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| - After a poor experience with some $40 steel toed shoes she bought at Big 5 Sporting goods, I sent my daughter to the Red Wing Store in Tempe, and told her to get some quality shoes. She returned home with a set of shoes called "Worx", for which they charged her $175. Dubious as to why these were not just called "Red Wing", I pulled a shoe out of the box and read the label. I was stunned to see "Made In China". I had always known "Red Wing" as an American company, I had no idea that they had sold out and started selling Chinese products. Then I Googled the model number. Turns out you can buy the same boot, new, online for $89. That is almost half the price the store charged her. I had her take them back and order the same set from online, as she really like the shoes.
While she was returning them, I browsed the display at the store, out of 10-12 shoes I looked at, only one was actually made in the USA, and it was nearly $300 for a pair. The one saving grace, is that the store gave her no resistance to return the shoes, and process the refund right away.
To Red Wings credit, they clearly state on the website, that the Worx line is sourced in China. Sadly the store did not inform my daughter, and she did not think to read the label. Maybe not a case of buyer beware, but at least inform yourselves, and research before you purchase.
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