Cookware company Le Creuset apologized Monday to attendees of its Factory to Table sale in Hartford over the weekend after Mystery Box contents and its ticket-sale platform “fell short.”
“We want to take a moment to address our recent factory to table Hartford event,” the cookware company said in an Instagram story. “First and foremost, we owe you an apology. We are a brand rooted in 100 years of hospitality, and we fell short when the ticketing platform and Mystery Boxes did not live up to expectations for all FTT guests. We’re truly sorry for the disappointment in not achieving the standards expected at our events.”
For starters, tickets sold out in minutes, with social media posters reporting tickets that got snapped up even as they were inputting their credit card numbers. Once inside, visitors received the tantalizing “mystery boxes,” cartons chock full of Creuset overstock goodies that are a main draw to the periodic events held around the country. At Hartford’s event over the weekend, Le Creuset fans said most of the boxes could only be described as “stingy.”
After snagging their hefty carton, recipients typically head to the parking lot to film themselves unboxing the goods, gleefully extracting what used to be an abundance of treasures, then posting the videos on TikTok.
This time, numerous recipients were dismayed to find just one or two items rather than the usual 7-12, with some boxes lacking one of Le Creuset’s signature enameled cast-iron pots, kettles or pans. One person reported getting just fondue sticks and one other item, but no fondue pot. An observer saw people pulling out reams of paper that seemed to overwhelm what was actually packed in it; another noted that the boxes themselves were smaller than at prior events. Posts abounded about a “blue spatula” that seemed to turn up in numerous boxes — along with not much else.
Many people were extremely happy with their boxes and the event, and it was no Willy Wonka in Glasgow, or Bridgerton Ball in Detroit, or kids-party level Harry Potter in Montreal.
Le Creuset noted the scale of the event had changed since it “started small” eight years ago and that its processes and communication methods needed to keep up.
“We’re reviewing our ticketing system, Mystery Box availability and communication processes to make sure everything is clear, fair and transparent moving forward,” Le Creuset said, promising to “make things right” for those who received less than the $300 promised value.
“Your passion is what makes these events so special, and we don’t take that for granted,” the humbled company said. “We appreciate you holding us accountable, and we’re committed to doing better in the future.”
