Old Navy Flip Flops: A Rant

[OverplanninJess]

Ahhh! Why must companies insist on redesigning products that were perfectly fine to begin with!?! I've worn and loved Old Navy Flip Flops since just about as long as I can remember. They're cheap, comfy, and come in just about every color I could need or want. Today I went in to pick up a few new pair replace a couple of colors of mine that had seen better days (specifically seafoam green and yellow).

So, I walk to the flip flop section of the store and what do I find? Totally different looking flip flops! They are narrower, with thinner straps, and the footbed is more rubbery-less foamy. Being the optimist that I am, I grab my size (8) in 4 different colors (I decided I could stand to replace my white pair as well, and they also had this alluring silvery-blue color that I don't have at all!)

Well, I just tried them on, and I am so bummed out. First of all, they are too small;NEVER in my life have I needed anything larger than a size 8-in fact I usually wear 7 1/2, but since flip flops don't come that way I go for the 8's. My foot hangs over the back on these unless I JAM my foot up onto the sandal as far as I can-thus cutting the thong portion into my foot between my big and 2nd toes. Also, the footbed is so narrow that it becomes almost pointless to buy all the different colors, since the only color you really see is flesh (except for the straps). Which brings me to my next complaint-the straps are so thin-they seem like they would start to cut into your feet after awhile! Also, the seafoam green color is not really so seafoamy anymore, it's more like grass green, which also bums me out-cause I really liked that color.

So, tomorrow I have to take them back. I haven't decided if I'm going to try the 9's or not. If I do I'll just get one pair and see what they're like to wear for a prolonged period of time. I'm so sad-I loved those comfy, foamy flip flops.

Old Navy's website describes them as "cuter and comfier than ever", according to who?

Please Note: I realize that there are far worse things in life than not having the flip flops you like-I just wanted to let others know that they have changed the styling of Old Navy flip flops, and in my opinion, may not have changed them for the better.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Bummed too

I loved the Old navy flipflops.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I saw them too, DD has many pairs and will be very bummed at the new design. There are some nice ones at PacSun, ut they cost alot more.

 

[Tricia1103]

OH NO!! Now what am I going to do? UGH! I don't know WHY companies have to change something when it is FINE to begin with! ERGH!

 

[azgal81]

I felt the same way when they redesigned the black/sequin flip flops from target that I bought a couple of years ago and love! Hopefully they will hold up this summer they are almost done for though. Hate when companies do that!

 

[disneyofcourse]

Noooooooo! I was going to buy a few pairs to replace my old ones! I knew I should've replaced them last spring.

 

[chipscinderelly]

I was beyond disappointed last year when Old Navy redesigned their perfect fit T's - now they are thinner (read see through if white) and while I love they are longer they no longer hold the appeal for me.

Is the company going through some cost cutting???

 

[HopingToGetEngaged]

GRRR. I hate when they do that! And, I just THREW OUT about 5 pairs this weekend! As the saying goes - "if it ain't broke- DON'T FIX IT!"


Jess- I just have to ask - where in NE Ohio are you?

 

[disneynutt1225]

Old Navy's quality has declined severely over the years - I'm really not surprised that they've cheapened the already cheap flip flops. When I worked there in 2001 they still had a lot of good quality stuff. Then some new management came in and "revamped" the line - and cheapened the clothing. I always have a problem with stains and Old Navy clothes; they do not come out no matter what I try.

I'm very sad about the flip flops - they were the only thing that brought me into Old Navy in recent years.

 

[sanibelover]

I have never worn them before. but bought some the other day to wear in the shower at the gym because of the price, VERY uncomfortable. It is a bummer when things changes for the "better." Hope you can find a replacement!

 

[eh24fan]

They were different last year as well. My cousin and I both noticed that the ones we bought last year were cut narrower than the ones we had from the year before. No matter how often I wore them, if I wore them for more than a little bit of walking I had blisters from where the straps attached to the flip flop. I was very disappointed because I LOVE my Old Navy flip flops! In fact, when we went to Disney for 4 days in 2005, after one day in sneakers that resulted in achy feet, I spent the next 3 in my flip flops and my feet never hurt. Not anymore.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I have about 100 pairs that I bought on clearance for $1.00 for my wedding favors. Glad I got the old ones and not the new ones.

 

[OverplanninJess]

HopingToGetEngaged-I'm in Lordstown...and I'm impressed if you know where that is (not many people do-lol-it's where one of the GM plants is located). We're small-less than 3,500 ppl (and we're not actually a "town"-we're a village!)

I just wanted to say that the new flip flops actually seem like they would cost more to make-the footbed is made of a more substantial material (maybe this is why they made it narrower?!) I plan on e-mailing them and letting them know my disappointment in this change-*maybe* if they get enough complaints they'll rethink what they put out next year.

 

[HopingToGetEngaged]

Jess~ Actually, yes- I do know where that is! I live in Akron, and grew up in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland. So... how chaotic was it last week when Senator Clinton was in town? She stopped where I work on Friday, and it was sheer chaos!

 

[Mono~rail]

Oh, no! The Old Navy flip flops are my favs. I buy about 10 pair at the beginning of the season, and they last me through the year. We have more warm than cool days where we live so I pretty much wear them year round. I buy the black ones, and a pair lasts me about a month during the summer before they start looking worn out. I toss them and pull out a new pair.

What will I do for shoes now?

 

[OverplanninJess]

Engaged-I really don't know what traffic was like over by the plant...we may not have a large population, but we're pretty big size-wise (25 sq miles)-and I live on the opposite corner of town from the plant. My brother is a senior in high school and he got to go see her speak, along w/some other students in his gov't class (this was the 2nd time his class got to see her-they went to the Iowa caucus and saw her there as well as Obama, Edwards, and Romney). He didn't say anything about it being too crowded (but then again he's an 18 year old boy, getting information out of him is like pulling teeth)

This is a screen capture (from CBS!) of him campaigning for Romney in Iowa (with the Mitt 2008 sign)-he's not a Romney backer, but Romney had paid some of the cost for them to make the trip, so he got free labor (John Edwards paid for the rest-so they campaigned for him as well)! It's been very exciting, and it's gotten him interested in politics (which may or may not be a good thing-lol )

(Sorry this is so big, I don't know how to make it smaller!)

 

[Disneylush]

Old Navy flip flops changed because they were made with lead. I got a email to throw them away. The can cause bad skin problems and if kids or dogs chow on them they can die.

I thought they would try to make something similar thou.

 

[allison443]

Old Navy flip flops changed because they were made with lead. I got a email to throw them away. The can cause bad skin problems and if kids or dogs chow on them they can die.

I thought they would try to make something similar thou.

Who was the email from-Old Navy? I hadn't heard this, but I know WalMart had to stop selling some flipflops made in China because some people got chemcial burns. Can you provide a link for the Old Navy story? My girls still have quite a few pairs of the old ones they still wear.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

Old Navy's quality has declined severely over the years - I'm really not surprised that they've cheapened the already cheap flip flops. When I worked there in 2001 they still had a lot of good quality stuff. Then some new management came in and "revamped" the line - and cheapened the clothing. I always have a problem with stains and Old Navy clothes; they do not come out no matter what I try.

I'm very sad about the flip flops - they were the only thing that brought me into Old Navy in recent years.

yes, they've cheapened the merchandise and starting charging more for it...is it just me or did Old Navy used to be cheap? I used to shop there all the time and then prices kept rising and now I barely go in at all. I can get better quality clothing and such for cheaper some where else...

 

[wen774]

Ive never liked their flip flops, but I find that all their shoes runs small lately. Im usually an 8 or 8.5, but in ON shoes(ballet flats style in particular) I need to get a 9.