With #BoycottYETICoolers trending online for its alleged decision to cut ties with the National Rifle Association, the popular cooler company issued a statement insisting that it had only informed the NRA that it had ended some outdated discounts for its products. But on Wednesday, the NRA issued a response accusing YETI of trying to "run from the facts."
Marion Hammer, the former president of the NRA and the head of its Florida affiliate, told Guns.com that the NRA's claims that YETI had told them that they were no longer going to do business with them was true; YETI was simply trying to do "damage control."
"Yeti severed ties with the NRA and is now engaging in damage control after a backlash from many of its customers," said Hammer. Guns.com reports:
"In early March, Yeti refused to place a previously negotiated order from NRA-ILA, citing ‘recent events’ as the reason – a clear reference to the tragedy in Parkland, Florida," said Hammer, going on to say the company then delivered notice to the NRA Foundation that it was ending a seven-year agreement and demanded that the gun group remove the Yeti name and logo from the NRA's websites and print material.
"While Yeti is trying to spin the story otherwise, those are the facts," Hammer said. "While Yeti can choose to run from the NRA, they can’t run from the facts."
The #BoycottYETICoolers blowback began after the NRA Foundation said in a statement on Sunday that, "without prior notice" and with no real explanation, YETI informed the organization that it would not be selling products to the foundation:
Suddenly, without prior notice, YETI has declined to do business with The NRA Foundation saying they no longer wish to be an NRA vendor, and refused to say why. They will only say they will no longer sell products to The NRA Foundation. That certainly isn’t sportsmanlike. In fact, YETI should be ashamed. They have declined to continue helping America’s young people enjoy outdoor recreational activities. These activities enable them to appreciate America and enjoy our natural resources with wholesome and healthy outdoor recreational and educational programs.
While gun-owning YETI customers were having some fun blowing up their expensive coolers, and YETI's competitors, including RTIC, Pelican, and ORCA, were wisely expressing their support for gun rights, YETI issued a statement accusing the NRA of misleading the public about what really went down:
Related: YETI Coolers Cuts Ties With NRA, So Its Competitor Brilliantly Does This.
Marion Hammer, the former president of the NRA and the head of its Florida affiliate, told Guns.com that the NRA's claims that YETI had told them that they were no longer going to do business with them was true; YETI was simply trying to do "damage control."
"Yeti severed ties with the NRA and is now engaging in damage control after a backlash from many of its customers," said Hammer. Guns.com reports:
"In early March, Yeti refused to place a previously negotiated order from NRA-ILA, citing ‘recent events’ as the reason – a clear reference to the tragedy in Parkland, Florida," said Hammer, going on to say the company then delivered notice to the NRA Foundation that it was ending a seven-year agreement and demanded that the gun group remove the Yeti name and logo from the NRA's websites and print material.
"While Yeti is trying to spin the story otherwise, those are the facts," Hammer said. "While Yeti can choose to run from the NRA, they can’t run from the facts."
The #BoycottYETICoolers blowback began after the NRA Foundation said in a statement on Sunday that, "without prior notice" and with no real explanation, YETI informed the organization that it would not be selling products to the foundation:
Suddenly, without prior notice, YETI has declined to do business with The NRA Foundation saying they no longer wish to be an NRA vendor, and refused to say why. They will only say they will no longer sell products to The NRA Foundation. That certainly isn’t sportsmanlike. In fact, YETI should be ashamed. They have declined to continue helping America’s young people enjoy outdoor recreational activities. These activities enable them to appreciate America and enjoy our natural resources with wholesome and healthy outdoor recreational and educational programs.
While gun-owning YETI customers were having some fun blowing up their expensive coolers, and YETI's competitors, including RTIC, Pelican, and ORCA, were wisely expressing their support for gun rights, YETI issued a statement accusing the NRA of misleading the public about what really went down:
Related: YETI Coolers Cuts Ties With NRA, So Its Competitor Brilliantly Does This.
