On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 01:51:58 GMT, Ourania Zabuhu >
wrote:

>We can find "weight loss tea" all over the place in the U.S.,
>Mike. Do you know anyone who has ever lost weight by drinking
>that stuff? :-)

Ourania, those who have met mw will tell you that I am a very large
man and I drink an awful lot of puerh. If it promotes weight loss you
sure cant tell it by me. But exaggerating marketing claims, yes they
are everywhere, is NOT what I am talking about.

I am talking about being able to trust that the brand is authentic and
the product is, in substance, what it is claimed to be. In other words
that if I buy Kraft Macaroni and cheese I don't expect to get Acme
brand macaroni and cheese or maybe even rice and cheese. I am not
talking about some silly marketing jingle or exaggerated claims but
blatant lying. Taking a product made by factory X and putting a forged
factory Y label on it. Or saying it is macaroni when really it is
rice. I have traveled in 14 different countries and this behavior is
clearly wrong in any culture I have ever seen. I have conversed with
many Chinese businessmen and they readily agree it is wrong and that
it is a major problem in China right now.

Yes, marketing BS frustrates me just as much as the next guy. However,
it is a very different set of ethics that says it is OK to flat out
lie about the very ingredients and even the manufacturers name. It is
a very different set of ethics that says it is OK to blatantly copy,
down to the smallest detail including the logo, any product at will
and then sell it as if it were real. That is something you should be
able to "trust" in any culture. Most countries call that copyright
and/or trademark infringement and it is WRONG no matter where you
live!

That's what "I" mean by business ethics.....

Mike Petro
http://www.pu-erh.net