 10,000 military families who registered for the Sears “Heroes at Home Wish Registry” will be able to get their gift cards without violating Defense Department ethics violations, under an agreement reached late Thursday between Sears and defense officials.

Sears has also extended the registration period to Oct. 31, and will allow up to 20,000 service members to register, said Sears spokesman Tom Aiello.

The company has made adjustments in the program, such as expanding it to all active-duty members, including activated Guard and Reserve members. All ranks are now eligible, expanding it from the previous limitation to E-6 and below. Sears will validate the status of the service members with the Defense Department’s help.

Before the changes, the Defense Department warned Sears that the program violated ethics laws and asked it to stop registering service members.

“After reviewing the available details of the Wish Registry, we determined that, as structured, participation in the Wish Registry results in an improper solicitation,” Leigh Bradley, director of the Standards of Conduct Office for the Defense Department General Counsel, had written in an Oct. 14 letter to Sears.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/military_sears_wishregistry_102308w/%2e