Hot or Not Brands today

So there are definately some amazing brands out there, just as obviously, there are some TERRIBLE stores out there.  Here's my thoughts on what seriously rocks and what seriously sucks.

What's awesome:

1) Amazon.com: I know I'm not the only person in this contest who is saying it, but Amazon is probably the best store ever.  Their new thing where they have sales every week based on consumer votes is great and so is their recomended list, wish lists....basically everything they do makes me happy.  I bought something there from a store that ripped me off and they refunded my money for me, no questions asked.  Seriously, amazon=love.

2) E.C. Star & Stop Starring: So it's two different brands.  I couldn't chose and I really love both of their styles.  I don't love them because of their marketing so much, because they don't do it much -on the other hand, that's not a bad thing, in fact, it's a LOT better than crappy marketing.  Basically, they both have insanely cute styles, E.C. Star's are more punky and Stop Starring are more rockabilly/vintage styled.  I don't like overly punk or rockabilly looks, but mixing their looks with other styles lets me have the exact style I love.  The brands are both really expensive, that's their downside, but E.C. Star has a great sale section and sometimes you can find Stop Starring stuff on ebay.

3) Dick, Jane and Spike: This is a local store in Carlsbad, California.  It's very small, but my favorite shop in the world.  They have some amazing vintage stuff and they carry TUK, E.C. Star, Stop Starring and other new cute styled clothes.  They also have hand made buttons, hair pins, ciggarette cases and other cute goodies.  AND, the store is by my favorite sushi shop, so when I do get to stop by there I also get some amazingly yummy food.

4) American Apperal: I know I'm only supposed to have 3 companies here, but American Apperal has to be an honorary mention.  They started a company solely on the concept that people don't need to rely on sweat shop labor.  Their shops are all in America and their workers have full benefits and earn over $10 an hour.  Compare that to someone like Victoria's Secret where the clothes are all made in small third world countries and the workers make about $.03 per article of clothing they make.  American Apperal also has insanely soft shirts that actually fit girls right, which a lot of crappy tee shirt companies can't quite grasp.

Stores that stink:

1) Wal Mart: Bleh, ok, let's make a store that screws over basically every person in the world besides their stock holders.  That's what Walmart is all about.  They treat their employees like crap, use sweat shop labor, put really cool little shops out of business, censor their records and movies, sell books but refuse to sell any books that question the status quo or Republican right.  I know a lot of Republicans don't see a problem with that because of all their free market beliefs and what not, but a lot of contstruction workers are Republicans, and yes, they find a way to hurt them too.  A lot of big contractors won't even do business with Wal Mart.  Basically, they have an ebay-like system for companies that might build their stores.   To get the contracts, they frequently end up bidding lower than it would cost them to do the job, so the person building for Wal Mart loses a bunch of money, and they get to keep the profits.  On top of all this, their clothes suck and they have nothing cool or original to offer customers.

2) McDonalds: I pretty much feel the same way about McDonalds.  Their recent trying to seem more upscale and healthy campaign is just plain sickening.  If you're eating at McDonald's, it's not for health reasons.  I get that stupid people are suing them because those people got fat and they're trying to get that to stop happening, but come on...it's something stupid causing them to do something even stupider.  Their only yummy thing is chicken McNuggets, and since they tried to make them healthy by making them all white meat they taste only half as yummy.  And yes, I know how gross the things they used to make them out of  were, but if you're going to eat good food at a McDonalds, you need help.

3) Guitar Center: Ok, the fact that I worked there made me a little biased, but come on.  They're one of the top 1000 profit making companies in America, but unlike American Apparel, they refuse to help out their workers at all.  Their salesmen make low commision and minimum wage.  They don't give big bonuses to anyone.  Maybe it would be better is they didn't really sell all their stuff for a billion dollars.  People actually go there instead of little shops that DON'T completely rip them off and don't even realize it.  Just because they are a bigger brand with lots of advertisements that say they sell things for insanely cheap doesn't mean they do.  Go look on ebay or amazon for anything at Guitar Center and you'll soon realize it's cheaper anywhere else.  People constantly stop working there because they hardly pay them and rather than trying to change things so they can keep their best people, they just think "oh well, everyone wants to work here, we'll just replace them."

So, that's what I like and hate.  What do you kids think?

Previously published in the Brickfish Hot or Not campaign