Chinese Flip Flops - So Cheap, So Dangerous!

1. blah
   August 2nd, 2007 at 4:03 pm

   I'm sure she didn't suffer half as much as I did looking at her crappy site.

2. Markus
   August 2nd, 2007 at 4:10 pm

   Did i get this right ? More than a month has passed and she still doesn't know the reason ? Why doesn't she go to her local university or some laboratory and ask the people there to determine the chemical responsible for this ?

3. Vonskippy
   August 2nd, 2007 at 4:11 pm

   Perfect example why fat people should always wear clothes (tents) that cover them from head to foot.

   If she really thought it was the flip-flops, send them to a lab and have them do a chemical analysis on them (but wait, that would ruin her scam).

4. MisterTrilby
   August 2nd, 2007 at 4:22 pm

   "Well, after wearing them my feet would be red and sort of tingly, but I figured that it was just because it was first flip flops of the year so my feet need to get used to them."

   Wait - I'm sorry? The first flip-flops of the year usually cause redness, itching and burning? Why didn't she just stop wearing them?

5. L
   August 2nd, 2007 at 4:35 pm

   Eww... That's nasty. Is anything from China safe anymore?

   (And what scam would that be, Vonskippy? I didn't see any place on her site that asked for money. She's just trying to get the word out about this cheap crap that Wal-Mart is selling. If people don't want to listen, I guess that's their choice. Enjoy your foot rash.)

6. Anad
   August 2nd, 2007 at 4:37 pm

   It looks more like contact dermatitis, which can happen in response to nearly any material if a person is sensitized to it, including seemingly inert metals like gold.Either that or they put stolen kidneys in the flip flops.

7. Atomic
   August 2nd, 2007 at 4:45 pm

   The problem is that flip-flops ARE NOT to worn for a prolonged time as shoes, and it bothers me to no end when people where them as shoes. Not only are they ugly, the sound they create is maddening. Flip-flops have their appropriate place and function; walking around in them for hours as shoes is not it.

8. Anita
   August 2nd, 2007 at 4:53 pm

   My guess is that it was caused by latex. Many people have latex allergies, and latex is sometimes used in cheap shoes.

9. matt
   August 2nd, 2007 at 5:32 pm

   i agree with anad. it sure looks like contact dermatitis to me. perhaps there were trace amounts of other chemicals in the latex mix that could cause such an allergy? *shrugs*

10. Vonskippy
    August 2nd, 2007 at 5:34 pm

    @L

    At best she's a attention whore - spreading FUD about China or Walmart or FlipFlops with no real data but her own fat feet, at worst, she's laying the groundwork for a lawsuit (who else takes daily photo's of her feet?).

    Chemical analysis of the flipflops would put an end to ALL speculation (but why let facts stand in the way of a good FUD story).

11. Stacyj
    August 2nd, 2007 at 5:48 pm

    A-MEN, Atomic. Color me fussy and germophobic but gawd, flip flops strike me as utterly gross. Gnarly ol' feet just a-flappin' around for one and all to behold, nothing but a wafer-thin layer of cheap, bacteria-ridden foam between them and the rest of humanity ... yeah, I know there are sandals that are no better but for some reason flip-flops just squick the heck out of me. Send them back to the showers and beaches where they belong and the world will be a far more pleasant (and, apparently, rash-free) place! Yeah!

12. thebokonist
    August 2nd, 2007 at 6:05 pm

    That's utterly disgusting...you really should have put that behind a cut, with a warning.

    To Stacyj and Atomic; I love! wearing flip-flops, and I only wear "real shoes" when it's absolutely necessary.
    I also make sure to take care of my feet, and if they're looking "gnarly," or anything of the sort, I make sure to take care of them (and wear regular shoes until then).

13. priscilla
    August 2nd, 2007 at 6:32 pm

    Atomic....if you lived in Miami you'd wear nothing but flip flops. so hush.

14. Chad
    August 2nd, 2007 at 7:05 pm

    for those who didnt notice she said she stopped wearing them as soon as she realized there was a problem. and at the bottom of the page she shows that she is not allergic to latex.

15. Atomic
    August 2nd, 2007 at 8:38 pm

    Chad, I read that, but I don't believe her. For example, the heel on the left one is worn down, which shows prolonged wear.

    Priscilla, they make very nice sandals! Flip-flops are just gross (thanks Stacyj).

16. R
    August 2nd, 2007 at 8:46 pm

    This story isn't exactly "neatorama".

17. P
    August 2nd, 2007 at 9:23 pm

    I'm surprised at how many people don't believe her...like she would make something like this up...

    oh yeah her "crappy site" was made to warn other people, not entertain them

    oh yeah, she's trying out the latex thing but it doesn't seem like she's allergic

18. Eni
    August 2nd, 2007 at 9:38 pm

    "Chemical analysis of the flipflops would put an end to ALL speculation (but why let facts stand in the way of a good FUD story)."

    I'm guessing that's not the easiest, or cheapest, thing to do.

19. Robert S. in Chicago
    August 2nd, 2007 at 10:00 pm

    It is most definitely allergic contact dermatitis, and that, unfortunately is more her fault than WalMart's since they have probably sold thousands of similar footwear from the same manufacturer without complaint. Had she gone to a dermatologist (instead of a clinic for the poor), they would have given her an antibiotic like Cephalexin and a corticosteroid ointment like Clobetasol. Her biggest faux pax was contacting her former employers and expecting them to simply comply with her rants. She is poor and desperate for her health; that much is understood. What I want to know is why she waited almost three weeks to go in to the clinic, yet she took progressively worse photographs almost from the moment she bought the footwear?

20. L
    August 2nd, 2007 at 11:46 pm

    Geez, Vonskippy. What did a fat person do to you? Kill your puppy?

    In light of the recent stories about all the toxic products coming out of China recently, people have a right to be a little fearful, uncertain, and doubtful when they buy any product with a "Made in China" sticker on it. Maybe it was an allergic reaction, maybe it wasn't. It was still nasty.

21. DCer
    August 3rd, 2007 at 8:35 am

    Wow, anyone here have prejudice against fat people clouding their judgment?

22. Jason E
    August 3rd, 2007 at 9:11 am

    I'm sorry... How do we know she's fat?

23. Dawn
    August 3rd, 2007 at 9:59 am

    I have the same ones and THAT didn't happen to me
    http://dawnowar.tumblr.com/post/6664210

24. janedoh
    August 3rd, 2007 at 10:25 am

    Yikes....now she really won't have cute 'summer feet'.
    I have several pairs of thongs(hehe) and they are good for the beach and getting the paper but they are NOT for prolonged wear. Not just because of the grossness factor but because they are not good for your body. Fallen arches, damage to your knees and back. Bigger/heavier body= more impact on joints. Feet are important, take care of them.

25. meg
    August 3rd, 2007 at 10:48 am

    What the heck did being fat have to do with a skin condition now? So she has contact dermatitis and wants to warn parents...big whoop, not like she's hurting anyone else.

26. Sid Morrison
    August 3rd, 2007 at 2:47 pm

    Oh my goodness... There is nobody to root for in this story! The main players:

    White trash in general
    Flipflop wearers (yes, largely congruent with above)
    Fat People with nasty feet who don't mind showing them
    Walmart Shoppers
    Whiners in general
    Ambulance chasers
    Walmart
    Red China
    Shady companies in Red China
    Cheap Stuff made in Red China by shady companies

    I can't think of a single story packed full of more pet peeves of mine. And honestly, how many pictures of her disgusting feet does she have to show us. Two or three would have done it lady!

    Straight talk from Sid

27. Genevieve
    August 3rd, 2007 at 10:40 pm

    Wow, I can't believe how many people are blaming HER! It is still up to Wal-Mart to check into her complaint and make sure that the flip flops, shoes whatever are safe. Her feet looked absolutely horrible! Who would go to such lengths and suffer just to get attention like that. She wouldn't win any money if they could prove she had latex sensitivity regardless.

28. Dawn
    August 4th, 2007 at 10:41 pm

    She's full o' crap.
    I HAVE these flip flops!

    Not only do I have no rash but theres no way she could have worn off the flowers on the foot bed with only 8 hrs of wear.

    She's lying. At least about that.

29. ted
    August 6th, 2007 at 8:21 pm

    Have to agree. Something's fishy about her flip-flop story. Say this happened to you. Would you start documenting it with photos right off the bat?

    Too many pictures of her feet. It's a sad case, but please, how many of you scrolled down to the bottom of that freakish page? Ick.

30. Karen
    August 7th, 2007 at 9:48 am

    FYI everyone. It it true, I got the same problem on my feet as her. I bought the fliip flop from Wal Mart, wore them one night for about 5 hours, next morning I have the chemical burn. I was looking on the web for a treatment for " a rash" when thank god I found her site, now I know there are others out there that have the same thing. DO NOT BUY THESES FLIP FLOPS!!!!! PLEASE!!!

31. Chris
    August 8th, 2007 at 4:59 pm

    *her “crappy site” was made to warn other people, not entertain them*

    looks more like 'legal action' in preparation to me.
    if I was in the jury, she'll have to be pretty more convincing than that...

    but hey, she may be right...

32. Stacy
    August 27th, 2007 at 11:21 am

    I have the same flip flops and have worn them all summer with no problems, but I wore socks for the first time two days ago and yesterday when I got up my feet were itching and on fire. When I pulled my socks off I had a "rash" in the exact same spot. I'm going to the dr. today, but I think she's telling the truth and many more people have come forward with the same "rashes" from the same flip flops bought around the same time. I've even read that there may even be claims made about the same thing a year ago as well. Very ufortunate that this poor woman is getting blamed for wearing a pair of flip flops!!! I'm not fat and it happened to me so I guess we can rule that one out -narrow minded idiots!

33. bingo
    August 30th, 2007 at 2:20 pm

    I started shopping at Walmart about two years ago. I stopped shopping there last year. That was after I had purchased a vaccum cleaner (made in China) that blew the dirt out the back side, purchased chicken leg-quarters for my dog that stunk, a rotten package of hamburger, and a mattress pad (made in China) that fell apart after one washing. It's hard to find anything not made in China these days, but I make every effort to not purchase products made in China by checking where products are made, and I will never shop at Walmart again.

34. Zabette
    August 30th, 2007 at 6:48 pm

    I bought another type of flip flop at Wal-mart, not the thong type and the soles of my feet turned red and my feet were so hot. I quit wearing any shoes and went barefooted in our home. When the shoes were worn again..hot feet and red soles. The soles of my feet looked they had red dye on them. I won't be wearing any shoes made in China again from Wal-Mart or any department store. How long will it take our country to realize or wake up to the poisons that China is using in the products sold to us. I believe the story told about the flowered flip flops based on what happened to me. Read the label...takes so little effort and is so very important.

35. Lorie
    September 3rd, 2007 at 1:58 pm

    I purchased the same flip flops from a WalMart in Missouri this summer and have the same chemical burns on my feet. My feet first showed signs of being burned on Aug 5th and are still blistered and peeling. They appear to be scaring. BEWARE THIS IS TRUE

36. Jason
    September 9th, 2007 at 12:33 am

    Well obviously the burns that some of these suffered were obvious ploys for money and fame. However, my Mother fell victim. She had enough common sense to see the pattern of the burns and figure out what was causing it. It was just silly suicide for these other women to wear these things for so long. My mother just had minor burns. When is the US gonna wake up? Just four words, MADE IN THE USA!

37. Melody
    September 12th, 2007 at 4:48 pm

    Shame on all of you "nay sayers" out there! I bought the same flip flops last summer, just to wear while around the house. I got the same v shaped rash. The first time, I was out in the yard and I thought maybe I had come into contact with poison ivy, because the rash seemed to look like that. But the peculiar thing was, a couple of weeks later when I wore the flip flops for no more than 10 minutes, I experienced the same rash, only more severe this time. Realizing that it was the shoes, I threw them in the closet with the intention of throwing them away at some time. While the rash lasted nearly 3 weeks and itched unbearably, the outline of the v is still present on my foot, the skin darker and scarred. So all of you that were insinuating that this woman was a liar, I think there is plenty of proof from numerous others with the same reactions, to make you look like the sanctimonious idiots you are!

38. MC
    September 15th, 2007 at 3:22 pm

    This woman is not the only one. This story made the news with Walmart pulling out flip flops from its shelves.

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296589,00.html

39. fernz-pj
    April 22nd, 2009 at 11:53 am

    maybe the flip-flop was not the real cause of that 'almost rotten feet', it's her IMPROPER PERSONAL HYGIENE..

    the Filipino community widely uses such cheap brand of slippers. i havent heard such stories yet.

    but then i guess it's the user's responsibility to take goodcare of his/her own with regards to the high risk health hazards.

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