Crocs spent much of last week defending itself over reports that countless people, particularly young children, wearing their shoes were getting their toes caught in escalators. Incidents were reported to have occurred over the last few months in Singapore and Japan, as well as in malls and railway stations across America. The Washington Metro posted ads warning riders about wearing such shoes on its moving stairways. A Metro spokesman said that, in the past two years, so-called “shoe entrapments” had gone from being relatively rare to occurring four or five times a week. In Japan, the government warned consumers last week that it had received 39 reports of sandals – mostly Crocs or similar products – getting stuck in escalators from late August through early September. Most of the reports appear to have involved small children, some as young as two years old.
Crocs Inc. said it is aware of “very few” problems relating to accidents involving the shoes. It added that the shoes are “completely safe” and has suggested the accidents are instead due to badly-maintained escalators or people not behaving safely on them. In a statement last week, Crocs said, “Escalator safety is an issue we take very seriously. In order to stay safe while riding escalators or moving walkways, its important to pay attention, especially when stepping onto or off of the escalator or walkway. Its also important for parents to help young children ride escalators and moving walkways safely.”
