Outdoor Retailer '09: Chaco Sandals

The latest from Outdoor Retailer 2009. River rafters designed 'em - find out what makes Chaco sandals so special. Watch PCTV online at http://parkcity.tv

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[Cambodia69]

@turbo311 - Yeah, if I had to choose between the two, I'd rather buy Canadian than "Made in China" any day. Why? Because Canada doesn't treat her people as poorly as China treats hers. Anyway, I've read a few of the bullshit explanations that Chaco owner Mark Paigen and his general manager Ed Wieland have given as justification for their actions. I might have some respect for them if they had just came out and said the truth... that they're greedy and don't care about anything else.

[Cambodia69]

@turbo311 - My old Chaco's went from being "Made in Colorado" and "Made in USA" to "Assembled in USA" to "Made in China." And people wonder why China is soon going to surpass the US and become the world's largest economy. We've all helped to put them there by buying their cheap products. The "bargain" we think we're getting isn't such a bargain after one considers their true costs. We've been the enablers in our own demise. Corporations will change their behavior only when we change ours.

[turbo311]

@Cambodia69 ...meaning "what was on the drawing board" was too complex and high tech for their USA factory to produce. I know it's sad as typically most things made domestically are better, but not always. A Tilley hat is a good example of a very high quality product made by hand, even though it's Canadian I still highly support them.

[turbo311]

@Cambodia69 I've seen a link "Still made in USA" on the Emerson Knife site. I have NB 570 trail runners there's no info on the tongue saying made anywhere just a size and QR code that my phone wont' scan. I read that Chaco had most of their line being made in China before the official discontinue of the "assembled in USA models" (which were only assembled in USA with parts from around the globe). It said that China has the levels of manufacturing sophistication which Chaco doesn't at their HQ.

[Cambodia69]

@turbo311 - Most New Balance shoes are now made overseas, however, my New Balance 993's are "Made in USA." Some of their other lines are "Assembled in USA," which is obviously made of imported parts but assembled here, or their cheapest models that are all "Made in China." Hersey Custom Shoe Company makes fully "Made in USA" running, walking and hiking shoes/footwear. If you have that kind of money, they're fantastic. Your best bet in finding "Made in USA" is on the net but it's still difficult.

[turbo311]

@Cambodia69 I went shoe/sandal shopping today and couldn't find a single brand made in USA. Even Newbalance seems to have moved to China. What USA options do we have anymore?

[Cambodia69]

I stopped wearing Chaco's once my last Colorado Z-1's wore out and, more importantly, after they closed their U.S. operations and moved to China. Sure, they're good river guide sandals but, speaking as a U.S. citizen, they sold us out and do not deserve our business any longer. Vote with your dollars because it's not just the businesses/producers that are to blame but the consumers as well. We should be more demanding about the choices - or lack thereof - of what we consume and what is produced.