After a customer complaint about purchasing poor-quality fertilizer (as reported in Dak Lak Newspaper on July 17), the manufacturer apologized and promised to remedy the problem.
The company agreed to recall the defective batch and compensate customers for 50% of the value of the fertilizer already used.
Earlier, a customer in Tam Giang Commune, Krong Nang District had purchased 3 tons of NPK 16-16-8-13S fertilizer (worth about 30 million VND) from a local shop and applied almost all of it to a coffee plantation, leaving just over one sack. According to the packaging label, the product came from Binh Phuoc Fertilizer Co., Ltd., Hamlet 6, Tan Thanh Commune, Dong Xoai Town, Binh Phuoc Province.
After applying the fertilizer, the customer noticed the plants’ leaves turning yellow and fruit dropping. On checking the remaining sack, he found coarse sand mixed in. When the fertilizer was mixed with water, a large amount of sand settled at the bottom. He immediately reported this to the shop owner and requested compensation.
The shop owner explained that this fertilizer was part of a 7.8-ton batch purchased from a fertilizer distributor in Ea Kar District. Of that, 7.2 tons had already been sold and 0.6 tons remained in the shop, all showing the same issue. The shop owner therefore filed a complaint with the Dak Lak Consumer Protection Association.
On August 18, the Association convened a meeting of all parties—the manufacturer, distributor, and customer—to resolve the matter. Ngo Van Toan, Director of Binh Phuoc Fertilizer Co., Ltd., admitted that the product was indeed from his company. He explained that a small portion of the batch produced in February 2011 contained impurities due to a lapse in quality control during shipping, unintentionally causing damage to consumers.
The company formally apologized, agreed to compensate customers for 50% of the value of the fertilizer already applied, and committed to tightening product quality control so that customers can continue to use its products with confidence.