I believe that this is an excellent posts because we need people who can think in the shoe community. Some of you all do not have at least one model of every Air Jordan released so this topic means nothing to you because to some of you there is nothing which you believe which can stop you from purcahsing these packages. I also know that age and socio-economic status play a role in what you believe in a topic like this.
I unlike many of you have been on this board for over 7 years and have seen the changes which are taking place in the shoe game, culture, or whatever you want to call it and the changes are startling. 10 or 5 years ago we as collectors would not have to worry about a situation like this because we knew that this was a hobby that can get exspensive at times but not ludacris.
I remeber when the 17's flopped and Jordan brand could not believe it. I have seen the quality go down and the prices go up. I have also been here before the term hypebeast gave their critical analyst and I must say this is a low day in niketalk history. The fact that some one was just attacked for bringing forth critical analysis shows the type of people who are posting on this board and other popular boards more frequently now. What Jordan Brand is doing to the shoe game is a down right travesty and the worst part is some people inside of the company tried to worn us years ago where this was headed. I look at the site and others and realize that perhaps this is the only place where you have people truly debate the shoe culture.
Back in the early ninties when people were getting killed for Jordans the media posed the question of why some one would kill another person for a pair of gym shoes? The sad fact is that although we as African Americans only represent 13% of the population because of our historical wounds we associate achievemnet with things and for our genartions X and Y Air Jordans are the staus symbol of shoes for the last 23 years.
I appluad Mike and Nike for their achievemnet but when you loose the people who have shown you what love really is which is sacrifice and devotion you start to have problems which will come if they continue down this path. Most of you young people who are lost will one day see that these packs are not worth the money but as long as people do not realize the power they have you can expect retail Jordans to keep rising in price.
Gentry does not care about the economy, all he cares about is profit maragins and that's where I will take my stand and I know I will not be alone because the time is comming when every person makes a choice about what is the most important to them in life and after over 100 pairs of shoes I say this, shoes are a hobby enjoy them but put your life in the proper perspecective.
I am African American college educated and I love shoes but I love God, my Wife, and my Family more than a pair of shoes which will be seen as old in a few weeks and double the price. I guarantee you that all of these shoes will get retroed again, seperately and probably at a lower price individually. You might have to wait some years but Nike is about money, pure and simple.
They do not discriminate and will continue to sell out the greatest shoe brand built upon an African American's hard work until the well runs dry. They know what we know that people have a personal relationship with their Jordans and Tinker's designs will never get old. I'm old so I get it, some of you will have to learn for yourselves so maybe in the next five years when they retro them again you can say I told you so!!
I hope you don't mind me formatting your post SLG but it was crying out for some paragraphs and spacing. It's a rarity to find a post such asyours, particularly in the JB forum. I agree with you and I would like to warn alot of people that 2008 is going to be a rough year. I know the average age onthis board has decreased dramatically but alot of people should be aware of the crisis in the lending and automotive sector.
Thanks to the original poster for bringing up this topic but I think you shouldn't put so much of an emphasis on the survival of JB. They are part ofa multibillion dollar parent company and they shouldn't see any struggles in the short-term or the long-term for that matter. However it will be us theconsumer who'll be feeling the brunt of it when companies restucture/lay off/down-size/outsource, etc..
The bottom line is that we the JB consumer or 'ambassador' have to be savvy in our purchases. Where's the justification in spending $300 amonth for 12 months on a sub-par replica of a storied sneaker? Let the packages sit on shelves - for alot of people some of these sneakers will beduplicates and multiples. Alot of you also have to agree that the colourways are unspectacular as well too. And what about the non-retro product? Over-pricedAF1s with a Jumpman on them - let them head straight to the outlets.
