Paying a high price for items made in China

[limom]

^^
prada. I just had a very bad experience with a saffiano tote bought full price at Saks.
Horrible quality but the SA had told me it was not an everyday bag and she was 100% right.
The handle came apart after two months.

 

[katran26]

I dont think it has anything to do with a workers ethnicity. But when you are paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a bag, you would have the expectation that it will NOT fall apart.

I think the problem now is that companies are hiring workers who have no experience or training in what they are doing, put them on horrible conditions, and pay them almost nothing. These factors all influence how well a product is made. Quality controlalso makes a huge difference. But if you think about it, from a business pov, would quality really be a major priority if you knew that just slapping a label on will drive your sales anyways?

An example of poor quality not in china is tory burch. Her shoes are made in Brazil. I know her shoes are cute and very popular, but they are absolutely horrible quality. Ive bought 2 pairs of flats, the eddie and the revas. Eddies starting ripping on the sides after just a few wears. The revas are comfortable, but the soles wore out very quickly and the back of the shoe started peeling. I returned the eddies, but kept the revas, the store i bought it from resoles it for me for free. And i am not the only one who had had this experience. Her $500 boots cant be worn in the rain bc the leather is of poor quality. Ridiculous.

Had no idea about LV not disclosing where their bags are made anymore! It is a shame that a company that has been around for so many years would compromise their quality and reputation just to save some money.

Are their other designers besides LV, bottega , and burberry that are no longer making their items in italy/ france any more?

I totally agree about Tory Burch! Had bought black patent Revas- not only were they falling apart but one day, I stepped in a puddle, my feet were stained black when I got home. Took a week of scrubbing to remove the stain!

 

[Mariapia]

Well, you might be very limited in your shopping.
Some designers have bags made in several places and only assembled in France.
Even Petit Bateau no longer manufactures in France but in Morocco for the latest items I bought.
At least, they are transparent and are not trying to confuse the consumers.
Good for you for calling but it is a lost cause IMO.
My grandmother would never buy Italian made shoes. Nowadays, they are in demand.
LV are the worst offenders, IMO.
And the condition in French manufacturers plants have declined for the workers as well.
My two Cents.

When Agnes b wanted to have her collection made in France, she realized that only a few factories had survived.....

 

[Mariapia]

I totally agree about Tory Burch! Had bought black patent Revas- not only were they falling apart but one day, I stepped in a puddle, my feet were stained black when I got home. Took a week of scrubbing to remove the stain!

A friend of mine had exactly the same problem.... with Geox shoes!
Italian brand...gone to China.

 

[Mariapia]

Confidential? Where are they making them that they have to be so secretive, the moon?!

They used to make their bags in Italy.....Now...it's China....They don't want the customers to know....There are so many brands....Lots of buyers would refuse to pay 500 euros for a made in China bag if they had the info....
Zadig et Voltaire is a very famous brand in France....like Vanessa Bruno, Maje or Sandro...

 

[lovemyangels]

I don't buy shoes made in Spain or Brezil since they are discomfort to wear, but Isabel Marant sneakers are great quality and they are made in China. I don't think it matters where the goods are made in. It depends on how you value your money and how you judge the quality.

For some reasons, the title of this thread smells racism to me. Am I too sensitive?

It is the fact that there is no way to avoid buying products which has nothing to do with China. It is brand name's quality control issues, not where it is made in. Almost all electronic devices have some degree of relationship (the parts, if not the entire unit) with China. You refuse to buy shoes, clothes and bags are made in China, but you are okay your PDA, cell phone, computer/laptop are made in China?

 

[limom]

I don't buy shoes made in Spain or Brezil since they are discomfort to wear, but Isabel Marant sneakers are great quality and they are made in China. I don't think it matters where the goods are made in. It depends on how you value your money and how you judge the quality.

For some reasons, the title of this thread smells racism to me. Am I too sensitive?

It is the fact that there is no way to avoid buying products which has nothing to do with China. It is brand name's quality control issues, not where it is made in. Almost all electronic devices have some degree of relationship (the parts, if not the entire unit) with China. You refuse to buy shoes, clothes and bags are made in China, but you are okay your PDA, cell phone, computer/laptop are made in China?

I am not ok with factories that exploit their workers especially children.
I buy what I like regardless of where it is made.
But I am not paying $1000 or more for an item that was made by children in China or workers that are paid badly.
It is not racism, it is common sense for me.
I do not like getting ripped off and I do not like benefiting from people's misery.
Is it racism? Not sure. Protectionism? For some items.
Just my opinion.

 

[Mariapia]

I don't buy shoes made in Spain or Brezil since they are discomfort to wear, but Isabel Marant sneakers are great quality and they are made in China. I don't think it matters where the goods are made in. It depends on how you value your money and how you judge the quality.

For some reasons, the title of this thread smells racism to me. Am I too sensitive?

It is the fact that there is no way to avoid buying products which has nothing to do with China. It is brand name's quality control issues, not where it is made in. Almost all electronic devices have some degree of relationship (the parts, if not the entire unit) with China. You refuse to buy shoes, clothes and bags are made in China, but you are okay your PDA, cell phone, computer/laptop are made in China?

No racism at all!
If I find a made in China tee-shirt for 5 or 10 euros....I may buy it....
But...if, because it bears a prestigious name, I have to pay 80 or 90 euros to get it...no way!
Not because it's Chinese made...but because the designer only thinks about their huge profit....
I once went to Zara to buy a tshirt. There was one made in Portugal ( where the worker's minimum salary is around 800 euros) one made in Bangladesh ( worker's salary...40 euros....)
You would expect the Bangladesh tshirt to be cheaper than the Made in Portugal one, wouldn't you?
They were the same price!
And that's where there is somthing wrong...
The customer doesn't take advantage of the difference in costs!

 

[chicinthecity777]

I don't buy shoes made in Spain or Brezil since they are discomfort to wear, but Isabel Marant sneakers are great quality and they are made in China. I don't think it matters where the goods are made in. It depends on how you value your money and how you judge the quality.

For some reasons, the title of this thread smells racism to me. Am I too sensitive?

It is the fact that there is no way to avoid buying products which has nothing to do with China. It is brand name's quality control issues, not where it is made in. Almost all electronic devices have some degree of relationship (the parts, if not the entire unit) with China. You refuse to buy shoes, clothes and bags are made in China, but you are okay your PDA, cell phone, computer/laptop are made in China?

totally agree!

 

[lazlo8]

I actually am unsure how you would talk about China without talking about the exploitation, factories, um organ removal from prisoners without anaesthesia ...


*deep breath*

Does it prevent me from buying? No. But I am buying second hand. I shop thrift. I think that's been going on for me for ... a couple years almost exclusively.

I won't shop at F21. I find them offensive. The blatant stealing of ideas, and remarketting. It's offensive. That being said there is a huge wide swing in how well things are made.


If you want to see some crazy political-economic stuff take a look at what happened with Bono's wife trying to make Edun (nude backwards) denim in Africa to support a local economy. It was a disaster. And now ... that's made where? In China.

I don't know how we can stop it.


And it's depressing.

My only answer has been to go thrifting. I try to get vintage made in the USA ... cause it appeals. But the sheer amount of made in China? ... massive

 

[lazlo8]

I don't buy shoes made in Spain or Brezil since they are discomfort to wear, but Isabel Marant sneakers are great quality and they are made in China. I don't think it matters where the goods are made in. It depends on how you value your money and how you judge the quality.

For some reasons, the title of this thread smells racism to me. Am I too sensitive?

It is the fact that there is no way to avoid buying products which has nothing to do with China. It is brand name's quality control issues, not where it is made in. Almost all electronic devices have some degree of relationship (the parts, if not the entire unit) with China. You refuse to buy shoes, clothes and bags are made in China, but you are okay your PDA, cell phone, computer/laptop are made in China?

Both Spain and Brazil are widely thought to have amazing skills in making shoes.

There's no way to talk about a certain country without someone crying about Racism. But the discussion is interesting and valid (to me) since it's a shopping website.

You can't avoid China in technology. True fact. But seeing companies who have been known to take pride in keeping their products USA made go to China ... (or any other country) is such a sad thing for me to see. Sometimes quality is an issue and sometimes it is not. Big blanket terms might be where you smell racism. It seems like we should all be talking about it though. Just so that it's in the open.

I don't want to support extreme cruelty.

 

[limom]

Both Spain and Brazil are widely thought to have amazing skills in making shoes.

There's no way to talk about a certain country without someone crying about Racism. But the discussion is interesting and valid (to me) since it's a shopping website.

You can't avoid China in technology. True fact. But seeing companies who have been known to take pride in keeping their products USA made go to China ... (or any other country) is such a sad thing for me to see. Sometimes quality is an issue and sometimes it is not. Big blanket terms might be where you smell racism. It seems like we should all be talking about it though. Just so that it's in the open.

I don't want to support extreme cruelty.

That is why it is crucial that the labels truly reflect where it is made, not assembled but every details possible.
It is fair trade, IMO.
I never thought of buying vintage but I might really explore this avenue.
Thank you, your insights helped me.
I sometimes look for the Union label however I heard there were issues there as well.

 

[lovemyangels]

Both Spain and Brazil are widely thought to have amazing skills in making shoes.

There's no way to talk about a certain country without someone crying about Racism. But the discussion is interesting and valid (to me) since it's a shopping website.

You can't avoid China in technology. True fact. But seeing companies who have been known to take pride in keeping their products USA made go to China ... (or any other country) is such a sad thing for me to see. Sometimes quality is an issue and sometimes it is not. Big blanket terms might be where you smell racism. It seems like we should all be talking about it though. Just so that it's in the open.

I don't want to support extreme cruelty.

I said I feel the shoes made in Spain and Brazil are discomfort to ME. I am not talking about the shoe making skills.

The discussion sure is interesting; otherwise I will not join.

If consumers are not happy with the name brands not revealing the source of where their products are made in, or they out source their production, consumers should blame the name brands but not the countries who made them. Name brands keep raising their prices, in the meantime, they move to lower labor cost countries for manufacturing, who should we blame for?

 

[redskynight]

They used to make their bags in Italy.....Now...it's China....They don't want the customers to know....There are so many brands....Lots of buyers would refuse to pay 500 euros for a made in China bag if they had the info....
Zadig et Voltaire is a very famous brand in France....like Vanessa Bruno, Maje or Sandro...

Not saying where its made is way worse than being honest and saying China.

 

[Sweet Fire]

I don't buy shoes made in Spain or Brezil since they are discomfort to wear, but Isabel Marant sneakers are great quality and they are made in China. I don't think it matters where the goods are made in. It depends on how you value your money and how you judge the quality.

For some reasons, the title of this thread smells racism to me. Am I too sensitive?

It is the fact that there is no way to avoid buying products which has nothing to do with China. It is brand name's quality control issues, not where it is made in. Almost all electronic devices have some degree of relationship (the parts, if not the entire unit) with China. You refuse to buy shoes, clothes and bags are made in China, but you are okay your PDA, cell phone, computer/laptop are made in China?

Yes you are being too sensitve thinking this has anything to do with racism and as someone else pointed out, you can't really discuss shopping/designer goods without mentioning who the manufacture is. It goes hand & hand so it is very relevant to discuss and no one should be accused of having an underlining issue for bringing attention to it. It's a legitimate cause for concern and it needs to be addressed especially on a forum such as this one.

Not to mention I never stated I wouldn't buy anything made in China, I said Paying a higher price for items made in China. So again not sure how or why that statement would be labeled racism.