Adidas buys Reebok

clarette · 08-03-2005, 02:30 PM

http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/03/news/international/adidas_reebok.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

It's an interesting move on Adidas' part, trying to break into more of the North American market.

Oh, and they talk about the World Cup and how Adidas' WC effort may be impacted by the acquisition.

Czar Jake · 08-03-2005, 03:01 PM

hopefully they clean up reebok's sweat shop operations in southeast asia. If I were an athlete I'd be disgraced to have my name printed on reebok product.

Stucki · 08-03-2005, 03:03 PM

Nnnoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aerick · 08-03-2005, 03:58 PM

I'm a big fan of Adidas, so anything that makes them more successful is good news to me.

Stucki · 08-03-2005, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Czar Jake

hopefully they clean up reebok's sweat shop operations in southeast asia. If I were an athlete I'd be disgraced to have my name printed on reebok product.

Sweat shop is such a subjective term.

Czar Jake · 08-03-2005, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stucki

Sweat shop is such a subjective term.

So you subscribe to the "well 17 cents/hour is not much, but at least it's more than they WOULD be getting if not for reebok!" theory?

I hate that theory. To me it is a cop-out (spelling?). Reebok can certainly afford to pay them more than that, considering their cost for an NFL jersey is $5 out of the shop, and they sell for upwards of $70 (and yes I realize that the players union and everyone gets a cut).. but why not do better for your employees?

RSLfrontrowfan · 08-03-2005, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerick

I'm a big fan of Adidas, so anything that makes them more successful is good news to me.

I'm all about Adidas as well. Nike stinks imho.

Czar Jake · 08-03-2005, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSLfrontrowfan

I'm all about Adidas as well. Nike stinks imho.

Yeah I hate how Nike just makes the same kit and changes the color. Sure Adidas has their stripes but at least they will make different jerseys.

Stucki · 08-03-2005, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Czar Jake

So you subscribe to the "well 17 cents/hour is not much, but at least it's more than they WOULD be getting if not for reebok!" theory?

I hate that theory. To me it is a cop-out (spelling?). Reebok can certainly afford to pay them more than that, considering their cost for an NFL jersey is $5 out of the shop, and they sell for upwards of $70 (and yes I realize that the players union and everyone gets a cut).. but why not do better for your employees?

Because if they paid them according to our standards it would blow the local wage scale and cause rapid inflation.

I admit that 17 cents doesn't sound like much, but compare it to the local wage scale. If it is low by their standards then complain.

The other issues is tha the only reason the factory is located there is because of low labor costs. The single biggest factor in textile production is labor costs. As soon as wages raise significantly, the factory will move to where wages are lower. That is why the southern US is no longer a center of textile production, becuase the workers there have priced themselves out of the market. If I were you, I would be more concerned with where the textiles sold at discount department stores are manufactured.

As the son of a dairy farmer, I can tell you that the increases in the price of milk and cheese don't go to the farmers, either.

I am more concerned with other things like safety factors, than I am with raw wages, because that just isn't a realistic comparison. So, if you are calling it a sweatshop because of unsafe conditions, I am on your side, if it is based only on wages, not necessarily.

Sorry, the geography teacher came out again.

Stucki · 08-03-2005, 05:08 PM

PS Phillip Knight is the anti-Christ, or something like that.