What is your return policy?
Our company has a 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee. In any situation, you may contact us and we will do our upmost to take care of you.
What if the size I ordered isn't correct?
If you ordered the incorrect size, please let us know and we will exchange them for you. On our footwear, we suggest those that fall in the 1/2 size range, order the next size up.
I have Rafters sandals that I bought a few years ago. I am impressed with the new steps you are taking towards environmental sustainability and was wondering about the workers that work in factories in China producing Rafters. Are they paid fair wages? Do they work in an environment that allows for fair treatment of all workers? -Fair Trade Advocate
This is a quick answer to your inquiry. I could go back over the previous fifteen years of experience in China and the changes but that would take forever. First, is China huge polluting country. Yes, and it is something we address each day. We work with each of our factories to make sure they are recycling leftover production materials whenever possible. In shoes the production process does not emit anything into the air. Where the pollution happens is the processing of the materials such as EVA. To use less EVA we put cork into the material and also use 15-20% recycled material. In addition our total design concept is to use less materials wherever possible. As for the working conditions. Again I can only speak for the people we deal with. Our factories abide by all Chinese labor laws (you may or may not know about the ones recently passed) and we monitor this. In addition our factory gives their employees one month off during the slow season with pay. This is in return for working longer hours during the peak months of January, February, and March. My wife and I are always asking, probing, questioning to make sure the workers treated well. Low cost production is not the only reason we make shoes in China. We would move production to the USA in a minute if there were factories to make them. Given the rise of oil and raw material prices I would not be surprised to see production back in the USA. It might not happen in the next year or five years but it could. One last note is Chaco’s are now mostly made in China. Price is not always a subject of country of production. At Rafter’s we work at desks bought from used office furniture stores, every conference table is purchased used, our people are empowered to make decisions at every level thus we do not need much management, and lastly we advertise very little. In closing our efforts in the “green” movement are just that. We are not perfect and frankly I am yet to see anyone or company that is. We try to improve everyday our philosophy of using less, recycling more, and moving towards a product that works cradle to cradle. Best regards, Bill Combs President
What does P.E.T. stand for?
P.E.T stands for Polyethylene terephthalate. It is one of the most important raw materials used in man-made fibers, such as beverage, food and other liquid containers--most commonly: soda bottles.
Is it possible to have your products in Canada ?
If ordered online, we will ship your order to Canada. There is an additional shipping charge for any orders shipped outside the Continental U.S.
Where are your shoes made?
Are shoes are made in China.
I recently purchased a pair of women's Coho sandals and see that they were made in China. I also see that the owners of this company travel to China twice a month! As China succeeds the U.S. as the worlds worst carbon emitter, I'm wondering what other aspects of manufacturing in China the owners of this company may be aware of. Recycled content is great, but it still doesn't quite make up for poor working conditions, bad labor laws, and little regulation in the area of air pollution! I understand (and appreciate) the need to deliver quality footwear at a lower cost than, say, the Chacos that competed with Rafters for my sandal dollars, but I'm wondering just how "green" my Chinese sandals really are? Is it Chinese workers and Chinese air quality that are paying the difference between the cost of my Rafters and their competition?
This is a quick answer to your inquiry. I could go back over the previous fifteen years of experience in China and the changes but that would take forever. First, is China huge polluting country. Yes, and it is something we address each day. We work with each of our factories to make sure they are recycling leftover production materials whenever possible. In shoes the production process does not emit anything into the air. Where the pollution happens is the processing of the materials such as EVA. To use less EVA we put cork into the material and also use 15-20% recycled material. In addition our total design concept is to use less materials wherever possible. As for the working conditions. Again I can only speak for the people we deal with. Our factories abide by all Chinese labor laws (you may or may not know about the ones recently passed) and we monitor this. In addition our factory gives their employees one month off during the slow season with pay. This is in return for working longer hours during the peak months of January, February, and March. My wife and I are always asking, probing, questioning to make sure the workers treated well. Low cost production is not the only reason we make shoes in China. We would move production to the USA in a minute if there were factories to make them. Given the rise of oil and raw material prices I would not be surprised to see production back in the USA. It might not happen in the next year or five years but it could. One last note is Chaco’s are now mostly made in China. Price is not always a subject of country of production. At Rafter’s we work at desks bought from used office furniture stores, every conference table is purchased used, our people are empowered to make decisions at every level thus we do not need much management, and lastly we advertise very little. In closing our efforts in the “green” movement are just that. We are not perfect and frankly I am yet to see anyone or company that is. We try to improve everyday our philosophy of using less, recycling more, and moving towards a product that works cradle to cradle. Best regards, Bill Combs President
I'm interested in your products very much. However, I'm Japanese. I'm looking for your products but I seem not to be able to purchase it in Japan. If you know the shop in Japan, please let me know.
We do not currently have any distributers or dealers in Japan. However, you are more than welcome to purchase the items available online and we will ship them to you. Any order shipped outside the Continental U.S. does incur an additional shipping charge.
Where are you located?
Eugene, Oregon