It probably shouldn’t surprise anyone, but a bunch of folks unhappy with Donald Trump’s election as president have decided to express their displeasure by boycotting stores carrying his daughter’s clothing line.

Those who support the boycott argue they’re doing so because of Trump’s truly deplorable comments about women during the campaign and both his comments and actions dealing with immigrants during and since the campaign. Their outrage may be understandable, even commendable, but there’s a more effective way to go.

Among the list of targeted stores are Nordstrom, Macy’s, L.L. Bean and TJ Maxx. To some extent, the action, which began in mid-October, is effective. Nordstrom recently announced it would no longer carry the Ivanka Trump line of shoes and clothing, once current supplies are gone. But, it added, that was not a response to the boycott but to slow sales of the Trump products. A Canadian online shoe retailer also announced recently it would no longer carry Trump shoes because they weren’t selling well.

If the purpose of the boycott is to hurt the stores that carry the Trump brand, it’s likely to be ineffective in the long run. Retailers are, after all, in business to sell things to consumers; if consumers don’t want what’s for sale, retailers have a way of getting rid of it. The Trump products are in those stores precisely and only because companies believe they will sell.

Flat-out store boycotts, meanwhile, are a blunt tool when something much more sharply honed is called for. Nordstrom, for example, is a good member of the communities in which it owns stores. It gives to local charities, it hands out grant and scholarship money, it carries a variety of eco-friendly and sustainable products for sale. A boycott hurts all those worthy things right along with the sales of Trump clothing.

Don’t buy Trump clothing if you feel strongly about it. But don’t avoid stores that carry it. They’ll get your message, you can be sure.