FTC Takes Major Action Against Shinola

[Joeprez]

I'd love for the Swiss to take a similar tact. I wonder which brands would actually be made in Switzerland?
Rolex
PP
JLC
???

So my PO would say "Swiss Made" in the dial but "Chinesse Made" in the bracelet?

Or even worst... just "Swiss Made" in the movement?

[JP Chestnut]

I'd love for the Swiss to take a similar tact. I wonder which brands would actually be made in Switzerland?
Rolex
PP
JLC
???

So my PO would say "Swiss Made" in the dial but "Chinesse Made" in the bracelet?

Or even worst... just "Swiss Made" in the movement?

Are you sure the movement is Swiss made? I haven't seen anything to suggest that ETA isn't buying in movement parts too.

I'm wearing my Swinese PO today.

[hoppyjr]

Weiss FTW

Cameron Weiss has been transparent and made clear that everything except the movement and hands was made in Los Angeles. He avoids "Made in the USA on his watches and simply puts Los Angeles, Ca. on the dial.

I want another one.

[JBZ]

Back in the days when NASA chose the Omega Speedmaster as it's Space watch wasn't there calls from Government to use an American made watch? I might be wrong but I'm sure the story goes that to get around it, Omega shipped parts to the US to be assembled then shipped back to Switzerland for completion then shipped back to the US for the princely sum of $1 per Speedmaster. Business is one big con

I think I've read that Bulova really pushed for this (an American made watch that they'd design). Not sure of the whole history, though.

[Joeprez]

I'd love for the Swiss to take a similar tact. I wonder which brands would actually be made in Switzerland?
Rolex
PP
JLC
???

So my PO would say "Swiss Made" in the dial but "Chinesse Made" in the bracelet?

Or even worst... just "Swiss Made" in the movement?

Are you sure the movement is Swiss made? I haven't seen anything to suggest that ETA isn't buying in movement parts too.

I'm wearing my Swinese PO today.

Then I guess I own a Swinese PO too

[hidden by leaves]

I'd love for the Swiss to take a similar tact. I wonder which brands would actually be made in Switzerland?
Rolex
PP
JLC
???

So my PO would say "Swiss Made" in the dial but "Chinesse Made" in the bracelet?

Or even worst... just "Swiss Made" in the movement?

Are you sure the movement is Swiss made? I haven't seen anything to suggest that ETA isn't buying in movement parts too.

I'm wearing my Swinese PO today.

Then I guess I own a Swinese PO too

Stop it I'm still honeymooning!!!

[JP Chestnut]

It's a a great watch, but it never hurts to be an informed consumer.

[zepp21]

Weiss FTW

I want another one.

I still love mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rockmastermike]

That's it, I have to sell my PO now

[chévere]

Indeed it was only a matter of time before Shinola complied with the FTC's guidance. A guy in my office about them because he's a native Detroiter and really liked the premise behind what Shinola was doing. Of course, when I told him that the only thing that really happened in Detroit was assembly, he was not nearly as impressed.

As a point of clarification, the only "action" the FTC took was to not recommend enforcement action because of the remedial measures Shinola implemented (despite vowing to keep using Made in USA language). The letter itself says that "Bedrock implemented a remedial action plan to account for this significant imported content by qualifying its representations" and that "ased on Bedrock's implementation . . ., the staff has decided not to recommend enforcement action at this time." Obviously the FTC "will continue to monitor the Company's advertising closely."

[marchone]

This just posted.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/an-op ... ent-action

[justsellbrgs]

I deal with this every day when customers tell me they only use bearings made in the US. I'm happy for them, I don't see how it's possible, but I'm happy for their convictions..

[sierra11b]

Back in the days when NASA chose the Omega Speedmaster as it's Space watch wasn't there calls from Government to use an American made watch? I might be wrong but I'm sure the story goes that to get around it, Omega shipped parts to the US to be assembled then shipped back to Switzerland for completion then shipped back to the US for the princely sum of $1 per Speedmaster. Business is one big con

I think I've read that Bulova really pushed for this (an American made watch that they'd design). Not sure of the whole history, though.

That's right. Good read here if you search "bulova"

http://watchescorner.blogspot.com/2007/ ... aster.html

But giving credit to Bulova, they were the clock used for most instrumentation during the Apollo program. Would love to get my hands one of those that never made it inside a rocket. They also gave Scott that prototype which recently sold for $1.6million. That'll be the crown jewel until old Buzz finds his "stolen" Speedmaster just before giving up the ghost.

[chévere]

"But as you can imagine, many of the components and raw materials are simply not available in the US, and because of that we are unable to meet the almost unattainable “Made In USA” standards created by the government."

uh huh.

[sierra11b]

This just posted.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/an-op ... ent-action

What a douche response in wanting policy change rather than actually striving to greatness like RGM: Until a change in policy clarifies for the consumer what it truly means to be Made in the USA, Shinola will always strive to do as much as it can in America with the benefit of an American workforce.

[JP Chestnut]

"But as you can imagine, many of the components and raw materials are simply not available in the US, and because of that we are unable to meet the almost unattainable “Made In USA” standards created by the government."

uh huh.

A country that invented the stealth technology in the mid 1970's doesn't have the production capabilities to produce some tiny gears and and springs? OK, Shitola.

[marchone]

Winners win; losers whine.

[sierra11b]

Weiss FTW

Cameron Weiss has been transparent and made clear that everything except the movement and hands was made in Los Angeles. He avoids "Made in the USA on his watches and simply puts Los Angeles, Ca. on the dial.

I want another one.

Too bad he's got more overpriced LEs than the entire history of Speedmasters. Okay... a BIG reach there but I sure wish Weiss would come up with a different design (cathedral hand trench watch!) and lower the price of his LEs as general dial offerings. Having an LE for $300-500 more at his level for measly dial color is just plain silly.

I do like his white dial for $950 but there's something about it I haven't figured out yet which keeps me from pulling the trigger.

[hoppyjr]

Weiss FTW

Cameron Weiss has been transparent and made clear that everything except the movement and hands was made in Los Angeles. He avoids "Made in the USA on his watches and simply puts Los Angeles, Ca. on the dial.

I want another one.

Too bad he's got more overpriced LEs than the entire history of Speedmasters. Okay... a BIG reach there but I sure wish Weiss would come up with a different design (cathedral hand trench watch!) and lower the price of his LEs as general dial offerings. Having an LE at his level is just plain silly.

I would also like to see his LE dials become standard offerings, but I give him much credit - and will pay a bit more - to know that everything except movement and hands was made in Los Angeles.

[justsellbrgs]

This just posted.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/om-sh ... ent-action

What a douche response in wanting policy change rather than actually striving to greatness like RGM: Until a change in policy clarifies for the consumer what it truly means to be Made in the USA, Shinola will always strive to do as much as it can in America with the benefit of an American workforce.

big difference Eric..... RGM is a watchmaker with a business model.... Shinola is a business established to sell units, make money and create jobs...... one of the products they sell just so happens to be watches... comparing Roland Murphy and Tom Kartosis is difficult...

[vintageguy]

so the old saying that "you don't know sh.. from shinola" still holds.

[dmckean44]

"But as you can imagine, many of the components and raw materials are simply not available in the US, and because of that we are unable to meet the almost unattainable “Made In USA” standards created by the government."

uh huh.

A country that invented the stealth technology in the mid 1970's doesn't have the production capabilities to produce some tiny gears and and springs? OK, Shitola.

Costs can get pretty ridiculous in a hurry, especially when you're only looking for small quanities. That's how we ended up with things like $45 government hammers in the 80s.

[JP Chestnut]

"But as you can imagine, many of the components and raw materials are simply not available in the US, and because of that we are unable to meet the almost unattainable “Made In USA” standards created by the government."

uh huh.

A country that invented the stealth technology in the mid 1970's doesn't have the production capabilities to produce some tiny gears and and springs? OK, Shitola.

Costs can get pretty ridiculous in a hurry, especially when you're only looking for small quanities. That's how we ended up with things like $45 government hammers in the 80s.

I'd expect that $45 government hammers have more to do with the contracting process and government corruption, than with actual production costs.

[R@cerx]

Weiss FTW

Cameron Weiss has been transparent and made clear that everything except the movement and hands was made in Los Angeles. He avoids "Made in the USA on his watches and simply puts Los Angeles, Ca. on the dial.

I want another one.

I like what he's doing, likely my next watch purchase.

[outtatime]

I like how hodinkee gives themselves a back-handed compliment (handjob?) by saying how they'd posted about this last year and "shortly after" the FTC started taking action, implying they were indirectly responsible for taking them down.

I wonder if John Mayer and the main dude ever go "skiing" together?