So my wife buys some UGG boots because all the girls are wearing them, and that means she has to, too. Ive asked her numerous times to get a pair of real boots…IE Lowa, Meindl, Asolo, ect. Nope. She says they look like mens shoes and she wont wear them.
So today she gets her $250 UGG boots around 6PM from UPS, and somehow they are already stained across the top of one of them. All I can do is sit there and laugh. “Made in China?”, I ask. She points to the label on the side of the boot which says Australia. I go get the box, look at the label on the side, and sure enough…“Made in China”. I show it to her, and now she is all pissed off. She packs them back into the box all angrily, and takes them into the back of the house.
Maybe tomorrow we can go get her some real boots not made in China, and actually try them on. One boot was tight on her foot, and the other fit fine.
Its astonishing to me people (including her but she is slowly learning) buy big ticket items that are essentially junk but because of the brand they are like hot ticket items. Now we have a pair of boots she wont wear because they are stained when she could have gotten a good pair of European made boots for the same price, and lasted 5 years at least while actually being able to use them. The same thing with Coach purses. All made in China yet these girls are plunking down 500 on one. Cost maybe 5 bucks to make, 5 to ship it, and 5 to sell it.
Just for ole time sakes last night I pulled my Corcoran jump boots out of the closet, US made, around 100 bucks, and they still fit like a glove. Its not impossible to get well made US/western made products at the same price or lower in some cases. I also still have some Lowa boots I got in Germany for around $200, glove leather lined, ect. I really don’t get the “fashion” crowd that spends huge amounts of money on cheap junk just to look “in” for a couple months. Its all cheap 3rd world made junk clothing that turns to shreds.
So if any of your wives are wanting some of these crappy ass boots don’t let them.
I’ve got a pair of “knock-off” UGG[ish] type boots for kickin’ it around the house that I bought some years back, but they’re made here in the U.S.A. At least that’s what the tag stated(?) It’s still holding up.
Now, I seem to remember Catskill Mountain Boots or was it Mocs?
Mine’s got a pair of Uggs I bought her 2 years and she loves them. No problems, no issues and she thinks they’re the most comfy things on the planet. She wears them constantly and I have no regrets from buying hers.
Shhhhh! She’s getting a pair of Frye riding boots this year for Christmas. They’re “fashionable” and have a great reputation for being quality built. Not cheap, but not Gucci prices either. http://www.thefryecompany.com/Default.aspx
Founded in 1863 by John A. Frye, The Frye Company is the oldest continuously operated shoe company in the United States.
Good luck finding US or European made boots. My and my wife’s Lowas were made in China. I have a pair of Vasque made in France but they were among the last from that factory. Vasque still makes heavy mountaineering boots in Italy but they are ill suited for hiking or general use.
Tell your wife to not be too upset in getting a bad pair of Uggs. These boots have actually been reported as being very bad for your feet and ankles as they have little to no support and wearers are at an increased risk for ankle sprains.
My wife is in the same consumer la la land. She has UGGs in mulitple colors and refuses to wear the boots that resemble UGGs, but are half the price. She wants cowboy boots so we went to Cavenders and like a hawk she zeros in on the Lucchese’s with some innate desire to spend the maximum amount possible on an item…so I feel your pain, but what can ya do. A happy wife makes for good times.
+1 for the Fryes, I have a pair of the Hudson Chukkas and I love them.
FYI - I ordered her new boots through Zappos.com and one of the nice things is shipping is free BOTH ways in case they don’t fit or you do a return. Also, you can return them with no problems up to 365 days later and that saves a lot of hassles around the beginning of the new year. Hope it helps and I’m not affiliated.
The woman has a pair of Ugg mocassins that seem very well made, despite being MiC. One of my favorite boots are Dr. Martens 1460’s and due to demand, you can now obtain Made in England Doc’s again. They are very well made boots that last me 4-5 years if I take care of them.
My wife has a pair of UGGs that I bought her two years ago and she wears them all the time. They were actually made in Australia though. I hate the thing but hey, she loves 'em.
I haven’t ever ordered via Zappos but I know several who have and have been very happy so I may give them a shot after the new year as I need some new boots myself.
Fortunately my wife prefers Doc’s and thinks UGG is fugly…so do I. My Doc’s have been to multiple carbine classes and I simply find them the most comfortable.
I have no idea what makes them fashionable…maybe if they had a stiletto heel or something…:sarcastic:
My Asolos I got earlier this year are made in Ukraine.
I think it depends on exactly what boot you get. The lower prices ones may be China but the nicer ones will not be. I have 3 pair of Lowas and they are all European.
It wouldn’t be right to exchange or return something that was damaged after taking them out of the box. The good news is she was able to get most of the stain out but theres still a bit of spot if you know where to look.
I find it impossible to wear Nike running shoes because the sizes do not track, the shoes have weird shapes, etc. I went to a New Balance store and told the kid to show me the shoes not made in China. There were about 6 of them, I found one I liked and made the purchase.
If you want to waste your money, buy something made in China.
But $250 for China-made boots that have $5 worth of sheepskin in them? Unfriggenbelievable.
Taking shoes out of a box, looking at them, and deciding they are damaged product is a completely legit thing to do when ordering something! If you determine they are damaged then returning them is the natural next step. $5 says that she bought them from Zappos online retailer, which has a policy that they take all returns if they don’t fit, or if the person doesn’t like them. This implies that the shoes were taken out of the box, tried on, and looked at, then shipped back.
Ohhhh… Yea I have heard that complaint before. That the Ugg’s are fragile as hell. Had a friend that bought a pair a while back, they didn’t survive her Wyoming Girl ways for more then season.
She’s getting a pair of Frye riding boots this year for Christmas. They’re “fashionable” and have a great reputation for being quality built. Not cheap, but not Gucci prices either. 
He can’t stand Chinese crap either…