Toyota and Tylenol

Two brands that had worked hard to establish worldwide reputations for safety and quality have fallen on hard times and people who were formerly loyal customers of both or either are forced to question their assumptions. Toyota until the last couple of years had a sterling record that they justifiably touted in their ads and owners felt secure not only in their decision to drive every day but knowing that their vehicles would hold their value as well as cars from any other maker in the industry- not so much now. Certainly through no fault of their own, Tylenol had been used a couple of decades ago as an instrument of murder when a criminal had poisoned capsules and several deaths had occurred. The manufacturers had worked hard to recover the trust of the public and had largely overcome the tragedy of the early 1980s that had led wits to call the product "End It All". Just as with Toyota, so much hard work, redoubling the effort to regain the trust of potential buyers has largely gone out the window with recalls causing shoppers to try other brands. The business environment is tough enough now, with the Obama malaise (and no I do not mean Hellmann's) sapping even the strongest labels. Introducing a question of trust now, with safety at stake, can only hurt. But enough for now, I need to jump in the Camry and pick up something for this blasted headache.