From whar I’m reading it has nothing to do with vintage. From their website it says they use ”Made in USA” when at least 70% of the manufactuing is domestic value. This is in violation of FTC guidelines that say it must be all or virtually all American in order to use ”Made in” but apparently legal action was dropped for some reason. There seems to be some consensus that the ”Made in USA” shoes are of better quality.

Why does it matter?

New Balance is making a “Qualified Made in America’” claim which is allowed based on FTC guidelines.

From FTC

https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-made-usa-standard

What is a qualified Made in USA claim?

A qualified Made in USA claim describes the extent, amount or type of a product’s domestic content or processing; it indicates that the product isn’t entirely of domestic origin.

Example: "60% U.S. content." "Made in USA of U.S. and imported parts." "Couch assembled in USA from Italian Leather and Mexican Frame."

From New Balance website

https://support.newbalance.com/s/article/New-Balance-and-Manufacturing-in-the-US

New Balance and Manufacturing in the US

We are proud to be the only major company to make or assemble more than 4 million pairs of athletic footwear per year in the USA, which represents a limited portion of our US sales. Where the domestic value is at least 70%, we label our shoes Made in the USA. Our commitment to domestic manufacturing allows New Balance to employ American workers at our five facilities in Maine and Massachusetts. Whenever possible, we purchase materials from domestic suppliers who employ more than 7,000 workers locally.

Truth in Advertising still takes issue, and filed a complaint with the FTC just a few days ago:

https://www.truthinadvertising.org/new-balance-an-iconic-made-in-usa-brand-defies-ftc-law/

If they haven’t been doing so, New Balance should put the % content that is made in the US on all product tags, not just on its website since not every item they make has components made in the US. Some or many are probably made in China entirely like 100% polyester sports tees. No economic reason why it should have American components. Yes, I could see why Truth in Advertising has a problem with labelling and website claim.

Again, why does it matter?

Did anyone catch the phrase in the quoted material "the only major company to make or assemble more than 4 million pairs of athletic footwear per year in the USA, which represents a limited portion of our US sales.."

So, they're the only one and It's a limited portion. I don't think anyone choses shoes (or much else) based on country of origin. What if it were a 0% portion? Wear no shoes?

Enough people might care to be swayed by the Made in the U.S. claim on the tags. It’s unfair to other companies (who make all kinds of goods) for New Balance to rely on that claim to profit from it. If one major company can’t be bothered to be transparent enough, then others will follow. Why even have a rule when it’s not enforced? If it’s not a big deal, why does New Balance go out of their way to make that claim using a particular % on its website? Because it matters to them despite the ”limited portion” of their sales claim.

If enough people cared about the origin, New Balance wouldn't be the only one and whatever US content they properly or improperly claim to have would represent more than "a limited portion" of their sales. With these highly limited and caveated claims, even if overstated, I think it's reasonable to assume most people don't care. New Balance should follow the law, whatever it is, but going after them is unlikely to make them want to go through the trouble of increasing or even maintaining production in the US.

Which was why I asked the question, to better understand the point being made.

I just purchased Weathertech floor mats over another brand...because they are made-in-the-USA. I care. My husband wears New Balance running shoes. I own a lot of Bernhardt furniture because "a lot of it"....is made in North Carolina.

There are a lot of choices out there when making purchases. I try to choose "Made in the USA." Or.....farmed locally, for instance.

Actually when I was looking it up earlier, I found that Made in America New Balance were sought after - in China. Like I said, supposedly they’re of better quality. I don’t know if that’s just perception or if there’s any truth to it, but regardless they’re preferred by some.

@User - from the New Balance website support section:

"Length: There is approximately a 1/6" difference between each half-size (e.g., between 9 and 9.5, between a 9.5 and a 10, and so on) For every half size up, the width (across the ball) will increase by 1/8""

Also, Winter said, "For some unknown reason, the New Balance walking shoe last/measurement has changed dramatically in the last few years. I used to be able to wear their footwear without issue. Now, I need to go up a half size to achieve some comfort."

It's possible, Winter, that your feet have changed size. It happens to many people for a variety of reasons, one of which is getting older. Not that you need to be old for your foot size to change, just that you need to be older now than you were then. (Which we all are.)

Winter - I don't know what Skecher's says but a 7.5 US size is a 38 in Europe. I used to wear a 7.5 US when I lived there, and all my shoes from then are 38s or 39s. (my feet have flattened out a bit with the years, so only the 39s are still comfortable).

Lindsey...Yup...I'm older. ☺ Bordering on ancient these days but if anything, my feet and shoe sizing have improved rather than degraded. I have a comfortable and relatively new collection with which to compare fit...old to new and visa versa. In this particular case...it's the New Balance and not my feet. I'd be delighted if that weren't the case. I was a big fan for many years from the day they came on the market.

Jmm...You're absolutely correct. Thinking my memory might be failing me, I took the sizing figure directly from one of my Skecher walking shoes...on the back side of the shoe tongue. I thought I had bought a 38. I'm happy to see my memory is still in good stead. And Skecher needs to review their info labels. Shoes I bought in Brazil were always 38 as well. Thanks for the correction.

When I lived in Europe, I was in a country where the average adult man was shorter than me. Shopping opportunities were fabulous and abundant but neither shoe stores nor department stores could offer me shoes that were wide enough to fit. On my first business trip to Copenhagen, I bought two pairs of shoes. They were the same sizes as I had looked at in my country of residence but their standard width was wider. I remember it very distinctly because that was when I bought my first pair of Ecco shoes and I've been a loyal Ecco customer ever since. Ecco is a Danish company and Danes like other Scandinavians then as now were/are a bit taller and larger than men in countries farther to the south.

I did care, and still do, enough to try to buy something made in USA if possible. I am just finding it to be so obscure really. I don't mind paying a bit more but I do mind paying a lot more.......I have kind of given up checking where things are made only because hardly anything seems to be made here.

It’s hard to find shoes or anything made in USA these days. Even Amish sheds, I think sidings , windows and doors are made in China.