Bold laundry detergent?!!

[rolls_rapide]

Persil Powergems

They are a Unilever product.

They have apparently been designed and produced without water in the mixture.

None of the variants has any oxygen bleach in the formulations.

I haven't personally used them, but the folk who have, said that they tended to get stuck in the folds of the door seal.

They take a long time to dissolve.

Some others objected to the fragrance (too strong).

I consider them to be an exercise in design vanity; of form over function.

A Which? test seemed to show a better result though.

http://https//www.which.co.uk/news/2017/08/will-persil-powergems-leave-your-laundry-spotless/

 

[steve_b79]

The plot thickens...

P&G (finally) got back to me. Here is their response:

“Our team was able to look into this for you, Steve. We hate to be the bearer of bad news however, Bold is not being reintroduced in the US. We hope this information helps and if you have anymore questions please let us know...”

Obviously, I was not satisfied with their answer. If anything, it leaves more questions. Which I have responded to them with.

We shall see what happens…

 

[steve_b79]

And now, P&G is starting to honk me off....

Their response...

"We certainly understand your frustration, Steve. However, because this is not a U.S. product we don't have any further information. We may suggest reaching out to Big Lots for further help."

My response...

Unfortunately, I'm not buying that explanation, and here's why...

1: The phone number on the side of the package, is to your US detergent HQ (the Tide Helpline). If this were NOT a US product, there would be a different contact number on the side.

2: The product marketed overseas, is called "Bold 2 in 1". This one is simply marketed as "Bold", with no mention of a softener.

3: The UPC code is a US product code.

4: "Tropical Orchard" isn't even a scent marketed overseas. The closest in comparison to the UK version - which shares the same box image - is "Sparkling Bloom and Yellow Poppy".

This really isn't a case for Big Lots, as they wouldn't know anything about this. Someone higher up has to have an answer about this. If you cannot help me, who can?
*************************

And now, we wait.

 

[liamy1]

Persil...

Powergems,

@steveb.

They’re a relatively new product (amount 6 months old if memory serves).

You’re right, they come in a small(ish) bottle depending on load size (they do between 12 and 30 washes). They do look a bit like fish pellets :&, the closest thing they resemble in look and use of them is the Lenor/Downy unstoppables but a detergent, not a scent additive,

Unlike Rolls, I have used them (when they launched I bought 2 each of the bio and the non bio ones) but what he says is correct:

Even though they are positioned as a convenient product in a “dry” detergent format (the blissfully ignorant masses would assume it is a variant of powder detergent) unlike powders, they don’t contain oxygen bleach.

They do smell very nice, but as Rolls said, this can be offensive to some.

They are a NIGHTMARE to dissolve, quite often can be seen undissolved in the door boot/glass for most of the wash, but luckily unlike some reviews, I haven’t removed any clothes at the end of the wash with them undissolved on.

I actually used most of them on none laundry tasks, I used a bottle to line the bottom of the kitchen trash can under the trash bag, made the bin smell nice.

A lot went in the mop bucket to clean floors, this comfirmed just how long they take to dissolve.

The rest got binned, as they very easy to spill, and as I have a Chihuahua who will pick anything up he comes across, I couldn’t take the risk of him ingesting them (even though I clean them up immediately, he is quick).

So they’re ok, but I agree they strike me more of a fad, and whilst I could be wrong, I don’t think they’re going to last all that long. We already have powders, liquids, gels and pods so can’t see the need for a 5th variant. And despite the manufacturers best efforts, powder detergent is still the most popular selling format in the U.K.

As Rolls mentioned on another thread, Tesco (UKs biggest supermarket) was late to the party in stocking them and in his local Tesco they have just as quickly stopped selling them (I will check mine when I’m next in for curiosity).

 

[liamy1]

And

Hope you get somewhere with P&G, doesn’t instill much faith if the maker doesn’t know nada about their products,

 

[liamy1]

Oh just remembered,

We have powder tablets too (mainly off brands now though), so including the Powergems, that’s 6 formats of detergent.

We’ll see if the Powergems last.

 

[launderess]

Bringing This Back On Home

Answer supplied by P&G customer service is a reasonable one; if OP truly is dying to know more information about this product reach out to Big Lots and find out who is the importer. Big Lots or any other store selling this "Tropical Orchard" version of Bold obviously at this point probably know more than P&G customer service for USA.

Proctor and Gamble who normally spare no expense and or miss an opportunity to advertise or market a new product has nothing out there on this version of Bold. That alone should tell you something. At this point (no offence meant) am guessing person or persons at that P&G customer service department have a bad name for those responsible for putting their information on those packets of Bold.

Such persons can only supply information released to them; and it is quite apparent by now P&G either did not or will not be supplying.

Whoever purchased this detergent for Big Lots or whatever store must have a contact; that should be the focus of your attention IMHO.

In many companies today, especially large multi-national conglomerates information is provided and or can be accessed on a NTKB (Need To Know Basis). If one is in a division or department that has nothing to do with *something* often one cannot even access information on computer. That and or am blocked/locked out.

Back in the old days one could just make a telephone call to a friend or someone in another department and try to pick up the scent. That chain today has largely been broken by outsourcing, international deals/divisions and so forth.

However it the backstory on this product truly is keeping you up at night; you'll likely have to spend some of your own money and call P&G corporate headquarters and start working up a chain.

This Bold detergent didn't just materialize out of thin air; and no one in their right mind would attempt to "bootleg" and or otherwise infringe on P&G trademarks.

Have given links above to the trademark information; contact that company and see if they will give client information.

 

[launderess]

Furthermore

It might just very well be this Bold "Tropical Orchard" is some type of grey goods not unlike the various Asian varieties of Tide you see on eBay and elsewhere.

https://www.click2houston.com/news/is-discount-tide-as-effective-as-regular-tide

*If* P&G had a surplus of say that Bold powder lying about spare in UK or elsewhere, it wouldn't cost much to create a slightly altered package based upon original along with other minor changes, fill it with product then ship it abroad.

Fact that only discount and not high end or even other normal stores are selling this Bold tells one at least it isn't being marketed widely. But rather to a targeted distribution chain.

P&G already *dumps* old and or discontinued at certain warehouse/discount chains like Nationwide Warehouse. That is one outlet for "old stock" that is removed from store shelves but you never see say thrown away in rubbish. When P&G changed formulas for Cascade to remove phosphates a good amount of old store stock, stuff lying about in warehouses/distribution chains and so forth was sent to such discount type stores.

 

[liamy1]

And then...

I saw this last year where P&G was trying to say those same 5gal buckets were fake :;

Think it’s just to be expected that you’ll never get a straight answer from P&G.

 

[mrboilwash]

I think if it really was a counterfeit P&G would have responded differently, so we can rule that one out, but still it was a possible option out of many others.

As to "no one in their right mind would attempt to "bootleg" and or otherwise infringe on P&G trademarks" I wouldn`t say so.
Apparently some Asian countries seem to have a very relaxed perception of western patents and copyrights. For example perfectly faked Viagra has been found in European pharmacies. Wouldn`t you think no one in their right mind would attempt to infringe on Pfizer trademarks ?

Next thing we can pretty much rule out would be the UK as a country of origin. Europeans simply wouldn`t go so low to produce a heavy duty detergent that lacks of nonionic surfactants. They are important for keeping synthetic fibers immaculate. On the other hand you never know what they have in mind if a product is made for export only.

What I don`t understand at all is how can it be a P&G product being sold in the USA and P&G headquarter not knowing anything about it. What if someone suffers a serious allergic reaction from the product ? They couldn`t seriously send you to Biglots, could they ?
Shouldn`t at least poison control centers, the manufacturer and anyone else have access to MSDSs in every country where a product is possibly sold ?

 

[liberatordeluxe]

I used to like the fragrance of Bold2in1 in the 1990s. Smelt soapy but not over powering like some of the current ghastly perfumes.

 

[launderess]

To be fair

No one ever said P&G officially didn't know about this stuff; that was the response given by customer service/call center. What we also don't know is how far up the food chain the OP's request for information went before being kicked back.

For all we know the "team" may have gone no further than their own immediate superior who either couldn't find anything in system (or bits he/she has access to). This and or it is a bit of "why does this person want this information? tell him we don't know anything else and to push off...."*LOL*

Shall say it again, and mean it; obviously reaching out to "Tide customer service" is not going to produce results. P&G corporate headquarters is where people ought to go. Someone authorized creation of trademark for that "Bold" and the "Tropical Orchard" for a start.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Reply #107 ABC video

At 3:35 in that video, the P&G rep says: "We don't sell products in 5 gallon buckets, to the public."

In that case, the inference is that they must sell similar packages to commercial and professional customers!

Regarding Steve_b79's ongoing saga with P&G: It's possible that one arm of P&G hasn't a clue as to what the other arm is doing. And customer service desk personnel generally seem to be the last to know anything, in my experience.

As Launderess says, try further up the corporate chain.

From the Daily Mirror, 2007/updated 2012:

"In 2005 United Wholesale Grocers, one of Scotland's biggest cash-and-carry outlets, was fined £1,500 for supplying fake Bold washing powder.

The company, which bought the consignment for £12,000 in good faith, only discovered they had been duped when a customer complained the powder didn't wash clothes properly - and that the address of its makers Proctor & Gamble in Weybridge was spelt Waybridge."

http://https//www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fake-britain-459570

 

[steve_b79]

A LONG reply....

So...I got another response from P&G:

"..Thanks for following up, Steve. We did reach out to someone internally on our team and can confirm that we have not reintroduced this into the US market. There should be a production code imprinted onto the bottom of that box, if you could send that to us, it may help us look into this further..."

I've sent them the production code. Let's see what happens!

@ Laundress: That was an eye-opening link you posted, in regards to the Vietnamese Tide. Especially since one of our closeout stores was selling it for $19 a pail, and I almost purchased it. At the end, I went for Mexican Persil...haha.

@ Liamy1: I'm going to take a look at the video in a moment. This stuff always intrigues me.

@ Rolls: The fact that they spelled the town's name incorrectly is kind of funny. Almost makes me wonder if "Big Lots!" is selling bootlegged Bold...although, the UPC code did verify in their system...

 

[rolls_rapide]

The suspense is killing me...

I'm dying to find out what P&G's reply will be.

Someone, somewhere within P&G's structure must know something about it.

 

[liamy1]

The suspense is killing me....

Me too!!

I do find it really interesting that a company who prides themselves on their brands (used 4 billion times a day apparently) has no idea what’s going on with one of them.

Hopefully not too long to wait

@Rolls, I remember that box, as someone who was brought up on Bold (Grandmother and Mother swore by it), wonder if we ever had a bootleg :-D

 

[liamy1]

Oh and @Rolls

Yes, P&G do sell pails of detergent to professional customers (see link).

If memory serves, there’s a few videos on YT regarding it.

http://https//www.pgpro.com/brands/tide-professional/

 

[liamy1]

Here we are

A few below (more on there if anyone interested)

 

[rolls_rapide]

@liamy1

I don't know about Bold being a bootleg, but I have a vague memory of decades ago - maybe the 2000's - the news carried an article about a dodgy detergent being recalled.

I can't be certain that it was a Lever brand, but it seemed to be sold via Cash & Carry wholesalers. It wasn't Persil, Surf or Radion, but something else. I think it had the word 'Blue' in it.

Anyway, folk using it for handwashing articles in the sink, discovered it burned their hands. It turns out that the powder in the boxes was dishwasher detergent.

Whether it was a bootleg copy or a genuine production fault, I do not know.

 

[liamy1]

Could be...

Either, as unfortunately, I have seen of genuine products causing skin reactions on a large scale.

I remember Watchdog doing an anniversary episode of the one they did about when Fairy liquid lemon WUL being introduced and apparently was recalled due to some pretty heavy skin reactions in a large amount of people .