Why must companies stretch the truth?

[classiccandle]

I apologize for the long post and seek your forgiveness. Okay, I’m not really seeking your forgiveness but I do apologize for using so many words in my rant.

This is not meant to bash any one company, so they’ll remain anonymous, but instead it’s my attempt to voice my frustration over what seems to be an increasing willingness among some companies to stretch the truth about their products, or should I just put aside the politically correct speech and call a spade a spade? They lie.

As a case in point, during my endless research into the competition I came across another company that sold candles (imagine my shock!). Their jar and label were attractive (they were double wicked), as was their website, and the reviews I could find of their candles were positive.

One day a couple of weeks ago, while experiencing what I can only describe as a temporary loss of sanity, I went to the only local location that sold said candles (they have what I consider a sizeable retail footprint for a small candle company, if the number of retail outlets listed on their website is accurate) and purchased one which cost, with tax, just over $30.00….insane indeed!

After burning the candle over the past two weeks I can say that the fragrance was true to its name and while the hot throw wasn’t peel the paint off your walls strong it was commendable. The labeling of the jar was just as attractive in person as it was on their website. However, that’s where the accolades end. Being the experienced chandler that I am () I noticed immediately that the wicks were too large for that particular container which leads to one of my two complaints about the company’s advertising practices:

1) They advertise the net weight of the candle as 14 oz., which is patently untrue. I use the very same jar that they use and can only fit, at the very most, 11 ounces of wax in the jar (the ideal amount is 10 oz., and still have room for a wick and lid without having to bend the wick 90° to get the lid to fit).

2) They advertise on their label that the burn time is 50 hours. After burning the candle over the past 13 days and trying to burn it as a normal user would, an hour here, two hours there, an hour and a half, three hours, once a day, twice a day, with ceiling fans and A/C on and off, in different locations, etc., I was only able to eek out 39.5 hours, a far cry from the 50 hours advertised.

This company could probably wick down a little, still attain a full melt pool, and come a bit closer to their advertised burn time without having to mislead, or lie, to people. I also don’t understand the justification for the price, $28.00 per. Their website doesn’t mention that they use essential oils so I’m assuming they don’t. They’re soy candles but I make soy candles too and I know those margins are astronomical. Could it be they worry that if they advertised it as a 10 oz., candle that burns less than 40 hours that they couldn’t command such a high price? It’s the only logical conclusion that I can come up.

Am I making much ado about nothing?

[Candybee]

I'm wondering if they are advertising the jar weight as the net candle weight? I always use the actual net wt of my scented wax. Also, I actually burn from beginning to end a sample candle and log the real burn hours like you did as a customer would burn a candle here and there. I don't calculate the burn time by the wax amount but the ACTUAL burn time I experience. You can't get that by doing a calculation. Calculations don't take into account the net wax weight, wick tab stopping the burn and leaving bottom wax, and the wick size itself. All factor into real burn hours.

[marcuset]

Whoever it is, they are superb advertisers and marketers. Nothing you can do about it. Lots of truth stretching in advertising. If you focus on it...it will eat you up. Use that energy to market your own excellent product:-)

[Judy, USMC]

That company is in violation of Federal Regulations. They are not complying with 16 CFR Part 500 which states the net contents needs to be put on the label.

This is the link from the Cornell site. Pulled this up just because it's easier to read than the actual statute from the federal site. http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/16/500.6

Couple of things can be done. You could forward the information to them or you could report them to your state AG or kick it up to the federal level. I know of a chandler who handles it passive-aggressive. She sends them a letter saying she weighed the jar, burned the candle, cleaned the jar and then weighed the empty jar. The label said it was A ounces but the wax only weighed B ounces. She cites the CFR regulation as justification. Then she requests a refund of the purchase price equal to the missing wax.

She has not only refunds but free candles! If she doesn't hear back from them she does report them. Extreme? Yes, but she absolutely hates being lied to.

Edited September 26, 2013 by Judy, USMC

[marcuset]

Couple of things can be done. You could forward the information to them or you could report them to your state AG or kick it up to the federal level. I know of a chandler who handles it passive-aggressive. She sends them a letter saying she weighed the jar, burned the candle, cleaned the jar and then weighed the empty jar. The label said it was A ounces but the wax only weighed B ounces. She cites the CFR regulation as justification. Then she requests a refund of the purchase price equal to the missing wax.

She has not only refunds but free candles! If she doesn't hear back from them she does report them. Extreme? Yes, but she absolutely hates being lied to.

That is a good idea. I stand corrected. I hate being lied to too - won't ever do business twice with someone who lies to me. If you have legal recourse...go for it. Good for her.

Edited September 26, 2013 by marcuset

[QTsmum]

It's ridiculous. I agree. I've seen so many bigger corporations lie about little things. Things that wouldn't even bother the average, educated person. For instance; Glade's melts. Advertise something like 80 hours per clamshell, which works out to about 12 hours per cube. HA. Lucky if you get 4. Only grinds my gears because they mention it. If the package said nothing on the subject, you just couldn't complain.

Anyways. I understand! I bet it's rare for the average user to track that stuff though, kwim?! I would feel terrible if I willingly mislead my customers.

And a $30 candle, Ouch! Hope it's a nice jar you can re-use!!!

[ksranch]

I see SO many on Etsy/Ebay and even in stores that 'advertise' the size of the jar, not the weight of the wax... it ticks me off every time!

[candleaddict]

I see this all the time with melts in the 2 oz. cups. The net weight is 1.5-1.7 and see them described as 2 oz. Irkes me to death!!