Buying cheap products is moraly wrong

[Bayfox]

Would never set foot in primani.

But lets be honest do we think our superdry, nike, next etc are really much better?

Superdry quality is crap. Nike just make huge profits on brand alone.

How much do you think it would cost to buy a pair if the paid the bloke them a tenner an hour instead of a quid.

Then how much would you need paying to cloth your kids etc. I know my wages wouldn't go far.

[The Doctor]

Poor conditions? You should come and work on the market in winter pal with temperatures of up to minus 8, wind and rain pounding everything, very little time to take a toilet break and certainly no chance of a meal break.

The day starts at 5.45, you load a vehicle four times each day by hand and you don't sit down from start to finish most days. You stand and listen to everyone's woes as they visit either the job centre, the courts, the social services or the hospital.

Even if the weather's awful you pay for your stall knowing that there's every likelihood that you won't take a bean. Don't tell me about poor conditions and low pay.

As for the materials you're probably right - so why is anyone allowed to sell such rubbish?. And if they weren't such factories wouldn't exist which would be a blessing for all those poor people in places like England who think they're buying shoes that might at least last the school year.                

 

 

Yeah, because working in cold weather is the same as being beaten by the employers to "encourage productivity", as being forced to sign no-suicide pledges, being forced to sleep in unsanitary conditions, deprived of any sort of breaks what so ever, often forced to work in excess of 12 hours a day with no holidays or days off. I've called workfare akin to slave labour in the other thread, but it pales compared to sweatshop conditions.

 

Would never set foot in primani.

But lets be honest do we think our superdry, nike, next etc are really much better?

Superdry quality is crap. Nike just make huge profits on brand alone.

How much do you think it would cost to buy a pair if the paid the bloke them a tenner an hour instead of a quid.

 

Let's be honest, Nike are one of the main users of child labour and sweat shops, Buying brands is no way of ensuring the workforce was fairly treated.

[Guest MattP]

But lets be honest do we think our superdry, nike, next etc are really much better?

Superdry quality is crap. Nike just make huge profits on brand alone.

 

Superdry is ok, coats are nice.

 

I generally only buy Boss, Lacoste and Paul Smith and they all have standards with regards to this thing.

[Finnegan]

I'm sorry but calling Superdry crap quality is just stupid.

You don't have to like their clothes, to each their own, nor do you have to agree with their (often excessive) prices.

But the production quality of almost everything they make (the windcheaters are dubious) is exceptional. That's obviously going to sound biased because I own a lot of their clothes, namely jumpers and polos, but I wouldn't buy them if it wasn't for their sturdiness.

It's the physical quality that got me wearing their clothes in the first place.

[Guest MattP]

I'm sorry but calling Superdry crap quality is just stupid.

You don't have to like their clothes, to each their own, nor do you have to agree with their (often excessive) prices.

But the production quality of almost everything they make (the windcheaters are dubious) is exceptional. That's obviously going to sound biased because I own a lot of their clothes, namely jumpers and polos, but I wouldn't buy them if it wasn't for their sturdiness.

It's the physical quality that got me wearing their clothes in the first place.

 

Spot on.

 

People often think I'm mad for buying a polo shirt for £120 but when you often wear it once a week and it still looks as good and feels exactly the same as when you purchased it 4-5 years earlier you can see why.

 

Superdry is the same, high quality stuff. You get what you pay for.

[Finnegan]

Spot on.

People often think I'm mad for buying a polo shirt for £120 but when you often wear it once a week and it still looks as good and feels exactly the same as when you purchased it 4-5 years earlier you can see why.

Superdry is the same, high quality stuff. You get what you pay for.

Yep. I've also got a couple of pairs of Levi jeans. I don't necessarily agree with the price, it's a bit OTT but I practically live in them and they last years still looking and feeling excellent.

I've equally had plenty of cheap jeans from Debs and Top Man that are woeful and lasted two minutes.

[Rincewind]

I buy my shirts from charity shops. I sometime get the cast offs of some rich bastard that buys them for £100, wears them a couple of times then donates them. Thank you Matt.

[Finnegan]

I buy my shirts from charity shops. I sometime get the cast offs of some rich bastard that buys them for £100, wears them a couple of times then donates them. Thank you Matt.

You're an inspiration to us all.

[Guest MattP]

I buy my shirts from charity shops. I sometime get the cast offs of some rich bastard that buys them for £100, wears them a couple of times then donates them. Thank you Matt.

 

Anytime, I donated a load of goods to Loros a couple of years back, lots of decent designer stuff in there still in good condition.

 

Kept whining on about the homeless and bankers though and I'll decide to use them as dishrags next time.

[Rincewind]

You're an inspiration to us all.

Thank you

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

IBM Kodak Siemens Hugo Boss Volkswagen all profited from the holocaust, do you buy their products? Where do you draw the line in what is morally right or wrong? Or did it happen to long ago to count?

I am not in disagreement with the original post, only that what may be right or wrong goes far beyond a documentary about slave labour in India.

At some point in time it becomes acceptable to buy from companies with shameful pasts.

We must have all done it. It's not right but that's how things are and will remain.

[Finnegan]

I love a good Kit Kat. Mmmm, tastes like baby killing.

[Strokes]

Yes, lets stop buying the cheap products, then the slaves will definitely not starve.

[Jon the Hat]

I buy my shirts from charity shops. I sometime get the cast offs of some rich bastard that buys them for £100, wears them a couple of times then donates them. Thank you Matt.

 

Be nice to the rich man, he is buying your clothes.

[Merging Cultures]

I've worked with fair trade organisations in India, Pakistan and Rwanda. Plus micro entrepreneurs in Haiti, Burundi, DRC, Liberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Cambodia, Pakistan and a few other places I've forgotten.

Many people in the factories send money home to rural areas. They put up with the poor conditions so that they can pay for school and look after their families.

Fair trade is good. Unfortunately often the products are not great. Often they are not fashionable and out of reach for the average person.

So, what should you do? Buy fair trade when possible. But buy what you need and don't get too worried if it is from a massive factory as those workers are likely supporting a lot of others. Advocate for better working conditions. Support organisations that invest in building skills and markets for entrepreneurs and those that invest in SMEs that create employment.

If you have some money look for ethical investments too. I work for a Dutch investment fund that invests in microfinance institutions that help the poor build businesses. It's open to private investors.

If you don't have much money invest through Kiva. I've worked with a number of the organisations they fund and I can say first hand it works.

[ADK]

I didn't read everyone's responses but I had this discussion with friends at uni a few years back.

 

Basically we discussed it and decided:

 

a) Price is no guarantee that the product was made ethically. 

b) A lot of ethical goods are mis-sold

c) Boycotting goods isn't going to make the lives of the world's poor better necessarily.

d) It's ultimately "not our problem" - we've tried colonialism and it didn't work and was rejected.

 

That said if you know for sure a product is ethical and are willing to pay more for it then good for you. Just don't expect it to change the world.

[The People's Hero]

Pikeys aren't going to give up primark any more than they're going to give up thieving, boozing, drugs, fighting or tucking their trousers in to their socks.

There is a school of thought that giving them money and allowing them to spend it in this country in our shops and partly on highly taxed products (booze) is a positive thing and keeps money moving and keeps them happy. Taking their primark away is like telling them they can no

Longer have kestrel super strength or can't bring their many kids up solely on 1% chicken asda smart price chicken nuggets. They have human rights you know? You bloody animals. Have you no compassion?

[Trav Le Bleu]

We stand around so proud of ourselves because we abolished slavery over 200 years ago, but we haven't. The simple fact of modern life is that you don't need to bring slaves to you, you can keep them abroad. So no more stinking sweatshops down the road, they're in Chittagong and Rawalpindi.

 

Unfortunately there are too many stupid people who just think that cheapest is best when good economics is to buy the best that you can afford. If people did this they would create wealth in their own regions and thereby create jobs, which, hey presto, means you can buy better things and so on and so far. Sadly, the nature of the animal means this never happens.

[Rincewind]

not everyone can afford the most expensive stuff.

[Trav Le Bleu]

not everyone can afford the most expensive stuff.

*sigh*

 

Unfortunately there are too many stupid people who just think that cheapest is best when good economics is to buy the best that you can afford. If people did this they would create wealth in their own regions and thereby create jobs, which, hey presto, means you can buy better things and so on and so far. Sadly, the nature of the animal means this never happens.

 

 

[Rincewind]

*sigh*

 

 

 

i was agreeing

[Bayfox]

I'm sorry but calling Superdry crap quality is just stupid.

You don't have to like their clothes, to each their own, nor do you have to agree with their (often excessive) prices.

But the production quality of almost everything they make (the windcheaters are dubious) is exceptional. That's obviously going to sound biased because I own a lot of their clothes, namely jumpers and polos, but I wouldn't buy them if it wasn't for their sturdiness.

It's the physical quality that got me wearing their clothes in the first place.

I'm not calling superdry. I like the stuff but my windcheater coat. With a hole in the seem under the arm and snapped elastic round the bottom says different.

Plus a couple of tshirts with splits round the labels without excessive wear.

Point still remains.

we pay for labels with no good reason. Made in the same shit hole on the far side of the world no doubt.

but if the kidda was on a tenner superdry, nike etc would want 3 times the wedge.

[Samilktray]

I'm sorry but calling Superdry crap quality is just stupid.

You don't have to like their clothes, to each their own, nor do you have to agree with their (often excessive) prices.

But the production quality of almost everything they make (the windcheaters are dubious) is exceptional. That's obviously going to sound biased because I own a lot of their clothes, namely jumpers and polos, but I wouldn't buy them if it wasn't for their sturdiness.

It's the physical quality that got me wearing their clothes in the first place.

The quality isnt great at all really. 

[Dr The Singh]

We stand around so proud of ourselves because we abolished slavery over 200 years ago, but we haven't. The simple fact of modern life is that you don't need to bring slaves to you, you can keep them abroad. So no more stinking sweatshops down the road, they're in Chittagong and Rawalpindi.

 

Unfortunately there are too many stupid people who just think that cheapest is best when good economics is to buy the best that you can afford. If people did this they would create wealth in their own regions and thereby create jobs, which, hey presto, means you can buy better things and so on and so far. Sadly, the nature of the animal means this never happens.

Who is we, we have no control on what goes on in other nations, let alone what our governments do in other nations, regardless of what political party, our governments will assist in genocide and deny it all in the name £££££££'s.  I agree slavery exist in a vile way, so does genocide, so does rape!!

 

I've seen primark, M&S, burberry etc all come from the same factory, the quality of workmanship is the same, but quality of materials is not!!

[Trav Le Bleu]

Who is we, we have no control on what goes on in other nations, let alone what our governments do in other nations, regardless of what political party, our governments will assist in genocide and deny it all in the name £££££££'s.  I agree slavery exist in a vile way, so does genocide, so does rape!!

 

I've seen primark, M&S, burberry etc all come from the same factory, the quality of workmanship is the same, but quality of materials is not!!

 

Humankind