Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag - Consumerist Comments

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

tkodirtybags — Sun, 27 May 2007 08:59:26 EDT

I'm a former TKO employee, and have the misfortune of knowing how this operation works. The laundry does, in fact come from those clothing donation bins - as several other users suggested. They would purchase trailer loads of the donated clothing for very minimal cash. While I was there we did receive several calls about this very problem - all were written off (both to the consumer and employees) as defects, where the materials weren't "shredded correctly". In reality, my best guess is that they just realized that they can save a lot of money if they just don't shred them at all - as a whole, they are a company that is fantastic at cutting corners. To be honest, I don't know how they haven't gone out of business yet, they're been circling the drain for years now - they did file for chapter 11 awhile back, I believe. The heavy bags are actually the only product that TKO actually manufactures themselves - everything for the bags is "created" in Houston - whereas every other product is a resold product developed by a Taiwanese manufacturer. Since I left TKO several years ago, many of the other employees have also since left, but the President's name is Garry Kurtz - his email is: gwkurtz@tkosportsgroup.com - please,feel free to let him know how you feel about underwear in your heavy bag.

tkodirtybags

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

econobiker — Sun, 27 May 2007 04:39:18 EDT

Thrift stores sell the clothing as salvage and it goes everywhere- used as rags, bailed and send overseas (usually Africa). So why not would a vendor to Everlast puchase cheap cloth to help pack punching bags?

econobiker

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

frightened — Sat, 26 May 2007 05:22:12 EDT

I wonder what's in my pillow?

frightened

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

fearthepenguin — Fri, 25 May 2007 21:59:45 EDT

After reading this article, I checked my bag and guess what.... Mine even included open saftey pins and christmas decorations!
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa265/fearthepenguin02/...
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa265/fearthepenguin02/...
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa265/fearthepenguin02/...
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa265/fearthepenguin02/...
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa265/fearthepenguin02/...
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa265/fearthepenguin02/...

fearthepenguin

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

meadowlarkb — Fri, 25 May 2007 15:39:13 EDT

The answer to the question, "boxers or briefs?" is both?

meadowlarkb

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

cdan — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:59:35 EDT

Linked: http://master-of-none.tumblr.com/

cdan

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

oldhat — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:07:52 EDT

1) What makes you all think that this is a US operation?

2) What the hell is wrong with recycling/reusing old clothes?

Who is saying that they are dirty? Somebody see skidmarks and pee stains?

I don't really care what I'm punching the shit out of...as long as it holds up over the years. Now that is the real issue. How does old clothes compare to foam and sand?

oldhat

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

axiomatic — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:59:18 EDT

Holy crap, you can't make this stuff up! Hilarious!

axiomatic

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

modernbeat — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:13:45 EDT

The Houston Salvation Army on Washington Avenue auctions off large lots of unsellable or surplus goods every morning. There is usually at least three huge bales of clothing. The clothing bales are usually bought by a consortium and are sorted on the spot after the auction. Used/Vintage clothing resellers get first crack at it, then the guys that cut up clothing for rags, and the leftovers go to ??? TKO maybe?

modernbeat

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Amsterdaam - KEEP SMILING — Fri, 25 May 2007 11:23:29 EDT

And all the hobo/boxers of the world rejoice!

Amsterdaam - KEEP SMILING

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

spanky — Fri, 25 May 2007 11:12:45 EDT

@msb2:

That joke works better on old people, because they don't see it coming. No self-respecting eight year old is going to answer "Whatcha eating under there?" (Note: This is the correct version). A FORTY-eight year old will, though.

The old drawer-muncher is still trying to live it down, too.

spanky

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

TinaB — Fri, 25 May 2007 11:09:19 EDT

@zibby:

http://www.snopes.com/risque/kinky/panties.htm

And to those who have questioned it, yes they do sell underwear at thrift stores, at least in my neighborhood. Why, oh why, anyone would ever buy underwear there is still a mystery to me.

TinaB

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

The Reviewer — Fri, 25 May 2007 10:57:57 EDT

How does this happen, and how is it that used underwear is cheaper than sand? The only way it is cheaper is if they got it for free, but where is it free from, who needs to offload used underwear that isn't going in the trash? I don't get it.

The Reviewer

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Rey — Fri, 25 May 2007 10:40:06 EDT

Why y'all have to take the piss outta my workout routine?!?

Rey

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Rectilinear Propagation — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:37:48 EDT

@Musician78: On one of the many "Hey, we're in Japan!" segments on G4?

It blows my mind that this has happened more than once. It being in that one bag makes it one of those weird things but that a lot of bags ended up with stinky underwear in it is just crazy.

Rectilinear Propagation

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

msb2: blue balls machine — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:09:20 EDT

@MostNutsEver: I just made you say "underwear"!

Aah, to be a kid again...

msb2: blue balls machine

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

MostNutsEver — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:07:15 EDT

Under where?

MostNutsEver

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

msb2: blue balls machine — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:03:11 EDT

Let's see who plays along. :-)
....
What is that under there?!?!

msb2: blue balls machine

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

MostNutsEver — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:02:06 EDT

I think we just discovered what step 2 is.

//underpants gnomes

MostNutsEver

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

testsicles — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:56:01 EDT

10 years ago I opened my Everlast punching bag and noticed a bra strap (or bikini) that didn't make it through the shredder. The bag was filled with sand bags with shredded rags packed around them. I imagine it's a common practice (why buy new rags to stuff in a punching bag?) but I think they're supposed to wash and shred them before they pack that stuff in.

testsicles

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

joyflop — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:55:38 EDT

The recall notice was posted on June 23, 2005.

???

joyflop

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

BStu — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:54:50 EDT

I'd think they got the undies from various clothing donation firms. You have to think those places get lots of underwear that they want nothing to do with. Some genius at Everlast may have known someone who volunteered at Goodwill or something and mentioned that and the genius at Everlast got a bright idea. And thus the panty bag was born.

BStu

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

GirlGoneRiled — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:39:41 EDT

Do you think that this is where lost airline baggage goes? Like, one can buy "abandoned" bags at auction and use the contents to stuff, say, punching bags? Would this be cheaper than buying actual stuffing material? If so, it certainly would explain the variety of garments in the pic.

GirlGoneRiled

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

zibby — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:36:51 EDT

@Musician78: I'm 100% sure it's on Snopes. Sorry for no link, but I'm feeling lazy going into the long weekend.

zibby

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Git Em SteveDave seeks Lego build buddy. How about you? — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:29:54 EDT

OK, I've donated clothes to charity before, but I always seem to do it at one time. I go through my drawers and closets, and pick out stuff I don't need anymore. But it's always clean. Do people really wear underwear, and when they take it off to shower, hold it in front of them and say, "You know what, I don't want these anymore. I think I'll drive down to the donation bin after my shower and throw just this pair in. Either that, or I'll make a big pile of dirty clothes, and when it gets big enough, stuff it into a sack, and bring it down then."

Git Em SteveDave seeks Lego build buddy. How about you?

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Triteon — Fri, 25 May 2007 07:56:42 EDT

Shut the fuck up, Donny. :)

Triteon

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Joe_Bagadonuts — Fri, 25 May 2007 07:46:14 EDT

WALTER: Who's got a million dollars parked in the trunk of our car out here?

DUDE: "Our" car, Walter?

WALTER: And what do they got, Dude? My dirty undies. My effing whites! Say, Dude, where is your car?

DONNY: Who has your undies, Walter??

Joe_Bagadonuts

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

tekkierich — Fri, 25 May 2007 07:45:37 EDT

Clearly we have found out the answer to step two for the Underwear gnome riddle.

1. Collect Underpants
2. ???
3. Profit!

Step 2 = Stuff Underpants in to punching bags and sell them to Costco

tekkierich

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Musician78 — Fri, 25 May 2007 07:34:07 EDT

In Japan you can buy used schoolgirls' panties in vending machines. *Sorry, made me think of that*.

I wish I could recall where I heard that.

Musician78

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Jesus On A Pogo Stick — Fri, 25 May 2007 02:10:11 EDT

haha.. ^confusing..

Jesus On A Pogo Stick

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Jesus On A Pogo Stick — Fri, 25 May 2007 02:09:56 EDT

This is more confusding than an episode of Lost...

Jesus On A Pogo Stick

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

cde — Fri, 25 May 2007 01:54:32 EDT

@faust1200: You better have apologized cause you didn't even use the real quote. It's "I have Had it with..." Not I'm tired of....

cde

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

lore — Fri, 25 May 2007 01:24:48 EDT

Did anyone notice how old that recall letter is?

lore

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Triteon — Fri, 25 May 2007 01:13:07 EDT

I bought one of these bags, and punched the shit out of it.

Triteon

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

mrestko — Fri, 25 May 2007 00:29:53 EDT

I think it's pretty likely that the punching-bag company purchased bulk underwear from somewhere like the Salvation Army since it's not something that's really sell-able. I guess they probably should have gone through the extra effort of shredding the material to make it less recognizable. :-P

mrestko

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

MentalDisconnect — Fri, 25 May 2007 00:16:00 EDT

Yeah, where did they get used underwear? It's not sold at thrift stores (or shouldn't be- that's beyond gross). Maybe it's someone's personal stash- as soon as they wear an undergarment they save it to pack in the bag? Is this a widespread problem? If it was only one, I'd think a prank or something, but many... wow.

MentalDisconnect

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

krunk4ever — Fri, 25 May 2007 00:05:03 EDT

despite how bad the situation is, costco always makes an excellent effort to right the wrong.

krunk4ever

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Skeptic — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:57:00 EDT

Hmm...a KPIX story on the green used clothing donation box scam here in california said that used clothes wholesale for $3 (IIRC). I wonder if un re-salable clothes like used undies sell for less? Did someone buy extra cheap used fabric on the, well, cheap?

Whatever the case, I'm guessing that there are a few people who are actually trying to find and buy these "special" TKO heavy bags. I'm sure the High School Girl Panty (HSGP) heavy bag would be a bigggg seller in Japan...

Skeptic

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

faust1200 — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:37:33 EDT

(Apologies in advance) I'm tired of these motherfuckin stinky drawwwws in my motherfuckin punching bag!

faust1200

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

mantari — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:36:13 EDT

@meghannmarco: Well, I'm glad that Costco, the place that won't be UNDERsold, was quite UNDERstanding about the situation. I was, at first, UNDERwhelmed by the response, but it appears the UNDERneith the surface, Costco was working the issue.

Your joke was not UNDERappreciated, Meghann!

mantari

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

superlayne — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:34:57 EDT

What did they do with the underwear?

I would have washed it and kept it.

superlayne

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Meg Marco — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:31:42 EDT

@JohnOB1: Are you suggesting that I may have made a joke?

Meg Marco

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

mantari — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:30:55 EDT

Could it be sourced from those places that pay cash by the pound for used clothing? Orphanages? Third world countries?

mantari

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

TPIRman — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:21:47 EDT

+1 JohnOB1

TPIRman

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

TPIRman — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:20:58 EDT

Wow, this story is bizarre. The Wal-Mart Nazi T-Shirt may have finally met its match. I'm looking forward to many weeks of pugilistic Consumerist readers uncovering these skeevy bags on Costco shelves.

Oh, who am I kidding? Costco seems to give a rat's ass. Wal-Mart Nazi T-Shirt, you'll always be number one.

TPIRman

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

JohnOB1 — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:19:43 EDT

"Yeah, that's quite the understatement." HA HA! GET IT? Understatement? UNDERstatement???

JohnOB1

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

DAK — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:15:18 EDT

Costco rocks.

DAK

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

werdna — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:05:16 EDT

This is why I love Costco.
Go Costco!

werdna

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

The Bigger Unit — Thu, 24 May 2007 22:42:50 EDT

On the other hand, if you're in the market for plentiful used underwear, you know where to go other than the local Thrift Store!

I wonder what else out there is stuffed with used drawers?

The Bigger Unit

Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag

Grrrrrrrrr — Thu, 24 May 2007 22:39:44 EDT

Where on earth would somebody obtain that much dirty underwear?????

Is there some secret dirty underwear factory in China that we don't know about?

Grrrrrrrrr