Let's put an end to the overpriced sneaker.

by user DRE-LO

This is an issue that I've largely gone on silent protest by making it a point not to purchase any athlete-endorsed sneakers. It's a shame that throughout the early 90's while the Air Jordan’s and the Penny Hardaway sneakers were in full bloom that I couldn't even entertain the thought of asking my mother. One look at the price would produce an exit out of the front door and a suggestion to look for employment. And I'm pretty sure that I'm not alone here.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Why should my eyes and the eyes of many others have to pop out of our eye-sockets every time we look at the prices? It's scary to think of the profit margin that Nike, Adidas or Reebok is raking in on every athlete-endorsed sneaker. Let's try this price eye-popping experiment out:

Nike Mens Zoom Lebron III - $124.99 Mens Air Jordan XX2 - $179.99 Chauncey Billups Vegas Sneaker- $200.00 Gilbert Arenas Low Sneaker - $200.00 Nike Lance 10//2 Sneaker- $300.00 Adidas Mens T-Mac 6 All Star - $134.99

You can place your eyes back in your eye sockets and pick your jaw up from the ground now. There is no way that the average Joe in the already financially squeezed middle class in this country can afford this unless they have a strong desire to keep up with the Joneses.

This is why I strongly commend Stephon Marbury by going against the grain and putting out the Starbury One and the soon to be released Starbury II : The price???

$14.98.

An unselfish move coming from the most unlikely of sources.

The Starbury I sold out within days at more than 100 Steve and Barry's Locations across the U.S. So it is pretty clear that I'm not the only one that has had it with the overpriced athlete-endorsed sneaker.

Ben Wallace is jumping on board as well. He plans to launch his own inexpensive brand of sneakers at Steve and Barry's as well as to help endorse the Starbury II sneaker. More athletes need to get on board. There used to be a time in the lives of today's athletes that they couldn't afford he expensive sneakers endorsed by the stars of yesterday.

So here is an official call for other pro athletes and in particular basketball players to go against the current and to make affordable sneakers like Marbury and Big Ben. It will help spread the wealth and increase your connection with fans as well as your roots. More importantly, it will work to reverse and end the reign of the overpriced sneaker.

It'll be the biggest assist you could ever give.

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The BeastAAA-er

977 days ago

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Yes, I agree. As a young basketball player I have always wanted to have the new and cool shoes. However, I couldn't because my parents refused to fork over $100 for a pair of shoes.

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

977 days ago

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It was best not to even ask mine because I'd knew what the answer would be. Just imagine a new pair of shoes today would be comparable to the price of a PS3 or Xbox 360

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ChristofMVP

977 days ago

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Best way to end the over-priced sneaker is NOT TO BUY THEM. If sneakers are not selling, the price will be cut. That, on the sneaker company will go broke. Gotta love capitalism, for it does work in the long run. Now, if there are foolish consumers out there who want to buy overpriced sneakers, well, so be it. There is something called freedom, and under it includes freedom to buy whatever sneaker a person desires. I just hope they are not putting a second mortgage on their house or using a credit card with 20% interest to buy said sneakers.

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Taytay 24All-American

977 days ago

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All true, but at some point, shouldn't people be protected from themselves? I have taught at schools where it was known some students had the power cut or the phone disconnected because of lack of payment, yet they had new kicks and a matching throwback jersey every Monday morning. Misplaced priorities?--certainly. But in a world saturated with messages, particularly for teens, of what is 'in', the pressure to conform is great. I know parents are ultimately responsible--mine certainly were, as others here have said--but a little help from the companies would help, too. Never thought I would say this, but kudos to Starbury.

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DRE-LOAAA-er

976 days ago

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There are those people who in order to keep up will spend money they don't have on things they don't need. Not to mention going into credit card debt for this same reason. They should be hit with the dummy stick. But there are sensible people who realize how overpriced and insane the sneaker prices are and thus the reason for athletes to step up to create a brand of affordable sneakers to target those who won't conform to the expensive sneaker.

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

976 days ago

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Companies aren't stupid. They will sell at a price where supply equals demand. I.e. they sell their stock for the most money and hence make most turnover, and hence most profit. If people don't buy them, demand will fall, so supply will be lowered (to keep the price at the same level), or failing that, the price will come down. The company will only charge what it knows people will pay. So unfortunately for the consumer, it has to choose not to pay to get the price dragged down. I've been revising AS Economics...

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