Talk:Skechers/Archives/2019

So why the protection

My edits on Skechers' copying of other designs have been well documented on various sites and definitely do add to the discussion of the company. It's part of the company's history and DNA and should be in the discussion. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.11.217.120 (talk) 22:27, 29 March 2011 (UTC)

Nice selection of unpublished blogs. Oh, and the courts disagree... SKECHERS wins in Asics lawsuit 06:12, 23 May 2011 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.245.175.172 (talk)

Skechers has thousands of designs and numerous patents in multiple countries. To say, on the evidence of several lawsuits (which are exceedingly common in the footwear industry amongst many companies), that most (or even many) of Skechers' designs are copies of other brands at lower price and quality points is inaccurate at best and defamatory at worst. I have read your references and they do not support your conclusions. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Welcmhm (talk • contribs) 00:22, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

Did you miss the many where they interview the founder and he said they copied the MBT designs? When it comes from his own mouth it's pretty much fact.

The other items have been reported in other areas as well. Forbes said it (http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2001/0806/062.html):

As chief executive Robert leads a group of style spotters who seize on all types of new shoes as soon as they hit the street. Skechers then creates its own versions. By the time middle America catches on to a new style--say, slingback sneakers that slip on and have a strap in back--Skechers has a lower-priced lookalike in stores.

Here's a business reference (www.referenceforbusiness.com/biography/F-L/Greenberg-Robert-1940.html): Skechers became so good at mimicking styles—or interpreting categories, as Greenberg preferred to define the process—that other companies were forced to knock off their own best shoes.... Prices were kept low through the use of less expensive leather and the avoidance of the high-tech features of Nike and Reebok performance wear.

Sorry, unless you are involved with the company (or are you with Heely's or Crocs?) I don't see how someone can't draw the conclusion that Skechers mimics others designs at a lower quality and price point.

And these types of lawsuits are not common in the industry. The only memorable ones are Skechers vs Asics, and Payless vs Asics.... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.11.217.120 (talk) 22:50, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

Reebok has sued Nike, Nike has sued Adidas, Adidas has sued Aldo, Asics has sued Dolce and Gabbana, etc.
These lawsuits are very common, and do not reflect product quality, price-point, or innovation. 70.162.71.137 (talk) 00:51, 24 April 2011 (UTC)

Please cite some of these lawsuits.... Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.173.147.71 (talk) 22:26, 24 April 2011 (UTC)

Added citations; should we mention these in the corresponding wiki pages?
Seriously though, trend-spotting is EVERYWHERE in the apparel world, and allegations of "imitation" and "lower quality" come from many companies (and their brand-conscious followers) and are directed at many others.

In the context of the 2001 Forbes article, English-made Docs are compared favorably to Asian-made Wolverines and Caterpillars. Times have changed; cite some empirical evidence of Skechers' lower quality, and maybe then the comment won't be viewed for what it is: defamatory. 70.162.71.137 (talk) 22:28, 27 April 2011 (UTC)

— —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.67.154.228 (talk) 12:28, 3 May 2011 (UTC) So here's the deal. You have the founder saying he likes to copy designs - he's been quoted in the references as saying when he saw the MBT's he went back and had to knock them off. His previous companies have been known to also sell knock-off of designs. And you then have a pattern of lawsuits against Skechers for design infringement. The suits against Nike, Adidas, D&G, etc have been one offs. There has been a pattern where Skechers has been sued for design infringement. Crocs, Asics, Toms, etc have all sued Skechers. They are similar to the Payless where you take a trend and knock off them and sell them. Payless has also been at the receiving end of a host of lawsuits. Many of Skechers designs are of a cheaper construction and use lesser quality leathers (or fake leather), lower quality EVA, etc. It's just a fact of life when you are designing to a price point.

It is widely known in the footwear industry that Skechers mainly sells look alikes at a lower price point. Nothing wrong with that but that does not change the facts. They will never be an innovator in this space unless they come out with something different and unlike what is in the market. That takes investment and a product research team which, unless things have changed, Skechers lacks.

Like LA Gear before it, Skechers is a company driven more by marketing than substance. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.67.154.228 (talk) 12:26, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

"Many of Skechers designs are of a cheaper construction and use lesser quality leathers (or fake leather)"

This is simply untrue; you have cited nothing to make such a claim. First of all, Skechers INSISTS on using real leather, even amidst vegan trends; Payless they are not. The one reference that says anything about quality is the Forbes article, and that specifically compares English Docs to Asian workboots. Do we really want to discuss if Caterpillar-quality leather--and by association, Skechers--is better or worse than, say, Timberland? Such a loaded statement does not belong in Wikipedia until you find some serious reference, not just "It's just a fact of life when you are designing to a price point."

I'll concede to everything else; I don't think it's worth mentioning how innovative a lifestyle-brand is in an encyclopedia article, but you do, so there we are... 70.162.71.137 (talk) 23:45, 8 May 2011 (UTC)

I'm using those lawsuits to illustrate the fact that shoe designs are highly guarded property. It's a lot harder for a lifestyle shoe manufacturer to avoid getting sued (especially one as prominent as Skechers) than a lifestyle apparel brand--do you really think the clothes at the Gap are all original designs?

The average price of a Skechers boot is $80. Their legacy boot, the Cascades, is currently $125. The average price of a Mark Nason boot is around $400. Who exactly are they undercutting? I have a pair of Skechers boots, made in Italy, with a leather sole. I have another pair that have been abused daily for 5 years, show very little sign of wear and have developed a glorious patina. I've worn shoes from Payless and Walmart--they're synthetic and the sole is cheaply glued to the upper. Using indirect quality indicators such as price-point is a flawed practice when the quality of the product is known: Quality is NOT an issue with this brand. 70.162.71.137 (talk) 19:56, 9 May 2011 (UTC)