Recently, the Vietnamese pickleball community was embroiled in a heated controversy as a popular paddle brand in Vietnam was accused of deceiving customers. Specifically, paddles from this brand displayed a “made in USA” label and used the acronym “USA Pickleball Approved” (abbreviated as USAPA), misleading consumers into believing that the paddles were manufactured in the USA and met the standards set by USA Pickleball (USAP), a trusted global standard-bearing organization.
However, a search on the USAP website revealed no mention of this brand or any information suggesting that the paddles were made in the USA. The brand has since issued an official response.
Vietnamese pickleball paddle brand with a “made in USA” label, misleading consumers into believing it’s from a US brand.
Addressing the use of the USAPA acronym on their paddles, the brand explained that it was a mandatory requirement to complete the paddle interface before submitting for USAP standard approval. They further stated that they had initiated the registration process and sent their products for approval under the USAP international standards system but had not yet received certification.
Regarding the “made in USA” label on the paddles, which were actually manufactured in Vietnam, the brand attributed it to an error by the design team and manufacturers, who affixed the “Made in USA” label, leading to the misunderstanding. They assured that this mistake had been rectified in all subsequent batches.
However, members of the pickleball community remain unconvinced by the brand’s response.
