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bucolic_frolic

(48,151 posts)

2. Perhaps more so than most any products

Sat Jan 11, 2025, 01:01 PM

Jan 11

shoe brands have been bought and sold over the last 100 years. Wiki some known brands and follow the links. Even Florsheim has new owners.

After a buyout the new owners need to pay for the acquisition: financing, lawyers, MBAs, downsizing. SO they cheapen the brand they just bought. Could be reducing product lines. Or just plain cheaper materials.

With so many takeovers even the large independents need to reduce costs to compete. Look at Nike.

Trace Reebok, and its private equity partners.

SO yes the shoes are deteriorating. $90 for mesh and poured sole with poor if any arch support. Gimme me 1984 Nikes.

I like Rockport. THey've been cheapened, no replaceable midsoles any more, but few went that route anyway. And they've changed hands several times.

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Highlight:

Is your footwear not lasting as long as it used to? [View all] True Dough Jan 11 OP

Blundstone ZDU Jan 11 #1

Perhaps more so than most any products bucolic_frolic Jan 11 #2

THIS. snot Jan 11 #18

Not your imagination Cirsium Jan 11 #3

I'm going to check those out True Dough Jan 11 #19

Merrell still makes dependable shoes. Hope22 Jan 11 #4

Merrell's are great shoes VMA131Marine Jan 11 #6

Same here! Hope22 Jan 11 #7

Yes. I wear a lot of Merrills. Hoka One One walking/hiking shoes & boots. Timberline still makes a good hlthe2b Jan 11 #11

I've given up on Merrill... 2naSalit Jan 11 #13

I've been backpacking for nearly 40 years, and have worn a lot a lot of boots Martin Eden Jan 11 #24

I've been looking for... 2naSalit Jan 11 #25

Hiking boots are an investment. These list for $330, but occasionally go on sale. Martin Eden Jan 11 #28

They don't have man size feet shoes. GreenWave Jan 11 #32

Birkenstock,,,,, KarenS Jan 11 #5

My feet are not lasting as long as they used to. Sneederbunk Jan 11 #8

We used to have a shoe repair shop near me Diamond_Dog Jan 11 #9

Red Wing WmChris Jan 11 #10

Western Chief for boots KT2000 Jan 11 #12

SAS shoes lonely bird Jan 11 #14

My favorite. rubbersole Jan 11 #21

May get SAS 'boots,' wear their shoes every day. elleng Jan 11 #27

Orthofeet Grumpy Old Guy Jan 11 #15

NOT BY A LONG SHOT Skittles Jan 11 #16

I would be happy to have a decent selection. Old Crank Jan 11 #17

Whoa! Size 16-17? True Dough Jan 11 #20

My son was a ball boy for the Orlando Magic for 10 years. rubbersole Jan 11 #23

Reed boots dpibel Jan 11 #22

No, but my boots (25+ years old) finally expired! elleng Jan 11 #26

Yes when I was working many years ago in retail they lasted a long time. TommieMommy Jan 11 #29

My Thom Mcan sandals from 1978 lasted through my three months in no_hypocrisy Jan 11 #30

I find SAS and Hotter work for me. SharonClark Jan 11 #31

So, I was a land surveyor for almost twelve years. OldBaldy1701E Jan 11 #33

I like New Balance. Elessar Zappa Jan 11 #34