text: What people don't realize is places like Amazon demand manufacturers to lower the prices of their goods in order for Amazon to carry their products.  Most manufacturers can't lower them to the demands of Amazon, so it forces them to outsource to China.  So you will get on Amazon the cheapest version of the product, looks the same has the same title, but made to fall apart with plastic parts & week soles.  This practice of forcing outsourcing was created by Wall Mart initially & now globally picked up by Amazon. Pay less & get less.  Did you know Sony stopped making all products for USA in Japan?  They noticed when they outsourced to China, & lowered they're prices for big box stores, USA eats up the cheaper versions without once glancing at the made in label. Sony feels USA cares only about price not quality. So Sony still produces in Japan for Europe & produces in China for USA. Amazon is EVIL.. The worse thing you can do is send your money outside of your community especially now.