Is Trader Joe's that much better than anything else Canada has to offer?
With regards to specialty foods that aren't available in big chain grocery stores, Marilu's Market in Burlington, Ontario is a close comparison to Trader Joe's.
Pirate Joe’s, Maverick Distributor of Trader Joe’s Products, Shuts Down
91–100 of 283 posts
Re: Pirate Joe’s, Maverick Distributor of Trader Joe’s Products, Shuts Down
#92Earlier quoted context omitted.
Except he didn't. It was always clear what he was doing. This is pretty straightforward legal bullying, in my opinion.
The guy clearly tried to position himself as a pseudo-Trader Joe's though. He called it Pirate Joes and only sold products from Trader Joe's. It seems like everyone thought of it as a kind of Trader Joe's. Even though copyright infringement might not have been his intent, intent doesn't matter. That said, this does look like egregious legal bullying even if the case holds water. IANAL
> It seems like everyone thought of it as a kind of Trader Joe's.
FWIW, I live 4 blocks from Pirate Joes and can tell you that no-one thought of it "as a kind of Trader Joe's".
Okay, maybe there are a few uninformed people but it's still a very long way from "everyone".
Re: Pirate Joe’s, Maverick Distributor of Trader Joe’s Products, Shuts Down
#93He could have started to make his own products in this time, and slowly replacing the Trader Joe's ones with his own.
Right now he would simply stop buying the other products while having his own brand.
Re: Pirate Joe’s, Maverick Distributor of Trader Joe’s Products, Shuts Down
#94There's protecting your brand, and then there's whatever the heck it is Trader Joe's did here, which seems senseless and malevolent.
Aldi Nord (owner of TJ) has done such an incredibly poor job of expanding the Trader Joe's brand outside of the USA. For example, all you get in their German stores are some random crappy products with the TJ label. It makes so little sense to go after this tiny company when you're not even competing in Canada. Which they probably should! I'm sure there's demand in cities like Toronto for the actual unique products t…
Especially when you can reap all the benefits of increased sales without having to pay for real estate or employees. Seems they're cutting off their nose to spite their face.
Re: Pirate Joe’s, Maverick Distributor of Trader Joe’s Products, Shuts Down
#95Let's review one of the court documents because it has a very important detail. https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2016/08/26/1...
> Defendant Michael Norman Hallatt purchased Trader Joe’s-branded goods in Washington State, transported them to Canada, and resold them there in a store he designed to mimic a Trader Joe’s store. Trader Joe’s sued under the Lanham Act and Washington law.
Repeated later:
> It is uncontested that Defendant Michael Norman Hallatt purchases Trader Joe’s-branded goods in Washington state, transports them to Canada, and resells them there in a store he designed to mimic a Trader Joe’s store.
Emphasis mine and it's a big deal. Trader Joe's would have had a hell of a time bringing a suit if it would be called Hallat's Little Shack and would look like any random grocery store.
Re: Pirate Joe’s, Maverick Distributor of Trader Joe’s Products, Shuts Down
#96Trader Joes doesn't have a goddamn peg-leg to stand on in this dispute. If Trader Joes had made any indication whatsoever they were seeking to satisfy the clearly substantial demand for their products in Vancouver I might better be able to see their side of the story, but they have done absolutely nothing to expand into what would be ludicrously lucrative market. I know multiple people who have sent bloody hand-writt…
Yeah, I just don't understand capitalists that actively fight against capitalizing on clear opportunities. I would have just opened a store down the street or something.
Re: Pirate Joe’s, Maverick Distributor of Trader Joe’s Products, Shuts Down
#97That's too bad. I loved it when they took the "P" out of their sine after Trader Joe's sued them! ("Irate Joe's")
Re: Pirate Joe’s, Maverick Distributor of Trader Joe’s Products, Shuts Down
#98Earlier quoted context omitted.
It seems pretty clear that they have no right to prohibit reselling. He was being sued on trademark grounds. Personally, I think it is likely he would have won, but he could not afford the legal costs to fight it. He never really made money on the project.
He had already won the first round in court. He didn't run out of money until the first appeal.
He won an early motion to dismiss. When that dismissal was overturned, it meant that it was going to go to trial. That was what he could not afford.
Re: Pirate Joe’s, Maverick Distributor of Trader Joe’s Products, Shuts Down
#99Earlier quoted context omitted.
A lot of people are using the "I bought chips at Costco and resold them at a concession stand example". This is at least a little different. Say you owned Captainmuon Grocery and only sold private label Captainmuon Chips. Although demand is so high you could distribute your Chips to other groceries and retailers, you see greater value in driving traffic to your store through the exclusive distribution. Don't you have…
> Don't you have a legal right to create exclusive distribution of your consumable product? Not a lawyer but, I'm not sure you do have that right. I know this isn't a copyright issue, but couldn't the same logic of the First Sale Doctrine apply? As a consumer, once I purchase something, it becomes mine and I may do with it as I wish, including reselling it, yes?
You have the right by default, but you are allowed to contract the right away (under many circumstances, but probably not all). But lol at Trader Joes trying to you to sign a contract at checkout.