New Balance claims Defense Department strung it along on military sneaker contract

[jpak]

Source: Bangor Daily News

New Balance, which employs 900 people in Maine, has renewed its opposition to a trade deal that would allow cheaper imports from abroad.

New Balance officials say they’ve broken their silence over the Trans-Pacific Partnership because the Obama administration has failed to offer the company a chance for a contract to sell sneakers to the military.

Members of Maine’s congressional delegation share New Balance’s concerns.

A New Balance spokesman says the TPP is the worst trade deal the company has ever seen. It’s a free-trade agreement with a dozen countries, including Vietnam, a prime competitor for the shoe company.

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Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2016/04/12/politics/new-balance-claims-defense-department-strung-it-along-on-military-sneaker-contract/

[MadLinguist]

1. If NB has broken silence, I want to see that report

"New Balance officials say they’ve broken their silence over the Trans-Pacific Partnership". To me that implies that they have a copy of the TPP, or at least some details of it. The Bangor Daily News article linked here does not provide one. I want that thing out in the open. What is this shyte where the government requires a company to remain mum ?

[Jim Lane]

18. Full text of TPP

It wasn't available when fast track was adopted, but now it's publicly available here: https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/trans-pacific-partnership/tpp-full-text

Of course, it's huge. I doubt that many private citizens will plow through the whole thing. Furthermore, most of it requires a knowledge of the context to understand what the impact would be. If you want to get more into it, you probably do best to start with the work of NGOs that have expertise in particular areas -- Sierra Club on the environment, AFL-CIO on labor, EFF on copyrights, etc.

[MadLinguist]

34. hey thanks, Jim Lane!

I didn't know that it was available. I suspect the Bangor News didn't either since they say that New Balance broke their silence.

[tabasco]

2. New Balance is the only running shoe I will buy.

They are the best for me and I feel good to buy American.

[Demonaut]

5. same here

[spartan61]

7. I used to live near

the New Balance shoe factory and outlet store. My husband and I have bought many, many shoes there. Unfortunately, the last several times we shopped there and asked where are the "American made" shoes, there really weren't any. We were told the materials, etc. were made out of the country and then shipped to Skowhegan (the factory) for assembly only. That way they can call it American made. What a farce!

[tabasco]

10. Better than the rest who do everything overseas.

At least NB saved 900 jobs.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

12. Ditto - for the last 20 years at least.

[Shemp Howard]

19. New Balance now makes most of its shoes in China.

Like you tabasco, I try to buy American even if it costs more. That's one reason I bought NB shoes. But now even NB is going overseas. From Wikipedia:

In 1994, New Balance manufactured 70 percent of its shoes in the United States. In 2006, New Balance stated on its customer help site that "approximately 25% of the New Balance shoes sold in North America are Made in the USA and we will continue domestic manufacturing."

According to Fortune in 2006, "About 70 percent of its shoes are now made in China and the other 5 percent in Vietnam."

[bullwinkle428]

35. My (US-made) NB cross-training shoes are holding up beautifully!

Will definitely buy another pair once these are done, though that may be well into the future.

[Zorro]

3. The Obama administration "failed to offer the company a chance for a contract"?

I don't believe that assertion.

[Ed Suspicious]

9. You don't? Why?

[Zorro]

23. Contract bid opportunities are published in FedBizOps

All qualified companies are equally capable of submitting a competitive proposal for evaluation. The product requirements and evaluation criteria used to assess submitted proposals typically are part of the package provided by the government to all bidders.

This sounds like NB did not submit a proposal, didn't have a product that met requirements, or submitted a proposal that lost to a competitor. There are legal methods to protest a government decision, whether it is either a competitive or sole-source contract award. Those protests happen all the time.

Will New Balance take legal action in the matter? If not, then it's just sour grapes whining.

[valerief]

4. America's main industry today is to make rich people richer via war, drugs, tax shelters, and

child labor.

[dembotoz]

6. got my first pair of new balance last fall

more of a walking shoe than running
at my age and shape running ain't gonna happen.....

for my rather wide feet (they seem more square than rectangular actually) finding shoes is always a chore
NB has just what i was looking for and am quite happy with them

[Plucketeer]

8. I've been wearing them several years now

They give good service and comfort. I don't even look at other brands.

[Tempest]

11. The last 2 pairs of Nikes I bought fell apart in less than a year

The soles separated from the shoes on both pairs.

Said no more and bought a pair of New Balance and they're on their 3rd year. Cheaper than Nikes and better made.

[Sunlei]

13. military sneakers? I think our military should buy their sneakers out of their paychecks.

[mrmpa]

14. In all probability................

these are used during boot camp, where all uniforms, etc. are supplied by the Service Branch. After boot, uniforms etc. are bought by the individual service member.

[Sunlei]

15. I love the desert combat boots made for our military. Those are probably worn in boot camp.

Very cool & comfortable and lot more protective of foot area then any sneakers

[mrmpa]

17. The new balance would be for physical training and running......eom

[Sunlei]

24. You can run in those boots, they're more comfortable & safer then sneakers IMO.

[gladium et scutum]

31. The miitary requires activites

that are best accomplished in "tennis shoes" aka sneaker. If the military requires the activity, they are obligated to provide the equipment.

[jmowreader]

33. Every enlisted soldier is issued uniforms

Among the things you get are two pair of boots and one pair of dress shoes. (Which, of course, anyone with half a brain replaces with something that's more comfortable the second they get the chance...)

They've issued a physical training, or PT, uniform (they should issue two, but that's another thing) for decades. It consists of one set of sweats that say ARMY on them, one t-shirt that says ARMY on it, a pair of shorts and a little black knit cap for running in the cold. You've always had to provide your own running shoes, and a lot of guys bring in the cheapest things they can find, don't replace them as needed, etc., and wind up injuring their knees and ankles. Issuing the troops proper PT shoes - and replacing the damn things when needed - is a very good thing.

[ananda]

16. Give it to Skechers.

That's my kind of shoe.

[gordyfl]

20. Yes, Sketchers. Mine too.

They last longer.

[Buddyblazon]

27. I worked in Skechers International Dept for a couple years...

And their while business model is waiting for other shoe companies to make popular models and then Skechers copies it...but does it for cheaper.

How? They don't make technical shoes. They make the simplest...but coolest looking shoe (really a knock off from some other company). They don't even call them technical shoes...they coined the phrase "sports fashion".

Now do the shoes fit comfortably on some? Sure. If your foot fits their mold. For everyone else? Really uncomfortable. We used to have to wear them for conventions and for most of us, it meant considerable foot pain the whole time.

They're cheap as possible with fashion thrown in. They did have a couple higher end lines...but those were dress shoes and their prices fell right in line with every other dress shoe.

[gordyfl]

32. Good to know.

[gordyfl]

21. New Balance is Right

Went shopping for sneakers. Saw many "Made in Vietnam".

[FighttheFuture]

22. Let this be a lesson... try to deal with the Devil and the devil deals you out! There is no

deal to be had with TPP!!! Only cancel it and renegotiate to include unions, and people!

Obama should be ashamed of this horrid mess.

[Sunlei]

25. Jeremy Warner did a good business article about the TPP & it's relevance, covered misconceptions.

Left and right have been oddly united in their suspicion of these proposed free trade treaties; on the right, they are depicted as a further, stultifying regulatory intrusion on national sovereignty, while on the left they are seen as an undemocratic corporate racket. If you loathe the European Union, you’ll hate TTIP, which seems to sanction a still grander invasion by foreign jurisdictions, multi-nationals and arbitrators of national sovereignty.

A perhaps more pertinent criticism, however, is just how out of date such traditionally framed, free trade agreements already are, for the nature of trade is changing in ways that have left regulators and politicians trailing in their wake. You’ll be pleased to know that free trade is alive and well, only these days it is championed by the digital economy, which TPP and TTIP barely touch on, focusing instead on old fashioned concerns around standards, public procurement, and agriculture.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/04/05/if-you-despise-the-european-union-youll-hate-the-iniquities-of-t/

[Else You Are Mad]

26. Why does Obama want his legacy to be the TPP?!

This seriously hurts the populations of every nation involved to the benefit of a very few corporations and the ultra-wealthy.

This is really no good.

[FighttheFuture]

29. I think it is his ticket to "the club". He's tee'd it right up for the lame duck session where

50 votes in the Senate will put it into law. It's already pre-signed. So this is his ticket to "the club". Even if it doesn't pass, he can say he did all he could to the Oligarchs and any failure was their fault for making the political process so toxic.

Look at how well the Clintons did after they left office. From nothing to $230M in 15 years. Pretty good, I'd say. I am sure Obama is looking at that. He's got two daughters, not just one!!

[Else You Are Mad]

30. Bingo. Nt

[Odin2005]

28. I buy New Balance shoes exactly because they are made in the USA.

They are very durable shoes, too.