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Crocs to carry escalator warning

Lawsuits, claims of mishaps precede labeling

By Joyzelle Davis, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 22, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.

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Crocs' colorful clogs will begin carrying a tag warning consumers to be careful on escalators after a spate of reports about wearers getting their toes caught on moving stairways.

The tags, which will be on all shoes by the rollout of Crocs' spring 2009 line, will include warnings such as "avoid the sides of the steps where shoe entrapment can occur" and "supervise children at all times," the company said Tuesday.

The Japanese Trade Ministry earlier this year called on the Niwot-based company to redesign the ubiquitous clogs, and the Metro in Washington, D.C., has put up signs warning riders to be careful while wearing rubbery shoes.

Several multimillion-dollar suits have been filed against the shoemaker regarding escalator accidents with children wearing Crocs.

Crocs says that poor escalator maintenance is often to blame and that many of the entrapment accidents could be prevented by the installation of a safety plate at the side of the step.

The company says its analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission data shows that there has been no corresponding increase in the frequency of shoe entrapment injuries since Crocs hit the U.S. market five years ago.

"Consumer safety is very important to us," said Ron Snyder, president and CEO of Crocs, in a statement.

"Escalator entrapments have occurred for more than 40 years, far longer than Crocs has been in business, and these accidents often are preventable. Because the Crocs brand is so visible and so popular around the world, we have an opportunity to reach millions of consumers of all ages, including parents, with educational messages that will help draw attention to this important issue."

Crocs sales and stock took off after its early 2006 debut as a public company as consumers - and kids in particular - clamored for the colorful shoes, but lately the company has stumbled, citing slower retail traffic as one problem.

Crocs shares closed Tuesday at $9.63, below its public offering price.

The stock had hit a high of $75.21 on Oct. 31.

Crocs

CROX: Nasdaq

$9.63

UP 35 cents

Comments

  • July 22, 2008

    10:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    RegusPatoff writes:

    Next thing you know, they'll be telling me that wearing my slick-soled cowboy boots on an icy sidewalk could cause me to slip... or that the wheels on my rollerblades turn round and round and could cause me to fall... or that being an idiot could cause me to get hurt... or that drinking Drano could kill me... or that poking a screwdriver in my eye could cause me to go blind... or that I should always wear clean underwear in case I'm in an accident (my apologies, mom!). Sigh... when will we become responsible for our own lives again? Of course, the Crocs escalator warning should be accompanied by a tag explaining that the shoes aren't, in fact, "real" crocodiles and that there's no reason to panic... and that they should not be eaten, used as fuel or substituted for actual intelligence.

  • July 22, 2008

    11:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MattGuyver_007 writes:

    Who do we blame? Ridiculous tort laws in the U.S.? A hole attorneys who prey on frivolous lawsuits and the litigious among them? Insurance companies who deem such outrageous disclaimers necessary?

    I guess it doesn't matter... now we all have to pay a little more for a pair of Crocs.

  • July 23, 2008

    4:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Shadow writes:

    NEWS FLASH ........ Living can be dangerouse to ones health. So the Surgeon General warns.

  • July 23, 2008

    7:51 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LingLingfor_prez writes:

    And what will happen? They will still have the same problem.

  • July 23, 2008

    8:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    bthye writes:

    "Who do we blame? Ridiculous tort laws in the U.S.? A hole attorneys who prey on frivolous lawsuits and the litigious among them? Insurance companies who deem such outrageous disclaimers necessary?"

    All of the above, MattGuyver, plus our increasingly idiotic populace that make such lawsuits possible on a daily basis.

    RegusPatoff is right too - nobody takes responsibility for their own actions anymore: I'm injured, therefore somebody *else* screwed up and that person must pay.

    Maybe we should blame modern medicine. Too many morons are living through their accidents and going on to reproduce.

  • July 23, 2008

    8:46 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dick_Tater writes:

    Warning: Crocks are tacky and tasty, escalators like to eat them.

  • July 23, 2008

    9:24 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ISKIFREELY writes:

    Warning: Wearing Crocs makes you look like a 10 year old girl.

  • July 23, 2008

    9:32 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    IRUNMAN writes:

    The warning label should read:

    These are a very ugly form of foot protection. Public use may result in odd looks, pointing and laughing or an assumed lack of general style.

  • July 23, 2008

    9:51 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    temurlan writes:

    This is a croc of...

  • July 23, 2008

    11:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    dwood writes:

    If you are going to use an escalator, take your CROCS off so they won't get caught and make you spill your excessively hot coffee you bought from McDonalds. I'd like to get all the ambulance chasing lawyers stuck on an escalator and pour hot coffee on them. What ever happened to watch what the hell you are doing and take responsibility for it. This society is getting so limp wristed and spineless it just makes me sick. Woops, did I offend someone, do I need an attorney?

  • July 23, 2008

    1:07 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    theairdog writes:

    Ah! The Great American Dream.

    Find a product manufacturer with Deep Pockets that you can sue when you own brains fail you. Retire in ease and watch TV for the rest of your life.

  • July 23, 2008

    1:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    Easy solution. Make it legal to gut shoot all of the tort lawyers. End of problem. Even better, have an open hunting season on lawyers! The de-scum-ming of America could start this Fall!

    Scott
    p.s. The piece of garbage RMN purity filter made me put the second hyphen in de-scum-ming. I guess this pathetic software thought I was using a vulgar term for ejaculation. Pathetic.

  • July 23, 2008

    1:41 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Heidi writes:

    YIOTA,
    I know enough about you to know that you wouldn't wear crocs!

  • July 23, 2008

    9:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    redwhiteandBLUE writes:

    Children's sandals need warnings and kid's sneakers with long shoelaces. (sarcasm) Parents are negligent..not shoe mfg's.