Krispy Kreme Sucks

2005-01-17T10:44:00.000-08:00

by the way, I'm not the only one that thinks they suck...
http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2005/01/10/daily35.html
http://www.scrappleface.com/MT/archives/001814.html
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/food/10652287.htm
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/05017/443578.stm
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04333/417852.stm
http://weblogs.asp.net/oldnewthing/archive/2004/02/11/71308.aspx
http://imsmarterthanyou.com/article.asp?Index=160
http://antimind.zhrodague.net/rants/krispykreme.html
http://agentorange.20fr.com/kkk.htm
http://www.wessalmon.com/000143.html
http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/fit/archives/000444.html
http://justblowme.com/showthread.php?t=10368
http://www.chrisomalley.net/2004_10_01_chriso_archive.html

Ms. Kotelniski,

Thank you very much for your quick response. Once again, I state that I know why you must work to protect your trademark and reiterate that (ESPECIALLY in Pennsylvania) you are going about it quite the wrong way. Any research in the area will show you that Pennsylvania are particularly loyal to other Pennsylvanians. I know that it is hard for the corporate mind to conceive, but the consumers in PA will not appreciate attacks on the establishments that are native to PA.

Though you have not "sued" Krispy Kream, the coverage the Pittsburgh Post Gazette has provided to the issue has shown that the little guy is clearly being pushed around.
Let me pull a moment in the article to help you see that you aren't looking too good, "Chrissy Hoover worries that she would have to stop sponsoring two T-ball teams, and stop advertising their weekly specials in the newspaper."How very sad.

Sometimes fighting a fight on legal grounds that hurts the local community for the "profit" of the huge corporation, does much more damage to the corporation than coming up with a solution that finds middle ground.

It seems that Krispy Kreme would best serve their interests in both the community and the Western PA market by coming up with a solution that is less harsh.

You know they did not steal your name. And you know that it is a different enough business and spelling that it is not going to take away from your business or profits as is, it's the fight that is making the effect. And even if you win legally you lose financially and in the eyes of the consumers you are so afraid of losing.

That's why I really feel that you've lost touch. Or maybe it's simply a connection you are incapable of making with Western Pennsylvanians.The local ice cream shop is a special part of Pennsylvania. It means more than a purchase or a profit. It is a meeting place for families on hot summer nights. A place where mom and dads by junior and sis their first ice cream pop. A place where teenagers go to hang out and not turn to crimes. It sounds stupid to you, but families have been going to that ice cream shop for generations.

How long have you been in Pennsylvania? Who goes to your donut shop? Do you know? I bet the Hoovers could name a lot of their customers, can you name any of yours (Other than from your mailing lists)?

Unfortunately for Krispy Kreme, Western Pennsylvanians have left the area and though I'm not a consumer in the area any longer, here I am in Dayton, Oh, with a very tainted very of the policies of your company.Will I buy another donut from the Krispy Kreme in Dayton? Not as things stand now. I'd love for others to follow suit until you find a reasonable solution.

This "cease and desist" within 5 years is a joke.You say that Krispy Kreme simply "respectfully requested in writing" as if you have completely lost touch with what a request like that would stir in the owners of a mom and pop, who, once again, did not steal anything from you. All you are creating by your actions is a large amount of sympathy for the owners of the Krispy Kream ice cream stand.

Again, I understand that it is important for you not to stand on your rights and I understand that there is a huge problem with letting someone get away with using your trademark. And putting aside the fact that they are not really infringing on your right, if you wanted to solve this problem in another way, there are a thousand other suitable ways that you could handle this situation. You just aren't looking good here.

You can try and pacify me with "we certainly understand your point of view" comments, but that doesn't make you look any better. So what's so great about protecting a tainted trademark?You still have a chance to rectify the situation, but how many T-ball teams do you sponsor in Cambria County? Could you locate the county on a map?

You company is hyper sensitive and over-reactive. Protecting a right does not mean crushing someone. I simply cannot understand how any company could so open itself up to such bad press, press bad enough for a resident of another state more than 6 hours away from the issue to write not one but two letters addressing the situation.

There are better solutions that don't make you look the way you do now. Reconsidering and taking a less harsh approach might endear you to the consumers in PA who are all aware of your legal rights and responsibilities to protect your trademarks on "all fronts." Are you saying you don't care how you look? Again, what's so important about protecting a trademark if you taint it?

It is not that I do not understand you position, more that I don't understand the force in which you are applying it. You think it is nothing meanwhile there's a mom and pop store who's owners are experiencing undue stress. It's nothing for your giant corporation with your team of lawyers to write a little letter, but you do not understand the full force of it's impact.

Just stop and think how much time it is taking for me to write this letter. Can you not see the negative effects that your actions are having? It may be easy for you to sleep at night, maybe you don't think the business you get in PA is worth keeping, it's been factored in and can be factored out, but is what you are doing so very worth it?

"Cease and desist within 5 years", easy for you to send then for the little mom and pop store to comply. They aren't doing anything wrong. You are making such a big deal out of people who are trying to live the American dream. I never knew Vernon Rudolph. He died years before I was born. Maybe he was different than your website portrays him, but do you think your current actions reflect what he would have wanted?

I will continue to check the Post Gazette for updates on the issue and will gladly change my view on your company if you find a heart and learn that communities are important and so are community businesses and that flexing your goliath corporate muscles against a david mom and pop, American Dream living business is worse for your image than finding an solution that would endear you to the public.

Thanks again for your very prompt, very corporate response.
Sincerely,
Marianne E. Graham

= = = Original message = = =
Dear Ms. Graham,
We appreciate your recent E-mail.
Unfortunately, this business is violating our federally registered trademark...a trademark we have had for more than 50 years. We have not sued Krispy Kream, but rather have respectfully requested in writing that they ceaseusing this trademark within a reasonable time.
While we certainly understand your point of view, like many other companies,our trademark is our brand and we have to protect it on all fronts.
Again, we appreciate your E-mail.
Best regards,Jennifer KotelniskiKrispy Kreme Customer Experiencehttp://www.krispykreme.com/
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