Buyer Beware: Iittala (cont.)



I wanted to follow-up on my blog written yesterday about Finnish "porcelain" company, Iittala .  I had purchased an eight-piece collection of bowls, plates, cups, etc. as a holiday gift for a friend.  When the box arrived, I was shocked to see a sticker with "Made in Thailand" on it - and nothing on the bowls themselves.

I wrote a note to Iittala kindly telling them how disappointed I was to be buying something I thought was to be from Finnish hands when indeed they were not - but made in a factory in Thailand.  I don't care where they make it, but I wanted to know this, otherwise I would have NEVER ever EVER bought these...

They immediately responded, which was nice:

"Dear George Zaharoff,

Thank you for your message. Most of our products (70%) is still manufactured in Finland.
If our own capasity is not enought, we will have to order some products abroad. That is what we will also do if we don't have the special knowlegde of manufacturing some products. But also in these cases we will give a carantee of the high quality.

Ystävällisin terveisin/Best regards
Kuluttajapalvelut/Consumer Services
Fiskars Home
kuluttajapalvelu@iittala.com
Puh. 0204 39 5110, arkisin klo 12 - 15
Tel. +358 204 39 5110, Mon-Fri 12 am - 3 p m "

So, the bowls I received was the 30% of their outsourced goods.  This is unacceptable.  Keep in mind, I still paid the "Made in Finland" price.

If they have such a demand for their product, why get greedy and lower their standards?  Instead of going to Finland, why not go to other European nations that make beautiful porcelain like Belgium.

Unacceptable.  Simply unacceptable.




Posted by George Zaharoff at 21 December 2010, 12:53 PM
Categories: My Thoughts
Tags: iitala porcelain bowls taika finland
 
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  • 5 January 2011, 9:54 PM Jen wrote:
    I agree wholeheartedly and find it to be an insult to the consumer.

    I, as a consumer fortunate enough to have been born in a country that I have options to voice my concerns against abuse and mistreatment, would be more than happy to pay the same price for the Thailand-manufactured products as the Finnish products if the difference in profit (which is astronomical, I'm sure) was (documentably) contributed towards a humanitarian organization that seeks to protect the human rights of those working in Thai factories. Better yet, start one with that funding.

    Unfortunately most corporate-style entities quietly slip these items to consumers thinking we won't catch on.

    Fantastic observation, George!! Their letter is underwhelming.
    1. 5 January 2011, 10:04 PM George Zaharoff wrote:
      Hi Jen,

      I am disgusted still even now - I bought a fairly large setting for this person and my sister, who is in another state, bought an additional set for the same person.  BOTH sets were made in Thailand.  So even though I was told 20% of their production is done in Thailand due to too much demand.  It seems that THAT 20% is in the United States where we won't care.  As for the difference in cost - Jen, you will never ever EVER believe - when one starts doing production in those types of countries, prices are stated in 1/2 and 1/4 of a penny.  In other words, a bowl can be $1.025...if THAT.  There is no hand-painting involved; it's all done by machine.  It's actually quite disgusting

      We must educate ourselves.  We MUST -
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