After losing about 40% of its value last week, Crocs (NASDAQ: CROX) has another headache.The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that "Japan has asked the maker of Crocs to look into changing the design of its footwear after complaints that children wearing the colorful plastic clogs have had their feet injured on escalators."
The company has faced similar accusations in the United States and Crocs is reportedly working with the Elevator/Escalator Safety Foundation (I can't believe that even exists) on public education initiatives.
What does all this mean for Crocs? Probably not much beyond the company's already dismal financial results, although the posters warning about the dangers of Crocs near escalators in Japan probably won't do much to spur sales.
Crocs' dramatic fall from grace has been an interesting story to watch, and the company just doesn't seem to be able to catch a break.
The safety concerns are not disclosed as risk factors in Crocs' latest 10-K, indicating that the company's management may not see them as a material threat to sales.
The safety concerns are not disclosed as risk factors in Crocs' latest 10-K, indicating that the company's management may not see them as a material threat to sales.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
4-22-2008 @ 6:53AM
David Fekete said...
I'm really getting sick of manufacturers getting blamed for peoples foolish mistakes. Maybe Crocs weren't made to be worn when riding up and down escalators. What about flip flops ? Anything can be a choking hazard for kids...a rock, dirt, food ! Now days if some kid chokes on a button or something else its the manufacturers fault. Where do parents fit into all this ? I knew a guy that stuck his hand in a snowblower. He lost a couple fingers and sued the manufacturer....he won ! What the heck was he doing sticking his hand there anyway...duh. Law suits gone wild.
4-22-2008 @ 7:15AM
Sharon Kamp said...
I totally agree with David.........flip flops are more dangerous on escalators and even soft tennis shoes can be dangerous. Parents teach you kids to STEP off the escalator not slide off. We the majority of comsumers are getting very tired of having something taken off the market or revamped because some parent did not use COMMON SENSE or monitor their child. Put the blame where it belongs and not on the consumer. Now toys that were made for kids to chew on or very little YES the manufacture has a big responsibility here cause we do not know what they are putting in the making. But most others are just common sense on parents part!!
4-22-2008 @ 7:20AM
Sharon Kamp said...
I SHOULD HAVE PROOF READ MY COMMENT!! LOL
I totally agree with David.........flip flops are more dangerous on escalators than Crocks - and even soft tennis shoes can be dangerous. Parents teach your kids to STEP off the escalator not slide off. We the majority of comsumers are getting very tired of having something taken off the market or revamped and cost more because some parent did not use COMMON SENSE or monitor their child. Put the blame where it belongs and not on the manufacturer. Now toys that were made for kids to chew on or are very little --YES, the manufacture has a big responsibility here cause we do not know what they are putting into the making the toy or bed or stroller. But most others are just common sense on parents part!!
4-22-2008 @ 7:28AM
CTS said...
Personally, I think Crocs are the ugliest thing I've ever laid eyes on. I'd be glad to see them go under. But you all are right that other shoes can be dangerous too. It's about common sense, not the shoe. I saw a mom the other day FORCE her screaming, crying, obviously frightened kid onto the escalator at the mall. She almost threw him onto it with one arm and off he went.....he fell over and I saw him reach down to the step crack to get back up........I thought it was going to be a 911 call but thank God he stood and was ok.......but she wasn't even WITH him!! THAT is why these things happen. That mom was to blame if something happened, not the kid or the shoes the kid had on!
4-22-2008 @ 7:25AM
lin said...
I've never seen so many little kids fall on their faces! Crocs are dangerous and little kids shouldn't be wearing them to run in or play on the playground. The rubber makes them trip and fall flat on their face. And the generic are worse! The straps break off just riding a bike. Pathetic waste of money.
4-22-2008 @ 7:29AM
Carla said...
Maybe if people, not just kids, would actually walk instead of dragging their feet we would have a lot less accidents wearing any kind of shoes. We might even have a general change in attitude from depressing and boring to happy with good stuff to do! :)
4-22-2008 @ 7:30AM
Viv said...
I for one love Crocs. I work in a Pharmacy and I am on my feet for 12 hours. These things have been a real foot saver. If I could keep the company afloat with my purchases believe me I would.
I also work with a teenager and she is a real foot dragger so yea there is going to be some risk but hers stopped when she figured out how to pick up her feet!
4-22-2008 @ 7:32AM
susan said...
Let's start with the fact that these "shoes" and I use the term loosely are terrible for your feet, especially for children. The kids wearing them today are going to suffer foot problems in the future. It really comes back to personal responsibility, I can't blame the company.
4-22-2008 @ 7:35AM
Kris said...
I'm sorry but but kids should not be wearing crocs to ride their bikes. A little sense goes along way with safety and if you are not wearing the appropriate footwear than you should not be riding a bike, scooter, etc. Just like all children should be wearing helmets while riding scooters, bikes, skateboards, roller blades, etc. Heck the stupid Heeleys are dangerous as well but parents still buy those things and then allow their kids to use them in stores, church, and other inappropriate places.
I just don't understand the thinking of some of these parents and then when their kids get hurt they want to sue.
4-24-2008 @ 8:07AM
Karen said...
Crocs are ugly but sooo comfy, great if you're on your feet long periods. They've been around for years only in white for nurses. I luv mine but they should not be worn by kids in place of their everyday good supportive shoes. Poolside or the beach would be a good place for kids to wear them. Weren't they the rage for awhile? Another example of mom buying what the kid wants instead of what's good for them.
4-22-2008 @ 7:58AM
jeff said...
Ok so its dangerous to wear crocs on escalators - so are MOST shoes. Those without laces tend to slip off exposing fleshy fingers/toes while laces come loose to get caught between the rotating plates/gears - so which is to blame: the Crocs or the simple fact escalators should have been recalled/banned soon after they were invented! Appearently the relatively few injuries are worth the convenience for the lazy unwilling to walk a few extra steps after hiking across the 1/4-mile parking lot and thru the store to even reach the "danger zone".
4-22-2008 @ 8:00AM
Kim Allen said...
Quoting the author of the post..."the Elevator/Escalator Safety Foundation (I can't believe that even exists) on public education initiatives...."
Yes, the E/ESF DOES exist and you may not be old enough to understand why: in the early 1960's there were many, many accidents involving escalators--limbs being caught and crushed--and it took a safety initiative (hence the E/ESF) to redesign escalators so they were not such a potential threat to the user.
4-22-2008 @ 8:04AM
Donna said...
Ah, this story is just a crock.
4-22-2008 @ 8:14AM
rachel said...
I hope they ban these things. Crocs are made for gardening anything other than that is a crime!! There so ugly people should be fined for wearing them!!
4-22-2008 @ 8:24AM
Rob said...
Crocs were made to wear while working in the garden.People started wearing them everywhere and now there is madness.Please make it stop.
4-22-2008 @ 8:17AM
carol said...
I am a parent, who was with my daughter (9 yrs old), as she stepped onto the escalator wearing crocs and she slipped and banged her knee pretty good. I simply couldn't catch her in time. Kids get hurt but those shoes are extremely slippery on escalators. She doesn't wear them to play, etc. Am I going to sue? No, but she won't be wearing them on escalators again.
4-22-2008 @ 8:25AM
Sue said...
Crocs should be used in the summer on the pool deck or at swimming lessons. They are easy for lil ones to slip on and they do provide decent traction on wet pool decks. But parents need to use common sense, which sadly, we see less and less of.
4-22-2008 @ 8:36AM
dave said...
Anyone who looks at the design of this footwear has to realize they are unsafe as they increase the risk of falls.
4-22-2008 @ 8:38AM
Birdie said...
Crocs are great. If you don't like them don't wear them. I can point to a dozen or more shoes that should have safety warnings beginning with the FM pumps, flip flops, gel shoes, untied running or sport shoes, boots with heals so long and thin they could double for a weapon. Crocs are great, wear the right size and the brand, not the knock offs. They aid in foot injury recovery, especially heal pain from running. If you notice, they are made in several different places, the ones made in Mexico and Colorado are softer, the ones made in China are hard as a rock. They may be ugly but you can't beat the colors, comfort, and therapeutic benefit. Maybe it's the escalators that are dangerous or the users. Scarves and all sorts of clothing have been reported to be caught in escalators causing physical harm. This is ridiculous. It's not always the product; consider the user/source.
4-22-2008 @ 8:49AM
jojo said...
If Crocs were made for working in the garden, then I wish they would have left the holes out...
As for wearing them while riding a bike is downright stupid, and if someone gets injured while doing that gets what they deserve...if it's a kid under the age of five, well...parenst should have rules about what to wear for different activities, if not, they have idiots for parents.
The elevator thing...parents have to watch their kids when getting on an elevator....you're not supposed to have your toes close to the "rize" of the step because when it comes to the top, it will flatten out to floor level. I see a lot of kids and adults "ride" the elevator until it literally pushes them on to the floor. You're actually supposed to take a step off, and that is where kids and stupid adults are running into problems.
What it boils down to is PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY...and I'm sure that there are people reading this that have seen kids running like banshees in front of their parents that acted like their kids weren't doing anything at all.