I thought I was done and over with Eastbay’s games after I eventually placed my order succesfully. Though potentially still a success, my order has hit a significant snag that starts off like this:
Thank you for your order. We are currently out-of-stock, however…
Okay, EastBay and Finish Line may actually be pardoned after what I witnessed with ShoePalace.com. During a hyped release, you’ll see this timer counting down from two minutes.
The accompanying text is below:
PLEASE WAIT…
You are probably seeing this because something HOT is going on right now — a new release, a restock, or something like that.
In the meantime, let us explain…
Shoe Palace has the fairest and most-advanced system in the marketplace. We offer great chances of copping a pair of hot kicks. Our release process is built around two principles:Our system meters out the products over a couple hours. We do this so that you don’t have to have to be there the second it launches and compete against the bots.
Our advanced software monitors each user. If you are a bot, constantly refreshing your browser, being impatient or obnoxious enough, the system will automatically reduce your chances or ban you from the site. Patience and persistence will be rewarded. Play nice.
HINT: For the best chances, try no more than every two minutes. Use the handy timer above to help you know when your next chance may be up.
So every two minutes, you have to manually click on Try Again button and go through the shoe sizing picking process again. Then you hope you don’t get the timer again (which you will, time after time after time). It’s maddening although I have heard that if you persist, you have a legitimate shot of a successful check out. Too painful for me…
So I went on a roller coaster ride with Eastbay, but buying on Finish Line wasn’t any better. Finish Line’s site uses a queue system to regulate purchases. First, there’s a queue just to get to the site itself during busy times.
After a long time, I eventually got through the queue, added my shoe, and checked out. But then I was hit with yet another queue, and after I cleared this delay, my order was invalid due stock issues.
Then just to irk me some more, I later get an email from Finish Line suggesting we complete my order.
Hmmm, maybe a chance at redemption? Clicking on the Complete Checkout button, I get this.
Aw, boo times two.
First time ordering through Eastbay today, and I went on a short roller coaster ride. Adding shoes to my cart was fast but checking out was puzzling. Where is the button/link to review and submit the actual order? It’s not there. 🙁
After trying all over again, I get this while checking out.
Since I had paid with PayPal, I also got an email from PayPal saying to return to EastBay to complete the transaction. Boo!!!
Really, when it comes down to it, it’s about setting and managing realistic expectations. That’s another key distinguishing point between #coppingkicks and #rossfinds. For whatever reason those indulging in #coppingkicks are expecting to get every sneaker they go after. They’ll always expect the “W” and not just for a single pair but multiple pairs of hyped sneakers. And, that’s not realistic. There are just too many others out there in the same situation, armed with the same tools and knowledge, going after the same pairs of shoes.
Doing the #rossfinds however, there are usually little to no expectations. Sure, you hope to find something good, but you know that for every store you enter, you expect to leave emptyhanded. I guess that’s why finding a gem is that much sweeter.
I can’t quite tell which is worse though – tracking the success stories of those #coppingkicks or doing the #rossfinds. I guess monitoring either one sets unrealistically high expectations for yourself. Sure, it can be fun to indulge and imagine similar success, but in both cases, set realistic expectations.
Real or photoshopped? Kanye West pulling through a McDonald’s drive through in a Tesla Model 3 (see the roof and telltale door handles).
While I have not had the luxury of owning (okay, keeping) a pair of Nike and Off-White “The Ten” collaborations, I do wonder if you’re supposed to leave the telltale zip tie on or are you supposed to remove it? I would guess it gets in the way when walking, but on the same token, it really does stand out.
The Off-White brand isn’t very helpful either in their instructional video.
https://vimeo.com/234843772
Foot Locker surely likes to mess around with the fans of the Air Jordan 1. If you’ve ever searched their site for “Air Jordan 1,” you’ll come across many models from the mid tops to the more popular high tops. Sometimes even popular, coveted AJ1 highs show up in inventory. Or does it?
Watch this recent video where I attempt to cart different AJ1 colorways on Footlocker.com with frustrating results.
Just a little memory of the Travis Scott Cactus Jack AJ1 drop after his performance at the Grammys.
I was unsuccessful using Nike SNKRS as well.
You gotta give it to Nike and give credit where credit is due. During Super Bowl LIII, sneakerheads were watching the Super Bowl halftime show as Travis Scott performed in his signature Air Jordan 1 model. The hope, of course, was that Nike would shock drop those shoes when Scott took the stage, similar to Justin Timberlake’s Air Jordan 3 Tinker surprise release.
But that would be cliche. Fast forward to today, a Sunday night when Travis Scott performed at the Grammys. Nike did their thing and shook it up with a late night shock drop. Even during this off-peak time, this limited release went fast. I managed to get in the virtual line but did not get the hoped for “Got’em” message.
Although I wasn’t successful, I gotta admire the Swoosh for doing something different, keeping it fresh. Now, I just gotta hope for better luck whenever the bigger release happens.
What else can I say other than I’ve been let down by Nordstrom online again… and again. Twice in the same day. I had placed two early orders for pre-release products – one in January and one in February. Yesterday, I received two emails that both orders had been cancelled due to item unavailability.
Supposedly both items did actually become available but both ran through their inventory before my orders were fulfilled. I just don’t see how this is possible, especially for pre-release orders. Mind you that inventory available does update while online orders are being placed. At release, you’ll see all sizes available on the product page, but as time passes, sizes that sell out no longer appear indicating a sell out. So there is a means of tracking inventory, but it appears that Nordstrom’s online system just isn’t good enough,
And really, that’s the frustration with all of this. For all the worldclass service Nordstrom offers and their top notch store environments, their online system is severely lacking. Realize that I’ve now had 4 out of 8 online shoe orders cancelled by Nordstrom. If you ordered items online and received only half of what you ordered, would you be satisfied?
I tweeted out to @Nordstrom and received the usual response that they’ll share my experience with the teams. It’s been four months since my first Twitter complaint was shared with the teams and so far, I can’t see any progress.
Nordstrom Cancels Two Nike Orders
In December, I had come across lots of Adidas Boost shoes (including the Parley version of the UltraBoost ST) at Nordstrom Rack. Well, the Boost is back at The Rack. Here’s what I came across this past week. Sorry, I don’t have the prices, but they were hovering right at $100, except for the Reigning Champ collab. That all terrain high top was discounted to $150!!
I also found a Solebox branded Pure Boost (style code B27992).
Although kinda interesting looking, this shoe must not have sold well at all. There was practically a full size run of these shoes, and the price was around $80, down from $200. Resell on these are not good. I tried on a pair, and while comfortable, they can’t beat the support of the UltraBoost.
Anyways, if you’re looking for a personal pair of Boost at pretty good prices, check out your local Nordstrom Rack. And if you don’t like them, you have 45 days to return them.