ultra cheap gear

[wayno]

someone in a cheap factory is going to earn my money, the question is who? the brand i think is least likely to be running a sweatshop will get my money,,, choices people make every day cause people in the third world to starve and others to eat,
theres too many people competing with each other to change that for now....

[Rico]

It costs $1000 to for everything needed to make one pair of shoes. If you make two pairs, the cost per unit of production reduces to $500 per pair of shoes. If you make 100 pairs, $10 per pair of shoes - and so on. Obviously I am ignoring variable costs here and using fixed costs only in this example.

Yes, mine was only that, an example. I just want to point out that there are many layers between the production and the consumer. An item with a low price tag may have a better / more direct distribution channel than an item with a high price tag, making possible to sell it at a very competitive price. High price is not a good indicator of the condition of the factory workers at origin.

FYI - Farming our own tomatoes is to do with job specialisation and trade, not economy of scale.

[/quote]

What I mean is that economy of scale is one of the pillars of commerce. Without commerce we would be still growing our own food, making our own shoes, etc.

[Rico]

theres too many people competing with each other to change that for now....

I couldn't agree more. My point is that if you decide to go for a brand instead of another because you think that buying the expensive gear there will be a smaller risk that it comes from a sweatshop you are on the wrong path. You better save that money and do something that makes a real difference for those people. My way of doing it is to sponsor a school for orphans in central Vietnam.

Next time you go for a trek overseas try to look around and you will see plenty of people that may benefice from your money for a better future. Nepal is the perfect place to start. Next time you go hiking there, go in the south to visit public schools and orphanages for a week. Spend a day in each place and learn what they do and how they spend their money. Pick the one you like more and start to send them a yearly contribute. This may change the life of some kid, he may learn enough to find a better job, so he/she will not end up in a sweatshop in the first place.

Buying expensive gear is not the best way to save the world. Give one kid the chance to learn, and the world will be a better place.

[kymboy]

Well said, Rico

[wayno]

make sure you're not just pouring money in to feeding people. the money should go to their future. giving them water, giving them something that will help them grow food or an education or a living...