Is it okay that Tea Forte sells defective cups?
February 13, 2018 4:20 AM Subscribe
These Kati cups have walls made of two ceramic layers, separated by an insulating air pocket. The plug between the two layers fails, allowing liquid to get trapped. Tea Forte knows about this defect, but continues to sell the cups, and offers to replace failed ones with more of the same.
Tea Forte has discussed the defect with their manufacturer, but it isn't resolved. When they get complaints, they'll send a replacement cup -- either the same one or other colors/images that haven't gotten complaints. But it's likely random which cups have gotten complaints: they only differ in color/image, and all share the same manufacturing.
I think a good company would offer refunds instead, including for people who didn't keep receipts, and stop selling defective cups. But, do they have to? If it were an expensive or ubiquitous product, or a danger, things like class action lawsuits or regulations would come into play. When the product is too inexpensive, uncommon, and benign to merit that kind of thing, is it all up to the goodwill of the company? Is there anything an irritated customer (with barely any social media presence) can do, having gotten stalled out at the QA Manager level?
Tea Forte has discussed the defect with their manufacturer, but it isn't resolved. When they get complaints, they'll send a replacement cup -- either the same one or other colors/images that haven't gotten complaints. But it's likely random which cups have gotten complaints: they only differ in color/image, and all share the same manufacturing.
I think a good company would offer refunds instead, including for people who didn't keep receipts, and stop selling defective cups. But, do they have to? If it were an expensive or ubiquitous product, or a danger, things like class action lawsuits or regulations would come into play. When the product is too inexpensive, uncommon, and benign to merit that kind of thing, is it all up to the goodwill of the company? Is there anything an irritated customer (with barely any social media presence) can do, having gotten stalled out at the QA Manager level?
This post was deleted for the following reason: sorry, but as written, this looks like you are using Ask Me to punish the company / give negative publicity, and that's not what the site is for. Contact us if you'd like to edit. -- taz
bad reviews on amazon (although you'd have to work pretty hard to overcome the good ones).
posted by noloveforned at 6:14 AM on February 13, 2018
posted by noloveforned at 6:14 AM on February 13, 2018
The double-wall mug that I use daily came with a "do not use in a dishwasher" warning. Do these say that?
posted by scruss at 6:32 AM on February 13, 2018
posted by scruss at 6:32 AM on February 13, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jacquilynne at 5:03 AM on February 13, 2018 [1 favorite]