Three or four times a year, Nike (or some other athletic shoe company) really really annoys me. I am a recreational runner and I usually run at least four times a week. Usually, this is on paved roads so the soles of my running shoes do not last very long. I have learned to monitor the wear on the soles very carefully. It was a painful lesson to learn. I had a muscle tear, that was problematic for over a year, because of the sole of one shoe was causing a repetitive stress problem. So, I do check the soles for wear and replace the shoe promptly when the sole wear reaches a certain measure.

Replacing a shoe is where the problem repeats itself. If a certain model of shoe fits and becomes a favorite, it is almost impossible to find that particular shoe again. In three or four months, the ‘latest and greatest’ product line is in the stores and the old favorite disappears. And, no, it is not easy to find a supplier online that has it in stock. - It also depends on the month when new shoes are needed. At certain points in the year, recently purchased shoes are ‘old’ in a few days or in a few weeks. The new season product line reaches the retailers.

Furthermore, there is a risk of buying and using a new product line. Not all running footwear is the same, even if it is from the same company. The running shoe companies wants the consumer to spend on a current model. It is expensive, of course; and there is always the risk that the shoe is not being suitable. Walking around the store in the shoes is far different that being on the roads and running.

It seems that the stores cannot place a special order for the old model. It is no longer made. And it is difficult to find old stock. If an online store, by chance, happens to have the old line, it may be out of the specific size. And it is a risk to order internationally because the sizing varies just enough to be a problem.

The sales people in various stores have suggested that I buy in bulk. That is, if I find a shoe that I like, I should return and buy as many as I can. It is a valid suggestion, if one had hundreds and hundreds of dollars to spend in an effort to stockpile footwear. - Currently, I am using a Nike product. The sole wear is approaching the measure that indicates that it has to be replaced. I will go looking for the same shoe and I will not find it in stock. It has been almost four months since my last purchase. Nike will assume that I want their latest development.

It is going to be so annoying.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster:  http://flyinghamster.com/

[tag]nike, footwear, replacement, new product lines[/tag]