A New York coffee company sent a shipment of coffee to Hamburg, Germany. While in route, aboard ship, rats ate holes in the coffee bags, nested in the coffee, and damaged the shipment. However, the shipping concern sewed up the bags and sent them on to their destination. In a week or two, the New York exporter received the following letter:
136 Nidkemlem Strausse
Hamburg, GermanyAndress Coffee Co.
535 West 139th Street
New York, NY
Schentlemens:
Der last two peckacheages of koffey ve got frum you was mitt ratt schidt mixt. Der koffey may be gut enuf, but der ratt schidt schpoils der trade ve got.
Ve did not see der ratt schidt in der samples vot before you send to us. It is taken too much time to pick der ratt schidt from der koffey out.
Ve order from you der kleen koffey, and you schipt schidt mixt vid. Mistake, Ya? No?
Ve like to have you schipp us der koffey in von zack and der ratt schidt in vun zack, den ve can mix to zute der kustomer.
Vont you please write if ve shud schipp back der ratt schidt und keep der koffey, or keep der ratt schidt und ship back der koffey, or do you vant us to ship back der hole schidten vorks?
Ve vant to do vot is ridt in dis madder, but ve do not like dis got dam ratt schidt business.
Vit much respect,
Hans Bruder