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Family Values
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 4,075
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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
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- Joe Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves. - William Pitt |
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10-07-2009, 12:24 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: New York, NY USA
Posts: 4,269
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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. |
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10-07-2009, 12:28 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 8,704
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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.
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Mike Bradshaw 1980 911SC sunroof coupe, silver/black Putting the sick back into sycophant! |
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10-07-2009, 12:31 PM
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Family Values
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 4,075
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Quote:
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- Joe Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves. - William Pitt |
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10-07-2009, 12:42 PM
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Banned
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Usa
Posts: 3,621
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I just ordered a pair of PF Flyers. Remember those?
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10-07-2009, 12:45 PM
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Child labor has risen to 8 cents a day...they have passed it on to the consumer.
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madmmac AKA Mitch 1984 Factory Turbo Look 2006 4Runner 1998 TRD Supercharged 4Runner (Sleeper) |
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10-07-2009, 12:56 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 31,443
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Quote:
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1996 FJ80. |
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10-07-2009, 12:59 PM
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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.[/
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1989 3.2 Carrera coupe; 1988 Westy Vanagon, Zetec; 1986 E28 M30; 1994 W124; 2004 S211 What? Uh . . . “he” and “him”? |
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10-07-2009, 01:00 PM
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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.
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10-07-2009, 01:01 PM
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another round please
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Carmel In.
Posts: 4,452
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Who's Chuck Taylor, and why does he sell shoes?
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Getting old is not for wimps. |
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10-07-2009, 01:14 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,517
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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.
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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10-07-2009, 01:19 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MD
Posts: 5,733
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Completely market driven. You can spend ~$15 for a knock off version at Walmart.
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10-07-2009, 01:23 PM
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Banned
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South of Heaven
Posts: 21,159
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Quote:
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10-07-2009, 01:41 PM
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N-Gruppe doesn't exist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: *%@#ing GPS, where am I? Oh wait I see the Space Needle.
Posts: 4,394
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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
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Ted '70 911T 3.0L "SKIPPY" R-Gruppe #477 '73 914 2.0L SOLD bye bye "lil SMOKEY"  "Silence is Golden, but duct tape is SILVER.” other flat fours:'77 VWBus 2.0L & 2002 ImprezaTS 2.5L |
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10-07-2009, 01:45 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 44,314
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It's called Capitalism.
I love it.
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Tru6 Restoration & Design |
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10-07-2009, 01:54 PM
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Family Values
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 4,075
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Quote:
Since when are you a capitalist?
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- Joe Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves. - William Pitt |
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10-07-2009, 02:23 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 44,314
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I'm a small business owner.
stay in PARF.
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Tru6 Restoration & Design |
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10-07-2009, 02:29 PM
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Slackerous Maximus
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 18,164
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+1
Sambas rule. Quote:
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10-07-2009, 04:51 PM
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Son of a Son of a Sailor
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Birmingham, Al
Posts: 945
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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.
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"Living and Dying in 3/4 Time" |
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10-07-2009, 05:00 PM
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Cogito Ergo Sum
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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.  Check Journeys.com. They usually have some on sale. |
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10-07-2009, 05:04 PM
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1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2
Carrera
2003 996
04 Jeep
1986 Porsche 944 2.5l
