Bonnie Alba
Levi's and toasters - - change not always better
By Bonnie Alba
Levi Strauss — who doesn't recognize the royal brand name of denim jeans? Millions of men have depended on Levi's for generations. In the past, Levi Strauss meant quality. When anyone purchased a pair of Levis, they knew that when they got them home — they would fit. Not in this century.
All my husband wanted for Christmas was some Levis. Being the wife who wants to make my hubby happy, I bought two pair, wrapped them and put them under the tree. He was happy as a lark to receive size 32-30. Alas, when he tried them on, one pair was too long, one too short and neither fit right. Both pairs were made in different countries — Haiti and Dominican Republic.
We took them back to the store to exchange them. Searching through the stack for his size, we found three pairs of 32-30 Levi's. We were surprised to find they were Made in Lesotho; Mexico; and Bangladesh. None matched any of the others in their posted size. Five different countries total. Only one pair, Made in Mexico, would fit, not perfectly, but okay. Of course, the additional matter of "not being the same denim or material as of old" is also frustrating as they don't wear well.
A younger man was there also looking for his size to exchange the ones he received for Christmas. (another wife making her hubby happy). His last comment to us was "I'm more than willing to pay more for Levi's like they used to make." Ditto! Are you listening LEVI?
American consumers have too much variety; Not enough quality! The reality is that while shopping for anything these days, from clothing to appliances to cars, we have to be extra careful. There are more lemons in every bunch.
The recent publicized recalls of foreign products on pet food and children's toys have upped the ante on our being more alert to what and where we buy.
Speaking of appliances, we received a Sunbeam toaster as a gift at our 1963 wedding. In 2004, this old friend still worked but was temperamental. Like we humans whose body parts run down over life spans, our toaster friend was moody in its old age, sometimes working, sometimes not. We decided to give it a decent burial and buy a new one.
The new toaster has been slow to toast from its first use. We're putting up with it for now. Where was it made? You guess.
American consumers are having a difficult time, not only choosing among the large variety of same-item products, but also finding long-lasting, quality products. And just try to find "Made in America" products.
The Blame Game: Who?
ALL of us. Citizens, corporations & manufacturers, Unions and Big Government. All of us are to blame. We have allowed this deterioration of our nation's manufacturing infrastructure to the detriment of our future as a strong "we can do it" nation with American Work Ethics.
Asking the questions: Is it possible that:
Americans are looked upon as consumers who consume anything and everything, no matter where it was manufactured. Yet we have lost something in the process — we can't produce a pair of Levis nor even a toaster.
So much for self-sustaining America.
My husband, a Levi customer for over 50 years, is disgusted. He's looking at all the other brands to find any which might take Levi's place in consistent sizes and quality.
Just Consumers — that's all.
© Bonnie Alba
Levi Strauss — who doesn't recognize the royal brand name of denim jeans? Millions of men have depended on Levi's for generations. In the past, Levi Strauss meant quality. When anyone purchased a pair of Levis, they knew that when they got them home — they would fit. Not in this century.
All my husband wanted for Christmas was some Levis. Being the wife who wants to make my hubby happy, I bought two pair, wrapped them and put them under the tree. He was happy as a lark to receive size 32-30. Alas, when he tried them on, one pair was too long, one too short and neither fit right. Both pairs were made in different countries — Haiti and Dominican Republic.
We took them back to the store to exchange them. Searching through the stack for his size, we found three pairs of 32-30 Levi's. We were surprised to find they were Made in Lesotho; Mexico; and Bangladesh. None matched any of the others in their posted size. Five different countries total. Only one pair, Made in Mexico, would fit, not perfectly, but okay. Of course, the additional matter of "not being the same denim or material as of old" is also frustrating as they don't wear well.
A younger man was there also looking for his size to exchange the ones he received for Christmas. (another wife making her hubby happy). His last comment to us was "I'm more than willing to pay more for Levi's like they used to make." Ditto! Are you listening LEVI?
American consumers have too much variety; Not enough quality! The reality is that while shopping for anything these days, from clothing to appliances to cars, we have to be extra careful. There are more lemons in every bunch.
The recent publicized recalls of foreign products on pet food and children's toys have upped the ante on our being more alert to what and where we buy.
Speaking of appliances, we received a Sunbeam toaster as a gift at our 1963 wedding. In 2004, this old friend still worked but was temperamental. Like we humans whose body parts run down over life spans, our toaster friend was moody in its old age, sometimes working, sometimes not. We decided to give it a decent burial and buy a new one.
The new toaster has been slow to toast from its first use. We're putting up with it for now. Where was it made? You guess.
American consumers are having a difficult time, not only choosing among the large variety of same-item products, but also finding long-lasting, quality products. And just try to find "Made in America" products.
The Blame Game: Who?
ALL of us. Citizens, corporations & manufacturers, Unions and Big Government. All of us are to blame. We have allowed this deterioration of our nation's manufacturing infrastructure to the detriment of our future as a strong "we can do it" nation with American Work Ethics.
Asking the questions: Is it possible that:
- The unions became too arrogant in their demands for workers; way beyond what companies and corporations were obligated to provide? Increasing demands by unions and workers placed manufacturers in a no-win situation.
- Our "ever-increasing in power" federal government over-regulated and overtaxed businesses; beginning with overdoing the "safety" issue? Or, that when the big corporation lobbyists got solidly entrenched in Congress, they also traded tit for tat, but ended up being outwitted by Big Government? Making it all but impossible to make a decent profit in America?
- Hit from both sides — Big Government and Unions — Capitalism ceased to be what it should be? At the least, have we all flown the coop and joined the Once-True Americans — Now Globalists?
- Citizen-consumer-workers overreached with their demands for safety, higher wages, shorter work hours — all to achieve a comfortable house with a 2-car garage in suburbia?
Americans are looked upon as consumers who consume anything and everything, no matter where it was manufactured. Yet we have lost something in the process — we can't produce a pair of Levis nor even a toaster.
So much for self-sustaining America.
My husband, a Levi customer for over 50 years, is disgusted. He's looking at all the other brands to find any which might take Levi's place in consistent sizes and quality.
Just Consumers — that's all.
© Bonnie Alba
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