Friday, September 21, 2007

Mattel to China:  We’re Sorry You Screwed Up

There has to be a rule in Charlie’s book that explains why Mattel did this:

LOS ANGELES - Mattel Inc. tried to save face Friday with Chinese officials, taking the blame for the recent recalls of millions of Chinese-made toys as it strives to mend a strained relationship with the nation that makes most of its toys and fattens its profit.

The world’s largest toy maker sent a top executive to personally apologize to China’s product safety chief, Li Changjang, as reporters and company lawyers looked on.

“Mattel takes full responsibility for these recalls and apologizes personally to you, the Chinese people, and all of our customers who received the toys,” Thomas A. Debrowski, Mattel’s executive vice president for worldwide operations, told Li.

Huh?  China poisons our children and Mattel apologizes to…China???  Did it go something like this?

Mattel:  Your incompetence cost us bajillions of dollars, caused health risks to a whole bunch of American kids, and made us both look like idiots.

China:  Yep.

Mattel:  Is that all you have to say?

China:  Yep.

Mattel:  Well, what do you have to say for yourself?

China:  Move your production to the US.

Mattel: Mattel takes full responsibility for these recalls and apologizes personally to you, the Chinese people, and all of our customers who received the toys.

 

(6) Comments
Posted by Wendy at 1944 hrs
Culture

  1. This pissed me off so much I wanted to write Mattel and tell them to stick it up their butts.

    Posted by elliot on September 21, 2007 at 2004 hrs


  2. With a lead pipe?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 21, 2007 at 2029 hrs


  3. Money.

    If PRC gets into a snit, Mattel will be forced to take production out of PRC and move it.

    You think doing that 3 months before Christmas would be a walk in the park?

    Posted by dad29 on September 22, 2007 at 0847 hrs


  4. This year’s toys are already in the shipping containers and may be on the boat or already in L.A.  They’re looking at the future.

    Posted by John Foust on September 22, 2007 at 1050 hrs


  5. What’s the problem? Mattel wants to maximize its profits by using cheap, non-union labor, without expensive government regulations (employee safety, labor standards, pollution controls). Isn’t that the philosophy that’s espoused all the time on B&S;? What’s a little bowing and scraping if it keeps the stockholders happy?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 22, 2007 at 2050 hrs


  6. Please, oh please, tell it like it is!  Mattel just pimped out their manufacturing on the cheap. 
    Are we to hope the Chinese won’t be adding asbestos to ceiling tiles or whatever else they send?  Was lead paint in the manufacturing specs?  Huh?
    Remember when Wal-Mart used to sell stuff with the “Made in the USA” label?  Ah, the good old days.

    Posted by Hairy Carrot on September 27, 2007 at 0835 hrs


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