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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Conflict of Interest Condemn or Allow: Crocs Donates 100,000 Pairs of Hideous Shoes to Japan

Posted by Marjorie Skinner on Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 5:33 PM

Far be it from us to scoff at the charitable acts of others, but does anyone else get a weird vibe from the news that Crocs is bombarding tsunami/earthquake victims in Japan with shoes that—I think we can all agree—are among the worst in the world? (Well, at least worst looking.) I mean, I guess they seem conducive, to like, moist conditions, and they are probably more sturdy than Toms, which purport to solve the shoe problems of children living in developing countries even though they can't even withstand one summer of an American hipster's life. What I guess it boils down to is, which need is more of a factor, Japan's need for Crocs or Crocs' need for good press (and to offload those hideous Crocs)?

 

Comments (16) RSS

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1
could Portland Mercury be anymore American and disposable?
Posted by pink_triangle on March 29, 2011 at 6:03 PM · Report
2
http://www.eastoregonian.com/news/woolen-m…
Posted by PRWalters on March 29, 2011 at 6:15 PM · Report
3
Are those the shoes with holes in them? I feel like those shoes would be horrible shoes for northeastern Japan, where it is mostly cold and wet. My toes are getting frostbite/fungus just thinking about it.
Posted by BruceWang on March 29, 2011 at 6:31 PM · Report
4
Let's allow it...Crocs float.

(Too soon?)
Posted by NoConscience on March 29, 2011 at 6:41 PM · Report
5
Don't worry, they're sending some leftover holes to Haiti and the Congo.
Posted by Todd Mecklem on March 29, 2011 at 8:00 PM · Report
6
I'm sure that a lot of people lost everything but the clothes they were wearing. A week ago Microsoft was the villian for handing out cash to help disaster victims. Is positive PR so wrong that doing nothing at all is a better response?
Posted by Smiley on March 29, 2011 at 8:07 PM · Report
7
Kudos to Pendleton and Mr Walters for pointing that out! Well done!
Posted by El Stunto on March 29, 2011 at 9:42 PM · Report
8
Send some of those shark hoodies you were flogging at one point, Skinner. Those would be great considering the cold climes.
Posted by jake on March 29, 2011 at 10:36 PM · Report
9
Did you know those shoes are edible too? Butt ugly yet weirdly practical.
Posted by Nileann on March 29, 2011 at 11:33 PM · Report
10
Perhaps the Mercury could donate a few tons of snark and ironic disinterest to the people of Japan?
Posted by Number Six on March 30, 2011 at 7:30 AM · Report
11
The article overlooked Croc's most obvious motivation: in this economy and with fashion changes, demand for their products has no doubt seriously declined. Therefore, the charitable tax write-off is likely a lot more valuable than trying to off-load their shoes to discount merchandisers who have little interest in them either.
Posted by sojourner58 on March 30, 2011 at 8:27 AM · Report
12
Haven't the Japanese been through enough? Why are we making them wear Crocs?
Posted by Graham on March 30, 2011 at 9:18 AM · Report
13
Everyone evacuated lost their indoor shoes and bath shoes which look a lot like crocs.

#3 @BruceWang -- they make lined croc for Michigan weather and the normal ones work ok for most of Portland's wet winter.
Posted by Rosy on March 30, 2011 at 9:19 AM · Report
14
I'm sure Japanese folks who lost everything couldn't possibly care less what a bunch of American fashion victims think. Say what you will, Crocs are super-comfortable, practical and durable. Kudos to Crocs.
Posted by Beer Batter on March 30, 2011 at 9:43 AM · Report
15
really?!
I condemn this poll.
Posted by Chester Copperpot on March 30, 2011 at 11:20 AM · Report
16
Hmmm, free stuff is free stuff, whatever the reason, but I am concerned about the usefulness of holy shoes in northern Japan, at the end of the winter :\
Posted by ScrumYummy on March 30, 2011 at 12:05 PM · Report

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