In numerous calls to Lowe’s since it was reported to me by a pet owner (and later confirmed through the store manager) that a Lowe’s home improvement store in Mooresville, NC had pulled all the Waggin Train jerky treats from store shelves, each time I felt very hopeful Lowe’s was going to act out of precaution for pets and remove the treats. Now I have a completely different feeling from them.
I was told by Lowe’s corporate on April 19 – “they are in the process of getting a stop sell” on the Chinese imported jerky treats sold nationwide at Lowe’s locations. The Lowe’s Customer Service Representative stated they are ‘reviewing our product quality concerns with the manufacturer’. A few days later, I followed up with Lowe’s to see if the ‘stop sell’ was official. They had no news, but promised to return a call to me by Monday 4/23. Monday morning I called corporate Lowe’s again, things still looked promising and was told someone with corporate would return my call by end of business today (Monday). No call. No call Tuesday. Wednesday (4/25) I called Lowe’s again – and this time things were different.
As with all the other calls to corporate Lowe’s, I give my phone number to the Representative that takes my call which provides them will all the information from previous calls. But this time when the representative took my number, I was immediately referred to a manager. Lynn – Manager at Customer Service Corporate Lowes came on the line and quickly told me no decision to stop sell the jerky treats has been made. I asked her when a decision would be made. She could not give me that information. I asked her why – as promised – I didn’t receive a phone call on Monday. She apologized for no return call. I asked if someone could give me a call to inform me either way – if Lowe’s indeed is going to issue a ‘stop sell’ on these jerky treats or if they were going to cave. She told me no – no one would be returning my call…no decision has been made…and there is no information of a time frame when or if this might happen. Every response was brief and to the point; no compassion as in previous calls.
I could almost hear the back-peddling when I spoke to them. Though Lowe’s has not confirmed this either way, I believe Lowe’s will continue to sell the treats regardless that countless thousands of pet owners are begging retailers to pull the treats out of precaution.
So what happened? Was there an issue that arose when Lowe’s ‘reviewed product quality concerns with the manufacturer’? Was pressure put on Lowe’s by ‘the manufacturer’ of the jerky treats? Is this the issue why all retailers have not removed the treats from store shelves…pressure from the manufacturer? Are retailers being threatened with lawsuit from the manufacturer(s) of the jerky treats or do retailers simply not care about FDA Warnings and Consumer concern?
Such disappointment. Lowe’s you had a golden opportunity to show petsumers you care – and it appears you’ve blown it.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
PetsumerReport.com
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