To think this product at The Range/Wilko is just plain racist?

[GardenNope]

I've been complaining about this range of products since I saw them in my local store a few weeks ago.

I keep getting fobbed off with no response, or 'we aim to provide products for all tastes'.

This just seems to me like a blatant racist stereotype of Polynesian culture. But the company doesn't seem to agree at all. Am I losing my mind here because it seems very blatantly wrong to me?

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/single-solar-tiki-water-sports-ornament-in-assorted-styles/p/8087004

Racist against who? Tikis are not people, they're a cultural symbol. So how is an ornament, of a symbol, not a person, racist?

Christ, The Range will be delighted that you've decided to advertise something that people will buy as a joke gift, just in time for Christmas in peak sales week.

Well done OP I congratulate you on your marketing strategy for your employer. Thats dedication. I hope you get a promotion. I know they were worried they wouldn't shift them all because they are so fugly, but now you've said they are slightly offensive they will just fly out the shop.

Coming to a secret santa from someone who hates you soon.

@RedToothBrush Actually that had crossed my mind. I've been on many threads in the past where someone who has made very positive or very negative comments about an item or company has been accused of being a plant. I also suspect that the OP really works for the Range 😆😆

Oh come on. The marketing department are jel they didn't think of it.

YANBU. I'm surprised to see something like that these days. Looks like an illustration from an Enid Blyton book in the 1930s.

It's awful, it does look it's from the 1970s and something you wouldn't create/sell now. No idea why they thought it is appropriate. Wilko used to be good before it went into administration, cheap and the quality was fine and great for household/everyday stuff without breaking the bank but now The Range has taken on the name, they sell the same low quality, tacky stuff. I tried a couple of times and stopped shopping there as even the Wilko branded stuff was much worse quality than previous Wilko, and especially since I found out that they treat their staff very badly and the guy who runs it has quite a reputation for being bad to work for. There's even a Facebook group for how it's almost impossible to get a refund for faulty expensive items like garden furniture from The Range.

It's not based on a real person. You're just taking offense because it's brown.

There’s a part of the country where trivialising Polynesian culture is commonplace?
Trying too hard mate. Next thing you’ll be telling us your Nan died of having Polynesian culture trivialised.

I think it's trivialising their culture as it's a badly done copy of something traditional that's been turned into a novelty item. I wouldn't say it's racist but I'd put it into the same category of appropriation as things like mass-produced dream catchers, where traditional beliefs and crafts are turned into pretty or fun decorations. (Although I think this ornament is hideous so wouldn't call it pretty or fun!)

I reported the whole thread as hate speech.

What?? Since when? 😂

thanks for that!

Here's the Facebook group for Ripped off @ The Range
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2827636494166486

It's an ornament. It's not racist.

Perhaps an actual Polynesian person might not like it or perhaps they will be pleased to see something of their culture for sale here in the U.K.

@Thefaceofboe I'm not sure but it's great, if you AS me I think 85% of my comments say edited! (Also if you press the edited on someone elses, you can see what they previously wrote)

Shall we ban Toby jugs? They are an affront to ugly old white men.....

I think the litmus test would be asking on a larger platform where Polynesians might be able to tell you if they are offended by it. I honestly have no idea as a white European with no ties to the area.

I'm with you on this... If I saw this in someone's house I would assume they were racist.

It's always so disappointing when it's a spelling error rather than a dramatic rewriting of the post.

Me too! Iv thought about it so often I sometimes wonder if I really hate them or secretly love them

@SatansBobbleheadedDashboardOrnament but it's great when you do find one! 😂

Yes I'm guessing that something like the Disney Polynesian village had a lot of culturally appropriate input? But I've no idea (and I can't see anything like this on images of that place, so don't know why this is a comparison).

@MorettiForMargo and 100% they should avoid the "it's a small world" ride.

Perhaps post this on Twitter directly to Wilko and see what they say.

Oh jeez yes, I could tell you exactly which of my family members would buy it...