Lidl cheap cycling stuff

I don't really buy all this buy ethical stuff with this kind of thing - it's good to support independent businesses yes and for bike stuff I mostly do. And I wouldn't buy cheap bits for my bike because I wouldn't trust them... but these track pumps have been seen elsewhere for much more money 'branded'.

They'll be made in the same factory as lots of other track pumps you'll pay way more for and feel better about, but the staff won't be paid any more.

The shoes came from Germany - not sure where they're made (probably far East) but this is no different to your Nikes, Shimano shoes (just checked and my Shimano shoes were made in Korea, hmm, doesn't say which bit, ethical!), anything else really.

Only difference is how much is being made off the top of the commodity - Shimano shoes just make more for the manufacturer/retailer. You still have the sweatshop in Korea or wherever, unless you're talking about something like PAC bags, hand made in a village in Canada, but you pay for the privelege...

I agree that it doesn't seem like doing much. But Lidl is a terrible company (just like most other large companies) with appalling business ethics, and even if I can't do much, I like whatever Lidl I can do. Pun intended, natch. My LBS employs more people under better conditions, trains and supports them better, gets some of its small profit back out into the local community, and I like them better. I wouldn't buy from Lidl if I could at all help it.