WoolWeenies Club

[Grog]

or stinky economic policy....

People want to buy more stuff, and for a cheaper price. Although I would agree that American economic policy stinks, I would not just blame economic and political leaders, but rather would distribute the blame within the whole population...

What REALLY gets me going though is when a company that used to do stuff locally outsources internationally to cut labour costs and keeps selling its items at the very same price. Arc'teryx jackets among others used to be all made in Canada. I was about to buy a wool jacket for my sweetheart from them last Christmas and had (as usual) a sticker shock when I saw it was around $250. But I was thinking, "mm, yeah, but it's made in the area" because they always used to. BEEEEEEEEEP: WRONG!! "Made in China." I was really mad and, needless to say, did not buy the jacket.

On the other hand, we just bought a big piece of furniture made in Canada. It was a lot more expensive than the similar piece made in China, and we could only afford the bed, instead of bed + nightstands etc. But we decided to go ahead with the made-in-Canada one. I don't always make that decision. But I'm happy I did it this time...

[Blueberry]

What REALLY gets me going though is when a company that used to do stuff locally outsources internationally to cut labour costs and keeps selling its items at the very same price. Arc'teryx jackets among others used to be all made in Canada. I was about to buy a wool jacket for my sweetheart from them last Christmas and had (as usual) a sticker shock when I saw it was around $250. But I was thinking, "mm, yeah, but it's made in the area" because they always used to. BEEEEEEEEEP: WRONG!! "Made in China." I was really mad and, needless to say, did not buy the jacket.

Chaco is in the process of doing this. They're moving manufacturing of their Z/1 and Z/2 sandals to china this summer. Dansko just moved their stapled clogs from Eurpoe to China. And Dansko seems to have *raised* their prices.

CA

[KnottedYet]

Chaco is in the process of doing this. They're moving manufacturing of their Z/1 and Z/2 sandals to china this summer. Dansko just moved their stapled clogs from Eurpoe to China. And Dansko seems to have *raised* their prices.

CA

Yeah, Chaco really sold out. They're using the profits from the cheaper labor to branch off into shoes and belts and clothes.

Prices are still very high regardless.

What melts my brain is that they still use pictures of their happy Paonia CO workforce posed outside the Chaco building in their promo literature.

Those folks have already lost their jobs.

Money and success change everything. I honestly would've felt much better about spending $90 on a pair of sandals if Chaco still made only sandals and made them in Paonia.

(meanwhile I have 3 pair of Chacos made in the USA which I intend to keep for a very long time. My oldest pair is about 10 years old and still going strong, though they do need to be resoled soon. I think that's still done in Paonia CO, but I haven't had the nerve to check.)

I recommend Chacos to a lot of my foot patients. They have always been very well made and well designed and resolable. I'm hoping that won't change now that they are made in China.

ETA: elk, I'm right there with you. Less stuff, more expensive, but better for our economy and environment in the long run.

[elk]

People want to buy more stuff, and for a cheaper price. Although I would agree that American economic policy stinks, I would not just blame economic and political leaders, but rather would distribute the blame within the whole population...

What REALLY gets me going though is when a company that used to do stuff locally outsources internationally to cut labour costs and keeps selling its items at the very same price. Arc'teryx jackets among others used to be all made in Canada. I was about to buy a wool jacket for my sweetheart from them last Christmas and had (as usual) a sticker shock when I saw it was around $250. But I was thinking, "mm, yeah, but it's made in the area" because they always used to. BEEEEEEEEEP: WRONG!! "Made in China." I was really mad and, needless to say, did not buy the jacket.

On the other hand, we just bought a big piece of furniture made in Canada. It was a lot more expensive than the similar piece made in China, and we could only afford the bed, instead of bed + nightstands etc. But we decided to go ahead with the made-in-Canada one. I don't always make that decision. But I'm happy I did it this time...

I hear ya.... I'm buying less stuff so I can afford more made in (the) america(s) stuff!