Converse All-Stars - Chuck Taylors - Why are they so expensive?
 

We're talking about a canvas sneaker, with a rubber sole that was designed almost 100 years ago and hasn't changed all that much since.

Why are these things $45/pair? When I was a kid, these were some of the cheapest sneakers you could get. Simple, basic, somewhat rugged and washable. Certainly there is not a lot of ergonomic engineering going into these things.

How is it possible that these are $45/pair when you can get other, more modern designed sneakers for less???

It also looks like Converse has a no-discount policy on them. I checked a few places (like JC Penny) and they have a sale on sneakers that specifically excludes the Chuck Taylors.

/rant off

I wonder about the price adjusted for inflation?

You know, compared to getting a pair in 1965 dollars in a shoe store.

Anyway, they are retro and the hipsters wear them and they own the brand.

They require special tooling to be able to sew that thin basic canvas together. All of the current shoe factories are only capable of making basketball shoes with 18 layers of multi-color leather, or low sided canvas shoes with 4 inches of padding all around so they stand upright when untied.

Was that supposed to be green?

I just ordered a pair of PF Flyers. Remember those?

Child labor has risen to 8 cents a day...they have passed it on to the consumer.

Funny.

Because people will pay $45 for them. I'd guess/timate that the actual manufacturing cost to NKE (or to its supplier) per pair of Converse might be $5. Actually, that sounds too high.[/

No idea about the price but they are the most uncomfortable sports shoe I have ever laced up. They felt like I was running around with wooden boards strapped to my feet.

Who's Chuck Taylor, and why does he sell shoes?

Because the original Chuck Taylor firm, Converse, IIRC, went broke. These shoes no longer made in the USA, but good ol' NIKE bought the rights to the "chuck taylor" brand. I'm wearing out my final pair of "Chuckies" right now. Won't be buying the Nike version.

Completely market driven. You can spend ~$15 for a knock off version at Walmart.

You're paying for a name.

fred meyer has them on sale all the time...but i now prefer the Adidas Samba for my retro driving shoes.

higgins should chime in on this...chucks are all i see him and one of his kids wear

It's called Capitalism.

I love it.

Since when are you a capitalist?

I'm a small business owner.

stay in PARF.

+1

Sambas rule.

Back when I was a kid PF Flyers and Chuck Taylors were what the Po' Folks wore.... namely me and my sister and most of our friends!
Well, looking at it like this, I guess Po' Folks still wear them when considering Big Name Brand, ie: anything with a living B-Ball players' name on it, can run what, $150-200-bucks! Maybe more, I don't know as I refuse to pay the markups.

For driving shoes you can't beat the Adidas GoodYear line or a Piloti.


Oh the only Chucks I ever liked were the leather insulated Chucks Hiking shoes I had. :cool:



Check Journeys.com. They usually have some on sale.