I don't think it's uniquely Fanatics. All kinds of "luxury" brands have been dropping their quality standards for several decades now. And not for making some mass market cheaper products, but on their regular supposedly "luxury" lines.
Doc Martin are absolute trash now. Managed to destroy a pair within a few months....
They made a name over decades and now they're going to ride the name till the end of the company.
I really do wonder if MBA == evil.