Pampered Chef Stealing Inventions?

[pamperedlinda]

My favorite so far...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Early-Patd-1893-Iron-Food-Chopper-With-6-Blades_W0QQitemZ110106369855QQcategoryZ14903QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Now that's a food chopper! or a weapon.

 

[pamperedharriet]

They look more like weapons to me! My have the times changed!

 

[janetupnorth]

I guess whoever came up with that can sue this guy Paige knows Wow I think I'm going to have to bid on that

There are about 4 out there...search on E-bay for Food Chopper and after you wade through the 50 million PC ones being sold, you find a few of these...

 

[ChefNic]

I agree! Doris is so kind, I don't see that kind of underhanded thing being allowed in her company!

At my show yesterday...I maybe a threak killer here...but I was talking about the Forged cutlery...taking the German steel block down to China...'cause the chinamen work cheap...etc...and one of the guests said...'you mean the china children'...everyone laughed...but I said...'Oh I know the owner of the company wouldn't have that!" And she said she was just kidding... But her comment made me uncomfortable...purely in the aspect of ...'do people really think that we use "sweatshops" and "child labor"...??? I certainly hope people don't think like that!


I think it is SO cool when we suggest something and they actually come out with it!! I suggested a Strainer...and now I finally have a GOOD one that I can sell!! I think several have suggested the Salad Chopper too...and the Salad Spinner! I really didn't think PC would come out with something like that Spinner since there are already several on the market...but they know how to make things BETTER than what's on the market!

Ok...back to the Mix 'N Chop... That definitely stinks for the guy...especially since he contacted PC about it...but I agree..they must have had something in the works before hand.
...there, does that make me NOT a Thread killer??? LOL

 

[janetupnorth]

I agree! Doris is so kind, I don't see that kind of underhanded thing being allowed in her company!

At my show yesterday...I maybe a threak killer here...but I was talking about the Forged cutlery...taking the German steel block down to China...'cause the chinamen work cheap...etc...and one of the guests said...'you mean the china children'...everyone laughed...but I said...'Oh I know the owner of the company wouldn't have that!" And she said she was just kidding... But her comment made me uncomfortable...purely in the aspect of ...'do people really think that we use "sweatshops" and "child labor"...??? I certainly hope people don't think like that!


I think it is SO cool when we suggest something and they actually come out with it!! I suggested a Strainer...and now I finally have a GOOD one that I can sell!! I think several have suggested the Salad Chopper too...and the Salad Spinner! I really didn't think PC would come out with something like that Spinner since there are already several on the market...but they know how to make things BETTER than what's on the market!

Ok...back to the Mix 'N Chop... That definitely stinks for the guy...especially since he contacted PC about it...but I agree..they must have had something in the works before hand.
...there, does that make me NOT a Thread killer??? LOL

I would doubt that PC has "sweatshops", I'm sure someone has checked out the quality. When I worked on Master Lock's plant in Mexico, some of our shackles were moving from being made in Milwaukee to being made in China - we couldn't compete with ourselves. I know a team of 5 went over and checked everything out and made sure the companies were reputable. I personally visited a few plating facilities in Mexico to check on them too...

Any reputable company, and I believe PC is, will check on that...PC makes great efforts to sell QUALITY and I don't think they'd pick any old manufacturer.

 

[ChefNic]

http://www.parkers-pantry.com/product.php?productid=558

Does this look like one of our new products?

IT DOES!! OMG>>>
But ours locks ...it looks like they have a red thing on the top that may lock but it is sorta different...it is $19 too...hmmmmm

 

[dcypcar.chef]

We have to remember that not all of our products are sold as Exclusive to Pampered Chef. If they aren't exclusive, we buy them from companies that sell under several different names. For example the Mix n masher can be found at one of our local grocery stores in PA as a guacamole maker. It is exactly like ours except it is green. To beat a patent all you have to do is change one thing on the product and it is "new" That is why so many different versions of Tupperware's "Quick Shake" are available.

 

[gilliandanielle]

When I was in 6th grade I was going to invent a grill- (the George Foreman's had just come out) that had removable plates and you can change them to have a griddle or a waffle maker or a sandwich maker. I told my mom about it and she told me it was a great idea and that we should send it in to George Foreman's company. I never did, but about 10 years later the new improved version with interchangable plates came out. I could have been a millionaire!!

Live and learn!!

 

[raebates]

I imagine the letter the gentleman received is a fairly simple form letter. We don't manufacture anything. We're just distributors. If he sues anyone, it will need to be the manufacturer.

 

[etteluap70PC]

When I was in 6th grade I was going to invent a grill- (the George Foreman's had just come out) that had removable plates and you can change them to have a griddle or a waffle maker or a sandwich maker. I told my mom about it and she told me it was a great idea and that we should send it in to George Foreman's company. I never did, but about 10 years later the new improved version with interchangable plates came out. I could have been a millionaire!!

Live and learn!!

My grandma had one like that when I was little and it was allready like 15years old! one side of the plates was flat and the other was waffled. It made great grilled cheese sandwiched. Was kinda like a panini press

 

[ivykeep]

We had an item very similar to the mix and chop by a tupperware knockoff company (came with a set of bowls but I can't remember the brand name) -- It was similar to our mix and chop but had about 5 blades and they were straight not curved, but the concept was similar. I remember using it on ground beef when I first started cooking -- it was about 1978 or 1979 when I used it and we'd had it a few years before then. I think it was originally supposed to be as a pastrey blender, but we thought it worked better on ground beef. I did eventually lose it's sharp edges since we were using it in a hot pan.

 

[chefkristin]

My favorite so far...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Early-Patd-1893-Iron-Food-Chopper-With-6-Blades_W0QQitemZ110106369855QQcategoryZ14903QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That thing looks kinda scary!!!

 

[Teresa Lynn]

Williams Sonoma has the toss and chop (our salad chopper) I think in our trendy green. It's going to happen.

 

[ChefNic]

I've seen our exact Meat Tenderizer at William Sonoma...for like $28 !!!!
Our scoops are there too...more expensive there too!

It is definitely worth us going to WS and checking out products that they have that are similar to ours... makes me feel more confident in selling our products...not that I'm NOT confident...But I love sharing with guests that "that product is $xx MORE at other stores!

 

[amcclanaghan]

I've seen our exact Meat Tenderizer at William Sonoma...for like $28 !!!!
Our scoops are there too...more expensive there too!

It is definitely worth us going to WS and checking out products that they have that are similar to ours... makes me feel more confident in selling our products...not that I'm NOT confident...But I love sharing with guests that "that product is $xx MORE at other stores!

I do that too, that's part of my comparing Apples to Apple to Oranges (Wal-Mart) speach... usually makes them go "AH!" and they feel more confidenty buying.

Its hard to make specidific itmes exclusive when they're such good sellers all around. Its like OneStepAhead (kids/baby items) - I had an idea for a collaspible/travel changing table. Talked to an inventor's helper, but because it was SO much to get things rolling ($10K) we didn't go further with the idea, but now it's been produced... so I guess I'm not the only one with the great idea. It's amazing how many people have similar ideas...

 

[Pampered Laura]

IT DOES!! OMG>>>
But ours locks ...it looks like they have a red thing on the top that may lock but it is sorta different...it is $19 too...hmmmmm

Ours also has the santuko grooves on each blade, making chopping smoother.
It's not an exclusive product, which means that they are able to be found elsewhere.

 

[cmdtrgd]

Bumping for someone who was looking for this thread.

 

[Teresa Lynn]

Thank you Kate!!!
After reading Paige's description again I am convinced it is the same family.
Teresa

 

[cmdtrgd]

Teresa - Paige said her husband wouldn't let her purchase anything at her show - didn't she purchase a lot at yours?

 

[Teresa Lynn]

Over $400
I know the reason some of the newbies didn't buy much was because of her criticism. Her daughter who kept trying to be the voice of reason spent just under $100

 

[cmdtrgd]

Maybe you can offer the opportunity to the mother because she obviously likes the products. That way she can make suggestions and even try to get on the product development team!

 

[toniascookin]

http://www.mileskimball.com/mileski...itchen&SCID=Gadgets&ProductID=87620&SiteNum=0

Here is a chop stir

 

[PCJenni]

My husband sells commercial cooking equipment, huge refrigerator, ovens etc. to restaurants, hotels, hospitals. He was at a convention in Chicago last week and meet a man who works for on the manufacturers of the equipment. As they were talking to each other it came out that the man was one of the original inventors that Doris used for PC products. Small world sometimes. PC and Berkshire have too much to lose and too much $$$ for product development to steal someone's idea. It is cheaper in the long run to pay for the idea than to risk a lawsuit.

 

[MomToEli]

Many of our products are not exclusive to PC. They may be privately labeled, but they aren't unique. Or they may be unique in one little feature.

 

[itsjustCarla]

I was cruising thru the kitchen-ware section at Bed Bath and Beyond the other day......it's AMAZING how many "cheap" knock-offs they sell of our products. I couldn't believe it.

 

[Evelynt]

I get Crate and Barrell catalogs and they have the Salad Choppers in avocado green. I think they were a dollar cheaper.