Favorite shoe brands

[coolshoes]

Should have known it--labor cost and skill, not materials drive the price. Explains mass production in China by Payless versus the skills of out of work shoe workers in New England.

[Highluc]

I'm sure those Chineese could also learn the job and then we could have quality shoes at lower prices (even for our then unemployed shoe makers)

[hoverfly]

A couple years ago the last of the shoe manufacturing companies in New England that manufactured in the mid high end market finally went down south. In Portsmouth N.H. one out of four shoe repair stores that I know of in 60 mile radius, closed because the owner was retiring, lack of business, and there was no one to replace him. But things are really cheap when you think about it. My GF had a pair of Boots modified that cost a lot to be done. So what would you do? Pay allot to have something fixed, or buy a new pair of shoes? Unless you have a pair of shoes that you really like to keep wearing, personaly I would go shopping for a new pair of shoes.

[Dr. Shoe]

I'm sure those Chineese could also learn the job and then we could have quality shoes at lower prices (even for our then unemployed shoe makers)

Actually, the Chinese are turning out shoes of unbelievable quality. I bought a pair of all leather oxford shoes in Stead and Simpson (A rare purchase of mens' shoes). On looking at them I thought that they had come out of Lobb's or Cleverley's- there was absolutely nothing to fault them and they were obviously all leather. All this for less than £30. See if you can guess where they were made?