Had they never offered up free shoes, this article wouldn't have been written and you wouldn't be vilifying them. Nike has huge profit margins, as does Apple and just about every cosmetic brand you know of, and yet where is the disdain for their greedy tactics? Oh wait, they never offered to give anything away so let's give them a pass.
Have they never offered free shoes we wouldn't be talking about them. They make it seem like they are giving away a pair of shoes worth $50, when they are really just spending a couple of dollars on a marketing expense. I bet they pass the cost of giving away a "free" pair of shoes onto their customer.
I can't speak for OP, but I have no disdain for Apple or Nike in terms of their markup because they are not masquerading as some sort of quasi-charity that is supposedly helping people in need. Also, they make good products.
This actually isn't a fact, it's an opinion. After all, what makes something a "shitty product?" If we are measuring value based solely on build quality, I have to tell you that most designer shirts you pay $70+ for in the mall fail this test, while polyester shirts that go for $14.99 at Wal-Mart will probably last you most of your adult life. While we're at it, try sprinkling a few drops of water on your MacBook keyboard then take it to your local Apple store and see how much they stand by their build quality when it is determined that you will need a new logic board in your $1400 computer.
Quality is a subjective matter. Who can say that somebody who feels good about their purchase of some horribly made shoes shouldn't if they like the way look and the way those shoes make them feel when they take them out of the box and put them on?
The founder Blake Mycoskie also got caught partnering up with the American group Focus On the Family which sponsors all sorts of anti-gay legislation in Africa. He said that he didn't know all of the awful things they do, which I find really hard to believe.
People like a story that let's them shop and make them feel like they are making a difference in the world.
I read his book, Start Something That Matters, and found it to be full of bullshit marketing speak.
http://jezebel.com/5819435/why-is-toms-partnering-with-an-an...
Edit: Just to expand a bit. They have a term called "One-for-One" which I absolutely hate. It basically says that if you buy a pair of shoes, a pair of shoes will be given to a kid in need. The problem with it is that these shoes are made for a couple of dollars. They make it so you perceive that they are spending $50 on the pair of shoes that they give to the child. When in fact these shoes are being made for a few dollars. Seriously. Just check them out on Alibaba. They are the exact same things, just minus the Toms logo. If they really wanted to make a difference they could give 9 or 10 pairs of shoes away for each pair of shoes you buy. This is a for-profit business, and I don't have a problem with that, what I do have a problem is their sleezy marketing. They are shameless.
http://alibaba.com/countrysearch/AR/espadrilles.html