An Ohio-based shopper loyalty program aimed at tea party supporters has been sold to a conservative group that plans to take it national.
Washington-based Unite in Action says it bought the name, concept and online site of the Tea Party Exchange for an undisclosed amount. The exchange in Dayton suspended operations last week after some controversies, including with merchants who said customers complained.
The short-lived Tea Party Exchange was supposed to be a loyalty program for customers who wanted to shop in teabagger-supporting businesses and see their money donated to teabagger causes.
Except that at least in Dayton, Ohio, advertising as a teabagger business didn't exactly bring in the customers. Quite the opposite. So the Exchange was forced to shut down. Turns out the businesses who had paid $150 to participate in the Exchange were instead losing customers. Some even received threats. One business owner reported being called a Nazi. The founder, Donald Hutchinson, was forced to refund the $150 to the business owners who had bought into the exchange, only to back out when their customers disappeared.
So since that worked out so well, obviously it's time to take the Exchange national. Sure, it'll drive away customers, but if you register now, you can get a free key chain. And isn't that what the free market is all about?