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BATA – the name was synonymous to quality footwear for most Indian households. While growing up, we proudly revealed that our school shoes were brought from BATA. The shoes used to look good and last
for the whole year and more. Our father would always insist that all our footwear came from BATA, even when they did not have many designs or style. Year after year we wore the same kind of shoes and were proud to do that. However, everything has changed now. I went to the BATA shop at Sakinaka to buy school shoes for my daughter. I could not find one pair that was well matched. I had to settle for the nearest match. The quality of material used was very low grade. They had not even aligned the belt and buckle!!! The shape of both the shoes were so different that you wondered if they belonged to the same pair. The inner sole was not stuck to the sole proper. When questioned, the salesman told me that if was supposed to be that way. I wanted to buy the shoes in a emergency, so I unhappily did purchased the pair (at full price and not in any sale) which lasted exactly for a week before the seams opened up. . Other 2 pair of sandals purchased for myself during the same period also did not last even for a whole month. I wrote to BATA regarding the sub-standard product, but to this day they have not bothered to reply. In trying to maintain the price competitiveness, BATA has compromised in quality. In opening up so many branches and putting up so many sales, they have deprived us of quality footwear.
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