Zippo Manufacturing Company Deceptive advertising on website and poor follow up when contacting customer service. Bradford Pennsylvania

To Whom it May Concern, 

This complaint  has been resolved with the consumer.  

Please see the consumers satisfaction to his complaint in the e-mail below:

Ms. -------,

  Thank you for acknowledging my concerns and taking steps to improve your company website. In being upset with not receiving my lighter back intact I was absolutely right, but in reacting so viscerally before pursuing appropriate means of recourse I was absolutely wrong. But before I continue, a few words of advice from your client base: 1.) The policy of disposing of and replacing mechanically sound inserts can't be cost effective. They appear to require an intricate machining process and high quality metals which certainly cost more than a wick or flint spring, which probably cost pennies. 2.) If you must include a new insert with every repair, return the original as well. Sticklers such as myself will pull the wick out and wind it through the original. Also, replacement inserts diminish the value of collectable lighters which, although not directly profit generating, are highly sought after by many of the same people who purchase lighters at retail, some of which are destined to become collectable themselves.

 That being said, the fact that you heard the concerns of one individual and took action to amend your practices is noteworthy and commendable. In doing so, I will be proud of every clink, flick, clunk of my Zippo (satin black, case D 09, insert F 09, purchased new in 2009) and will be happy to convince the users of any (insert disposable imported plastic brand name here) to invest in an American icon. Years ago as a teenager, a good man who's since passed away told me, "Even if you don't smoke, (that wasa long time ago) carry a Zippo lighter." Then and now, I can find nothing wrong with that statement. The brand has survived a world war, several conflicts since, a slough of '80's action movies and many other events known only to those who lived them. Although not perfect, as no one or nothing is, you strive to do the right thing which sets you apart from the competition and of which Mr. Blaisdell would be proud. In light of this, I look forward to indulging in a few items on your website that I've been pondering for a while. Hopefully your engraving department doesn't have a policy against plagiarizing movie quotes!

Respectfully your loyal client,

-Jesse

P.S. In the event that my lighter(s) do need repair, I'm asking in advance to have my original inserts returned. Breaking in a new felt pad is a bear! 

Kind regards, 

Zippo Manufacturing Company