Like Roulette, spinning my spice rack has become a game of chance. I wrote Olde Thompson, the manufacturers, to see if they had any ideas for improving the odds of success…
Dear Makers of the Other Olde Spice:
I recently started cooking. My biggest fear is that whatever I make could put me at risk of food poisoning. So I purchased your Olde Thompson 16 Jar Orbit Spice Rack. I figure if I whip up something that results in abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea and possibly vomiting, at least it will taste good if it’s all spiced up while entering my digestive tract, even if exiting it won’t be as enjoyable.
Your variety of spices is terrific, although I have a psychological problem with Sage. In my mind, Sage looks like mold spores that could be growing behind wet drywall or underneath a leaky air conditioning compressor, so I try to avoid using it.
The reason I’m writing is to inform you about some spices now on my rack called Ba l, hyme and Italia soning. At one time, they were known as Basil, Thyme and Italian Seasoning. Whatever you’re using to print names on the caps doesn’t seem to be worth its salt. Rather than reaching for specific spices on my rack, I’m concerned that I will soon be racking my brains to figure out which spice is which after the letters are all gone. Of course, I’ll always be able to spot the Sage.
Variety is the spice of life, but if you can’t tell which variety the spice is, what kind of life can you have as a chef?
A Customer Service Representative responded with:
I received your letter and concern for the spice jars you have. We value you as our customer and wish to provide you with the best in products and customer satisfaction. I have enclosed some replacements for you in hopes that you may enjoy them. Sorry to learn that the names are fading off the jars themselves. If I can be of further assistance please contact me direct below.
Please call (phone number followed) or email us at (email address followed) and I would be happy to assist you further. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Final Thoughts: It’s been a couple of months since sending Olde Thompson my comments. Currently, the Ba l (Basil) and hyme (Thyme) caps have no letters left and shall remain nameless. Italia soning is hanging in there at talia oning. Savory is now fondly known as ory, and when a recipe calls for Oregano, a pinch of ega seems to work just fine.
Olde Thompson did many things right in their response. They apologized. They provided direct contact information for further assistance. They generously enclosed 6 replacement jars filled with spices, including Basil, Thyme and Italian Seasoning, plus 3 that weren’t on the original rack: Black Pepper, Garlic Salt and Steak Seasoning. What Olde Thompson didn’t do is serve up a solution. Are they going to send replacement jars every time a name starts to vanish so soon after purchase? Wouldn’t it make more sense to print up spice names on peel off labels that don’t rub off, which can be applied to the sides of caps or jars?
If you enjoy playing “Name that Spice” while cooking, try the tasty spices from Olde Thompson. However, if you purchase a product that has you spinning your wheels and calling it all sorts of names, then it’s time to Write The Company.
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