Forced arbitration hidden inside packaging: Difference between revisions

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{{MergeRequest|Article is placed on the transcript link of the video directory.

Merge with the [[Vital Proteins sells products with terms and conditions inside the container]] incident page}}

==Background: arbitration and lead-contaminated products==

[[File:Screenshot of Mastodon Post.png|thumb|Screenshot of Mastodon post recording the incident.]]

[[File:Screenshot of Mastodon Post.png|thumb|Screenshot of the Mastodon post recording the incident. ]]

This article ~~focus~~ on ~~business practices of manufacturers and retailers and an instance~~ of "shrinkwrap arbitration"—specifically [[Vital Proteins]], a collagen supplement provider and [[Costco]], a wholesale store. In 2018, Vital Proteins filed for settlement in the Superior Court of the State of California over lead and cadmium in their products.<ref>Superior Court of the State of California County of Alameda, Stipulated Consent Judgement, Environmental Research Center Inc. vs. Vital Proteins, LLC and DOES 1-100. Case RG18905420.

This article focuses on hidden forced arbitration (a practice wherein the terms of service are shown only after opening the package), dubbed "shrinkwrap arbitration"—specifically by [[Vital Proteins]], a collagen supplement provider and [[Costco]], a wholesale store. The company has a history of anti-consumer practices.

In 2018, Vital Proteins filed for settlement in the Superior Court of the State of California over lead and cadmium in their products.<ref>Superior Court of the State of California County of Alameda, Stipulated Consent Judgement, Environmental Research Center Inc. vs. Vital Proteins, LLC and DOES 1-100. Case RG18905420.

https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/prop65/settlements/2017-02480S6659.pdf</ref> No demonstrably safe threshold for lead exposure has been identified.<ref>Vorvolakos T, Arseniou S, Samakouri M. There is no safe threshold for lead exposure: Α literature review. Psychiatriki. 2016 Jul-Sep;27(3):204-214. doi: 10.22365/jpsych.2016.273.204. PMID: 27837574. </ref>

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==Incident of note==

As reported by [email protected],<ref>Wraithe, Mastodon Post, August 31, 2024 https://mastodon.social/@Wraithe/113058482791600044 </ref> with photograph, a collagen container purchased from Costco had a arbitration agreement on the inside, visible only after the user opened the product.<blockquote>''READ THIS: By opening and using this product, you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions, fully set forth at vitalproteins.com/tc, which include a mandatory arbitration agreement. If you do not agree to be bound, please return this product immediately.'' </blockquote>A preceding report on Vital Proteins Collagen documented on Reddit in January 2023<ref>default_username20 "Vital Proteins Return for binding Arbitration Agreement label?", Reddit Post, January 8, 2023. https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/106iin4/vital_proteins_return_for_binding_arbitration/?rdt=42766</ref>.

As reported by [email protected],<ref>Wraithe, Mastodon Post, August 31, 2024 https://mastodon.social/@Wraithe/113058482791600044 </ref> with photograph, a collagen container purchased from Costco had a arbitration agreement on the inside, visible only after the user opened the product, and written in an unconventional way, with the text being written in a circle rather than a simple paragraph. The text is as follows:<blockquote>''READ THIS: By opening and using this product, you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions, fully set forth at vitalproteins.com/tc, which include a mandatory arbitration agreement. If you do not agree to be bound, please return this product immediately.'' </blockquote>A preceding report on Vital Proteins Collagen was documented on Reddit in January 2023.<ref>default_username20 "Vital Proteins Return for binding Arbitration Agreement label?", Reddit Post, January 8, 2023. https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/106iin4/vital_proteins_return_for_binding_arbitration/?rdt=42766</ref>

==References==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{MergeRequest|Article is placed on the transcript link of the video directory.
+Merge with the [[Vital Proteins sells products with terms and conditions inside the container]] incident page}}
 ==Background: arbitration and lead-contaminated products==
-[[File:Screenshot of Mastodon Post.png|thumb|Screenshot of Mastodon post recording the incident.]]
+[[File:Screenshot of Mastodon Post.png|thumb|Screenshot of the Mastodon post recording the incident. ]]
-This article focus on business practices of manufacturers and retailers and an instance of "shrinkwrap arbitration"—specifically [[Vital Proteins]], a collagen supplement provider and [[Costco]], a wholesale store. In 2018, Vital Proteins filed for settlement in the Superior Court of the State of California over lead and cadmium in their products.<ref>Superior Court of the State of California County of Alameda, Stipulated Consent Judgement, Environmental Research Center Inc. vs. Vital Proteins, LLC and DOES 1-100. Case RG18905420.
+This article focuses on hidden forced arbitration (a practice wherein the terms of service are shown only after opening the package), dubbed "shrinkwrap arbitration"—specifically by [[Vital Proteins]], a collagen supplement provider and [[Costco]], a wholesale store. The company has a history of anti-consumer practices.
+In 2018, Vital Proteins filed for settlement in the Superior Court of the State of California over lead and cadmium in their products.<ref>Superior Court of the State of California County of Alameda, Stipulated Consent Judgement, Environmental Research Center Inc. vs. Vital Proteins, LLC and DOES 1-100. Case RG18905420.
 https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/prop65/settlements/2017-02480S6659.pdf</ref> No demonstrably safe threshold for lead exposure has been identified.<ref>Vorvolakos T, Arseniou S, Samakouri M. There is no safe threshold for lead exposure: Α literature review. Psychiatriki. 2016 Jul-Sep;27(3):204-214. doi: 10.22365/jpsych.2016.273.204. PMID: 27837574. </ref>
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 ==Incident of note==
-As reported by [email protected],<ref>Wraithe, Mastodon Post, August 31, 2024 https://mastodon.social/@Wraithe/113058482791600044 </ref> with photograph, a collagen container purchased from Costco had a arbitration agreement on the inside, visible only after the user opened the product.<blockquote>''READ THIS: By opening and using this product, you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions, fully set forth at vitalproteins.com/tc, which include a mandatory arbitration agreement. If you do not agree to be bound, please return this product immediately.'' </blockquote>A preceding report on Vital Proteins Collagen documented on Reddit in January 2023<ref>default_username20 "Vital Proteins Return for binding Arbitration Agreement label?", Reddit Post, January 8, 2023. https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/106iin4/vital_proteins_return_for_binding_arbitration/?rdt=42766</ref>.
+As reported by [email protected],<ref>Wraithe, Mastodon Post, August 31, 2024 https://mastodon.social/@Wraithe/113058482791600044 </ref> with photograph, a collagen container purchased from Costco had a arbitration agreement on the inside, visible only after the user opened the product, and written in an  unconventional way, with the text being written in a circle rather than a simple paragraph. The text is as follows:<blockquote>''READ THIS: By opening and using this product, you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions, fully set forth at vitalproteins.com/tc, which include a mandatory arbitration agreement. If you do not agree to be bound, please return this product immediately.'' </blockquote>A preceding report on Vital Proteins Collagen was documented on Reddit in January 2023.<ref>default_username20 "Vital Proteins Return for binding Arbitration Agreement label?", Reddit Post, January 8, 2023. https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/106iin4/vital_proteins_return_for_binding_arbitration/?rdt=42766</ref>
 ==References==