very interesting rankings: better world shopper

[Flaxbee]

(cross-posted in the Lounge)

The site ( http://www.betterworldshopper.com/r-clothing.html ) has rankings for a bunch of categories; here's one for clothing. IMO, good to know.

[cbayer]

1. What a great site. Thanks!

[Flaxbee]

2. you're welcome! How are you these days, cbayer?

[cbayer]

3. I'm well, Flaxbee. And you?

I am in the middle of planning a big "no chains" road trip. We will be traveling coast to coast and back and eating/staying at local places. We try to stay off the interstate.

So this site should be helpful when we need to shop. I've already noted their gas station recommendations, which I will try to use.

[Flaxbee]

4. that sounds like SO MUCH FUN!

My husband and I have been wanting to go on a road trip for a while... but work and 5 cats (plus some strays) have kept us in place. I hope we can manage even a short jaunt somewhere this summer.

When are you planning on this trip?

[cbayer]

7. We leave LA mid-April and will be on the road for two months.

We have been doing this once every two years and we have a blast.

I am an over-planner, and my husband is happy to go just about anywhere and likes the surprises. So it works out.

We will see all our kids (4) and various other friends/relatives.

Hard to do with pets, which is one of the main reasons we don't have any.

I hope you get a chance to make a trip this summer. It's good for the soul.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. Is there a place on this site

where you can find out WHY the companies did so well or so poorly? I didn't spend a lot of time looking at more than the rankings.

Cars category was odd---no company listed with an A, and no American car company was above an F. I want to know why.

[Flaxbee]

6. I think they want you to buy the book ($10) to understand the whys...

I was looking for that information, too -- then I saw that they're selling a book. Not exorbitant by any means, but... not free.

Hi Curmudgeoness! How are you?

[Curmudgeoness]

8. I have run into some contradictions too.

Grades for "retail stores" seem to contradict grades for "clothing", and I don't see the distinction. And many of the higher ratings are on my personal "shit list" based on social positions or ethics. I am skeptical.

Hi back at you, Flaxbee. Thinks are going well for me.....finally saw the sun today and it was not freezing cold. I think I have made it through another miserable winter and spring is close. In fact, I am sure of it. When outside to admire the blooming crocuses and there were bees all over them---then out of the blue, a butterfly goes flying by! Made my day. Hope you are well and things are looking up for you too.

[Sherman A1]

10. I too see some contradictions as you have

so eloquently stated, some of them are rather glaring by their lack of inclusion when others are mentioned along with the grades given to those that are on the list. That said the list is an opinion, perhaps an informed opinion, but nothing more. I will add the website to my bookmarks and use it as a piece in the informational puzzle which we all use when shopping for any item.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. I think that I would not use this for much of my information.

I looked at the Top Ten highest ranked companies, and I have only heard of 2 of them. I have a feeling that these products are high end priced, and I would love to be able to do the right thing in every way, but I have a suspicion that many of the companies who blow their horns about socially and environmentally consciousness are ripping people like me off. I think that they charge much more than they have to, and get it, simply because people care.

Without any real explanation of how these companies rated so well or so poorly, I don't believe that I have an informed opinion. I see no reason for Costco to be rated so low, and Whole Foods to be high. That, in itself, causes me to have questions about their formula. Maybe I don't know something that they know. And I still wonder about the F ranking for every American car company (not that I have an American car, but still.)

[OffWithTheirHeads]

9. Yeah, when they give Costco, who pays well and values their employees

And supports a minimum wage hike, I call bullshit.