Product recalls can destroy the best marketing plans. Bad press travels quickly among consumers particularly online. In fact, Who Sucks published a post called Dangerous Made-in-China Products: 2007 Timeline, which lists 55 faulty products manufactured in China and recalled in the United States for one reason or another so far this year. 
The products range from Thomas the Tank Engine toys to pet food, toothpaste, tires and gas grills. It appears no product category is safe from potential problems when products are manufactured in countries that don't maintain high safety and production standards.
Who Sucks is also conducting a survey that asks readers, "Are you concerned about the safety of "Made in China" products? The survey was posted earlier today and so far 297 votes have been cast with 254 people (nearly 86%) answering yes, they are concerned about the safety of "Made in China" products.
What does this mean for US companies? As marketers, it's painful to watch our best campaigns plunder due to product recalls and the bad press those recalls generate. What do you think? I'm certain we'd all like to see products manufactured properly the first time, but knowing companies are always looking at the bottomline, do you think manufacturing processes will change anytime soon? Or do you think a reactive/clean up approach will continue to be the norm?
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