Weber is not a fan of the grillinfools

We're hosting a BBQ competition in October and I sent an email to Weber asking for a donation for the grand prize since it's for charity. Not only did they deny me a grill but I got slapped with a cease and desist. How you like this shit?

Dear Mr. Thomas:

Your recent email inquiry has been forwarded to my attention for response. First, I would like to thank you for taking the time to contact us with respect to the history surrounding GrillinFools.com. Clearly, you and your partners have a true passion for grilling and a gift for sharing that passion with others.

However, with respect to your website we have a few concerns. First, your use of our trademarks, namely “Weber” and “Weber Kettle” in your “key words” banner on the left side of your home page is misleading. Clicking on these trademarks takes one to a random recipe that you are promoting, rather than anything “Weber” or “Weber Kettle.” Not only is this an unauthorized use of our federally registered trademarks, it is very confusing to any visitor to your site who clicks on these key words to gain information on Weber. Please remove our trademarks from your site, and confirm that you have done so.

Lastly, with respect to your request for a donation, you are correct that we receive “thousands of these.” In addition, Weber has established business relationships with third parties, which prevent us from associating with certain organizations and products. Even when we are able to clear any conflicts, a simple grill donation has often turned into false marketing claims, which results in Weber being promoted, without our knowledge, as being a sponsor, associated with or endorsing a particular contest. It is for all of these reasons that we also choose to make our donations and charitable partnerships quietly without any advertising.

We truly appreciate your loyalty to our brand and to our Company. However, as stated above, we need to caution you against how our trademarks are used. Weber is not just the name of our Company, it is a federally registered trademark for a huge variety of goods and services. As such, we regulate and protect its use at all costs.

We thank you for respecting our rights and wish you and your partners the best of luck with your internet and barbecue ventures.

Respectfully,

Nancy Misch
Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs
Weber-Stephen Products Co.

Click to expand...

Clicking on the word Weber in the word cloud takes one to this page

Each and every one of those links involves a recipe done on a weber product. Am I missing something here? How is that infringing on anything? How is this violating the bolded above? Is any mention of Weber in electronic media supposed to have a link back to Weber.com?

So I was a huge fan of Weber and now I'm, well, not.

that ditz has missed her calling. she should apply at BP - her logic would be most appreciated and rewarded.

put that on your front page in the charity event news. MO isn't exactly a backwater of bbq and perhaps the locals would appreciate knowing the company's position.

replace all words "Weber" with
"The AssholeKettle Company" text of which should be a link to a standalone page with Ms. Ditz-Misch letter.

you should probable file for trademark protection on "The AssholeKettle Company" - just so they don't steal it.

I sure hope Weber vigorously and obviously defends it's trademark(s) - that'll make it easier for me to avoid buying any of their "huge array" of products.

oh, legally - just add the trademark symbol & text saying it's theirs and they can't do a bliminey thing about it.

ChowderMan said:

replace all words "Weber" with
"The AssholeKettle Company" text of which should be a link to a standalone page with Ms. Ditz-Misch letter.

you should probable file for trademark protection on "The AssholeKettle Company" - just so they don't steal it.

Click to expand...

Pure genius Chowderman!!!

Damn!

Chowdermans suggestion is tempting I bet ...... but might cause you issues down the road if they check back.

Bottom line: you have no reasonable choice but to comply with their request -- as if you had any intention of continuing to prompt their products -- failure to do so could be quite costly.

GF, I respectfully disagree.

Weber did not slap you with a cease and desist. They asked that you remove their trademarked logos from your website, for legal reasons, for one thing. They know of what they speak.

In my experience, as a retailer and a long-time personal user of Weber products, the company has been nothing but professional and helpful, both to the distributors of their products and the end consumer. Their customer service is superior.

I think that VP's reply to you was very respectful to you.

Lee

QSis said:

GF, I respectfully disagree.

Weber did not slap you with a cease and desist. They asked that you remove their trademarked logos from your website, for legal reasons, for one thing. They know of what they speak.

In my experience, as a retailer and a long-time personal user of Weber products, the company has been nothing but professional and helpful, both to the distributors of their products and the end consumer. Their customer service is superior.

I think that VP's reply to you was very respectful to you.

Lee

Click to expand...

I'm with Lee on this one. Most people would probably do the same thing if they owned a company like Weber -- I know I would.

BTW, I doubt the V.P of Business & Legal Affairs is a ditz; more likely she's a top-notch lawyer with a lot of assets and personnel at her disposal. Be afraid.

Personally, I'd pull their logos an give Brinkman a try.

Hmmm... the link you send people to does not have a Weber grill or logo at all on it, that I can find.

Because of that, I fully understand her point of view.
Maybe if you make it very obvious that the page is a page of recipes cooked on a Weber.....

GrillinFool said:

We're hosting a BBQ competition in October and I sent an email to Weber asking for a donation for the grand prize since it's for charity. Not only did they deny me a grill but I got slapped with a cease and desist. How you like this shit?

Clicking on the word Weber in the word cloud takes one to this page

Each and every one of those links involves a recipe done on a weber product. Am I missing something here? How is that infringing on anything? How is this violating the bolded above? Is any mention of Weber in electronic media supposed to have a link back to Weber.com?

So I was a huge fan of Weber and now I'm, well, not.

Click to expand...

You all have a rockin' site for grilling and promoting such.
One would think they'd have been happy to send you a donation for the grand prize.
Screw em.

FryBoy said:

BTW, I doubt the V.P of Business & Legal Affairs is a ditz; more likely she's a top-notch lawyer with a lot of assets and personnel at her disposal. Be afraid.

Click to expand...

nope, she's not a good lawyer or she would know the laws regarding fair use of trademarks and other intellectual property.
second she's a ditz of a business person because free advertising is good. I sure saw nothing that painted weber products in a bad light.

I'm with Lee as well. If you read the "Terms" on their website they go into what's trademarked and why you can't use it or how you CAN use it. It will take 4 days to read (I'm sure) but it's all there.

Next time try small-time first asking local butchers or retailers that sell BBQ equipment instead. No offense, but Webber isn't going to give the time of day to an enthusiast with a blog.

>>If you read the "Terms" on their website they go into . . .

fortunately, they don't enact or enforce laws - companies don't get to spin their own.

bit like the flappola where the publisher of the mag associated with America's Test Kitchen threatened legal action because the _ingredients_ of one of their recipes was posted on-line. they can huff and puff all they'd like but they cannot make their own law or set their own legal precedence.

So now I have a disclaimer on my site. And that's probably not enough. Friggin Lawyers

>>not enough

you gotten a lot of good advice around the web.

consider this:
www.uspto.gov
these are the people who keep the federal records of quote:
"federally registered trademarks"

quote Ms. Ditz:
First, your use of our trademarks, namely “Weber” and “Weber Kettle” in your “key words” banner on the left side of your home page is misleading. Clicking on these trademarks takes one to a random recipe that you are promoting, rather than anything “Weber” or “Weber Kettle.” Not only is this an unauthorized use of our federally registered trademarks, it is very confusing to any visitor to your site who clicks on these key words to gain information on Weber.
unquote Ms Ditz

Ms Ditz apparently has not checked the federal register of trademarks because "Weber Kettle" is not registered with the US patent and trademarks office.

uspto has 165 occurrences of weber in singular, plural or combination. "kettle" does not appear in any of them.

they do own "BAR-B-KETTLE"

perusing the "WEBER" entries, Weber-Stephens owns multiples.
all that I found at the Federal level, are:
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING

translated: a graphic logo

ps: weber in san serif is not the weber stylized type in a box logo

wonder why? well, because somebody else previously registered WEBER as
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS

so Weber-Stephens Ms Ditz is blowing smoke so far out her, uhhmm, 'thing' it's not funny.

the word(s) / letters are registered to an insurance company.

Weber Kettle is not federally registered at all, never has been, "weber kettle" is not live or dead, it's a figment of Ms. Ditz's federally mismanaged imagination.

they may have a logo containing weber kettle - I didn't bother - but they don't own the words or phrase at the federal level. there is a state level, bu of course if you're out of their state it doesn't apply and if registered only at the state level, that makes Ms. Ditz a first class fibber, and her extensive staff she rode in on.

here's everything the the feds know about "weber"
1 85050364 HELY & WEBER TARR LIVE
2 85046462 WEBLY ZOOM TARR LIVE
3 85041582 HELY & WEBER TARR LIVE
4 85028111 KEM WEBER TARR LIVE
5 85010426 WEBERLINE TARR LIVE
6 79045418 WEBER FOOD ROBOTICS TARR DEAD
7 79041592 WEBER TARR DEAD
8 79014785 3283173 WEBER TARR LIVE
9 79031047 MHW TARR DEAD
10 79012583 3130077 STERN WEBER TARR LIVE
11 79008166 WEBER TARR DEAD
12 79007836 WEBER HAUS TARR DEAD
13 78552760 3573941 W TARR LIVE
14 78908583 TRAVELWEBER TARR DEAD
15 78581809 3399484 ALBERT WEBER SINCE 1852 TARR LIVE
16 78892360 3317803 COLE & WEBER UNITED TARR LIVE
17 78834719 3201561 BRUCE G. WEBER PRECIOUS JEWELS TARR LIVE
18 78801192 3244191 CROWN EXCEL DISPOSAL A SUBSIDIARY OF FRED WEBER, INC. TARR LIVE
19 78793868 3210812 FRED WEBER INC TARR LIVE
20 78793866 3177040 FW DISPOSAL L.L.C. A SUBSIDIARY OF FRED WEBER INC. TARR LIVE
21 78793856 3271802 Q QUALITY SAND INC. A SUBSIDIARY OF FRED WEBER, INC. TARR LIVE
22 78793854 3271801 BLUFF CITY MINERALS A SUBSIDIARY OF WEBER, INC. TARR LIVE
23 78667262 W REDLINE WEBER CARBURETOR TARR DEAD
24 78627571 WEBER NIGHTLIGHT TARR DEAD
25 78581897 A. WEBER SINCE1852 TARR DEAD
26 78554469 THE WEBER TARR DEAD
27 78552753 3235865 WEBER TARR LIVE
28 78552737 3274235 WEBER TARR LIVE
29 78137965 2772703 AMY WEBER TARR DEAD
30 78012562 2740773 WEBER'S MACKINAC ISLAND FLORIST TARR DEAD
31 78473393 3027758 AWEBER TARR LIVE
32 78483420 3011409 WEBER TARR LIVE
33 78457505 MARLENE WEBER TARR DEAD
34 78349098 3077484 WEBER TARR LIVE
35 78349094 3114931 WEBER TARR LIVE
36 78317672 2910877 OLIVER WEBER COLLECTION TARR LIVE
37 78303422 TEQUILANA WEBER AZUL TARR DEAD
38 78277622 2918184 WEBERWORKS TARR LIVE
39 78260751 2862778 LAURIE WEBER TARR LIVE
40 78227286 2973096 WEBER DR TARR LIVE
41 78070939 W WEBER DISTRIBUTION YOUR STRONGEST LINK TARR DEAD
42 77844467 3792963 IWA TARR LIVE
43 77746026 WEBER RACING CAMS TARR DEAD
44 77510089 WEBER ULTRASONICS TARR LIVE
45 77736286 3756974 SENIOR STAR AT WEBER PLACE TARR LIVE
46 77869376 WEBER HAUS CACHAÇARIA WH DESDE 1948 TARR LIVE
47 77844469 IRVING WEBER ASSOCIATES TARR LIVE
48 77805531 WEBER-HYDRAULIC.COM TARR LIVE
49 77635151 3657247 W TARR LIVE
50 77304086 WEBER TARR LIVE
51 77351518 WM TARR LIVE
52 77445037 WEBER TARR LIVE
53 77459073 INTERWEBERS TARR DEAD
54 77427758 3575194 W TARR LIVE
55 77366339 WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY TARR DEAD
56 77224339 WEBER HAUS TARR DEAD
57 77110295 3531682 AIMEE WEBER STUDIO TARR LIVE
58 77108411 3342293 WEBER TARR LIVE
59 77084214 CHRISTIAN WEBER TARR DEAD
60 76449635 2916597 WEBER CHILL TARR LIVE
61 76269557 2809727 WWW.WEBER.COM TARR LIVE
62 76370742 3177356 REPOSADO 100% DE AGAVE TEQUILA CABO WABO REPOSADO 100% TEQUILANA WEBER BLUE AGAVE FROM THE REGION OF TEQUILA, STATE OF JALISCO, MEXICO HECHO EN MEXICO CONT. NET. 750 ML 40% ALC. VOL. 80 PROOF NOM 1426 CRT TARR LIVE
63 76658634 WEBERBILT EXPRESS TARR LIVE
64 76432249 2793975 COAST, WEBER & AHAUS TARR LIVE
65 76687929 TWO THUMBS UP WEBER'S TARR DEAD
66 76261663 2575932 WEBER GRILL TARR LIVE
67 76607078 3524507 WEBERBILT TARR LIVE
68 76244810 2614725 WEBER TARR LIVE
69 76352943 2642680 SIMPLY NATURAL EDGAR A. WEBER & CO. TARR LIVE
70 76630692 WEBER TARR DEAD
71 76543174 3238443 WEBER MOTOR TARR LIVE
72 76244973 2875981 WEBER TARR LIVE
73 76149558 WEBER TARR DEAD
74 76096382 WEBERACTIVE TARR DEAD
75 76080627 2490449 WEBER ASSOCIATES TARR LIVE
76 76011587 WEBER WORLD WIDE DISTRIBUTION TARR DEAD
77 76011586 WEBER WORLD WIDE LOGISTICS TARR DEAD
78 75597443 2309178 WEBERVATIONS TARR LIVE
79 75578345 2316030 WEBER WEAR THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE TARR LIVE
80 75795761 2463388 SHARON WEBER FASHION EYEWEAR TARR DEAD
81 75762671 2413774 GERRY WEBER TARR LIVE
82 75639886 WEBER ADVANTEDGE TARR DEAD
83 75607356 WEBER COMPUTER SYSTEMS TARR DEAD
84 75487516 2646037 WEBER WEBER BIOLOGISCHE ARZNEIMITTEL TARR LIVE
85 75121066 2143671 WEBER TARR DEAD
86 75487006 2443035 WEBER WEBER BIOLOGISCHE ARZNEIMITTEL TARR LIVE
87 75243618 2194811 WEBER TARR LIVE
88 75499769 WEBER & WILLIAMS COFFEE COMPANY TARR DEAD
89 75461719 SCHALLER & WEBER TARR DEAD
90 75438365 2315425 WEMCO TARR DEAD
91 75308891 2182205 COURT ONE BY GERRY WEBER TARR DEAD
92 75288307 CREAM O'WEBER TARR DEAD
93 75276790 THEWEBERS TARR DEAD
94 75276728 THEWEBERS.COM TARR DEAD
95 75114731 ACCUWEBBER TARR DEAD
96 75066667 2027283 WEBER'S FLORAL GIFTS TARR DEAD
97 75046864 CURTIS WEBER TARR DEAD
98 75046862 2218035 CURTIS WEBER TARR DEAD
99 75020970 2159290 W WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY UTAH 1889 TARR LIVE
100 75016302 WEBER TARR DEAD
101 74556673 1916577 SURF BOARDS BY DEWEY WEBER TARR LIVE
102 74628635 1982160 GERRY WEBER TARR LIVE
103 74715547 2054064 WEBER TARR LIVE
104 74383616 1830082 WEBER MARTIN W FINE ARTISTS' MATERIALS SINCE 1853 TARR LIVE
105 74327592 1789576 WEBER'S SUPERIOR OLD FASHIONED ROOT BEER SINCE 1933 TARR LIVE
106 74037206 1735215 WEBER TARR LIVE
107 74641969 1996558 WEBER TARR LIVE
108 74641966 1965349 WEBER TARR LIVE
109 74623220 2007054 W WEBER DISTRIBUTION THE STRONGEST LINK TARR DEAD
110 74622541 1942754 HEREDITARY HEMORRHAGIC TELANGIECTASIA OSLER WEBER RENDU SYNDROME TARR DEAD
111 74478391 1932578 WEBER PROTECTION TARR DEAD
112 74382108 1828671 WEBER'S PET SUPERMARKET TARR DEAD
113 74310622 WEBER TARR DEAD
114 74310621 WEBER TARR DEAD
115 74262599 1793043 SCHALLER & WEBER TARR LIVE
116 74234645 1756774 WEBER COSTELLO LEARNING BOARD TARR DEAD
117 74100723 1663408 WEBER TARR LIVE
118 73059349 1033225 WEBER TARR LIVE
119 73596617 1438490 WEBER-HYDRAULIK W TARR LIVE
120 73777123 1685066 WEBER TARR LIVE
121 73759500 1604355 W WEBER TARR DEAD
122 73750457 WEBER FLAMGO TARR DEAD
123 73713509 1581129 WEBER TARR DEAD
124 73686316 1489262 WEBER TARR DEAD
125 73681618 1484065 WEBER GRABBERS TARR DEAD
126 73652621 1467739 WEBER TARR LIVE
127 73625484 WEBER TARR DEAD
128 73621105 1464197 WEBER TARR LIVE
129 73608517 1449815 SUZY WEBER TARR DEAD
130 73519612 1351106 WEBER ON WHEELS TARR DEAD
131 73516958 1418016 WEBER W MARTIN FINE ARTISTS' MATERIALS SINCE 1853 A MARTIN INSTRUMENT COMPANY TARR DEAD
132 73475554 1355911 WEBER TARR LIVE
133 73425958 MICHAEL WEBER TARR DEAD
134 73410341 1321547 WEBER'S DISK-FILE SYSTEM TARR DEAD
135 73388464 WEBER STOR-A-FILE TARR DEAD
136 73334157 1270123 WEBER'S SUPER WHITE TARR DEAD
137 73295070 WEBER MARINE TARR DEAD
138 73266555 1176667 WEBER WEEDER TARR DEAD
139 73195982 1169482 SCHALLER & WEBER TARR LIVE
140 73104025 1098209 WOLF WEBER TARR DEAD
141 73036869 1057235 FAO SCHWARZ FIFTH AVENUE FRANZ CARL WEBER INTERNATIONAL TARR DEAD
142 71510692 0521717 WEBER'S TARR LIVE
143 71579956 0532140 WEBER TARR LIVE
144 72008078 0642408 WEBER'S TARR LIVE
145 72031221 0669675 A WEBER'S VARIETY BREAD TARR DEAD
146 72026220 0661926 WEBER TARR DEAD
147 72026218 0661017 WEBER TARR LIVE
148 72409994 0958081 WEBER TARR DEAD
149 72339446 0903682 WEBER TARR DEAD
150 72306561 0872631 NOW! BY WEBER TARR DEAD
151 72276779 0846908 WEBER TARR DEAD
152 72258306 0848215 MINNI BY WEBER TARR DEAD
153 72229425 0812871 WEBER ROYAL BANNER TARR DEAD
154 72213822 0803028 WEBER TARR DEAD
155 72210625 0811229 WEBER TARR LIVE
156 72187923 0785335 WEBER TARR DEAD
157 72154002 0755412 W WEBER TARR DEAD
158 72097431 0748851 MRS. WEBER'S TARR DEAD
159 72083815 0710999 FRANZ WEBER TARR DEAD
160 72053085 0676101 WEBER W TARR DEAD
161 72013491 0657544 WEBER W TARR DEAD
162 71557958 0537912 MRS. WEBER'S TARR DEAD
163 71544470 0513078 WEBER'S SUPERIOR TARR DEAD
164 71537110 0541642 WEBER TARR DEAD
165 71010420 0051459 WEBER TARR DEAD

WOW Chowder. You are the man!!! Thanks for that!!!

Hey, Chowder, are you an IP lawyer?

You can't copyright a word like "kettle", it would be the same as trying to copyright a word like 'grill' since they are both regular objects. However, you used "Weber" and "Kettle" in the same phrase so it's the same as using "Weber Grill".

You're out of your mind trying to pursue this, just delete and word "Weber" and you'll be fine. You can keep "kettle" though. When the dust settles, hide tags in the webpage.

1. You should assume that everything you see or read on the Site is copyrighted unless otherwise noted and may not be used except as provided in these Terms and Conditions or in the text on the Site without the written permission of Weber. Weber neither warrants nor represents that your use of materials displayed on the Site will not infringe rights of third parties not owned by or affiliated with Weber.

Click to expand...

High Cheese said:

You can't copyright a word like "kettle", it would be the same as trying to copyright a word like 'grill' since they are both regular objects. However, you used "Weber" and "Kettle" in the same phrase so it's the same as using "Weber Grill".

You're out of your mind trying to pursue this, just delete and word "Weber" and you'll be fine. You can keep "kettle" though. When the dust settles, hide tags in the webpage.

Click to expand...

I'm not "pursuing" this. Just trying to side step it. I'm not looking to battle weber. I just want to get to the edge of the line and stay there.

Already planning on getting rid of the Weber Kettle combo and set it to just Kettle.

But the Weber thing has me intrigued on a couple of levels. First, the fact that the word itself is trademarked but not by them and second that there is a good deal of court cases out there that protect the use of trademarked items as tags. The problem is there's also some court cases that do not protect that use. As someone said to me, the circuits are split on this...

just wondering, you don't get any $$ for those ads on your website?

Phiddlechik said:

just wondering, you don't get any $$ for those ads on your website?

Click to expand...

I got money from one of them - Saucehut. Now we just trade ads. The other I do receive money for...

>>IP lawyer
nope. my FIL headed the Patent Division of a large company for many years, my oldest is a lawyer, and then there's the [really long story] of being a expert witness where I became more schooled in the rudiments than I really wanted.

as you can research, neither "Weber" or "Weber Kettle" are trademarked words, numbers or phrases by that company. they do have logos trademarked - didn't see any Weber logos on your site, although I came to the party late.

the USPTO is not real cooperative on applications for trademarking words.
if it was so simple, every print and electronic media would be getting their butts sued off every time they reported on a coke dealer.

ps: trademarks and copyright are different animals.

Thanks Chowder. It seems that while the insurance company that owns Weber is only regional (maine I believe) so Weber sort of defacto owns the name everywhere else particularly in context of grilling.

And while weber kettle is not trademarked with the federal gubment, they own that too as they use it in commerce. Thus they own both.

So it seems I need to comply with them. Doesn't mean I have to like. And more importantly it doesn't mean they have to like it. Here's the plan. I will post on my website the letter I sent them asking for a grill for a charity BBQ as a prize as well as their response. And then, I will comb through my site and every single instance in which I mention their name I will put something like this, ""My BBQ, which is made by a manufacturer that rhymes with Schleber and bullied us into not using its name," with a link to the letter and the response from Ms. Misch.

So I comply with them but I also mock them at the same time. It's a lose lose for everyone!?!?!

there's no question their legal budget is probably bigger than yours.

huff&puff 'bulling' is not a new practice.
one does what one is comfortable doing.

frankly I think publishing their own malice would be quite effective.

here's an example where Weber-Stephens lost - look at the web site names...

http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/decisions/html/2000/d2000-0187.html
http://www.case.info/domain/weber1.html

/q
The domain names at issue in this proceeding are: WEBERGRILLS.COM, WEBERGRILL.COM, WEBER-GRILLS.COM, WEBER-GRILL.COM, WEBERGRILLSOURCE.COM, WEBERGRILLSTORE.COM, WEBERGRILLSHOWROOM.COM, WEBERGRILLS-AH.COM, WEBGRILLS.COM and WEB-GRILLS.COM. The Registrar is Network Solutions, Inc. of 505 Huntmar Park Drive, Herndon, Virginia 20170, U.S.A.
/uq

result:
/q
7. Decision
For the reasons set forth hereinabove, the Complaint is denied. The domain names shall remain registered to Respondent.
/uq
i.e. Weber-Stephens was not successful in their attempt to cease&desist that company.

in the ensuing civil litigation:
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/WeberStephen-Products-Co-Company-History.html
=====8<
Weber-Stephen sued a Chicago hardware store that had taken the Internet address www.webergrills .com in order to sell Weber grills. When it was clear that it would lose, Weber-Stephen withdrew the suit.
=====>8

GrillinFool said:

And more importantly it doesn't mean they have to like it. Here's the plan. I will post on my website the letter I sent them asking for a grill for a charity BBQ as a prize as well as their response. And then, I will comb through my site and every single instance in which I mention their name I will put something like this, ""My BBQ, which is made by a manufacturer that rhymes with Schleber and bullied us into not using its name," with a link to the letter and the response from Ms. Misch.

So I comply with them but I also mock them at the same time. It's a lose lose for everyone!?!?!

Click to expand...

Wow.

All that because a major corporation didn't do what you wanted them to do and you used their name inappropriately without consent.

Well, seems in the end it's still a 'Win' for Weber since they have your money. lol

Why didn't you just approach a local retailer and ask for the donation?

Phiddlechik said:

Why didn't you just approach a local retailer and ask for the donation?

Click to expand...

I emailed a few friends of mine and asked if they would be interested in doing the BBQ Competition. One of them has a friend that works at Weber who gave me the email address of the executive asst of the president of the company and told me to email them and say I'm doing a charity BBQ contest and that they will donate a grill. So I did. Prior to that I hadn't even thought about approaching anyone for prizes.

Since then we have approached a couple local places, or at least are about to. I have also contacted Charbroil since we have a relationship with them already (Guest chefs on a site they sponsor and we review their grills).

High Cheese said:

Wow.

All that because a major corporation didn't do what you wanted them to do and you used their name inappropriately without consent.

Well, seems in the end it's still a 'Win' for Weber since they have your money. lol

Click to expand...

I didn't really expect them to make a donation. I was just hoping. I figured that if we contacted them in five years and this thing was bigger we would've gotten something but wanted to get my foot in the door so to speak.

Also, I haven't used their name inappropriately. The link is in a tag cloud which they seem to not understand and there have been quite a few rulings in my favor on this but I can't afford the lawsuit to prove that.

And third, oh my friend this is not a win for Weber. The $130 they have of mine doesn't compare to the money they lost once I plastered the letter on message boards all over the internet. Particularly the local boards in St. Louis. I'm talking about people taking grills back and going back to the drawing board to figure out which grill to buy because they are pissed at weber. Lawyerly folks look at the letter and say, "what's the big deal?" Most of the rest of us look at that and say, "lawyers don't no jack about customer service."

GrillinFool said:

...I'm talking about people taking grills back and going back to the drawing board to figure out which grill to buy because they are pissed at weber....

Click to expand...

No offense, but I find it really difficult to believe that anyone would decide not to buy a Weber just because the company wouldn't donate to your charity event and instead demanded that you not use their name without permission. You seem to have blown this all out of proportion. Let it go.

FryBoy said:

No offense, but I find it really difficult to believe that anyone would decide not to buy a Weber just because the company wouldn't donate to your charity event and instead demanded that you not use their name without permission. You seem to have blown this all out of proportion. Let it go.

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You are entitled to your opinion about me blowing this out of proportion and I am entitled to disagree. And feel free to peruse this link and let me know which of these people are lying about returning or not buying anything from weber.

This has nothing to do with not donating. I didn't think they would but thought I would try anyway. It was a long shot worth taking a few minutes to send an email. It's about them seeing all the free advertising I have done for them for 2 years now and the many more years in which I have promoted them and being told to go to hell.

Someone summed it up on another board better than I could so I will quote them:

It has got to be chapping your hide and i feel for you GF. I've read you hyping their products and recommending them to new comers asking for suggestions over the past few years. Almost like a good friend just told you to pound salt!

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If you can understand that feeling, then either I, or the guy I quoted, haven't conveyed it properly. In which case we will just have to agree to disagree.