A Rhode Island couple who spent over $600 on a Donald Trump-branded watch were left shocked when the product arrived with a glaring mistake. Tim Petit purchased the watch as a gift for his wife, Melanie, after hearing a radio advertisement featuring President Donald Trump's voice promoting a line of luxury timepieces.
Discovery of the Error
While browsing the website, Tim selected a silver-and-pink model he believed his wife would adore and paid $640 for it. Upon arrival, however, the couple noticed something was amiss. Instead of displaying Trump's full surname, the watch read "Rump."
"I noticed it right away," Melanie told WJAR. She added, "How could they process this and go through something without checking their work?" The watch featured a pink face, Trump's signature, and images of fireworks, but the missing "T" transformed a special gift into a disappointing experience.
Emotional Impact
According to the couple, Melanie was so upset by the mistake that she cried after seeing the watch. Tim expressed his expectation for higher quality from a product bearing the President's name. "I wanted to do a special thing for her. And we expected that it would have the integrity of the President of the United States and good follow-through," he told WJAR.
Resolution After Media Involvement
The couple attempted to contact the company to rectify the issue but initially received no response. "We would like this corrected properly and quickly. [And] an apology would be nice for making my wife cry," Tim stated. The situation changed after a local news outlet contacted the company on their behalf. The watchmaker then responded, offering an $800 gift card and sending a replacement watch with Trump's full surname correctly printed.
Marketing and Disclaimers
The watches are marketed using Trump's image and voice. In a promotional video on the company's website, Trump says, "Hello everyone, it's President Donald J Trump, and it's Trump Time." He adds, "Get your watch today!" However, the company states in its terms that it is not officially part of the Trump Administration. Fine print on the website notes that Trump's likeness is used under a paid licensing agreement with CIC Digital LLC, and the products are "not designed, owned, managed, or controlled by Donald J Trump, The Trump Organization, CIC Digital LLC, or any of their respective principals or affiliates." The company also maintains a strict returns policy, stating that "all sales [are] final."
