Is anyone else annoyed by Tom's shoes?

[Unregistered]



I came across this blog which totally nails the argument against TOMS. It's worth a read http://apersonaldiaspora.blogspot.com/2011/04/toms-discussion-on-bad-aid.html

Thanks for the great read mate

 

[Kid Nickels]

also not a fan. Trendy, hippie bullshit.

 

[anginaprinzmetal]

These Tom's are the new Crocs. They are per se not necessary horrible... if you paid $ 3. 00 for them...

The guy went to Argentina (I happen to be from Argentina) and noticed some shoes (espadrilles) called alpargatas (they come in jute or rubber sole) and just copy them, he even put the Argentina flag in the back/heel of the shoe. This "shoes" cost about $ 3-5 (this accounting for the sellers earnings) in Argentina and of course is what abject poor people used to wear, over the last 20-30 years have slowly moved in to the middle classes as leisure shoes. There is no way in hell they cost $ 45-70 which is what you pay retail in any mall in the US. The fact that he says that he donates a pair of shoes for each one sold here is a joke. If he is also getting a tax cut is even sickening. Nonetheless he is a marketing genius.

just my $ 0.02...

 

[erictheobscure]

I guess I'm conflicted about this. I think Tom's shoes are ass ugly. But I'm also wary of knee-jerk cynical reactions against the attempt to do some good (especially when the attacks are on aesthetic grounds). On the other hand, there's plenty of reason to be wary about benevolent/charitable consumerism as a marketing ploy.

Slavoj Zizek has a characteristically entertaining little lecture that's relevant:

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]

 

[Mark it 8]

Well, fortunately the market has expanded and we can now buy Bobs by Skechers in protest. It could be the most blatant, hilarious ripoff I have ever seen. Those kids sure are going to get a hell of a lot of shoes. What happens to the discards? Is there a huge landfill somewhere with a mountain of ugly discarded shoes?

 

[curzon]

Though I'm not a Malthusian I recognize that resources are finite. And they shouldn't be wasted.

I suspect the irony of fall-apart, resource-depleting shoes is lost on its tree-hugging maker.

Anyway, I've traveled and lived in many third-world countries and flip flops suffice. For me, too. You can pick up new ones for a buck or two.

 

[CalTex]

I had one girl tell me she liked them because they were "casual".

 

[alaminreb]

I never heard that and have no idea.

 

[Reggs]

Sketcher's Bobs are such a blatant rip-off that I kind of admire them for it. Their PR is pretty much bullet-proof since it's going to charity anyway.

 

[mr.orange]



Well, fortunately the market has expanded and we can now buy Bobs by Skechers in protest. It could be the most blatant, hilarious ripoff I have ever seen.

And they even admit it Per their website; Inspired by the South American alpargata shoe and the idea of gifting a pair with a purchase we created the BOBS collection to help children worldwide. It isn't a new idea, but it's a great idea-and we are happy to be part of a charity movement that has the potential to impact so many.

Those kids sure are going to get a hell of a lot of shoes. What happens to the discards? Is there a huge landfill somewhere with a mountain of ugly discarded shoes?

LOL

Tom's shoes isnt doing anything different than any other corporation in the US. They are taking a tax write off, but instead of donating money they are donating goods and exploiting the hell out of it. The reason those shoes are so obnoxious looking is so they are recognizable. People can wear them around and discreetly say "look at me and my obnoxious shoes- I gave shoes to a poor kid. Arent I great?" This is pretty funny because it is much more efficient to donate to charity, but of course, there wouldnt be a badge of honor to wear.

If people want to help chlidren by buying TOMS then let them. Everybody wants a little recognition for their good deeds (even if it is self serving).

I dont disparage Tom's for making a profit- I disparage them for making it look as if that is not the principle mission....

Well they can't come out and say "Hey we're going to sell you some **** shoes that are going to cost you alot more than what it costs to make them but it's OK because we're giong to give a free pair, that's right you heard right free pair, to children who really need them." Like any other company, they're in it for the money and the day it becomes expensive to give a free pair of shoes to needy kids, i gurantee you they will stop.

okay so first of all, the person who made TOMS, is name is NOT Tom. It is Blake. They do not fall apart in a week either! I've had mine for 4 months, and many more pairs too. These are stylish shoes, (Oh, which you probably wouldn't know that.) They got this design from a small town in argentina. Not china. And people are buying these shoes for a good reason. ONE FOR ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

shameless promoter.

Well, I know one thing for certain.

Blake is sitting back in an incredibly expensive office chair, in an incredibly large house that has incredibly expensive cars in the garage and is watching his revenues skyrocket thanks to idiots.

Man, that good-hearted marketing gets people every time.

he probably doesn't even wear TOMS. FWIW I bought a pair of TOMS for a friend of mine as a Christmas present last year. I knew I was paying way too much but I didn’t really care because she really wanted them. She got a pair of shoes, a kid in South America got a pair of shoes, and I got the joy of giving. Everybody wins! Yay!

 

[Guy Testarossa]

I saw the comercials on Hulu but never paid any attention or bothered to look at the shoes.

Looks like something you could get for $3 in China Town. Seems you could buy a big box of them and send them all over the world if you felt people needed them.

It's all about making money and they are doing it by trying to pull a tear jerk reaction on you. Of course I am stating the obvious. But to me that a scummy way to make money and I am a pornographer.

Correction. Toms shoes look a lot worse than a pair of $3 shoes from China Town. The things look ugly as sin.

 

[Kid Nickels]



Correction.  Toms shoes look a lot worse than a pair of $3 shoes from China Town.  The things look ugly as sin.

nothing like a necropost to kick off the festivities... welcome to SF.