In honor of Mamma Kat's Writer's Workshop I am going to be taking on Prompt #1:
They just don't make (fill in the blank) like they used to!
They just don't make shoes like they used to!
I have a pair of shoes that I bought in the early 90's that I used strictly for dancing. These shoes were all leather uppers and leather soles. After I bought them I said to myself… "These shoes will never touch pavement". This was so that the sole would not wear out unexpectedly, or have dimples which would effect my routines. Believe it or not, these shoes lasted me up through October of last year when I ripped the top of one shoe from doing knee slides on the dance floor at my Step-son's wedding.
Since that time I have gone through at least two pairs of regular "street" shoes that I use for walking around. One would think that with modern technology someone would be able to develop a sole on a shoe that does not wear out that quick— but after about four months of use a hole develops in the heel. I can get my dancing shoes repaired at a cobbler, but I strictly doubt that I can get one of those new fangled soles for my street shoes.
I heard from someone back in the 80's that many Japanese electronics manufacturers make more money through repairs than through actual sales. Because of this, they design their products to break only after a few years of use. It sure sounds like a lot of the shoe manufacturers have caught on to this and use the same practice. But instead of taking your shoe into a cobbler, you are now forced to buy a new one because it costs more money to repair that broken shoe.
My poor feet…
12 comments:
Knee slides? Huh?
You know, women never complain about this shoe thing - we just buy more of them!
I think it's like that with everything nowadays!
Very true. I still have a few pairs of my shoes from the 90's in their original boxes. I only hold onto ones that are still stylish. I did a big clean a year back and got rid of a lot of older styles, but they were still in great condition. I don't spend a lot of money on shoes anymore. I shop at Walmart, Target, and Belk for the 75% sales, for my shoes. Take care.
-Kiki
I agree. It drives me crazy when I buy a new pair of shoes and feel like I have to go get the soles reinforced before I even wear them.
I think you can still get good shoes, for a price. I try to avoid the "designer" names in shoes, though. They have the flash, but not the stamina.
You'd be surprised what your cobbler can do, though. I got a pair of old penny loafers repaired last year, and the old italian man actually recommended I move away from the standard sole and go to a new fangled "shock absorbing" model.
I think they really do do that. They make things so they only last a year or two, then you have to buy a new one. Jerks.
I haven't yet run into the shoe problem for my shoes. I suspect that is because my feet are size 16, so the shoes available are made in limited numbers so they tend to be built the old fashioned way. But my wife and son have both run into the short lived shoe issue.
Re: planned failure - ever noticed that the average cell phone battery is designed to fail after about a year of use. I.e. it starts holding less and less charge. That's because the manufacturers noticed that people got a new cell phone one every 1 to 2 years on average, so why make the battery last longer?
You are so right!
I remember having shoes and sneakers for what seemed like years ... now, every few months I need new ones ... I SO AGREE WITH YOU!
Any excuse to buy a new pair of shoes is a good one.
I am impressed that you are such a great dancer!
Yeah, they definitely don't make shoes like they used to.
heh ... I think you're right ... I find a pair of shoes and they're comfy for about five minutes. Then I rarely ever wear them and am on a search for a pair similar but more comfy. It's a never ending battle!
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