Nike Buying Rival Converse for $305 Million (No more Chuck Taylors! Sniff!)

Fox News ^ | 7.9.03

[mhking]

BOSTON

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

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[MineralMan]

Well, it sounds to me like Nike might just re-introduce the All-Star. I hope so. My last pair of hi-tops is just about shredded, and I hadn't been able to find any more.

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

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[two23]

I just bought my Standard Issue Chuckie Taylors from Converse.com and noticed for the first time that my Chuckies were made in China. I've been wearing Chuck Taylors for years and years. It was the last shoe that was Made In America.

[martin_fierro]

Is it just me, or is Nike just making some butt-ugly shoes these days.

[Richard Kimball]

This is a shortened version of another article I read on this (not on Freep.) It pointed out that Converse was the victim of it's own internal management screwups. One example they gave: Nike signed Michael Jordan, Converse signed Lattrell Sprewell (the guy who was caught choking his coach during a practice session.)

[connectthedots]

The leather Adidas 'Super Star' shoe introduced in the very late 60's started the trend away from Chuck Taylors.

[connectthedots]

Lattrell Sprewell (the guy who was caught choking his coach during a practice session.)

P.J. Carlisimo was an arrogant,degrading, negative, critical man who deserved to be choked.

[kellynla]

I was able to acquire a couple of pair of All Stars last year which were the some of the last ones Made in the USA.

[two23]

Converse always boasted their "ALL American Made" Chuck Taylors. It just isn't the same...my new ones are
Chuckie China's.
(I guess I need to check some local shoe shops for older stock, USA made ones.) These shoes last me over 5 years (or should I say "used to"?) I do have 2 older pair that are USA made. Wonder if I should have them bronzed??? LOL

[Richard Kimball]

Maybe so, but I'd rather have Jordan selling my shoes than Sprewell.

[two23]

"Is it just me, or is Nike just making some butt-ugly shoes these days.

No it's not you--dern, those shoes look like they were modified by a Snapper Lawn Mower.

[hattend]

It was the last shoe that was Made In America.

Some New Balance shoes are still made in USA. At least that's what it says on the tongue of my 716s.

[Maigrey]

Converse also had signed Larry Johnson, who also wasn't as popular as Jordan. (This was when he was being hyped as Grandmama.....)

[mr.pink]

My last pair of hi-tops is just about shredded, and I hadn't been able to find any more.

LOL...nothing like a pair of well worn Chucks...and nothing can stink to high heaven quite like a pair of well worn Chucks either.

I was disappointed in the last pair I bought, as the stars fell off in three days.

[Hatteras]

I wore the canvas Chuck Taylors in grade school but I wore out more than a few pairs of Dr. J's in high school.

[Lockbar]

Hey Martin, are those the Nikes that Barney Frank wears to Fire Island? ;-)

[kellynla]

Well ya know I used to wear them to play basketball in grade school and high school(60's) but you have to admit that basketball shoes have come a long, long way in the past twenty years. I only wear mine to drive in. I could never lace up a pair and play hoop on concrete after wearing some of the present shoes out there. And if you do acquire a pair of USA made ones I would certainly save them...I am. LOL

[Afronaut]

Look for... 
(Complete Listing: Made in USA shoes)

Many New Balance shoes are produced by the New Balance team in one of our six United States factories. While most of the footwear industry has moved its production overseas to take advantage of low labor costs and generally cheaper production costs, New Balance has continued to make many of their shoes in the United States and have expanded production substantially.

Since 1995 New Balance has increased their manufacturing jobs by 65%. 

 

Quote from New Balance...

"We at New Balance are proud to provide jobs to the U.S. workforce, and proud of our well-educated, high-quality employees who can compete with anyone in the world. Through their hard work, we are able to make many of our models of shoes in the United States despite the competition from lower cost imports."

Unfortunately, New Balance is not able to obtain all materials and components that are needed for the shoes produced in the United States. In some cases, they are simply not available. In other situations, economic and quality considerations dictate foreign sourcing. However, New Balance remains committed to providing jobs for American workers and to supporting domestic manufacturers and suppliers where possible.

The Federal Trade Commission has attempted to determine what it means to say a product is "made in" the United States. While this seems like a simple question, the answer is not always obvious given the global nature of the economy. New Balance believes most consumers think "Made in USA" means that real manufacturing jobs were provided to U.S. workers in order to make that product. The shoes produced in New Balance U.S. factories are made by U.S. workers using both U.S. and imported materials. Where the level of domestic value is at least 70%, New Balance has labeled the shoe "Made in USA". Where it falls below that level, New Balance has qualified it as containing both domestic and imported materials. This determination is based in part on a survey of consumers conducted by the FTC.

 

For a listing of all New Balance shoes Made in the USA... click here.

I always buy NB 991's.....