For folks who like to shop, not bop
The Vancouver Province January 21, 1997
TORONTO -- Shhhhh! I'm trying to shop!
A local group called the Citizens' Coalition Against Noise is conducting a campaign against stores that are too loud.
"Noisy stores, with loud, so-called 'background' music, are an irritation and we're going to try and do something about it," says the coalition's acting president, Ken Burford.
The group, founded in 1994 to combat irritations such as noisy airplanes and loud neighbors, has been handing out "gripe" cards to the employees of the offending stores.
"Your loud music drove me out!" reads one of the 5,000 cards the group is handing out.
"I will not return until you turn the music down or off."
The 70-odd members of Burford's organization will also pass out cards complimenting managers for running a quiet store.
"Thank you for your quiet environment," reads the note, about the size of a business card.
"As a member of the citizens' Coalition Against Noise, I enjoyed patronizing your place of business, particularly because of its quiet ambience."
The reactions of store staff have varied. "I've been in one place where the staff person turned to the controls, and turned the volume up just for spite," said Burford.