May 29, 2003 03:45 PM
4840 Views
(Updated May 29, 2003 03:45 PM)
If you are looking for a prdouct specific review...well I gotta apologize. This review is really intended on trying to put forward to all my friends, my views on gross corruption being carried out by most multinational compaines in India today.
Really, in pure monetary terms, we just cannot expect to understand the worth of a good design. A good design may be worth millions. But that doesn't mean that you really need to pinch a profit percentage of 1000 % on each and every piece that you produce.
The corruption part that comes in is this way...
I guess most of you people know where all the Nike footballs are manufactured. If you are tryin to look surprised...please don't. They are made right here, in India !!! Even the ones used in this world cup. Of course, very recently, Nike did turn to some province in Pakistan to do the manufacturing for them. The reason...the labour was even cheaper. This is the corruption that most multinational companies do. I recently read in last Sunday's Indian Express that people in India supply various clothes to be sold under various international labels, like GAP etc. the major reason for MNC'c doing such cheap things is a vast difference in the labour costs in India and elsewhere. The basic salaries of even the lowest level workers in the US and other developed countries is much more than even managerial level workers in India and other developing countries. Thats why, these companies get these products manufactured in India....at literally dirt cheap prices. Also, one major factor is that prices of raw materials like rubber etc. is cheaper here. So that means that your cool pair of NIKE's that you just bought for Rs 2500 might just have been made 15 KM from where you live...in some jhopadpatti or a cheap workshop. ANd whats more...it probably didn't even take Rs 250 to make it.
Arright, I admit the fact that the prices that I mentioned above just might be a lil exaggerated...but still the truth is the truth. You think Coke is doin you a great favour by giving their Rs 10 drink for Rs 8 ?? Well, listen to this...It supposedly take Coke just 70 paisa to make that bottle of divine nectar !!
I also read that people in the US are shooting themselves because they are losing their jobs, which are instead being outsourced to developing countries. Think call centers !! Is it a situation that we should be proud of or ashamed of ? I think its high time Indian workers demanded equal pay as their counterparts. In fact...Its a critical time, I would say !!
I haven't ever bought a Nike pair and I really can find no shame or downtroddeness in admitting that only reason why I didn't do that was coz I couldn't afford them. I mean, yeah who wouldn't like to wear a paor of Nike shoes ? They are just so well designed and well made that that are easily the best in the world. BUT still, theres a certain philosophy that I believe in. I probably invented it myself !! ''No body or no thing should ever give or get anything more or anything less that he/she/it deserves''. I think there is something similar in the Bhagvad Geeta somewhere.
I've used a local brand called ''Action'' since school time and believe me, I still have a 5 year old pair that still fits me like a charm. Its the most comfy shoe I ever had. Guess how much I got it for...Rs 350. So, I do believe that a pair of Nike's do deserve to be more expensive than your normal raste ka shoes. But 2000+...well, sorry. I'd rather buy a new guitar !!
