Post #172392 by Mystiki on Sat, Jul 16, 2005 12:17 AM

A thread resurgence which I did not catch the first time around...but some words on the Whaler's/Tiki Farm subject.

I worked for several years on the corporate side of a large retailer (Nature Company which was bought out by Discovery Communications dba Discovery Channel Stores). The ultimate decline of the Nature Company resulted from continuous importing of so-called "proprietary" merchandise from China, Mexico, India, Sri Lanka, etc, that was the same stuff you could find at any swap meet for 1/2 price, causing DCS to take a long hard look at the way they were doing business. In the world trade market, a product that is manufactured in the US, would be closely monitored and held accountable if unauthorized reproductions were made. Overseas manufacturers are not always subject to the same regulations.

This is yet another reason why I fully support products made in the USA. While it is cheaper to mass produce in other countries, you open the doors wide open to theft and infringement and there's nothing you can do about it except not do business with those particular factories that are stealing from you.

As for Whaler's, do not assume that Tiki Farm is on everyone's radar. Launching a full assault boycott of a product, without getting all the details or finding out how they got their hands on these obviously cheap reproductions of TF mugs (the answer may surprise you) is not really fair.

Besides, Whaler's Banana Rum is yummy. @;-)