I was kvetching here on the 13th about crap Kerr jars and lids. I said
I was going to call and complain.

I didn't call. I emailed early this afternoon. Here is part of my note
to them: "I have experienced at least five lid failures this summer as
I've been putting up my 400+ jars of "stuff." In other years, I *might*
have had one or two, maximum, lid faiures. Yes, I'm careful; yes, I
pretty much do know what I'm doing (see brag above).

I have run into two jars from two different cases that are less than
perfect. One has a bubble at the base, the other has what almost looks
like a spider web on it as embossing. I can send a photo if you'd like
to see it.

I have encountered more than three jars on which the Kerr embossed name
is barely visible and can barely be felt with fingertips.

What the heck is going on? Where are those jars made? (I can only
imagine your answer on that one.) What's with the crap that's getting
past the QC inspectors?"

I addressed my note to their BoD (I found an email address for it) and
to the VP of Marketing (I used three common email name formats hoping
one would be correct) named in the More Home Preservers thread begun
late this morning. In less than two hours I had a phone call ‹ Chris
Scherzinger (the marketing VP from the linked article) referred my mail
to someone else who she wishes to speak with me about my "issues" with
their product.

I was watching an IMAX movie with Rob and Chris when the call came so we
didn't talk. We'll either speak on the phone in the morning or I'll
duck the call and discuss it via email -- that way I'll know exactly
what she will have to say about it.

Stay tuned.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.mac.com/barbschaller, blahblahblog is back and
most recently updated last night, 8-17-2008. Fair entries are DONE!

On Aug 19, 6:26*pm, Melba's Jammin' >
wrote:
> I have encountered more than three jars on which the Kerr embossed name
> is barely visible and can barely be felt with fingertips.
<snip>

I've noticed that too with the last two boxes of half-pints. I like
Kerr jars and prefer them because of the lack of embossing on one side
to accommodate a label. I kind of like the nice, sharp embossing.
Ball had a reputation for using molds until they were no longer
useable in the early days. There is a guy on the fruit jar collectors
Yahoo! group that used to work for them and verifies that this is
true. Makes me wonder is quality control is asleep these days...

"Melba's Jammin'" > wrote in message
...
> I was kvetching here on the 13th about crap Kerr jars and lids. I said
> I was going to call and complain.
>
> I didn't call. I emailed early this afternoon. Here is part of my note
> to them: "I have experienced at least five lid failures this summer as
> I've been putting up my 400+ jars of "stuff." In other years, I *might*
> have had one or two, maximum, lid faiures. Yes, I'm careful; yes, I
> pretty much do know what I'm doing (see brag above).
>
> I have run into two jars from two different cases that are less than
> perfect. One has a bubble at the base,

Completely harmless, just gives the jar character. It should have been
rejected by the inspectors though.

the other has what almost looks
> like a spider web on it as embossing. I can send a photo if you'd like
> to see it.
>

Those are glass imperfections likely due to impurities in the glass.

Glassmaking uses cullet (old broken up glass) mixed with the sand
and such in the furnace, this allows the furnace temp to be lower to
get the melting process started. Cullet is made from recycled glass
and when people throw stuff like plate glass or old light bulbs into
their bottles going to the recycler, that glass introduces impurities
that can do this.

Here's a vid of how people who make glass jewelry deal with this:
http://www.tumbleweedglass.com/videos.html

This is just bad QC inspection on the jar manufacture.

> I have encountered more than three jars on which the Kerr embossed name
> is barely visible and can barely be felt with fingertips.
>
> What the heck is going on? Where are those jars made? (I can only
> imagine your answer on that one.) What's with the crap that's getting
> past the QC inspectors?"
>
> I addressed my note to their BoD (I found an email address for it) and
> to the VP of Marketing (I used three common email name formats hoping
> one would be correct) named in the More Home Preservers thread begun
> late this morning. In less than two hours I had a phone call < Chris
> Scherzinger (the marketing VP from the linked article) referred my mail
> to someone else who she wishes to speak with me about my "issues" with
> their product.
>
> I was watching an IMAX movie with Rob and Chris when the call came so we
> didn't talk. We'll either speak on the phone in the morning or I'll
> duck the call and discuss it via email -- that way I'll know exactly
> what she will have to say about it.
>

Try to do e-mail if at all possible.

Ted

"Ted Mittelstaedt" > wrote in message
...
>
> Try to do e-mail if at all possible.

Or tape the conversation.

>
> Ted
>
>