In which I am breaking up with Reebok
So yesterday the husband and I had a lunch date complete with shopping. Since the husband needed new athletic shoes, our first stop was the Reebok outlet where he found what he needed and I noticed some cute Puma-like black suede thingies on clearance. The box was marked $29, but since they were the wrong size, I grabbed a half-size down and headed for the check-out. They rang up at $49, so I offered to go and get the correctly marked box for the clerk. When I returned, he pointed out that the ones marked $29 were actually men's shoes and that mine were correctly priced at $49. I stood there for a second, working out the sexist math. "But these are identical shoes, right?" "Oh, yes. Identical." "And you're charging me $20 more for mine because I'm a woman." AND HE SAID YES.
Seriously. It's the twenty-first century and they are charging close to twice the price for the same shoe just because I have ovaries. Actually, if we want to split shoelaces here, it was LESS shoe because the men's shoe was larger. So they are charging me almost double and offering me less product. Because of my gender. Nice.
And here's the thing, I've been with you for years, Reebok. Mine was the generation that put you on the map with our leggings and tights and slouchy socks. We danced to Madonna's first album in you. We practiced our pep squad routines in you and wore you on dates. We wore you every single day in college. We wore you BEFORE "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". But if this is how you're going to treat us, we're done. I'm going to be seeing other companies,and no, I'm pretty sure we can't still be friends, and just so you know, it's not me, it's you.
Hey, Puma, call me. We'll see how it goes...
Seriously. It's the twenty-first century and they are charging close to twice the price for the same shoe just because I have ovaries. Actually, if we want to split shoelaces here, it was LESS shoe because the men's shoe was larger. So they are charging me almost double and offering me less product. Because of my gender. Nice.
And here's the thing, I've been with you for years, Reebok. Mine was the generation that put you on the map with our leggings and tights and slouchy socks. We danced to Madonna's first album in you. We practiced our pep squad routines in you and wore you on dates. We wore you every single day in college. We wore you BEFORE "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". But if this is how you're going to treat us, we're done. I'm going to be seeing other companies,and no, I'm pretty sure we can't still be friends, and just so you know, it's not me, it's you.
Hey, Puma, call me. We'll see how it goes...
Comments
When I worked in the service
When I worked in the service industry, I began wearing wear men's Streetcars, which are INCREDIBLY comfortable when you're on your feet for 6+ hour shifts. I was never able to find *affordable* non-sneaker working shoes the job required. Even at DSW and most department stores, they have cheap men's work shoes, but none equivalent for women. Thank gooodness for shoe size converters. I realized my size 8 1/2 is a mens 7, and I've been a happy shopper ever since.
I wear a woman's size 7 which
I wear a woman's size 7 which translates to a youth size 5. Target sells Converse One Star low-top sneakers-woman's 7=$29, youth 5=$19. Same damn shoe. Obviously, I bought the least expensive of the two.
That seriously doesn't make
That seriously doesn't make sense! If the shoe is the same, then why in the world would it be more if you were a woman? Next time, you could try going into the Ladies Foot Locker...then they can't say much about the prices or that you are a woman, could they? If they do, you could say "I thought this was LADIES Foot Locker?" I do agree, though, a store clerk who marks their prices in a sexist fashion, can get their shoes up their rear end. Though, I do love those Puma shoes. They're really cool!
Ooh, and don't forget
Ooh, and don't forget haircuts! My husband pays £50 LESS than I do, even though his haircut takes longer than my trim. It's criminal. I can't believe the salesman actually admitted it to you, Deanna. Did you write Reebok a letter?~Elizabeth
I think I smell a
I think I smell a letter-writing campaign coming on, to all the companies whose products we buy. So pick up your pens, ladies! Then media coverage. Then a lady senator will wave her jacket on the Senate floor to make her point (remember the fireproof children's pajama debate?) and pretty soon we'll have equality of pricing legislation. And it all started here. (It would be a little more fun if it was still Blog a-Go-Go, though. Imagine the headlines.)
Here! Here! Great post
Here! Here! Great post Deanna. We are woman, hear us roar! We're mad as H-E-?-? and we're not gonna take it anymore! Um . . . did I miss any cliche's? Loved the Ferris Bueller reference, too. The only person I know who hated that movie was my best friend - a high school math teacher. Go figure.
I love this post! You had me
I love this post! You had me laugh out loud. Thanks for that.
There was a recent post on
There was a recent post on the BlogHer network (main blog?) about the price of womens deodorant over mens. Apparently womens is generally two ounces less and more expensive despite the fact that it contains the very same stuff. A def. eye opener. Do these companies think that women don't pay attention to that kind of stuff? If anything I pay more attention than my husband (and mostly because he's in the food aisle comparing prices). :-)
I gave up on Reebok ages ago
I gave up on Reebok ages ago because I never liked how they fit. I get Saucony brand when I can find it on clearance or in DSW or TJMaxx or something--the fit is lovely and I feel very supported.Another man-woman thing that aggravates is that in terms of quality women's clothes, etc. tend to be less well-made, don't last as long... I recall hearing a story a few years back about a group of hikers that got stranded somewhere out West in winter and the women in the group wound up with severe frostbite(we're talking losing fingers here) compared to the men because their boots and gloves--the same brand as the men's-- weren't the same quality. Arrgh!
I love angry Deanna. I think
I love angry Deanna. I think I need to hang up my boxing gloves and let you do the fighting from now on. This is one of my favorite blog posts EVER. I like Pumas better than Reebok anyway. LOL
I'm not sure I can find the
I'm not sure I can find the words for just how rediculous that is. Time to take you dollars elsewhere.
Ludicrous. And enraging.
Ludicrous. And enraging.
I FINALLY found a dry cleaner
I FINALLY found a dry cleaner that would do my blouses for the men's prices. I had to talk to the manager who FINALLY agreed that it wasn't fair to charge more if I wanted heavy starch and folded. I had to grab a man's shirt off the rack and compare mine to show them were almost exactly the same except they button differently.And SUITS! Compare the prices - it will make you swoon that a woman's skirt suit, which takes LESS fabric than men's and does not require as much construction is so much more costly.The same with shirts/blouses, shoes, etc. Always more for women.
Fixed, Ali--that's what I get
Fixed, Ali--that's what I get for typing too fast!
I feel you. And don't let me
I feel you. And don't let me get started on male vs. female dry cleaning and laundry costs. Grrr.
This is ridiculous. I'm
This is ridiculous. I'm going to be watching for this now. Great post, Deanna.Also, while I have found Rykas to be awesome, shoes are very personal in terms of fit. Zappos and their reviews are super helpful since I can find other people with my particular weird foot stuff and see how they liked a shoe. The Skechers Mary Jane's rock. You can wear them with skirts, or jeans and walk kids to the park and still feel good and look girly.
Hi Deanna,It's not just
Hi Deanna,It's not just shoes. Have you ever checked out the prices of men's vs. women's sweaters, for instance? It's appalling. One winter when I was low on cash I bought two men's sweaters for less than I would have paid for one woman's! OK, I looked a little frumpy, but I had more book money...
This was wonderfully written,
This was wonderfully written, Deanna. It definitely made me laugh. It's an outrage, honestly. I have a couple of pairs of Sketchers that I really like. I don't wear sneakers that often, but they are comfortable.Also, it's Ferris Bueller's Day Off (not out).
I am wearing purple and pink
I am wearing purple and pink Puma's right now.They are fantastic!!Megan
Try Ryka (www.ryka.com). They
Try Ryka (www.ryka.com). They are the only athletic show made for women designed using a woman's foot model. All others use men's still! I never found a show that fit me properly until I tried Ryka.