LOL product packaging and legal department

[sammyg2]

I bought a hand-operated transfer pump from harbor freight the other day to get some old gasoline out of a fuel tank.
On the packaging it said something that made me laugh out loud, so I checked the website to see if it said the same thing. Yep LOL
(bold is my emphasis)
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

Multi-Use Transfer Pump

Quickly and easily transfers any low-viscosity fluid, such as water and fuels
Use with the included inflation needle to transform into an air pump
Ideal for changing oil, siphoning gas, inflating beach balls, and more
1/2" slip-fit outlet and intake nipples
Molded handle
Two 51" long, 1/2" diameter hoses
16" long air pressure hose with snap-shut valve

Not for use with caustic or flammable liquids. Dimensions: 9" L x 1-1/2" W

BTW it worked great.

[GH85Carrera]

That is just the lawyers at work. At least it was made with plastic that did not melt from contact with gasoline.

[gtc]

-Great for enterprising youths looking to start their own business!

[john70t]

Bought the same thing, and noticed the same thing. Funny stuff.
The thing doesn't work worth a darn.

Also noticed the folding crane says 2 ton capacity in one spot and 1500lb(I believe) in another.

[Tidybuoy]

Is gasoline flamable? when did that happen....

[MRM]

I can assure you than no lawyer wrote that warning. Most warnings and product instructions/installation manuals are written by the marketing department. That's why they're so bad. At least lawyer are usually literate and can sometimes write copy that is internally consistent. Nobody writes worse than a person with little education trying to write how they imagine a lawyer would sound like. Most companies don't incur the extra expense of having their lawyers review product warnings so they get results like this.

They probably have a stock list of warning clips they can just drop into their product descriptions. Some clerk wrote the copy and got the verbage approved. Someone else added the standard clip art #349 - warning regarding flamable liquids and it went out the door without anyone reading the whole thing again before it went out.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by MRM

I can assure you than no lawyer wrote that warning. Most warnings and product instructions/installation manuals are written by the marketing department. That's why they're so bad. At least lawyer are usually literate and can sometimes write copy that is internally consistent. Nobody writes worse than a person with little education trying to write how they imagine a lawyer would sound like. Most companies don't incur the extra expense of having their lawyers review product warnings so they get results like this.

They probably have a stock list of warning clips they can just drop into their product descriptions. Some clerk wrote the copy and got the verbage approved. Someone else added the standard clip art #349 - warning regarding flamable liquids and it went out the door without anyone reading the whole thing again before it went out.

Did I mention this product was made in china? All your flammables are belong to us

[TechnoViking]

Originally Posted by MRM

I can assure you than no lawyer wrote that warning. Most warnings and product instructions/installation manuals are written by the marketing department. That's why they're so bad. At least lawyer are usually literate and can sometimes write copy that is internally consistent.

I work in Marketing for a large electronics company. We have engineering degrees and are quite literate.

Originally Posted by MRM

Most companies don't incur the extra expense of having their lawyers review product warnings so they get results like this.

We get all T&C copy approved by our lawyers, FWIW, but mistakes do occasionally happen.

The OP is funny, and a either a total screw up, or an intentional ass-covering of a really bad/unsafe product....made in China.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by Martin Smith

I work in Marketing for a large electronics company. We have engineering degrees and are quite literate.

But you aren't in china.... Making $3 items...

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by Martin Smith

We get all T&C copy approved by our lawyers, FWIW, but mistakes do occasionally happen.

Everyone's human, can't catch every little typo.

[porsche4life]

I think I just had a seizure...

[sammyg2]

Aaarrrgghhhh!