For all you Dunlop & Donnay fans.

[BHiC]

Thanks for the info. There will always be companies using inexpensive labor where they can find it. Probably every country ( at one time or another) had children working in factories. We also had children working in the factories. Everyone back then needed to work to make ends meet. Same with the people you are talking about as well. I think we like to transfer our country and our standards to every other country. That just doesn't work out. What a working wage is here would be a kings ransom in other countries. Look at the per capita income differences in countries across the world. What a dollar would buy here would buy 1000 times that amount of something over there. So ruining an areas economy by paying a lot more to the workers then moving that company out of that area once they found another place to go would destroy that areas economy even more. I don't like sweat shop conditions either but we don't rule the world nor rule what companies do. We buy Chinese products like they are the greatest country for workers rights. They have worse than sweatshop conditions by using slave labor camps, black prisons, child labor,etc.. Of course there are some factories in China that are probably fine to look at and go through. Just what they want you to see, no more. Try going into other areas to look at where something is made that is in an area that is forbidden. Good luck with that.

I agree with you; forced labor is obviously wrong but as long as the people are not being forced to work then they should be paid what they will accept. If their wages are too low then they will stop working and the company will either have to raise wages or shut down. For what its worth, I am pretty sure that Dunlop racquets are made in China and not "one of the world's poorest countries"

 

[High street sw19]

I agree with you; forced labor is obviously wrong but as long as the people are not being forced to work then they should be paid what they will accept. If their wages are too low then they will stop working and the company will either have to raise wages or shut down. For what its worth, I am pretty sure that Dunlop racquets are made in China and not "one of the world's poorest countries"

It's the ethics of the owners that are in question, their stuff here in the UK is Sh-te.

 

[High street sw19]

I don't have any local sports shops near me, they have all closed down unfortunately. I used to like a proper service you could get and would always support a local business if I could. Most likely a result of SD and their dominance.

Even if SD didnt use sweatshop labour, the stuff they sell is not really worth buying anyway. For a decent selection of tennis rackets, the only store they own that is worth a visit is the Lillywhites at Piccadilly.

Online is really the only option now if you want specific things like grips, etc.

I'm lucky that we have a great Pro Shop at the Club that price matches and knows his stuff.

 

[High street sw19]

I don't have any local sports shops near me, they have all closed down unfortunately. I used to like a proper service you could get and would always support a local business if I could. Most likely a result of SD and their dominance.

Even if SD didnt use sweatshop labour, the stuff they sell is not really worth buying anyway. For a decent selection of tennis rackets, the only store they own that is worth a visit is the Lillywhites at Piccadilly.

Online is really the only option now if you want specific things like grips, etc.

Try popping into your DLRC ?

 

[phishbiscuits]

And Wilson uses unicorns paid $500 an hour to assemble their products.

 

[classic tennis]

And Wilson uses unicorns paid $500 an hour to assemble their products.

To be precise they use Sanhosun that have signed the ethical worker agreement that Wilson has in place.

 

[High street sw19]

To be precise they use Sanhosun that have signed the ethical worker agreement that Wilson has in place.

Thanks Classic at least there are some people on here that know what they are talking about ;-)

 

[robbo1970]

Try popping into your DLRC ?

DLRC?

I'm not sure what that stands for?

Although I am lucky that I have settled on the rackets I use and have no need to change. There is one local sports shop who does string rackets, so I would always use him.

But for anything else, I have to go online. I actually recently found Dunlop leather grips at a very reasonable price too.

 

[High street sw19]

DLRC?

I'm not sure what that stands for?

Although I am lucky that I have settled on the rackets I use and have no need to change. There is one local sports shop who does string rackets, so I would always use him.

But for anything else, I have to go online. I actually recently found Dunlop leather grips at a very reasonable price too.

Robbo great supporting your local shop, DLRC = David Lloyd Racquet Club

 

[Dave M]

The club shop at my local virgin active racquets club, have had less and less gear over the years, about a year ago I went in there and their racquet selection was 2 bab pure storm, 3 APD one pure drive a jnr frame of some sort and 3 Wilson 6.1 frames. However the funniest thing I found after being in there for a while was that no staff spoke to me. Eventually went to reception desk for the club entrance and the girl said to me (this was a Thursday) "if you want any advice there will be a member of staff there on Tuesday, he's normally here for about an hour about 11 am to stock up a bit but you can pay for things here".
With local service like that (about our last racquets shop round here) it's not hard to see how SD and alike have got so much custom.
I do wonder why anyone bothers stocking Dunlop frames anymore, I notice P W P are selling their demo racquets but for about £10 more than SD are selling new.

 

[phishbiscuits]

"Ethical sourcing and labor agreements"

Right... Just like Apple. Exploitation of labor in emerging markets is a hallmark of industrial progress. If it's not China, it will be Bangladesh and elsewhere.

Mass-produced items such as tennis racquets are not immune, even those firms who have "ethical" agreements with labor in the countries in which they operate.

Wilson suffers from the same quality control issues as any other huge corporation and, yes, there is a correlation. It's about lowering costs and increasing profit margins.

And, if you really want to get nitpicky, the use of machines in certain factories leads to even lower wages for non-automated factories. I'm not suggesting that technological unemployment is inevitable, but in the face of losing one's job, the willingness to take a pay cut, work longer hours, etc is difficult for an individual to refuse.

 

[High street sw19]

Right... Just like Apple. Exploitation of labor in emerging markets is a hallmark of industrial progress. If it's not China, it will be Bangladesh and elsewhere.

Mass-produced items such as tennis racquets are not immune, even those firms who have "ethical" agreements with labor in the countries in which they operate.

Wilson suffers from the same quality control issues as any other huge corporation and, yes, there is a correlation. It's about lowering costs and increasing profit margins.

And, if you really want to get nitpicky, the use of machines in certain factories leads to even lower wages for non-automated factories. I'm not suggesting that technological unemployment is inevitable, but in the face of losing one's job, the willingness to take a pay cut, work longer hours, etc is difficult for an individual to refuse.

I suggest you get back to your text books laddie.(or lassie).

 

[High street sw19]

The club shop at my local virgin active racquets club, have had less and less gear over the years, about a year ago I went in there and their racquet selection was 2 bab pure storm, 3 APD one pure drive a jnr frame of some sort and 3 Wilson 6.1 frames. However the funniest thing I found after being in there for a while was that no staff spoke to me. Eventually went to reception desk for the club entrance and the girl said to me (this was a Thursday) "if you want any advice there will be a member of staff there on Tuesday, he's normally here for about an hour about 11 am to stock up a bit but you can pay for things here".
With local service like that (about our last racquets shop round here) it's not hard to see how SD and alike have got so much custom.
I do wonder why anyone bothers stocking Dunlop frames anymore, I notice P W P are selling their demo racquets but for about £10 more than SD are selling new.

That's funny, our local Guru told me that p-w-p sold out to SD about two years ago.... :-[

 

[robbo1970]

SD have absorbed lots of different sports retailers now. JJB, Kickback, Lillywhites, to name but 3.

The other trouble that our local shops have is getting Dunlop accessories, like strings. It is quite frustrating when you want to avoid using SD, but like Dunlop rackets and strings.

 

[robbo1970]

Fortunately I have sourced the strings I want from another retailer that is not SD.

 

[Dave M]

That's funny, our local Guru told me that p-w-p sold out to SD about two years ago.... :-[

Certainly not impossible, they brought out a new website about then, but its easy to see the problems they create for specialist retailers.
We've lost intersport that became Hargreaves who SD then ate up and a more local one called sportskit round this way.

 

[High street sw19]

Certainly not impossible, they brought out a new website about then, but its easy to see the problems they create for specialist retailers.
We've lost intersport that became Hargreaves who SD then ate up and a more local one called sportskit round this way.

Just asked again and he said that P-w-P did in fact sell to SD, he know Paul Watts personally....it's a shame, but I guess good for him.

 

[Dave M]

Just asked again and he said that P-w-P did in fact sell to SD, he know Paul Watts personally....it's a shame, but I guess good for him.

That is kind of sad, they used to do some fantastic deals I remember buying frames on offers like buy one get 2 free deals,I had some yonex rd 10's from a deal like that once.

 

[High street sw19]

That is kind of sad, they used to do some fantastic deals I remember buying frames on offers like buy one get 2 free deals,I had some yonex rd 10's from a deal like that once.

Yes I know the business seems kind of screwed up now day's :-|

 

[MAXXply]

Are Tennis Direct or Pro-Direct Tennis owned or affiliated in anyway with Sports Direct/Mike Ashley?

 

[High street sw19]

Are Tennis Direct or Pro-Direct Tennis owned or affiliated in anyway with Sports Direct/Mike Ashley?

To the best of my knowledge, NO they are not part of the evil empire.

 

[robbo1970]

Just got my Dunlop strings through.....from a non-SD supplier.

Good times.

 

[High street sw19]

Just got my Dunlop strings through.....from a non-SD supplier.

Good times.

If you don't want to give fat Mike and his evil empire any cash, I was told Dunlop strings are now made by Zons, the same guys who own Solinco.

 

[T-ennis 888]

If you don't want to give fat Mike and his evil empire any cash, I was told Dunlop strings are now made by Zons, the same guys who own Solinco.

You make him sound like the Jabba the Hutt of tennis.

 

[babyhagrid]

Its also worth noting that SD used to own 5% of Amer, who just so happen to own Wilson.

 

[robbo1970]

If you don't want to give fat Mike and his evil empire any cash, I was told Dunlop strings are now made by Zons, the same guys who own Solinco.

That's good to know. I'll avoid SD at all costs. And nicely enough, my new Dunlop strings were cheaper than from SD.

 

[High street sw19]

Its also worth noting that SD used to own 5% of Amer, who just so happen to own Wilson.

Used to....and it was hardly a controlling interest, Head used to be Austrian Tabak but is not any more :-|

 

[High street sw19]

Its also worth noting that SD used to own 5% of Amer, who just so happen to own Wilson.

Used to....and it was hardly a controlling interest, Head used to be Austrian Tabak but is not any more :-|

 

[High street sw19]

That's good to know. I'll avoid SD at all costs. And nicely enough, my new Dunlop strings were cheaper than from SD.

Well done .

 

[High street sw19]

You make him sound like the Jabba the Hutt of tennis.

Old Jabba is a saint compared to this guy!

 

[T-ennis 888]

Old Jabba is a saint compared to this guy!

The question to ask is who does Mike Ashley have frozen in carbonite, hanging on his palace wall

 

[robbo1970]

The question to ask is who does Mike Ashley have frozen in carbonite, hanging on his palace wall

His employee's trade union leader.

 

[T-ennis 888]

His employee's trade union leader.

I'm surprised Ashley tolerated the presence of a Union to begin with.

 

[classic tennis]

I'm surprised Ashley tolerated the presence of a Union to begin with.

No chance here and for sure not in his Asian sweat shops, see the big factory collapse in Bangladesh wash producing for trailer park brand Matalan and guess who....Sprort's Direct !

 

[High street sw19]

No chance here and for sure not in his Asian sweat shops, see the big factory collapse in Bangladesh was producing for trailer park brand Matalan and guess who....Sprort's Direct !, Dunlop/Slaz, Lonsdale etc

It's a shame hopefully folks will speak with their cash.

 

[T-ennis 888]

No chance here and for sure not in his Asian sweat shops, see the big factory collapse in Bangladesh wash producing for trailer park brand Matalan and guess who....Sprort's Direct !

Wasn't the collapse in Bangladesh this week where so many unfortunately died, a residential building where unscrupulous building contractors did not adhere to building regs? I'm not questioning you as there probably was a factory collapse too but I didn't hear about it.

Either way, Jabba/Matalan will likely collect their assets which can still be sold from the rubble while not stopping to collect the dead and open up a new sweatshop in about 10 days so business will run as per usual. Monies lost due to loss of productivity from the collapsed sweatshop will likely be claimed from a commercial insurance policy. Another day, another dollar for these guys - nothing more.

 

[High street sw19]

Wasn't the collapse in Bangladesh this week where so many unfortunately died, a residential building where unscrupulous building contractors did not adhere to building regs? I'm not questioning you as there probably was a factory collapse too but I didn't hear about it.

Either way, Jabba/Matalan will likely collect their assets which can still be sold from the rubble while not stopping to collect the dead and open up a new sweatshop in about 10 days so business will run as per usual. Monies lost due to loss of productivity from the collapsed sweatshop will likely be claimed from a commercial insurance policy. Another day, another dollar for these guys - nothing more.

I hope people think of that when they support these brands...maybe karma will be there in the end .

 

[Dave M]

Primark say they had a business there too, sad times when cost cutting at work costs lives

 

[High street sw19]

Primark say they had a business there too, sad times when cost cutting at work costs lives

Indeed it is, if folks boycott these brands it's the only way things will change.

 

[Dave M]

Indeed it is, if folks boycott these brands it's the only way things will change.

Sadly with economies the way they are many people can not afford to boycott shops like them

 

[High street sw19]

Sadly with economies the way they are many people can not afford to boycott shops like them

I don't know I would buy Hanes or Markies any day than go to fat Mikes empourium of crap or buy any Dun/Slaz/Don. gear and stick with Yonex...et al.

 

[T-ennis 888]

I hope people think of that when they support these brands...maybe kama will get them in the end .

Did you mean karma? (Kama is the Hindu God of love if memory serves correctly). If so - we would like to think so but it's unlikely to be in this lifetime :neutral:

 

[High street sw19]

Did you mean karma? (Kama is the Hindu God of love if memory serves correctly). If so - we would like to think so but it's unlikely to be in this lifetime :neutral:

very true.