Ventruck
I am Jim Jannard...
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Are Jordan sneaks worth $500?
Most of us are collectors here.
I feel like this hits the nail on the head.
Whether it be vintage or new, secondary and retail prices have been revolving around what people have been willing to pay. And sure, water is wet, it happens with all material things: sneakers, watches, etc.
If we're solely talking about practical worth...We can make the argument about how important eye protection is in everyday life, but I think over time there are multiple options at multiple price-points that get the bottom line job done. Like no one is going blind wearing gas station shades while walking down the street, or cheap 3M safety glasses at work. It's that's not to discount I still believe that Oakley offers straight better stuff — yet I think that's a separate discussion from the concept of being worthwhile.
A bit of "you don't know what you're missing" if you bypass it. Like, I can go get organic squeezed juice. May truly be healthier and that tree may have been treated better, but it's a conscious decision I just don't want to put my money there (sorry tree). Yet I'm still going to consciously consider 2-day/overnight shipping to be my worthwhile. I'll pay for the overpriced guac at Chipotle (because I already somehow settled on going there so let me just go to town at that point). I do think the subject of premium eyewear kinda falls into this excess/option category.
Sure enough, there can be an element of actual necessity. For me, every other brand I've tried before Oakley didn't fit my nose. I can't skimp in that circumstance because it's the bottom line of either having eyewear or no eyewear, and I needed eyewear for everyday life and cycling. Maybe other working options opened up now, but of course this term of necessity persists: now I don't need to shop for anything else.
I remember there was this one story about a cancer(?) patient saying Yeezy's were the only thing that weren't killing his feet. But for most people, no one actually needs a $200+ fair weather shoe. It'd be an indulgence for them.