Living Tree Products-questionable

[Dimond]

I was speaking with a local company that use to sell Living Tree products & when I asked about their almond butter, I was told that they refuse to work with them anymore because they are a dishonest company. She said they don't make their own products, but repackage other companies products yet say it's theirs. They had many problems with them and said even their own employees ended up quitting. Regardless of whether this is true or not, I felt I should pass along this info. She highly recommended Rejuvenative & even other companies. She further said that she doesn't like saying anything negative about other companies, but has heard too many other similar stories not to say something.

[Sheryl]

I deal with that company on a personally and find them to be excellent. And my employee basically just quit, but because her family life was too busy (she loved working here). I've also seen Living Tree sharing their products at many small raw venues and interacted personally with them. And many companies repackage products. There are many sides to each story.


Regardless of whether this is true or not I felt I should pass along this info.

I know you mean well, but is it fair to comment on something you don't have direct experience with?

Cheers,
Sheryl

[greeninlosangeles]

I think it is great that you posted, because now people who buy their products might do their own research and decide for themselves to keep buying their products or not. Thanks!

[Dimond]

I know you mean well, but is it fair to comment on something you don't have direct experience with? Yes, as I get so much great information for this forum and I felt I should pass this along. There is a lot I refrain from saying about many companies because I don't feel it's necessary. In this case it was from someone that was trying to help me out and didn't have a hidden agenda. I also wanted to give others a chance to jump in with anything positive or negative.


I think it is great that you posted, because now people who buy their products might do their own research and decide for themselves to keep buying their products or not. Thanks! Exactly.

[Sharon in Colorado]

She said they don't make their own products, but repackage other companies products yet say it's theirs.



This is a common practice and not really dishonest. Trader Joe's does this as well as Whole Foods just like many grocery stores - they use their label on a product that was manufactured elsewhere.

I wonder if you should try e-mailing Living Tree and getting back to this thread with a follow-up to avoid any misinformation being passed along.

[Vegan Diva]

That is common practice with some companies. In order to be able to sell another companies products the company interested in reselling them has to enter a reseller partner agreement and sign a reseller contract (if I remember correctly.)

I was approached about doing this with the products I create (skin & hair care) but I decided against it.

[Conscious Midwife]

The fact that you are uncertain of the truth may be reason enough to refrain from making comments in a public international forum about an internationally recognized commercial entity.

Usually repackage items will state made and produce in ____ for ____
which is not dishonest.

Imagine where all of your cars parts have come from. Does made in America ( by the way with foreign parts) seem dishonest?!?! Maybe , maybe not.

Just a word of caution when it comes to putting others on Blast, even when it is well intended.


:cool: my unsolicited 2cents :confused:

[Lay-Lay]

I used wholesale and many times are clients would repackage are items. They didn't want other companies calling us and set up next door selling the samething. Who can blame them. There are many reasons for repackaging, but most reasons are legitimate business practice.

From what you said, this is gossip. How do you know she had nothing to gain from telling you this information. She didn't have their products in stock and maybe she didn't want you going somewhere else to shop. Spreading gossip only hurts and NEVER helps.

Be sure to always make sure that you check your source when making statements that could potentially harm someone or a company.

[Dimond]

This thread wasn't just about them repackaging. She actually did recommend I go elsewhere to buy, rather than through them. That was just one of the things that showed integrity about this person/company and why I posted this. My intention was to warn others that there has been many problems this client had as well as others she had spoken with, just like other threads have done for similar companies. If no one is understanding the concept of this thread, a moderator is free to delete or close it. Also, the responses to this thread don't make me want to inform others in the future, despite the fact that I could be helping others. This isn't about me. The point was for people to respond with their experiences good & bad so we can make an informed decision on whether we want to use this company. I would have loved to see responses saying that they've had only positive experiences and love their products.

[Sharon in Colorado]

GG - What do you think about contacting the company yourself and present the issues you've heard about them? There may be another side to it.

I believe there is going to be some kind of issue with any company, good and bad. Most companies like this one are going to be reputable, but of course someone will always have a problem. Doesn't make that company always bad to deal with. It is best to get the whole story, and I'm sure they will give more information for you to go on.

I just think they deserve to defend themselves against an allegation that may not be true.

[Lay-Lay]

I don't think anyone was trying to slam you. It is just that this story is coming from a third party. I agree with Sharon, call the company and get their side. This would be beneficial to have both sides.

Everyone welcomes your post. We all have to watch our facts when talking about other people or companies on a world wide site, not just you.

I have always been in business for myself. It is impossible to please everyone all the time.

Much raw love-keep on posting-no hard feelings, ok?

[Linda1970]

GG,

I feel so bad for you. Gosh. You have all the good intention, and I can totally understand why you are a bit upset.

To tell you guys the truth, I'm kind of scared of voicing my opinion after seeing the responses to the thread, but I will anyways. I didn't have good experience with the company. ok. I'll just stop there for now.

[Linda1970]

Oh, I forgot to say, GG, thank you for this thread. My experience with the company was a few months ago. However, I didn't make any comments about them because I thought it was just me, since most of the raw books I've read list this company under their resources section. This thread makes me feel a bit better that it isn't just me.

[Sharon in Colorado]

To tell you guys the truth, I'm kind of scared of voicing my opinion after seeing the responses to the thread

Maybe you can share the responses that scared you Linda. I certainly had no intention of frightening anyone, and I hope no one else did. I'm sorry if anything I said scared you or GG.

[Sheryl]

Hi all,

I emailed the company and have posted their response below. Personally I love their products, and know others like Doug Graham use them too. I do understand though that even the best companies can have bad customer service experiences and hope you may give them another chance. I love how they manufacture their products and trust that they are raw.


Dear Sheryl

If I may, I would like to say a few words about our work at Living Tree
Community Foods. We manufacture organic nut butters including almond butter,
cashew butter, and tahini here in Berkeley, California. Some of our products
are original creations like our black sesame tahini which we introduced at
the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim,California in March 2003. Other unique
products include our Desiree Black Sesame Pesto,our Heart n'Sol Walnut Pesto
and our Dream of Paradise, chocolate ecstasy. We are constantly innovating
and bringing out new products.We have been established for 25 years.

We take pleasure in supporting family farmers especially almond growers in
the Central Valley in California. We are part of the movement toward live
food and support leading live food teachers and master chefs. We have
attended the International Raw Food Expo in Oregon and Rawstock in
California by way of meeting our public firsthand.

We are an ethical business and we treat our employees and customers with
kindness and respect. We encourage our customers to form food coops and
buying clubs and actively support them. We also support the Buffalo Field
Campaign to protect the last surviving herd of wild buffalo in Yellowstone
National Park and the Restore Hetch Hetchy campaign to restore Hetch Hetchy
Valley in Yosemite National Park.

For more information about the breadth of our work may I encourage you to
visit our website www.livingtreecommunity.com

With kindness and appreciation,

Jesse Schwartz,Ph.D
President
Living Tree Community Foods
510 526 7106 ext.12
510 526 9516 fax
jesse@livingtreecommunity.com
http://www.livingtreecommunity.com

[Dimond]

Oh, I forgot to say, GG, thank you for this thread. My experience with the company was a few months ago. However, I didn't make any comments about them because I thought it was just me, since most of the raw books I've read list this company under their resources section. This thread makes me feel a bit better that it isn't just me. Your welcome and thanks for your responses.
:)

[Linda1970]

Maybe you can share the responses that scared you Linda. I certainly had no intention of frightening anyone, and I hope no one else did. I'm sorry if anything I said scared you or GG.

Awww, that's so sweet of you to post this, Sharon. Thank you. :o It wasn't your posts on this thread that scared me. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.