# Company seemingly out of business...how can I find out what happened? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 5, 2001, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-seemingly-out-of-business-how-can-i-find-out-what-happened/67710 "2001-06-05T18:28:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-seemingly-out-of-business-how-can-i-find-out-what-happened/67710/1 "2001-06-05T18:28:28Z")
We ran a story in our magazine last year about a cookie cutter manufacturer in PA that made cookie cutters in the shape of all of the 50 U.S. states. Problem: they seem to have vanished. Their phone # is disconnected, there is no listing for them in the original city they were based, nor the surrounding area. We’ve gotten calls from readers who still want to order the items, as well as from readers who placed orders, sent in money to the co., and never received their items! My magazine’s not in any real trouble (we’re not affiliated with the cookie cutter co. in any way), but we’d like to help out our readers. Anyone have any idea re: how I can track down this company/its owners and learn what the hell happened? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-seemingly-out-of-business-how-can-i-find-out-what-happened/67710/2 "2001-06-05T19:27:56Z")
I did a Google search for “cookie cutter states” and the first two hits were for manufacturers in Ohio and PA. Is one of these your wayward source? ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-seemingly-out-of-business-how-can-i-find-out-what-happened/67710/3 "2001-06-05T20:59:39Z")
I don’t think so. The company was called “Holland International.” ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-seemingly-out-of-business-how-can-i-find-out-what-happened/67710/4 "2001-06-05T23:27:00Z")
Hmmm, well, that won’t help the people who got stiffed, but maybe the people who are still trying to find their cookie cutters could order from one of these . . . ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-seemingly-out-of-business-how-can-i-find-out-what-happened/67710/5 "2001-06-06T00:10:40Z")
Write or call the Secretary of State in your state. They can tell you, probably. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Mxyzptlk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@Mr\_Mxyzptlk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Mxyzptlk)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-seemingly-out-of-business-how-can-i-find-out-what-happened/67710/6 "2001-06-06T00:59:13Z")
You might try the Better Business Bureau located in the city that the Holland Co. was doing business.