Why aren't minimalist shoes minamally priced as well?

If prices drop, profits drop, stock prices drop. Shoe companies sell whatever stuff at whatever price to maximize profits.

Because people are stupid

An Engineer wrote:

orbitboy wrote:

Design what? It's just a thin slice of rubber and a simple upper, right?

It would appear that you don't work in an industry where you create things...

Yeah yeah, we get it, engineers are smarter than everyone else.

Ace_Hood wrote:

An Engineer wrote:

It would appear that you don't work in an industry where you create things...

Yeah yeah, we get it, engineers are smarter than everyone else.

Smartest are:

1.Mathematicians

2.Physicists

3.Engineers

orbitboy wrote:

Don't you feel like you're getting ripped off by paying more for less?

Discuss.

Absolutely. I usually get gift certificates to the local running shop from my wife and kids for birthdays, Christmas, etc., so I let those pile up and use them thereby creating the illusion of getting free shoes. Or I hold out for closeouts.

And Zappos actually has two real minimalist models, the Puma H Street and the Saucony Bullet for around $60.

But yeah, I look at something like the Mizuno Wave Universe, which is a very good shoe, and wonder how it can cost $125. Obviously, it's because Mizuno found out that people will pay that much.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

I've paid between 30-80 for minimalist shoes, mostly shopping for models on clearance. That is cheaper than I can buy conventional trainers.

I usually get 2000--2500 miles out of my shoes, so I consider them a bargain.

Shoot me a PM the next time you find some of these bargains in the 30-50 range.

Well, a quick google search reveals waffle racer 8s available in limited sizes for 29.95 and a waffle racer 9 available in almost all sizes for 49.95. Saucony Hattoris and Brooks Green Silence are $50. Lots of good deals if you look.

All being made in Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia,etc. they still only pay the kids 25cents in the sweat shops. We're all being ripped off big time no matter what we buy. After all, they need to get the big bucks from us to pay for all those free shoes the elites get. Case in point: LeBron James's basketball shoes cost us $350, but still cost 25 cents to make. We're all so gullible .....or stupid.

If you are willing to spend any money at all on a minimalist shoe, then you're volunteering to be ripped off. Just run barefoot for free. Within 2 months your skin will be thicker than a minimalist shoe, impervious to rocks and glass.

Oldmanstillrunning wrote:

All being made in Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia,etc. they still only pay the kids 25cents in the sweat shops. We're all being ripped off big time no matter what we buy. After all, they need to get the big bucks from us to pay for all those free shoes the elites get. Case in point: LeBron James's basketball shoes cost us $350, but still cost 25 cents to make. We're all so gullible .....or stupid.

Which is 25 cents more than they were getting before. And how did LeBron's shoes cost us that much. I had nothing to do with their production.

Orbitboy is a dyed-in-the-wool socialist who frequently whines about economic realities. As some more enlightened posters have pointed out, stuff will sell for as much as people are willing to pay for it.

Additionally, if a competitor brings out a shoe that starts to sell more, especially if they gain some advantage that allows them to price it more aggressively, you will need to respond. That may involve any number of decisions taken by specialists all the way from design of the shoe, to selling it online or in a store. Only a market economy allows for this flexibility of competition, and specialisation in the different stages in the journey of the shoe from an idea in a guy's mind to it appearing on your feet. The net result is increased quality and, eventually, lower prices. Just check out how much flat-screen TVs were ten years ago, and how much more bang for your buck you get now.

I feel more ripped off spending $10-12 for a pair of socks!

I work for a new boutique shoe brand, Skora Running. One of our models is retailed at $185. That is due to the upper being constructed of Pittard's goat and sheep leather, so it's extremely nice. It's the same reason an Icebreaker jacket or a Audi are the price they are, quality.

Fesigning and testing shoe, last, samples, materials, etc all cost money. As a small brand our cost is higher because we do not produce or sell as many pairs as larger companies. We also use a slightly different outsole material as most other brands.

Just because something weighs less does not mean it should cost less.

There are lots of things I don't buy because they cost too much for the benefit they give me. For the things which give me enough benefit for the price, I buy them. I have never bought minimalist shoes.

For the most part, the people who have bought them and used them are an unenthusiastic group. There's a few shoe company paid posters who say the love them and many disappointed new customers.

fadsfadsf wrote:

Ironically flats have/had the opposite problem: low demand! Only a small percent of runners buy racing flats, so shoe companies could charge a lot for them.

It's not a matter of "could" charge more. They aren't taking advantage of some option. They charge more because they have to because the market is smaller.

Guys, shoe companies aren't "out to get you" any more than any other company on the planet is. It's a pretty competitive market, you can't/couldn't get away with just charging crazy prices for things.

Kyle Kranz wrote:

I work for a new boutique shoe brand, Skora Running. One of our models is retailed at $185. That is due to the upper being constructed of Pittard's goat and sheep leather, so it's extremely nice. It's the same reason an Icebreaker jacket or a Audi are the price they are, quality.

Fesigning and testing shoe, last, samples, materials, etc all cost money. As a small brand our cost is higher because we do not produce or sell as many pairs as larger companies. We also use a slightly different outsole material as most other brands.

Just because something weighs less does not mean it should cost less.

Kyle why do you guys make your shoes weigh so much? I've been following skora before they even came out with products and have been disappointed with what they came up with. How do you expect me to buy an 8 ounce shoe when shoes like the wave universe weigh only about 4 ounces. You guys took something that should be very simple and made it very complicated. All you need is a thin upper and a thin piece of rubber on the bottom. Look at the old adizero PR, that was a good shoe. You guys need to make a light shoe thats cheap, until then I will stick to shoes that cost half the price and give me better performance.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

I've paid between 30-80 for minimalist shoes, mostly shopping for models on clearance. That is cheaper than I can buy conventional trainers.

I usually get 2000--2500 miles out of my shoes, so I consider them a bargain.

How in the world do you get that many miles on a single pair of shoes?

I purchased a pair of minimal New Balance shoes from Sports Authority for $38.

dontflushwhileyousit wrote:

How in the world do you get that many miles on a single pair of shoes?

I purchased a pair of minimal New Balance shoes from Sports Authority for $38.

I thought most everybody who ran in minimalist shoes got a lot of miles out of them. In a trainer the thing that wears out is the cushioning. On my shoes I really don't have any cushioning to wear out. I wear them until the sole and upper start coming apart. I'd probably get more miles out of them except I run a good bit of my mileage on trails (not trail shoes).

What would cause you not to get a lot of miles on a minimalist shoe?

Oldmanstillrunning wrote:

All being made in Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia,etc. they still only pay the kids 25cents in the sweat shops.

I think you mean Thailand, not Taiwan.

They used to be until that damn Born to Run book came out and know minimalism is a hit fad. I hate it. I hate that every time someone sees that I train in flats, which I've done for over a decade, they say to me, "Oh, you must've read Born to Run! What a great book!" I'm so full of hate I could run a ridiculous 800m right now!!!!!