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Dutch mattress recall more bad news for China
The China critics are getting their voice.
I’m hearing from them in my neck of the woods, the mattress arena. To the long list of Chinese product problems apparently one more should be added: Mattresses.
An Associated Press story earlier this month said that a chain of Dutch- based bedding stores was recalling more than 1,300 Chinese-made foam mattresses “amid fears they were sprayed with toxic insecticide.”
The story said the retailer announced the recall after tests on a container holding more than 700 mattresses found they contained poison, possibly as a result of being sprayed to kill insects. The exact nature of the poison has yet to be determined, the story said.
Now it is important to note that this story says nothing about possibly toxic mattresses being shipped from China to the United States. I have yet to hear anyone state, definitively, that such mattresses have been shipped to the U.S.
But that hasn’t stopped the critics from sounding the alarm. “I am sending this to you so that you are aware,” one U.S. bedding executive said to me, forwarding news of the Dutch company’s findings. “If you do anything with it PLEASE do not reference me or (name of company withheld) as a source. Very interesting…..lead paint, dog food, now mattresses.”
Said another U.S. bedding exec: “This looks like a really big story.”
My thought: It could be, but it isn’t yet.
But, having said that, I agree it is certainly bad news in general for those who import Chinese mattresses to the U.S. The product recall news out of China lately has been grim. “Dangerous products” was among the catalog of problems cited in a cover story by BusinessWeek last month. “Can China Be Fixed?” was the headline of that story.
The bad news from China hasn’t yet affected importers of Chinese beds, some leading importers recently told me. But one said that could change if the drumbeat of bad news continues.
And now that scary story out of the Netherlands.
One bad shipment of Chinese mattresses sent to the Netherlands doesn’t constitute an indictment of the entire Chinese bedding industry. Let’s keep this story in perspective. But it is more unwelcome news for a country getting more than its share of it these days.
Undetermined commented:
still all people believe in made in china product.Even south korea doesnt ask china to produce product because they know.That mean south korean is a smart poeple
Undetermined commented:
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Undetermined commented:
Indeed, it is long overdue recognition of the fact that most importers tend to ignore. Having seen first hand the quality standards used at some of the factories, I am not surprised that the toxicity of the sprays had not been observed earlier. In fact, there are few standards that exist for consumer safety or protection. Congrats go out the investigaors.
Undetermined commented:
I think that with all the problems that the Chinese are having in various industries. It is the right time for North Americans to capitalise on a) improving on safety, what's Green (the now buzzword) and design products with those attributes. B) improve PR and consumer confidence with being outspoken about how we do care about these issues that the Chinese have droped the ball on. Americans will pay the extra buck if they can be assured that what they are buying is "safe" both physically and enviormetally. The demographics in America has been shifting in awareness towards these issues, and Industrialist, designers, manufacturers, and retailers need to hop on the awareness wagon. Samuel Lemus founder Princess Canopy Beds LLC
Undetermined commented:
When dealing with memory foam price is why retailers go to China for their product, Never getting a consistant product is just plainly ignored Bottom line thats what it is about when looking consumers should always look for made in the USA as a requisite at the Nasabedstore we only carry USA Made products. www.nasabedstore.net
Undetermined commented:
Thats why at the Nasabedstore.net all of our mattresses are made in the USA
Undetermined commented:
RCW: I read your comments to my wife and she agrees with you. So I guess I have nothing else to say.-Dave
Undetermined commented:
"lead paint, dog food, now mattresses.” I think that says it all about China. Those who think one bad shipment is OK, should think again.
Undetermined commented:
Dave, Mattresses have been sprayed with boric acid for years. It's poision. So, it makes me wonder what poision was on them. Boric acid makes them so they don't catch on fire. That's what we want, right?
Undetermined commented:
JBB: OK, I wouldn't be happy. But I still think we must be careful not to draw too-broad conclusions based on a small sample. For example, every now and then I get somebody else's order at my Starbucks drive-through. Does that lead me to conclude that Starbucks has lousy service overall, or that someone there just made a mistake?-Dave
Undetermined commented:
Dave, I turn a question back to you. Suppose YOU recieved that ONE BAD shipment. Would it matter if this was indicative of the performance of the entire industry?
Undetermined commented:
Neil and Kevin: Thanks for those posts. Neil, you make several excellent points. Perspective is what I am talking about in my post. And Kevin: I might turn the question around and ask if you think one bad shipment is indicative of the performance of an entire industry? I don't. Any other thoughts on this issue? -Dave
Undetermined commented:
How many bad mattress shipments from China with potentially deadly chemical contamination will indict the entire Chinese bedding industry?
Undetermined commented:
David, Perspective is the keyword. China and other low-wage countries are indeed good and viable sources for many companies of all sizes. Issues like this should be kept in perspective - While at the same time, each company must keep their individual situation in perspective. And, by that I mean that companies must look at the whole picture as it relates to them individually. Low prices by themselves are not a good reason to source from anywhere. A perspective must be kept on all other aspects - Logistical costs, production and quality control abilities, and other factors. Keeping all factors in perspective is critical for companies large and small. As nearer sources may be just as cost effective and viable when all is added up properly and objectively. All sources, near and far, have issues, both good and bad. And, keeping all factors in proper perspective is important. I see and hear from a good number of companies that are not in a position to deal with some issues that arise from far away sources. And, this is not a reflection of them being unknowledgable about their business - It is a reflection of the logistical and cultural differences that are inherent with doing business in the various source countries. And, perspective is the keyword.
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