| Author |
Message |
    
Richardj
Moderator
Post
Number: 1247
Registered: 4-2002
|
| Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 6:00 pm:
|
     |
I got this disturbing email today from Dublin. It is a
shame to not be able to stop this BEFORE this and others are
defrauded. As I mentioned in my email that the formula used by these
people is know to contain asbestos. Can you believe anything so
stupid? I look forward to the U.S. Food & Drug following up as I
am sure they will.
-----Original Message-----
From: Sean
Sandford [mailto:Sean@sandford.ie]
Sent:
Tuesday, October 05, 2004 11:26 AM
To: richard@kamado.com
Subject:
Indonesian import
Dear Richard,
I purchased this
year from Topo Susilio a no.7 Kamado which was shipped and
arrived safely with me in Dublin Ireland. I adhered to
instructions
regarding initial firing up and kept heat for first
24 hrs at the suggested
minimum. I was seriousally considering
importing these goods for further
sales and distribution
throughout Ireland and was seeking outlets for
demonstrations.
After several weeks of very successfull cooking, the unit
exploded and the
tiling was scattered like shrapnel from a
grenade. Thank god, nobody was
injured, but the top of the
Kamado is minus about one third of the tiles.
I have sent
e-mails and photo's to Indonesia, but cannot get a reply.
In
addition before this happened I had ordered a Gas kit, lump saver
basket
etc and sent USD322 to cover costs + shipping.
In
the absence of replies from Indonesia, I am getting concerned.
(1) I have a Kamado which I cannot use.
(2) I sent money for
parts not received, but now anyhow cannot be used.
Having
read today your web newsletter regarding the Mexican manufacturing
facility, I am getting seriousally concerned about being able to
get a
solution to my problem.
Can you enlighten me and
advise what can be done,
Kind regards
Sean Sandford
Dublin Ireland
----------------------my
reply-----------------
October 05, 2004
Dear Sean,
I am truly sorry you purchased a fraudulent copy of our
Kamado made in Indonesia illegally from Topo Susilio. You have been,
as I was and many others, victimized and deceived by Mr. Susilio.
I do not have any relationship with Topo whatever, other
than infringement litigation.
Your course of action, in my
opinion would be to seek legal counsel.
Sincerely,
Richard Johnson
P.S. In another way, you might
consider yourself lucky as the formula Mr. Susilio copy of my Kamado
is made from a material KNOWN to cause cancer.
|
Johnwilliams
Member
Post
Number: 202
Registered: 8-2001
|
| Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 10:55 pm:
|
|
Richard,
My official Kamado #7 was manufactured
in Indonesia (delivered May 2003), presumably by Topo Susilio's crew
while they were in your employ. Does my Kamado contain asbestos? Is
it going to have a similar fate as Mr. Sandfords? Your post has me
very concerned. 
|
N1jcx
Member
Post
Number: 66
Registered: 7-2001
|
| Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 5:59 am:
|
|
Kinda makes me glad I have my "made in America" Kamado... |
Waldo
Member
Post
Number: 29
Registered: 6-2004
|
| Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 7:43 am:
|
|
How can you tell where it was made? Mine was delivered in
mid 2003 also. |
Jiarby
Member
Post
Number: 702
Registered: 3-2002
|
| Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 8:30 am:
|
|
I have never heard of a single "RICHARD JOHNSON" Kamado
"exploding" in the 3 years that I have been reading this forum...and
I read it daily. If the cookers Kamado was making in Indonesia for a
while had this problem we would have seen it in the last three
years, don't you think? Richard & his crew take great care to
make a product that they stand behind...These other guys aren't
around.
However, in "Topo Gigio's"(remember Ed Sullivan?)
eBay ads he comments how different HIS cookers are...
quote:
Komodo hired these experienced workers and created NEW
molds, technology, engineering and designs
and then we get some further details...
quote:
A two-layer sandwich of high tech refractory ceramic materials
was used. A dense inner layer spreads the heat quickly for faster
start-up. This dense material is designed by the molten metal
industry to withstand temperatures of 2200șC
hmmm...does the "molten metal industry" call that
ASBESTOS?
I sent them an email asking if they has an MSDS
sheet for this "molten metal industry" heat resistant product. I'll
let you know if they respond.
These new asian knock offs are
using different material, apparently dangerously.
I'd be
glad to make a website to host the pictures of the exploded Ireland
Komodo... maybe register the "komodokamadosucks.com" domain?
jiarby
|
Richardj
Moderator
Post
Number: 1248
Registered: 4-2002
|
| Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 10:39 am:
|
|
Indonesia does NOT have the raw material we have used for
over 20 years (starting with our UL Listed Meridian Fireplace
Stoves). The Kamados made in Indonesia under my direction had the
formula shipped by me from Oakland, California. Without my direct on
site supervision they could NEVER get it right and certainly not
without the correct formula that I sent from California. The
absolute necessity for "On Site" supervision in Indonesia by me or
any of our qualified people is NOT feasible. I am sure I need not
enumerate the reasons.
Johnwilliams, no Kamado made by me
contains asbestos or any other harmful material.
Since I
designed, patented and trade marked our Kamado there have been 17
knock off's that I know of. Some ceramic cookers made today are good
to excellent products, but not this knock-off.
Fortunately
our readers have the wisdom to recognize fraudulent
misrepresentations. I will do what I can to prevent further
confusion and I appreciate your help and comments.
|
Johnwilliams
Member
Post
Number: 203
Registered: 8-2001
|
| Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 10:55 am:
|
|
Richard,
Thank you for that clarification and
eliminating my concerns.
BTW, since I have family in San
Diego, I hope to visit your new factory in Ensenada in the near
future. Best of luck with your new venture. It sounds like an
excellent business decision and a great new adventure for you and
your family. |
Lasergecko
Member
Post
Number: 617
Registered: 3-2003
|
| Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 11:46 am:
|
|
I'm convinced that my Indonesian made #7 will survive
anything after my first "throw some more fuel in there to clean the
grates, then forget about it until 3am" thermometer needle pegging
incident.
Asbestos in a food product. That should save
Richard a bit of time and trouble since the Consumer Products Safety
Commission or Customs will have to put an end to
it. |
Brianw
Member
Post
Number: 659
Registered: 6-2003
|
| Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 5:42 pm:
|
|
I'm afraid NONE of the federal agencies offer much hope.
The FDA has jurisdiction only on pharmaceuticals. The CPSC doesn't
bother with things that don't involve millions of people because
like every other federal agency they're understaffed and
overwhelmed. And Customs only has jurisdiction if you can
demonstrate an illegal attempt to pass off as your trademarked name
something that isn't the trademarked product. In this case, while we
all see that the rip off people are attempting to create name
confusion, they are not infringing on a trademark so I don't think
Customs will be the solution. And since the "Komodo" is not itself a
food product, what is in the Komodo isn't an issue for the FDA or
anyone else concerned with food safety. |
Tomjax
Member
Post
Number: 40
Registered: 9-2001
|
| Posted on Sunday, October 17, 2004 - 8:12 pm:
|
|
Just a note about the dangers of asbestos as I understand
it.
First, relax- No dange from asbestos made in that or any
product unless you grind it up and inhale it.
The problem is
only when it is inhaled. You could make a slushy and drink it.
I
still shudder a bit when I remember as a kid observing a man do some
work on a tobacco barn furnace. I picked up the white stuff and
played with it. He said it was asbestos and worked with it all the
time. That was the only time I remember playing with it. He later
died of lung cancer. |
N1jcx
Member
Post
Number: 67
Registered: 7-2001
|
| Posted on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 6:05 am:
|
|
I'm not so sure that there's no danger from the asbestos
which may be in the ceramic mixture used in the knockoffs. Remember,
it is exposed to heat, potential tampering and 'touching' (the
grills/grates, etc) which make it fryable... Its not encapsulated
properly in any case.
-Michael |
Indonesian Kamado Knock-Off Fraud