Sneaker Boutiques Are Using the Yeezys to Extort Their Customers

So the black and pink colorway of the Nike Air Yeezy will be released tomorrow morning. It is the second of three colorways to be released. The exclusive sneaker, inspired by Rapper Kanye West, has been argued to be the most hyped and sought after shoe EVER. The shoe's initial release on April 4th drew small crowds of people to camp outside shoe stores across the country. With this second release, shoe stores and high end sneaker boutiques around the country are using the opportunity to pull as much money as possible out of their customers hands.

After seeing how so many people went all out for the initial release, shoe retailers across the country are jacking up the prices for tomorrow's release. Shoe retailers, Leaders in the CHI and their sister store Burn Rubber right outside of Detroit, will be putting the shoes on the shelves for at least 300$. Nike's suggested retail price is 215$. To add to the extortion, both stores will be raffling off the first place in line for 15$ dollars.

I could go on, but i won't. Its sad.

I Was There At 3AM...And I Still Didn't Get Some of Those Damn Shoes!

And so there we were. About 20 young people sitting snuggled outside of Burn Rubber Sneaker Boutique in Royal Oak Michigan, on a chilly April evening. They sat in lawn chairs bundled in heavy coats and sleeping bags, and shared stories about rap battles and legendary lyrics. Passersby enjoying the Royal Oak night life would ask “What the heck are you guys waiting for?” The answers changed for sarcasm as the night wore on. “Jesus” one annoyed patron yelled, “Christ is coming tonight. Didn’t you hear?”

We weren’t exactly waiting for our savior, but if the big man upstairs ever did come back to down to earth, he definitely wouldn’t be wearing those old rope sandals. No, instead the messiah would choose to rock a pair of Nike Air Yeezys, the Nike shoe inspired by rapper Kanye West. Limited pairs of these exclusive shoes hit stores today, April 4. When I say exclusive, rumors had that Nike only released 1,000 pair nationally. Burn Rubber, the sneaker boutique where I was camped, only had 11 pair of the highly sought after shoe. All over the country passionate but unlucky “sneakerheads” went home empty handed after waiting all night in the cold. (I left at 3AM, after realizing I had no chance). Those that did get the sneakers started their camping as early as 11AM Friday morning.

Well those of us that did not get the shoes definitely learned our lessons for May 2nd, when Nike will release the black and pink version of the Air Yeezy. Hmm…wonder if the hype will carry to this next release. Will people camp out 2 days prior to the release of the shoe, or was the hype of the initial release a one time deal? I think we know the answer to that question, but…I guess we have to wait til May 1st…or April 30th to find out.

Fresh Prince Father Farewell