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March 27, 2007
How much profit do they actually need?
I have been griping the past couple weeks about needing some new walking shoes. Mine are about six months old and the support has long since broken down. Because I use them every morning on my walk with Lou, it’s a pretty important piece of equipment. The problem is that everywhere you look shoes are $100. It’s not the money, it’s the wastefulness that bothers me. I mean, after all, most shoes are made in sweatshops probably using child labor and certainly oppressing the workers... it just seems wrong to reward that industry with a C-note twice a year. Enter Stephon Marbury.
I had heard about the Starbury shoes about a year ago and thought, "that’s kind of cool" at the time. When a report on 20/20 about the shoes came at the same time I was shopping for sanity in footwear, I took notice. The deal is that he is marketing athletic shoes that anyone can afford. Not only is their sale price capped at $14.98, but the shoes are supposed to be comparable to shoes ten times the cost. Marbury himself plays in a pair every night in the NBA.
I headed over to Steve & Barry's at the West Oaks Mall to check them out. The high top basketball shoes looked a little cheesy and I caught myself thinking about how they would look rather than making some grand statement about the shoe industry. It was then that I found the cross trainers and other styles. These actually looked like any others on the market. Remove the logo and at first blush they are indistinguishable from New Balance, Avia etc. I figured at $14.98 I could give them away if I didn't like the fit. I bought two pair - each in a different style.
The cross-trainer models look like low top Converse leather basketball shoes, but they aren't quite made of leather. I don't know if its pleather or vinyl or some new material, but it isn't leather. The feel is a bit more rigid than a normal leather shoe, but the fit is fine and the are certainly functional. The walking shoes are exact in every way to popular brands with one exception. The sole of the shoe is less flexible than something like a New Balance walker and it doesn't flare out as much at the heel, which makes me fearful of turning an ankle a bit easier.
The two pair cost me a total of $20 and while there are definitely some minor tradeoffs, I could buy two pair of these (just in case they wear out quicker than Nike or something) and GIVE AWAY 8 pair to needy people for the same amount of money. Plus, I will be supporting sanity in business instead of the "if it costs more its better mentality."
Posted by CDogg at March 27, 2007 09:57 PM
Comments
Hi Chris,
Good luck with the shoes. Prudent purchasing probably requires equal parts wisdom and frugality. That said, might one possibly be a bit podiatrically pedantic pursuing shoe value?
For example, this guy takes the whole concept on a long trip: http://www.quickswood.com/my_weblog/2006/08/athletic_footwe.html#more
Posted by: Brian at March 28, 2007 08:15 PM
Hey Chris,
That Starbury shoe has gotten lots of buzz lately. I'm curious to know how they perform. Would you post a review and your thoughts of the shoe(s) over the next few weeks?
Great job losing 8 lbs!
Michael
Posted by: Michael at March 29, 2007 08:56 AM
Sure thing... I was thinking about doing that but wasn't sure if anyone would be interested. I will report next week.
Thanks for the congrats
Chris
Posted by: Chris Doelle at March 29, 2007 02:45 PM
Brian,
Excellent article... as I mentioned to Michael... I will be giving both pair a thorough "run for their money" - bad puns included.
Posted by: Chris Doelle at March 29, 2007 03:02 PM
Hey chris those shoes are amazing yesterday i bought two pairs n itz only cost me$ 20 and am gonna buy more so i could send 2 my people 2 other country i love it keep it up
Posted by: Joudene at December 17, 2007 11:39 AM