Blundstone Boots

[ozwinner]

I dont usually get upset when things are made off shore as I figure there is a reason.

But lay off my boots..:~

I would have paid $200 per pair of Blunnies if it saves jobs here rather than the $80 I have been paying..

I hope RM Williams are still made here as they are looking like the replacement boots for me.

Al :~:((:~

[duckman]

I believe that R.M. Williams went offshore a couple of years ago.

As for Blundstones, they lost me about five years ago when they changed the style of the boots that I was wearing and the new style didn't suit my feet. I've been through Jenkins, worst boots I've ever owned and about two years ago happened across King Gee. They suit me perfectly and cost around $75.00 from Big W, less when they're on special.:)

[jmk89]

On RMW - two friends of mine are directors of RMW and they tell me that most of the clothing is made offshore, but all the leather (and especially the boots and saddles) are still made in Australia. In fact, they tried to find manufacturers for the clothing, but no-one who could do the quantities could give consistent qulity and no-one who could do the quality could come close to the volume required - price then became an issue, but that wasn't the first criterion. However, since RM's did the boots and leather in Oz and really had little clothing to speak of until recently, little of which was done in Oz, no jobs have been lost here, just the opportunity to create some more.

[duckman]

On RMW - two friends of mine are directors of RMW and they tell me that most of the clothing is made offshore, but all the leather (and especially the boots and saddles) are still made in Australia.<snip>

That's good to hear. One day I'm going to buy a pair of RM's boots. Dress boots though, not work boots. I figure everyone owes it to themselves to own at least one pair of RM's during their lifetime. :)

Cheers,

[Bleedin Thumb]

Al Blunies are cr## any way.
The way I think of it is that I spend about 10 hrs a day in them sometimes even on week ends.
I spend $350 or more for my boots but...
1. They are fully waterproof
2. They are thermally insulated with gortex and breath
3. They are very, very comfy
4. They last for 2 - 3 years.
5. And I'm worth it:)

The current model are Merrell previous I've had Lakeside and Redwings seems the yanks can make a good boot.

Do a net search they seem expensive but you eliminate a lot of that tiredness at the end of the day so its a small investment and (tax deductable).

[Daddles]

I've had a pair of RMW boots to work in and I haven't wasted my money with them again. The boots were okay, sort of, and sure, the soles only lasted six months where other brands did waaayyyy better, and you could get them repaired by local 'craftsmen' at the factory, but the hyper expensive repairs were horrible and no inducement to support local 'craftsmanship' (and that's without all the lies and stuffing around I went through). In those days, I lived a mile from the factory so I am talking 'local'.

The unions have to be careful with this Blundstone thing. The original stories sounded like the company was going to look after its employees but with all the chest beating from the radicals (such as the construction workers union - lower case because I don't know their proper name), you could forgive the company for rethinking it and doing what so many businesses have done. Of course, that could all be media spin too, but if the company is looking after the people it's sacking (such as paying them their entitlements), I don't like them being cast as demons.

Of course, there is the company claim that labour here is 12 times what it'll cost in India and Asia. If that's true, why are we supporting slave labour?

Richard
concerned the undercurrents are going to be more complicated than we'd like to think

[DavidG]

Keeping it simple.
We gets what we pays for.

If we (the consumer) don't buy AU made because of the cost then do not blame the manufacturer in trying to reduce their cost so they can compete.

[ozwinner]

Keeping it simple.
We gets what we pays for.

If we (the consumer) don't buy AU made because of the cost then do not blame the manufacturer in trying to reduce their cost so they can compete.

But I was buying them..:?
Its not about competition or reducing costs (that sounds like some spin from a manufacturer), its about maximizing the profits and bugger the workers.

Al :~

[JDarvall]

I have always worn bloodstones.....till recently as well.

I wear ' Hard yakka, steel tips ' now from k-mart for 60 bucks.........cause I'm just such a HARRRRRRRD man. ......

hard yakka, hard yakka.......hard yakka, hard yakka, hard yakka...... .

with these boots now, I CAN do anything..... I managed to pull a mining truck up a hill today by rope.... didn't even grunt. Cause I'm a HARRRRRD man.

Only chippys are hard men......not like you bricklayers in your volleys and pink fairy dresses, eh Al ? :p

[Stuart]

Hear hear Al. I don't buy boots often.....because I buy good boots. And the pricetag is not ruler I use find which one measure up to my requirements. Country of origin rates a lot higher.

Australian industry can't compete on price. So they should blow the opposition out of the water with quality.

And stop importing crap.

[olddog]

Hi,
I live in Goulburn NSW we have a boot manufacturer here called BAXTERS, they have done it a bit different, they now import the uppers,which are the costly bits and sew them together at Goulburn the factory is still working with only 5 or 6 people and they call in more if needed, so some jobs still in town, they just could not compete with over sea,s costs, they make elastic sided boots for the Police,Airforce etc,but the Government calls contracts and takes the cheapest price and bugger the Australian workforce, boots were coming out of the factory for say $50 and retailers sell them for $200 plus I don't blame people for for not buying them, you can go to the markets and buy boots for $10 .............Peter

[namtrak]

.......Of course, there is the company claim that labour here is 12 times what it'll cost in India and Asia. If that's true, why are we supporting slave labour.....

With limited knowledge of international economics I think the salaries relate more to the cost of living in the relative country. To say someone earning $30,000 in Australia as opposed to $2000 in another country is slave labour, I think doesn't take into account how much it costs to live in Australia as opposed to to how much it costs live elsewhere.

I actually think both the unions and the employers have a legitimate case. The union wants to make sure that employees in Australia earn enough ($30,000) to pay rent, bills, groceries etc whilst employers want to cut their wage costs by around 70-80%. It creates a serious paradox, for which I don't believe any government, employer group or union would have a simple answer. What case to answer does Telstra have, if it outsources it's call centres to India, when it (Telstra) returns a dividend to it's share holders. I mean how many share holders have thrown in the towel in disgust because Telstra is out sourcing some of it's services?

Blundstone is in exactly the same position, they will save a huge amount on their wages bill.

Personally I'm all for leather, lace up, steel capped boots of any brand. Maybe there's a boots poll brewing!!!

[Christopha]

Tried Redwings, absolute crap, lasted under 3 months, tried Rossis', not bad but not as good as me Blunnies.... and incidentally now the last pair of bloody blundstones I ever purchase..... Not going to buy Blunnies made in fargin Indja by "rashid the ratty"! I want boots made in Oz by Bruce and Ocker and Nev or maybe Narelle!

[Iain]

Used to get issued with Blundstone and reckoned the box would be more comfortable, I opted for Rossi, which I think were locally made.

[Grunt]

Just when their down, someone really sticks the boots in.

[ozwinner]

Just when their down, someone really sticks the boots in.

It wont be a Blunnie though..:doh:

Al :q

[Christopha]

That was blundt!

[Bluegum]

I've just been given a pair of boots called fire ants which are made in China and they IMHO would have to be the worst things i have worn. Stitching coming out of the uppers on mine and laces tearing eyelets out in other blokes boots. Yet my faithfull Blunnies seem to take all the punishment that I give them. I found that Bata boots not to be that bad once you get them broken in. Just a shame that another local company has to head O/S to cut costs.:no: :no: :o

[Shedhand]

:ranton:
I'm a born and bred Tassie. From the bush. Blunnies have been around a loooong time. I guess by keeping the head office and admin in Tassie they can still claim to be Tasmanian. But don't be fooled into thinking the price of the boots will come down. What this exercise about is margin envy. This is a family owned company (the original Cuthbertson clan) and they've cast their eyes over the profit results of the competitors (public companies with thousands of shareholders to cater to) already using slave labour :bowdown: and want to increase the margins. Thats it. Buy a pair of Nike sneakers and you'll pay upwards of 350 bucks. Made in Mexico, China, Indonesia and Brazil. All slave wage economies. If they were true democracies labour would be allowed to organise and the poor bastrads could agitate for fair wages. Surely you must agree with the principle of a "fair days wages for a fair days work". They haven't heard the phrase in India or China for that matter.

And no good bagging the unions. The bloody company set everything up in strict secrecy and then dumped it on the employees out of the blue. Thats no way to treat loyal employees. And its not the Construction Union its the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union who have been battling for years to get decent wages for workers in the industry.
And 30,000 bucks a year less tax is not a living wage. Its more like 55,000 for a family with 3 kids at school.
This is John Howard's and Kevin Andrews' brave you new world and its happened because my party, Labor and the union movement lost their bottle and therefore the membership. I don't like the boots anyway so I stopped wearing them after they were no longer issued to me at work many years ago.

Sorry, can't help meself. I'm goin' to the shed to work off some steam.

:rantoff:

[Tonyz]

Rossi boots are all made in South Aus. flamin great boots $90.and have 'lived'in them 2.5 years not a sausage wrong with em will see out another 18 months at least.

Tony

[Cliff Rogers]

I used to always buy Rossi 'cos my Dad did too but then when I moved up into the hills to a very wet climate they just sheyet themselves in no time at all....
I was having a grizzle about them to my Dad on the phone & he said that he switched to Blunnies 'cos they lasted longer.
I have 2 pairs of Blunnies now, brown ones for paddock bashing & shed work 'cos we have red dirt & black ones for office work fixing computers. (leaves good marks when you kick them. :2tsup: )
Don't know what I'll do now..... guess I had better grab a couple of spare pair of the Oz made ones in case the quality goes out the window. :(

[coastie]

I seem to remember being taught in an Economics class about "monopolistic capitalism is worse than communism".
These b......s want the boots produced at Chinese prices but still charge Australian made prices for them. Just so they can grow richer at the Aussie workers expense.
I always thought that a brand of clothing which has its head office in Vic.was Aussie made because of the advertising "We test our garments etc,etc",but on going into one of their stores and looking at the merchandise walked out in disgust.Everything ,and I mean everything ,was 'Made in China'.
Stick it up your fundamental fella!:upset:

[womble]

Only ever youse to wear blunnies once, specially being a gardner on the southern atherton tablelands with lots of rain (lots), mud etc. They were far better than any other brand I used in terms of comfort and traction in mud...but now...

Got a pair of Redbacks for work in the prison but wear them elsewhere too, they seem pretty good and are more comfortable than blunnies (to me anyway), plus they are 100% aussie made and owned apparently :2tsup:

http://www.redback.net.au/company.html

All our boots are made in Australia by workers who are employed under Government regulated awards. All Redback workers have a superannuation plan for retirement, Workplace safety insurance and comprehensive Government Medical care - employees are free to join a union if they so wish. The Redback factory complies with all Government Occupational Health and Safety Requirements and Equal Opportunity Requirements.

[fred.n]

Well done to you workers there!:2tsup: :2tsup:

Pitty things have gone this way and management has decided
to go off-shore, to chase the dollars:(( :((

I truly hope you guys find work and things pan out.

I worked in the textile industry for a few years, and once those tarrifs
come off, things get really tight:((
best of luck

Fred

[Cliff Rogers]

..Got a pair of Redbacks for work ... they seem pretty good and are more comfortable than blunnies (to me anyway), plus they are 100% aussie made and owned apparently :2tsup: .....

Thanks for the womble, I'll have a look for a pair.

[bennylaird]

They are just as good as Blunnies

[boban]

They are just as good as Blunnies


When I needed to buy a new pair after the Blunnies sole went, my BIL made sure I tried a pair of Redback on. I did and I bought them. Fantastic boots.

My wife also bought a pair.

It appears to me that there are still plenty of Aussie made options:)

[Cliff Rogers]

Cool, that's 3 votes for the Redbacks, I'll have to look for a pair now. :)

[Lignum]

Oliver are the el supremo saftey boot in my opinion. And they also make excelent steel cap runners and water proof slip ons. Their just like wearing a spongy pair of runners:2tsup:

http://www.oliver.com.au/default_products.htm

[Cliff Rogers]

I tried a pair of the Olivers & while they were good to stand around at the lathe in, the soles didn't like the hot climate & just sheyet themselves.... de-vulcanised & crumbled like dry dog poop. :(

[journeyman Mick]

I've been wearing Steel Blues for about six or seven years now and can't fault them. They're made in Australia and are the most comfortable boots I've ever worn and are more comfortable than any other footwear I have. Try them, you can't lose. They come with a 30 day comfort guarantee. Get a correctly fitted pair and wear them for a few weeks, if they are not comfortable just take them back for a full refund. You won't need to break them in, just slip them on and/or lace them up and start wearing them. Your feet will thank you for them.
Usual disclaimer, no connection, just an extremely happy and comfortable customer.

Mick

[Lignum]

Cliff, Ive been wearing them for years with no problems at all. Maybe you have extra smelly feet and the odour desinergrated the glue bond:oo:

the runners 33-612 in the saftey section on the web site is what i have now and they are increadable

[DavidG]

I use redbacks. Comfortable and last well.
My last pair, the soles fell to pieces after about 5 years. Rest of the was not much chop either but they were still comfortable.
Too much mud and water.

[Stuart]

Got a pair of Redbacks for work in the prison but wear them elsewhere too, they seem pretty good and are more comfortable than blunnies (to me anyway), plus they are 100&#37; aussie made and owned apparently :2tsup:

http://www.redback.net.au/company.html
.
I didn't dare mention I had just bought a pair of Redbacks a few months back, as I couldn't remember where they were made - just needed a replacement pair of boots quick, and they seemed pretty good.

So now I feel very good they are in fact Aussie made, and they really are ####ing good boots. All air soles, bloody comfortable etc, and cost about $90. :o If they want, I'd pay $20 more per pair to keep them being Aussie made - and that to them is pure profit. There is way too much heading off-shore.

[Cliff Rogers]

I've been wearing Steel Blues for about six or seven years now and can't fault them. ....
Usual disclaimer, no connection, just an extremely happy and comfortable customer.
Where do you get them Mick?

[martrix]

put simply, it stinks.
Its highly payed executives making even more money off the backs of workers that earn $AU 1.50 a day.. Its not like its for the greater good or something noble, its just some greedy rich prique who wants more money in his pocket because he sees other rich greedy priques who are doing it.

I could go on, and on, and on, but I don't care anymore.
I don't know when, and I don't know how, but this is all going to end in tears:C .

For the record, I used to wear Mack steel capped boots, but now I exclusively wear steel capped Caterpillar boots. I spend a lot of time in them so its worth spending the extra $'s.

They usually last about 2+ years, and the only thing that ever breaks down is the rubber sole.....it simply just wears out. Nothing ever comes apart, unstitched or falls off.

.................and yes I know, they are made in the last great communist state.

[Cliff Rogers]

Cliff, Ive been wearing them for years with no problems at all. Maybe you have extra smelly feet and the odour desinergrated the glue bond:oo: ...
I reckon it was the heat 'cos it was while I was still living in Cairns & I didn't even wear them much, they just crumbled on the shoe rack. :?

[martrix]

I've been wearing Steel Blues for about six or seven years now and can't fault them. They're made in Australia and are the most comfortable boots I've ever worn and are more comfortable than any other footwear I have. Try them, you can't lose. They come with a 30 day comfort guarantee. Get a correctly fitted pair and wear them for a few weeks, if they are not comfortable just take them back for a full refund. You won't need to break them in, just slip them on and/or lace them up and start wearing them. Your feet will thank you for them.
Usual disclaimer, no connection, just an extremely happy and comfortable customer.

Mick

Hi Mick, are they the same brand that make a boot called "Howlers" or something like that?

If so, I tried them a few years back in the hope that they would be good quality and to support Australian made.
:no: not much chop, I think they lasted a year and were uncomfortable. IMO

[lesmeyer]

Agree with Mick. Them Steel Blue boots are made right here in WA and I purchase them at a store called Work Clobber. In fact the boots are endorsed by none other than a man called Denis Lillee. The boots cost $144 when I purchased about 3 months ago.
Regards
Les

[journeyman Mick]

I reckon it was the heat 'cos it was while I was still living in Cairns & I didn't even wear them much, they just crumbled on the shoe rack. :?

Actually it was "polyurethane virus". The owner of Australasian Safety (Scott street, which is where you want to go for the Steel Blues Cliff) told me. Apparently the large concerns like mines etc were finding that they were spending more than they should on boots. Blokes were taking them home and sticking them in the cupboard after wearing them once or twice and then getting another pair. Apparently they approached a few manufacturers and had them add something to the polurethane used in the soles that would start the soles breaking down as soon as they were worn. So they could sit on the shelf for ages, but as soon as they were worn once the clock was ticking. I know I had a barely worn pair of boots totally disintegrate while I was wearing them one day, left the entire centre section of both soles behind on the front step of the hardware store.:B

It sounds like a bit of an urban myth to me, but the bloke that told me owns a business that supplies safety gear all over Queensland and into the Territory and a lot of the PNG mining operations. It certainly sounded plausible to me.

Mick

[journeyman Mick]

Martrix,
nope had a look at Howlers and they look like a cheap knock-off of the Steel Blues.

Les,
$144! they're not cheap are they, but then how much are comfortable feet worth? Priceless by my reckoning, if I wear lesser footwear I am in agony by lunchtime. I get charged corporate rate on my boots, think I paid $115 for my last pair.

Last year when I went to buy new boots I had a look at all the other brands on the market as I had been buying Steel Blues for years without seeing what else was on offer. I thought I'd better check out the other offerings to see what had hit the market since I'd started on the SBs. So I had a real good look, tried on heaps of other boots and then went and bought another pair of SBs.:D

Mick

[martrix]

OK, just found the Howlers (http://www.howler.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=114) and they are owned by the same company as Steel blue. They must be just a cheaper version of the Steel Blue.

Are these (http://www.steelblue.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=56) the ones you like?

I will check em out when it comes time to get newies.

If not its back to these. (http://shoecity.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=113&products_id=372&osCsid=853af7efe0329c93be3bccd614701879) If you are a member with Rays Tent City, get them when they have their special members sale. I think I got them for like $160, but not 100% sure.....would have to check my receipts.

[bsrlee]

Polyurethane has a definite 'disintergrate date' - but the stuff I've seen should last 10-20 years. It would be interesting to see what happened if you took the boot company to court for deliberately making self destructing goods (not fit for use) and not advertising the fact on the goods - indeed there could be a whole feeding ground for the legal eagles there.

There have been rumours of similar conduct in the computer industry - just have a bit of code on one of the chips that checks the date, when it is beyond a certain date it stops working, or one that just measures hours of operation instead, so that all the boards don't fail at once.

Apple were doing a related thing - using a 1/4 watt resistor in the power supply which kept blowing every few months so you had to take the machine back to the dealer to get it fixed - once the Mac-heads worked out what was going on, they just broke the case open them selves & replaced the dud part - Apple eventually stopped doing this, and quite a few Apple retailers went under.

[Schtoo]

Cough... (http://www.highmark.com.au/index.htm)

Just over the back fence from your place too Al.

I have a pair, and they feel like slippers on your feet.

The most comfortable pair of boots I have ever had, and I have worn a few.

Blundstone (comfy, cheap enough), Oliver (ouchie), Redback (ouchie some more), Rossi (what the heck are they thinking), Timberland (US made, good but too narrow), Doc Martens (not bad, too narrow), Cat (a couple months) and a couple others.

A few pairs ended up as mum's flower pots since I couldn't wear them any more they were that bad.

I guess since I actually put some miles on them all day, every day walking around site, I wouldn't know what what good and what wasn't. :roll:

[TassieKiwi]

Now the box will say 'Designed in Australia'. I had a very comfy pair of lace-up blunnies - looked like hiking boots. The elastic sided ones I don't like. Olivers and Steel Blue are better.

[silentC]

I've been wearing Redbacks for a few years now. Best boots I've ever owned. Onto my third pair. The pair I have on now is my second and they are about 5 years old. I wear them all weekend working around the house and have started wearing them during the week too now that I have the office in the shed. Have worn them on three day bushwalks too. The third pair are my 'street shoes'. The only other things I ever wear are my thongs.

The thing I like about them is they are confortable as soon as you put them on. Blunnies used to give me grief for a few weeks. I have big feet and they crease in the middle when you walk and push down on top of your foot.

[Lignum]

someone should start a poll and list all the various brands:)

[Big Shed]

I bought a pair of Tuf elastic sided steel caps about 10 years ago from Trims in Adelaide (before they went all yuppie!). Have just gone thru the soles, don't know whether they are still available and whether they are still made in Australia. Wore them virtually every day for the last 6 years, can complain.

[namtrak]

The best pair of boots I ever bought, were a pair of Shearers boots. No good for work, but they're great to wear out and are as comfortable as. I bought them in 1985, got them resoled in 1991 and still wear them to this day.

A bit like this (http://www.rossiboots.com.au/catalogue/catalogue_details.asp?prodID=92), but they had a leather sole which wore out. I think they were Rossis as as well.

Cheers

[lesmeyer]

Les,
$144! they're not cheap are they, but then how much are comfortable feet worth? Priceless by my reckoning, if I wear lesser footwear I am in agony by lunchtime. I get charged corporate rate on my boots, think I paid $115 for my last pair.

Mick
Mick,
do agree the price is worth it. Day long comfort when wearing the SB's. I even wear them to the office on occasion (IT job).
Regards
Les

[Stuart]

Interesting - might explain what happened to a pair of near new boots I had - worn maybe once. Went to wear them recently as my previous pair (different brand) had finally succumbed, and I left huge chunks of 'rubber' as I walked down the hallway. By the time I got to the front door, the centre of both soles had been left behind :(

So I went out and bought a new cheap priced, quality feel pair of boots - the Redbacks as it turned out :D

[goat]

i'm on my 3rd pair of lace up blue steel, good comfy long lasting boot but i do have a pair of elastic sided blunnies that i wear around the farm quick and easy to slip on when the goats have got into the missus rose bushes:oo:

[TommyC]

currently - Redbacks - very comfy and well made
Previously
- Blundstone (with the hard rubber sole) not bad, but fell appart after 5 years, which is to be expected....
- Doc Martens - steel toe shoes, worn all day every day on site for a year. last forever, pretty comfy (but the steel toecap bites) look the coolest.:p
- Doc Martens boots - very comfy, but wear them for a few years and PHEW - stench (my fault, not the boots)
- Oliver - my soles disintergrated, too, but only after a long priod of non use. Soles too soft for site use, nail will go straight through...

[Jack E]

I have a pair of black and a pair of brown RM's.
Best boots you can buy.
In fact, I got married in the black ones:D
I had a brown pair when I was kid, re-soled a couple of times until I outgrew them, otherwise I would still be wearing them.
The cheapest and best way to get them re-soled is to send them back to S.A. They used to pay the postage on this but I don't think they still do.

Unfortunately I can't wear them at work as our wowser Australian OH&S system says we have to wear steel caps.
We also have to wear lace up steel caps at the site I am currently on.

I wore John Bull boots for about a year, then when I changed companies they gave me a pair of Olivers.
I wore the Olivers for a couple of days until I could stand them no longer then switched back to the John Bulls, which are still going strong after a couple of years.

Quite a few of the guys I work with wear Macks and swear by them.

Cheers, Jack.

[Wood Borer]

Blundstone Company - we can only judge you by your actions and react accordingly.

I gave up on Blundstones for the same reasons as Silent C. I bought some Redbacks and they were comfortable from day one, unlike Blundstones which took weeks of pain to break in.

If you aren't going to buy Aussie at least buy from a company whose profits contribute to the country where they are manufactured.

[ozwinner]

Ive bought 2 pairs of Blunnies per year for the last 30 years. (they wear out quickly when they get mortar on them.)

I wont be buying another pair.

Al :)

[journeyman Mick]

Al,
try the Steel Blues "chemical galoshes". They're a tall lace up boot (not quite as tall as a rigger's boot). Nitrile rubber sole (as opposed to polyurethane) which is oil, fire and chemical resistant. The leather is silicone impregnated and it's stitched up with kevlar thread. A very tough boot (for a wussy brickie :oo: :p :wink: )

Mick

Edit: The nitrile ruber soles aren't quite as comfortable as the polyurethane, but they're still a comfortable boot

[Lignum]

Ive bought 2 pairs of Blunnies per year for the last 30 years. (they wear out quickly when they get mortar on them.)

I wont be buying another pair.

Al :)


I always knew you Brickies were a clever lot:D I mean its only taken 60 pair of boots to work out their no good:doh: :D

[Bleedin Thumb]

The only other things I ever wear are my thongs.

The thing I like about them is they are confortable as soon as you put them on.


I find that wearing a thong is most uncomfortable.:p and the thought of someone in workboots and a thong is just too much.

Mind you my wife likes me in my tool belt.:roll:

[silentC]

What, are you a pom or something? :p

[tameriska]

I still have the only pair of Blundstone boots that I have brought, from George Taylors in 1998, imperial size 5, Hobnails, made in 1957.
Took a bit of waring in, but are really good solid boots, just dont walk on tiles

:roflmao: :stars:

[JDarvall]

Mind you my wife likes me in my tool belt.:roll:

mine too.....whilst I'm wearing a thong....and thongs on me feet. Good look that.

[tameriska]

I assume that the army (or whoever cleaned out) hadnt been to the back of the storehouse for a while. George Taylors did have a couple of bigger sizes on the shelf in the hobnails back then too.
Kept my Dad quite amused a couple of times, till I got the trick of walking around on tiled floors, very, very carefully

[Waldo]

G'day,

Just been down the road this morning to finally get around to finding some Blundstones to wear around the shed etc. and save my feet being killed off by the carp I was wearing prior.

On the advoce from the neighbour I went down to Wright's Workwear, Bedford Rd, Ringwood. Their prices are $30-$20 cheaper than other places I had a look at.

I was looking at the 500 series in Blunnies for $80 ($120 at RSEA) and I noticed a special on some discontinued boots. They were 178s down from $130 to $70 :hpydans2:. So I compared to 500s to the 178s. The 178s won.

OK, they're lace up but they have full ankle support, steel cap, better cushioning and at $70.

So, if you'er reasonably local to Ringwood check them out, they are way cheaper, all stock is currently 15&#37; off, and the 178s are available in sizes from 5 to 11, sorry but I took the last size 12.

Enough of this stuff, back to my cabinet. :ok:

[BobL]

Waldo,

No wonder you need new boots, those "carp" have vicious spines and, wearing them on your feet, man, that must be murder!

Cheers

[duckman]

G'day,

Just been down the road this morning to finally get around to finding some Blundstones to wear around the shed etc. and save my feet being killed off by the carp I was wearing prior.

<snip>
So, if you'er reasonably local to Ringwood check them out, they are way cheaper, all stock is currently 15% off, and the 178s are available in sizes from 5 to 11, sorry but I took the last size 12.

Enough of this stuff, back to my cabinet. :ok:

FWIW, Wright's also have a shop on the Princes Highway at Hallam. Their prices are very competitive and unlike some other workwear stores I could name and you named one of them, Wright's provide a reasonable level of service. :)

Not affiliated with the company, just a happy repeat customer. :)

[Waldo]

Waldo,

No wonder you need new boots, those "carp" have vicious spines and, wearing them on your feet, man, that must be murder!

Cheers

G'day BobL,

Too right and you should've tried 'em, they were pretty cactus too. :D

[kiwigeo]

Of course, there is the company claim that labour here is 12 times what it'll cost in India and Asia. If that's true, why are we supporting slave labour?



Welcome to the great Global Economy Richard...

Its quite a simple concept.....we either 1. lower our labour costs and standard living to that of a third world country or 2. the third world raises it's wages and living standards up to match ours.

[ozwinner]

But Blundstone wont be reducing the price of the boots. :o

Its ok, Ill buy some Redbacks and give them a try.

Al :U

[Stuart]

That's spot on - was really pissing me off with all the news articles interviewing people if they would buy blunds if they were more expensive, or buy overseas made ones.

The price NOW is the Aussie made price, and people are buying them - what's the frikin problem? Oh - profit margins. As a customer (or not) I don't care about a company's profit margins. I do care if they were Aust. made, and are not any longer. :(


......irrespective of the name of that company..........

[ozwinner]

Thats whats bugging me too Stu, people are saying they cant compete.
But they were, and employing Aussies.
The only people who will gain from this is Blundstone, no one else.

The buying public wont gain, the price will stay the same.

The Oz employees wont gain, they have already lost.

The overseas employees wont gain, they are being exploited, again.

It just peezes me off when people say they HAD to do it, NO the didnt.

Anyway, little as my patronage of there foot wear was, they have lost it.

Al :((

[Stuart]

Go the Redbacks - a true Aussie icon........and there are plenty in my backyard to show it really is Aussie.

[ernknot]

Bit over the top mate, I wear Blunnies but don't think they are "pillows of silk" to walk on. Bloody good brand and boot but not the best in the world. ( I am still wearing them and will buy more) the people who own Blundstone are just a bunch of greedy people who most likley live in Sandy Bay and want more so they can live in excess. As for Shedhands comments I can only say that because of the attitude in Tassie to vote Labour is the very reason that business is going offshore. Tasmanian politicians are not the same as on the mainland, even though they call themselves " Libs" and "Labour" they are nothing of the kind. They all are corrupt and bent as as hell, this is followed by the local councils who are also bent. Tassie has it's own agenda and nothing to do with the "National" interest. Why does Bob down Brown and his ilk have power?? because it is easier for Tamanians to vote for them so as to clear their guilty feelings. It makes them look they care. ha ha.

[namtrak]

........the people who own Blundstone are just a bunch of greedy people .........



........Oh - profit margins. As a customer (or not) I don't care about a company's profit margins .........


........The only people who will gain from this is Blundstone, no one else .........

So none of you run you own business then? Ever tried to make a profit? Reduce your overheads? Improve your margins?

[Big Shed]

I would say that a lot of us as we look around our sheds might only find our Blundstone boots made in Australia, certainly can't find too many machines and or tools in my shed that were made in Australia. Although I have a fair few orange bits that were made in Austrlia.
So if we can only buy boots made in Australia, maybe we should apply the same criteria to our tool selection?
Even Triton is now shifting some of its' manufacturing offshore!

Not very nice for jobs in Australia I know, but appears to be a fact of life all the same and it is not only happening here, look at the US and Canada, as well as most European countries.
Sad but true.

[ozwinner]

So if we can only buy boots made in Australia, maybe we should apply the same criteria to our tool selection?


But machinery prices have plummeted in recent times so we have benefited from it.

Ok Im done on the boot debate.

Al :)

[Sir Stinkalot]

Well my boots certainly get the boys talking on site and at only $90 a pair are a bargin to boot ..... Australian made as well. :p