Finding the Silver Lining

Writers write about everything, or I do, at least. I write blogs no one reads. I write stories. I write emails to friends and relatives. I write reviews on Amazon. Really, I write everything. I even like writing in my calendar, by hand. However - I rarely write a complain letter to a manufacturer. I have done but not many and I couldn't tell you when was the last time I wrote one. Well, until this month, anyway.

Like many folks, I buy plastic bags to use for a variety of things. Sandwiches, small parts, screws, and even toiletries when I travel. I rarely use them in the freezer. Who wants hand lotions on their Sunday best. With all those new travel restrictions in the last dozen years regarding liquids, I suspect plastic bags are booming. I've even put paper items and photos in these bags. I've covered cameras while canoeing. I mean, they float when sealed.

I can't tell you what my favorite brand is but I do prefer the quart and gallon sized freezer bags. I only buy ones for freezer use because long ago I discovered these recycled really easily and have so many uses. I can wash them and put them away.

Recently, I ran out of bags so I bought a couple of boxes of Ziploc^©  bags. Let me just say here that I don't like the zippered bags at all. They don't seal well and it is just one more piece of plastic to drop in the landfill or ocean. Why would a bag with a zip feature need a zipper? So, I buy the simple old style bags. Until now, they've worked.

The last time I bought this particular brand by Ziploc^©  I noticed a slight style change. It could have been around for a while. Truthfully, I buy Glad^©  freezer bags most of the time so that's probably why I didn't notice. The store didn't have any without the added zipper feature so I opted for Ziploc^© . Anyway, on the Ziploc^©  brand, the tab at the opening of the bag is now red. The other thing I noticed is that virtually every time I use one, the extended red tab tears off when I try and open the bag. I end up tossing the bag unused because I can't open it!

What you have to remember is I have problems with my hands. Not only do I have rheumatoid arthritis, I have nerve damage in my dominant left hand that creates a dexterity/strength problem with certain tasks. Opening a plastic bag with a zip feature is one of those things. These bags seal very well. So well, in fact, that at times, I can't open them because I can't get a grip strong enough to open it. I suspect this is why they added an extended tab on only one side of the bags. It is a good idea... when it works.

This past week I ended up ripping off the tab of a bag I was attempting to open. I've done this a few times recently. This day I was particularly annoyed because the damaged hand has been giving me a lot of pain and trouble. This was the proverbial camel. I went to my computer and dashed off a complaint letter to the company. This wasn't easy. It was a bit like opening their bags. I had intended to just write a negative review but they don't have a place to do that on their site. After diligent searching, I found their "Contact Us" page.

Here is my email: 

Quart size bags with the red top. Worst bags I've ever used, and I've used all of them. The tab tears off when you try and open it, even BEFORE you use it. And nearly every time! For every two I have to toss one. I'm disgusted. These are bad for the environment already. I try and recycle as many times as possible but with this style, it is bitting my budget. No more.

I felt better. Perhaps, they'd fix the bags so folks wouldn't have the problem. I can't believe I'm the only person with a problem, so maybe there'd be a positive outcome.

There was.

Here is a part of their very courteous and sympathetic response.

We stand behind our products and we're happy to make this right. In hopes you'll continue using Ziploc®, I’m mailing five personalized, full value coupons to the address you provided. I've also tucked in a booklet of money saving coupons for a variety of SC Johnson products. Please expect them to arrive in about two weeks.
For awareness, Ziploc® Bags now use the How2Recycle Label system. You can find participating stores with drop off locations at plasticfilmrecycling.org – best options are Target, Walmart and most grocery stores. 
We sincerely appreciate hearing from you, Cynthia – please let us know if we can help in the future.

There was more but I reduced it down to the really important stuff. I appreciate that they sent me a link to find recycling locations. That's a really great thing. What I found astounding was this sentence. I’m mailing five personalized, full value coupons to the address you provided.

They're going to send me coupons to buy FIVE more boxes of these bags.

I never considered that they'd send me freebies but it is a nice thing for them to do. I simply wanted to inform them of a defect I felt their product had and my intention to not buy the bags again in their current state. While I might be able to use the booklet coupons, why would I buy FIVE more boxes of something that sends me into a conniption fit?

I take comfort in knowing they are probably going to consider this problem. I like that they were so nice and even basically offered to replace the bags. I didn't give them details about my physical problems and probably should have done so. No doubt, someone will probably call me and ask me about the problem I have opening the bags and I can explain it then. It is nice to find a company that might actually listen to customer complaints.

They say every cloud has a silver lining but this one is a bit tarnished. The sad truth is, I don't go through five boxes of these bags in a year. Seriously, I use containers to store things in the fridge or freezer. The bags are for the kind of thing I mentioned above. So, I'll probably give away some of the coupons and inflict the same frustration on friends or family.  I'll probably give them the link to the "Contact Us" page.