Pottery Barn faults Powell's breaking point

The Dallas Morning News ^ | Monday, April 19, 2004 | By MICHAEL PRECKER

[fight_truth_decay]

,Company says quote from official misstates policy on merchandise.

Pottery Barn would like to make one thing perfectly clear: If you break it, you don't have to buy it.

The 174-store home furnishings chain unexpectedly found itself in the news over the weekend as author Bob Woodward released his new book about the Iraq war, Plan of Attack, and began talking about it.

Mr. Woodward quotes Secretary of State Colin Powell as warning President Bush that invading Iraq would produce a "Pottery Barn rule" – which Mr. Powell defined as "you break it, you own it."

The term was news to Williams-Sonoma, the San Francisco-based retailer that owns Pottery Barn.

"The policy is completely incorrectly represented by the secretary of state," said Leigh Oshirak, director of public relations for the company. "I can't imagine you would ever hear that at any retailer at our level."

When Ms. Oshirak heard Mr. Powell's reference, she said she was glad he was thinking of Pottery Barn, but unhappy about a misconception that might discourage shoppers.

"You have to have a little sense of humor, but I don't think anyone wants to hear their brand mentioned like that," she said. "We're here to please our customers."

Ms. Oshirak pointed out that much of Pottery Barn's merchandise – including furniture and linens – is pretty hard to break. But if a customer drops the occasional vase or wine goblet, the company will absorb the loss.

She said the company had not contacted Mr. Powell but would probably send him a gift basket – wrapped very securely.

"I guess we'll tell him thanks for thinking of us, but please think of us in a positive light next time," she said.

E-mail mprecker@dallasnews.com

[fight_truth_decay]

hmmm...should have placed this under "Breaking News".

Fox LA made this a lead in tease [story to follow]...when in fact Powell will get a gift out of this.

[End Times Sentinel]

Just another one of the Booosh Administration's lies.

Owl_Eagle

" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"

[Old Sarge]

Woodward just wrote a canonization piece for Colon Bowell.

Stroke of Genius! By showing that Bowell was "opposing Bush in Iraq", and "stood up to Bush" about the war, that will appease the moderates and some of the Left, for Colon Bowell's 2008 Presidential run.

[Phantom Lord]

Pottery Barn would like to make one thing perfectly clear: If you break it, you don't have to buy it.

| So I can walk into a Pottery Barn, smash a few things, and leave with. Great!

[J. L. Chamberlain]

BWAAAAAHAHAHAHA!

Franken makes news! This was the first thing on his show yesterday.

J

[presidio9]

Powell does not lie. He said the Iraq war was evil.

[johnfrink]

When I heard "Pottery Barn Rule" I figured it meant "You will probably end up paying too much for it, and then it will break." Which, come to think of it, could still apply to Iraq...

[fight_truth_decay]

I posted this to show it was Not much of a news story..and with the comments so far, shows it bored the readers.

Franken-what a joke..if that is the best he can do for a lead in.

[J. L. Chamberlain]

Actually I think it was really funny. They got this gal on the line from Pottery Barn not understanding the context of the bit, so she broke out laughing when Franken pitched it as Powell lying to the President.

J

[steve8714]

I thought PB was only for gays...maybe that's why Powell was unsure.

[fight_truth_decay]

Franken is not availabe on the airwaves in my State ..we still believe in "truth, justice and the American way". ;)

[Imal]

Bull In Pottery Shop Bump!

Pass the word: Feel the need to break something? Visit your local Pottery Barn!

Ironically, Pottery Barns across the nation will almost certainly find themselves writing off a higher percentage of damaged merchandise this year than last.

Personally, I think "You break it, you bought it" is a great policy -- provided merchandise is displayed safely and responsibly.

[Imal]

Franken... Franken... Oh! Tom Davis's old sidekick!

Didn't he die in a grease fire?

[Grampa Dave]

Woodward is classic of the lying alcoholic. They have lied all of their adult lives and incapable of telling the truth in even minor situations.