Something strange happened to my wife

Xmann · Post by **Xmann** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:07 pm

My wife and I both like to eat a protein bar from Larabar. Good taste and reasonably healthy. I eat about 1 a week but the wife has one for a snack daily.

She texts me to tell me she just bit down on a piece of glass that was in the bar she ate. Small but painful cut on her tongue and she's worried a crown might be messed up. She also has some jaw pain from the force of the bite.

So she does a quick Google to find this is nothing new with Larabar protein bars. Enough so that Google shows biting into plastic and glass in these bars are no uncommon.

My wife then decides to call Larabar to report her incident. HERE is where the strange part happens (or at least we find strange). The operator/cs agent asks my wife, "Make us an offer for what you think this is worth". My wife is shocked and says, "umm, this makes me uncomfortable, I just wanted to report what I found in my bar".

Does this sound crazy to anyone else? Are they paying people to not complain and report these type of things?

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:09 pm

Sounds like they are trying to buy off people to stave off a class action to me.

tjg_marantz · Post by **tjg_marantz** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:18 pm

Lawyer up

Xmann · Post by **Xmann** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:27 pm

malchior wrote:Sounds like they are trying to buy off people to stave off a class action to me.

That's my thoughts as well. Is this not an unusual practice?

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:30 pm

She could've gotten a free candy bar!

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:40 pm

Xmann wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:27 pm
malchior wrote:Sounds like they are trying to buy off people to stave off a class action to me.
That's my thoughts as well. Is this not an unusual practice?

I don't know if it is an unusual practice but it definitely seems like something I wouldn't decide on the spot either.

Xmann · Post by **Xmann** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:42 pm

Kraken wrote:She could've gotten a free candy bar!

that's really all she wanted besides notifying them. they offered gift certificates and a refund.

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:46 pm

Call a health inspector then a lawyer. The first to help others, the second to help yourself. If their first offer is to pay you, there is something rotten.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:50 pm

Zarathud wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:46 pm Call a health inspector then a lawyer. The first to help others, the second to help yourself. If their first offer is to pay you, there is something rotten.

For pre-packaged (manufactured) food, contact the FDA. Ideally you have the packaging (to identify lot number), receipt (where it was purchased) to assist them in following up.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 5:36 pm

Xmann wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:07 pm My wife then decides to call Larabar to report her incident. HERE is where the strange part happens (or at least we find strange). The operator/cs agent asks my wife, "Make us an offer for what you think this is worth". My wife is shocked and says, "umm, this makes me uncomfortable, I just wanted to report what I found in my bar".

Best-case scenario is that the phone drone panicked and somehow thought they could make the problem go away with such a question.

It's almost impossible to believe that they would be trained to handle such complaints that way. If nothing else, underpaid phone operators would whistleblow.

But, yeah, raise the roof about this. The product hurt your wife and the company needs to make it right, potentially for other customers as well.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 6:39 pm

That definitely sounds strange, and their reaction would put me off buying any in the future.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 7:39 pm

Calling in a complaint and being given a response that suggests responsibility? Yeah, that's unusual.

GreenGoo · Post by **GreenGoo** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 7:53 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 7:39 pm Calling in a complaint and being given a response that suggests responsibility? Yeah, that's unusual.

That's not responsibility. That's culpability. Plus, liability.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:20 pm

I was being careful to avoid the word 'liabillity', as that one is arguable.

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:31 pm

I believe they are synonymous

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:32 pm

re·spon·si·bil·i·ty
/rəˌspänsəˈbilədē/
noun
the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.
synonyms: authority, control, power, leadership, management, influence; duty
"we train those staff who show an aptitude for managerial responsibility"

the state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something.
"the group has claimed responsibility for a string of murders"[/color]
synonyms: blame, fault, guilt, culpability, blameworthiness, liability
"the organization denied responsibility for the bomb attack at the airport"

the opportunity or ability to act independently and make decisions without authorization.
"we would expect individuals lower down the organization to take on more responsibility"

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 9:09 pm

We're talking about lawyers here, where liability takes on a different implication and very precise definitions.

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 9:26 pm

Sure, but a lawyer would also view their willingness to pay so quickly as an admission to liability. Being responsible, in this context (a company handling physical harm caused by their product), is identical to being liable, I would argue.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 10:33 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:30 pm She could've gotten a free candy bar!

Nah, she should've held out for TWO candy bars.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 11:07 pm

I wonder what they would have said to $1.6 million.

Xmann · Post by **Xmann** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 11:52 pm

Yes please

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 10:37 am

Realistically, the best response would have been "I'll get back to you after I consult my dentist." Not that I would have thought of it at the time, either.

Zitterbacke · Post by **Zitterbacke** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 12:10 pm

Here in Germany they would have charged you for the extra glass bit.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 2:04 pm

In a related manner, I've recently seen different food items being recalled across Canada due to bits of metal in them. When something of this nature is found, a recall is normally required by Canadian law and agencies involved. I'd be surprised if there wasn't something similar in the U.S.

gameoverman · Post by **gameoverman** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:14 pm

Xmann wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:07 pmMy wife then decides to call Larabar to report her incident. HERE is where the strange part happens (or at least we find strange). The operator/cs agent asks my wife, "Make us an offer for what you think this is worth". My wife is shocked and says, "umm, this makes me uncomfortable, I just wanted to report what I found in my bar".

Does this sound crazy to anyone else? Are they paying people to not complain and report these type of things?

My question would be what did your wife expect? If I'm the one calling because I bit down on a piece of glass, I'm calling for a reason. I'm not going to call just to say "I bit down on one of your bars and there was a piece of glass in it". Put yourself in their place:
Me - "One of your bars had a piece of glass in it, which I discovered upon biting into it."
Them - "Yeah, and...."

I'm impressed that they got right to the point. What do you want in compensation? You've seen Fight Club right? Which costs less, paying out hush money or fixing the problem? Whichever one is cheapest is what they'll do.

Scuzz · Post by **Scuzz** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:20 pm

She should ask them to name a bar after her, but make sure it is the one without the glass or plastic.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:26 pm

Introducing...The Complainer Bar! Now with 99.99% less glass.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:31 pm

gameoverman wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:14 pm Which costs less, paying out hush money or fixing the problem? Whichever one is cheapest is what they'll do.

Then the correct answer is C: act concerned but admit to nothing, let them do most of the talking, ask for complicated confirmation that requires action on the part of the complainant, and generally talk in circles like a politician on steroids. Most of the time the person making the complaint won't bother to follow through. If they do and you think there is a risk of them actually taking serious action, you offer them something appealing but essentially worthless (IE - free product.) If they accept, case closed. Asking them how much money they want is starting with the worst case scenario.

Note: I used to do this for a living.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:57 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:31 pm Note: I used to do this for a living.

Extort compensation, or offer it?

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:59 pm

Extorting the offer of compensation.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 9:16 pm

That's what I thought. My parents used to do that as a hobby, on a penny-ante scale. I kinda shamed them into stopping when I became a target of petty scams as a retail manager.

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 9:30 pm

First off, I was answering for Blackhawk, off the cuff.

Second, I would consider 'Extorting the offer of compensation' (in that I tried to blend both the phrases you offered into just one), the company on the phone offering very sub-par compensation, but from your reply - I take it that you took the term to represent the consumer asking for compensation they didn't deserve.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Sat Apr 20, 2019 9:56 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:57 pm
Blackhawk wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:31 pm Note: I used to do this for a living.
Extort compensation, or offer it?

Neither. Deal with high liability issues involving the public in a manner that protected the company.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Sun Apr 21, 2019 1:34 am

Unagi wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 9:30 pm First off, I was answering for Blackhawk, off the cuff.

Second, I would consider 'Extorting the offer of compensation' (in that I tried to blend both the phrases you offered into just one), the company on the phone offering very sub-par compensation, but from your reply - I take it that you took the term to represent the consumer asking for compensation they didn't deserve.

...or more than they deserve. My parents loved to tell stories about parlaying trivial wrongs into free meals and stuff -- stickin it to the man! I would roll my eyes and change the subject until I started working as the man they were stickin it to. IDK if they stopped doing it after I made them see it the man's way, but they at least stopped bragging about it.

Jaymon · Post by **Jaymon** » Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:13 am

That does sound suspicious, and the fact that you found multiple things about it on google probable means you are not alone.

What you do next is up to you.

ignore it, and stop using their products

or

get a lawyer.

after a lawyer there are two options

try to get them to fess up, recall all the suspect products and stop doing this craps.

or

try to get money for you own self

personally, some time ago I switched from Larabar to Luna bar, and I am very happy with the product.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:17 am

I just started eating Larabars pretty regularly. Now I'm worried about them. Crap.

morlac · Post by **morlac** » Mon Apr 22, 2019 1:48 pm

malchior wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:09 pm Sounds like they are trying to buy off people to stave off a glass action to me.

It took this long?

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Mon Apr 22, 2019 2:45 pm

Remus West wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:17 am I just started eating Larabars pretty regularly. Now I'm worried about them. Crap.

I'm sure it's not all of them, just beware of the new flavors: Stained, Window Pane, and Beer Bottle.

Lordnine · Post by **Lordnine** » Mon Apr 22, 2019 2:51 pm

I have never eaten a Lars bar but I suddenly want to call their support line…

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Mon Apr 22, 2019 3:00 pm

Jeff V wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2019 2:45 pm
Remus West wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:17 am I just started eating Larabars pretty regularly. Now I'm worried about them. Crap.
I'm sure it's not all of them, just beware of the new flavors: Stained, Window Pane, and Beer Bottle.

Damn it. Beer bottle is my favorite.