Cartjacking, Nike on strike, and the dismal state of the shoe game

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Maybe the release of the Yeezy's and SBB 1's simultaneously brought it to light, but honestly, How bad is the shoe game right now? For the releases of OG colorways it's damn near impossible to buy a pair online without a bot, and Nike cancelling any major release because of them just makes it worse. No other site could handle half the traffic generated from releasing the SBB 1's and yeezy's. Obviously the yeezy's weren't a Nike release but if they were there's no doubt in my mind Nike.com would've handled the traffic better than Adidas did.

Those who have been in the sneaker game since Nike first started putting out JB remember what it was like to be able to get a pair of shoes the day AFTER release. Now? You're lucky to get pair of retro's if you show up 3 hours before a store opens. Maybe we as the sneaker community have to change something. Stop hyping up releases so far ahead of time that people buy $400 bots to be able to get 3 pairs and resell them. Honestly, I wish nike, JB, Adidas, Asics, etc would just randomly drop links on random days or do restocks without tipping off all these sites. 

Whatever the change is we have to make one. This is just getting comical.
 
The beating of this dead horse subject is comical also
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This is a game of have and have nots....where the haves just gloat about their multiple pairs and tell the have nots to kick rocks.

I haven't been able to cop much this year and will not pay a cent over retail for any shoe because retail is already too damn much. I've been finding better ways to spend money that is actually enjoyable...such as drinking till I can't remember what shoes I am wearing!
 
tbh, when it comes to Jays and Nikes, I like copping kicks from 2008 and under on Ebay. Better quality and materials imo. I've been getting some dope deals for less than $100 like my Air Revolutions white/blue from 2003 I recently picked up for $40 shipped that were only worn once, same as my Huf x SB Air Trainer 1 Gold Diggers for $50 shipped. I'm picking up stuff I couldn't get a few years ago, I don't really care for all these new releases Nike and Jordan dropping.

The shoe game is over saturated and kind of dead to me I'll just leave it up to the kids. I'm only 34 but I've been collecting kicks since I was 15. I think I had just about anything I ever really wanted when it came to Jordans and Nikes. It's to the point I just started really picking up other brands like Puma and Reeboks retros. Better quality and styles you dont have to worry about everyone else rocking. I rather stand out then fit in. If people want to go crazy and drop $200+ for 1 pair of shoes that's on them. I can't knock the hustle of the reseller because I been did that since 2002 but back then we didn't OD on picking up so many pairs. I was good with snatching up 2-3 pairs. Back then, the shoe game wasn't like how it is now and now that I'm older I have other priorities in life then splurging all my money on every release that drops. If you think about it, how can you really keep up with all these shoes dropping? You buy what you like but if it's going to be a headache to get them then I guess it's just not meant for you to have them, what's to worry about when something else is going to drop soon enough that you going to want to get. It's all in the game and the rules are always changing, either you gonna play it or sit on the sidelines and watch it. I like the clearance rack....lol. 
 
 
This is a game of have and have nots....where the haves just gloat about their multiple pairs and tell the have nots to kick rocks.

I haven't been able to cop much this year and will not pay a cent over retail for any shoe because retail is already too damn much. 
Truth. This thread will have a very small subscriber rate.
 
tbh, when it comes to Jays and Nikes, I like copping kicks from 2008 and under on Ebay. Better quality and materials imo. I've been getting some dope deals for less than $100 like my Air Revolutions white/blue from 2003 I recently picked up for $40 shipped that were only worn once, same as my Huf x SB Air Trainer 1 Gold Diggers for $50 shipped. I'm picking up stuff I couldn't get a few years ago, I don't really care for all these new releases Nike and Jordan dropping.

The shoe game is over saturated and kind of dead to me I'll just leave it up to the kids. I'm only 34 but I've been collecting kicks since I was 15. I think I had just about anything I ever really wanted when it came to Jordans and Nikes. It's to the point I just started really picking up other brands like Puma and Reeboks retros. Better quality and styles you dont have to worry about everyone else rocking. I rather stand out then fit in. If people want to go crazy and drop $200+ for 1 pair of shoes that's on them. I can't knock the hustle of the reseller because I been did that since 2002 but back then we didn't OD on picking up so many pairs. I was good with snatching up 2-3 pairs. Back then, the shoe game wasn't like how it is now and now that I'm older I have other priorities in life then splurging all my money on every release that drops. If you think about it, how can you really keep up with all these shoes dropping? You buy what you like but if it's going to be a headache to get them then I guess it's just not meant for you to have them, what's to worry about when something else is going to drop soon enough that you going to want to get. It's all in the game and the rules are always changing, either you gonna play it or sit on the sidelines and watch it. I like the clearance rack....lol. 
I couldn't have said any of this better myself.  This weekend is my last hoorah for J's.  I have the watch list set on about 3 older J's on eBay.  I'll be going on a long hiatus outside of the Christmas J's.
 You buy what you like but if it's going to be a headache to get them then I guess it's just not meant for you to have them
Unfortunately, hardly anybody thinks like this.  If they did then resellers would be mostly unemployed.  I used to marvel at how people were able to score good deals on dope kicks.  I'm not even impressed anymore when dudes are buying shoes consistently for $200+ calling it a "steal".

I'm sorry, but if people are paying resellers rent money for Ninja Sock Darts and Yeezy Boost Roshes then the game is long over for people like me.  I packed up my bags awhile ago and besides the occasional Nike SB I don't know how much new $ I'll be giving Nike. If Phil Knight is stepping down then so am I. Lbs.
 
it sucks about the NDC situation but ive got every release ive wanted this year at retail.. just had to try a little harder recently
 
As I've been getting older, working, and being more conscious of my spending I've been slowly stepping away from Jordans to the point I don't even actively follow release dates. For 1 I don't wear sneakers outside of the gym Monday-Friday. I'm an engineer who works 60% of the day in the office and 40% of the day on the manufacturing/production floor. So my daily footwear consists of speedy top siders/cole haans/clarks and steel toe boots for when I'm on the production floor. So Monday through Friday I'm not wearing sneakers or clothes that I could wear them with. Which brings me to my next point, ive got such little time to actually wear sneakers I'm not gonna waste those opportunities on jordans which honestly aren't even comfortable. I've really been into trainers and runners lately like roshes, huaraches runs, huarache nm's, Adidas tubulars, Nike sock darts and such and it really made me realize we are getting absolutely nothing for our money when it comes to jordans. We always talk about quality in terms construction and glue stains and messy paint jobs but what about the actual caliber of the shoe? I never realized that sneakers can actually feel good to wear until I broke out into roshes and huaraches and better yet you can wear them without socks. And I'm also 100% sure that jordan Retros are made with lesser quality materials than their Nike counter parts with similar tech and styles. Everyone who's familiar with the jordan 7's History knows it's made with Huarache technology. Idk about you but huaraches are some of the most comfortable, easy on the foot sneakers I've ever worn. 7s are most definitely not. We've done nothing but lower our standards enough to make jordans acceptable.

Don't get me wrong, I'll pick up a pair of jays every now and then, I picked up the sbb's last week. But it's getting harder and harder to justify paying more and more for shoes that don't even feel good to wear. Plus the entire culture is messed up. Got people claiming to be sneaker heads but have never owned a pair of shoes that came with the jordan face box
 
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The hype isn't really dying, it's just getting stronger and stronger and more people become sneakerheads. For everyone that gets frustrated and finds a new hobby, it seems there's another 10 waiting to fill their empty closets with shoes. This really doesn't seem like a fad at this point, so either adjust, or like a couple of others said, find a new hobby.
 
If I can't get them for retail, than they weren't meant to be.. I've been doing this way too long to be chasing down pairs and paying rape prices for some shoes that cost $10 to make.. I have a ton of shoes that I want and if something I like comes out than I will try to get them, but sometimes its not worth the time or money it takes to lock in a pair.. I miss the good ole days of getting Retro's on sale or even better yet at the Outlet.. Not talking about these B Grades that make it there, actual FSR's of Retro's.. I have countless scores from the Outlet that you wouldn't even hear of these days since they don't make it that far, Varsity Red/White 6's from 2010 for like $79.. I remember finding CDP's at random Footlockers and getting them on sale at some ridiculous prices.. Think I got the 8/15 pack for like $80 or something like that.. Those were the days!
 
Did NDC give an official word on why they stopped doing releases? Sucks because thats all i have at this point

And before anyone says 'you're from nyc theres plenty other ways', although that is true, but it has become a ZOO out here for sneaker releases, if you're from anywhere in the tri-state area then you know how bad it has gotten in the past couple years

You know its bad when there are 1-2 hour lines for raffle tickets, not the shoe itself, but a raffle ticket
 
Did NDC give an official word on why they stopped doing releases? Sucks because thats all i have at this point

 
They actually admitted that bots were the problem and they are making it unfair to manual users... So until they figure out a solution they arent dropping retros online or the app
 
^Thanks, I wonder how they will do this, ALOT of releases has passed since they stopped, imagine the first release they do and all the kicks they will drop :nerd:
 
They actually admitted that bots were the problem and they are making it unfair to manual users... So until they figure out a solution they arent dropping retros online or the app

In the meantime is Nike allocating what would of been online stock to retail stores? I can't imagine they would sit on all that inventory. Out of total pairs manufactured, I would assume a good chunk was reserved for online release (historically)?
 
They actually admitted that bots were the problem and they are making it unfair to manual users... So until they figure out a solution they arent dropping retros online or the app

In the meantime is Nike allocating what would of been online stock to retail stores? I can't imagine they would sit on all that inventory.

That seems to the rumor, but only those in the know in Beaverton and the Memphis warehouse actually what's going on.. With all the stock that was intended for ndc and the app
 
That seems to the rumor, but only those in the know in Beaverton and the Memphis warehouse actually what's going on.. With all the stock that was intended for ndc and the app

Even if they did hold back that inventory, obviously would still sell at a later date but man that concept would def throw off their books from an accounting and finance perspective, holding large amounts of inventory would make no sense in too many ways
 
We don't run the game. Nike does. Only way you can win is to not play at all. Otherwise, accept the terms and play by their rules. Nothing's gonna change until they say so.
 
Even if they did hold back that inventory, obviously would still sell at a later date but man that concept would def throw off their books from an accounting and finance perspective, holding large amounts of inventory would make no sense in too many ways
I agree but how do their restocks work? Is that old stock or do they actually start manufacturing said shoe again to restock at a later date? I've seen them restock kicks that released years ago, example the fire red IV's nike restocked not that long ago that released in 2012. I doubt that was old stock laying around. They probably would just manufacture the more hyped up pairs like chicagos for example to give people a fair chance at getting them online, if that's what Nike is really trying to do by not releasing retros on their website.
 
I agree but how do their restocks work? Is that old stock or do they actually start manufacturing said shoe again to restock at a later date? I've seen them restock kicks that released years ago, example the fire red IV's nike restocked not that long ago that released in 2012. I doubt that was old stock laying around. They probably would just manufacture the more hyped up pairs like chicagos for example to give people a fair chance at getting them online, if that's what Nike is really trying to do by not releasing retros on their website.

Nike definitely doesn't remanufacture shoes. If you look at the production dates on the restocked shoes they're still the same as the original releases. Nike restocks for 1 of a couple reasons. There are leftover pairs sitting at its brick and mortar locations so they round them all up do an online release. Footlocker and footaction do the same thing. In fact they restock daily on some shoes that came out 2 years ago. Like the AJ KO sport blue. Some restocks are planned and they set shoes aside for like the 4th of July, or ALLSTAR weekend. The rest comes from canceled and returned orders. I'm also sure they move stock across countries as well. Sold out on Nike.com almost never means every pair has been sold. Just that the designated number of pairs they wanted to sell for that release has been reached.
 
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