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Pirate Joe's - Canadian store being sued by Trader Joe's **** new update post 16****

31,436 2,810 May 4, 2013 at 06:17 AM
tl;dnr: Guy buys stuff at closest US TJ's store, then sells it in his 'Pirate Joe's' store in Vancouver. TJ's is Mad

Quote :
Hallett buys Trader Joe's products at the Bellingham store and resells them at his Vancouver store, which is appropriately named Pirate Joe's.

Without easy access to the real thing, Hallett learned many Canadians are more than happy to pay a little bit more for their favorite Trader Joe's food.

"Once you buy something, you can resell it," Hallett said. "It's free enterprise, it's how things work."

Hallett sees nothing wrong with his business model, but the higher-ups at Trader Joe's disagree. They recently slapped him with a federal lawsuit, claiming he's using false advertising, infringing on their copyright and injuring the company's reputation.

The company also claims one customer bought poorly handled frozen food from Pirate Joe's and got sick.
http://www.komonews.com/news/loca...45531.html
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Zoe Moon
Everything will be okay, in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end. Joined Jun 2006 Jambi-rific in Seattle!
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chevvy
05-04-2013 at 06:40 AM.
05-04-2013 at 06:40 AM.
Traders trade and pirates pirate. I don't see anything wrong with what this guy is doing.
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Zoe Moon
05-04-2013 at 06:57 AM.
05-04-2013 at 06:57 AM.
If you watch the video, his sign is in the same style as the TJ's sign. Also, another news link said he has an 'I heart Trader Joe's' sticker on the register and is using Trader Joe's recycled bags, which according to TJ's gives the impression that he's a TJ's authorized reseller. So TJ's might have a case on the false advertising and copyright infringement.
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Last edited by Zoe Moon May 4, 2013 at 07:18 AM.
Joined Dec 2007
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chevvy
05-04-2013 at 07:13 AM.
05-04-2013 at 07:13 AM.
Quote from Zoe Moon :
If you watch the video, his sign is in the same style as the TJ's sign. Also, another news link said he has an 'I heart Trader Joe's' sticker on the register and is using Trader Joe's recycled bags, which according to TJ"s gives the impression that he's a TJ's authorized reseller. So TJ's might have a case on the false advertising and copyright infringement.

bloody pirate! Pirate
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Joined Mar 2006
academic of funny trades
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kratzy
05-04-2013 at 08:46 AM.
05-04-2013 at 08:46 AM.
Quote from Zoe Moon :
If you watch the video, his sign is in the same style as the TJ's sign. Also, another news link said he has an 'I heart Trader Joe's' sticker on the register and is using Trader Joe's recycled bags, which according to TJ's gives the impression that he's a TJ's authorized reseller. So TJ's might have a case on the false advertising and copyright infringement.
nothing wrong with his business model of reselling products at a mark up. But TJ can certainly get him for trademark infringement (especially if his store, logo etc are deceptively similar to the look and feel of TJ).
Begs one question, why is TJ not opening a store in Canada?
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Dr. J
05-04-2013 at 10:33 AM.
05-04-2013 at 10:33 AM.
Quote from kratzy :
nothing wrong with his business model of reselling products at a mark up. But TJ can certainly get him for trademark infringement (especially if his store, logo etc are deceptively similar to the look and feel of TJ).
Begs one question, why is TJ not opening a store in Canada?

bingo.

he can resell all he wants (makes me wonder if he's paying customs duty on all that stuff?) but if his "trade dress" is similar enough to that of TJ's, they can sue.

He must be buying in bulk frequently - why can't they just refuse to sell to him?
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Joined Jan 2007
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tukwok
05-04-2013 at 10:35 AM.
05-04-2013 at 10:35 AM.
"The company also claims one customer bought poorly handled frozen food from Pirate Joe's and got sick.." Thanks to that idiot for help ruining it for everyone. Who knows the person might had been paid to food poison them self.

I wonder, PJ has to be selling other stuff but bought at wholesale as I don't see them profiting after overhead on whatever markup they buy retail + tax at TJ. If only TJ franchise [traderjoes.com].
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Zoe Moon
05-04-2013 at 11:55 AM.
05-04-2013 at 11:55 AM.
Quote from kratzy :
nothing wrong with his business model of reselling products at a mark up. But TJ can certainly get him for trademark infringement (especially if his store, logo etc are deceptively similar to the look and feel of TJ).
Begs one question, why is TJ not opening a store in Canada?
According to the video, TJ's is in the process of getting a Canadian trademark license.

Found a photo of the Pirate Joe's front window display. He actually has TJ's reusable bags as part of the display.




Quote from Dr. J :
bingo.

he can resell all he wants (makes me wonder if he's paying customs duty on all that stuff?) but if his "trade dress" is similar enough to that of TJ's, they can sue.

He must be buying in bulk frequently - why can't they just refuse to sell to him?
He said in the other video I watched, that he might have to start sending other people to buy the food.

Here's the link to the video.

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/shopkeeper-s...-1.1266429

Quote from tukwok :
"The company also claims one customer bought poorly handled frozen food from Pirate Joe's and got sick.." Thanks to that idiot for help ruining it for everyone. Who knows the person might had been paid to food poison them self.

I wonder, PJ has to be selling other stuff but bought at wholesale as I don't see them profiting after overhead on whatever markup they buy retail + tax at TJ. If only TJ franchise [traderjoes.com].
As far as the markup, he's paying retail then selling the items at a slightly higher price than TJ's does. It's a convince thing for the Canadians, so they don't have to cross the border to get their favorite TJ's foods and products. Evidently the groceries in Canada are more expensive than in the USA. There are tons of Canadians who drive over to Bellingham just to go to Costco and Trader Joe's.
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Joined Jan 2007
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tukwok
05-04-2013 at 12:33 PM.
05-04-2013 at 12:33 PM.
This on the heels of TJ being hit with a full-page ad urging it to stop selling meat with antibiotics as well as a lawsuit accusing it and Whole Foods of selling products with lead without proper warnings in CA. Scratchchin

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/20...m-candies/

http://www.latimes.com/business/m...6217.story
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Joined Jun 2006
Jambi-rific in Seattle!
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Zoe Moon
10-07-2013 at 02:08 PM.
10-07-2013 at 02:08 PM.
The little guy wins!

Quote :
U.S. district Judge Marsha Pechman dismissed the federal suit recently, ruling there was "no basis" for the suit since all the alleged infringements take place in Canada, and Trader Joe's cannot show economic harm.

There are almost 400 Trader Joe's locations, including 14 in Washington, but none in Canada.

Hallatt pays full-price for Trader Joe's products. He says he spent more than $350,000 buying food last year - generally at the Bellingham store - and he contends he's not affecting U.S. commerce at all.

Trader Joe's has the option to file a claim under state law against Hallatt within 10 days.
http://mynorthwest.com/646/236907...picks=true
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J03
10-07-2013 at 02:14 PM.
10-07-2013 at 02:14 PM.
Someone followed a topic to it's conclusion? Shocking
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FeedMeAlmonds
10-07-2013 at 02:16 PM.
10-07-2013 at 02:16 PM.
Quote from J03 :
Someone followed a topic to it's conclusion? Shocking
I expect an update on if TJ appeals.
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Joined Jun 2006
Jambi-rific in Seattle!
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Zoe Moon
10-07-2013 at 03:12 PM.
10-07-2013 at 03:12 PM.
Quote from J03 :
Someone followed a topic to it's conclusion? Shocking
laugh out loud Only by accident, thanks to google news being customizable. I have a column on there for MyNorthwest.com, to keep up with the local news stories and blogs, it was on there today.
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Joined Jun 2006
Jambi-rific in Seattle!
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Zoe Moon
10-07-2013 at 03:20 PM.
10-07-2013 at 03:20 PM.
Actually, I did think about it this weekend as we were in Vancouver for our anniversary. But then promptly forgot all about it by the time we got home.
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Joined Jun 2008
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marg_fan
10-08-2013 at 04:41 AM.
10-08-2013 at 04:41 AM.
Quote from Zoe Moon :
Actually, I did think about it this weekend as we were in Vancouver for our anniversary. But then promptly forgot all about it by the time we got home.
Forgot you were married? Woot

Oh wait. I'm too old for you. Sadwalk
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