Not the really expensive high-end shoes, mind you, but definitely far beyond the cost of what average person wears, and even more obvious - far beyond the quantity that can be considered necessary.Here are random thoughts:
- While most of my audio gear was acquired used, that's definitely not the way I'm going with shoes, for obvious - hygienic and aesthetical - reasons. To my surprise, not necessarily the case with other people interested in the same. The idea of buying for $3K something that was originally worth $10K, and which someone already wore on his feet, seems a little nauseating to me.
- The cost of 1 single item is generally not comparable, at least in the price range I set for myself. The most expensive ones I acquired are around $360 (converting from British pounds) - pretty much the price of a used pair of quality interconnects. However, if one is unable to control himself, it can be somewhat compensated by sheer quantity.
- Forums. I do not participate in any of the 2 major ones, but am reading them - helped to avoid obvious junk, and gives an idea on fit and longevity. Of course, there are snobs ("won't touch any glued shoes - they will fall apart in a week"). And of course, there are naysayers who insist that "quality is not necessarily correlated with the price", and "you won't be able to reliably tell apart $200 shoes from $700 ones". Sounds painfully familiar - and, after you had some experience handling 20-30 different pairs, is beyond ridiculous. No wonder these get quickly laughed out of the threads where they pop up.
- despite what I wrote above, the biggest thrill, for me personally, is finding some relative bargain, which "punches above its weight" - just like in audio. Made easier in some cases by liberal return policy of the US-based web outlets selling Italian stuff, and not so great with British ones, where return shipping - an awfully expensive one - is generally on you.
- In short - it's an addiction, just as this one. One thing I sincerely hope for that it'll pass, and the sooner, the better - while the audio (and music) one is most probably forever.
Edits: 06/30/15 06/30/15
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Topic - Got into shoes a little bit lately - interesting parallels between two addictions. - carcass93 09:34:57 06/30/15 (48)
- RE: Got into shoes a little bit lately - interesting parallels between two addictions. - George6 17:02:33 07/04/15 (0)
- Vintage is the way to go ! - BCR 17:53:11 07/02/15 (0)
- RE: Got into shoes a little bit lately - interesting parallels between two addictions. - davidandcandy@gmail.com 13:08:38 07/01/15 (4)
- Here's the gradation, to the best of my abilities: - carcass93 13:21:37 07/01/15 (1)
- Good comparisons... - musetap 20:39:30 07/01/15 (0)
- Psssssst! - genungo 13:17:56 07/01/15 (1)
- Question: - carcass93 13:24:01 07/01/15 (0)
- I get into shoes every day! But seriously....... - Awe-d-o-file 10:09:09 07/01/15 (2)
- There's factory seconds sale right now at Allen Edmonds. - carcass93 12:14:14 07/01/15 (1)
- RE: There's factory seconds sale right now at Allen Edmonds. - Awe-d-o-file 13:35:03 07/01/15 (0)
- Not only do I collect free pens from the businesses I frequent.... - 4everyoung 10:05:30 07/01/15 (1)
- Now if you could only fit a tube socket over there on the heel somewhere.... - carcass93 10:17:39 07/01/15 (0)
- What are the two major shoe forums you mention? Nt* - johntoste 09:14:00 07/01/15 (1)
- StyleForum and Ask Andy About Clothes. N/T - carcass93 09:19:53 07/01/15 (0)
- sounds like a "collector" mentality - morricab 00:58:39 07/01/15 (2)
- 12 pairs, two over $500? It's not that bad in my case, then. - carcass93 05:54:42 07/01/15 (1)
- RE: 12 pairs, two over $500? It's not that bad in my case, then. - morricab 06:21:29 07/02/15 (0)
- RE: Got into shoes a little bit lately - interesting parallels between two addictions. - JaroTheWise 20:47:51 06/30/15 (0)
- RE: Got into shoes a little bit lately - interesting parallels between two addictions. - fantja 18:23:08 06/30/15 (0)
- For sheer comfort, shoes, like suits, bespoke is truly individual; off-the-rack is so plebeian ... - three_sox 18:06:19 06/30/15 (6)
- Correct me if I'm wrong, but I kinda thought that... - carcass93 18:17:10 06/30/15 (5)
- Big talk for a guy who won't post his audio system... - Ivan303 20:03:22 06/30/15 (3)
- Pictures of my audio system were posted more than once, for those interested to see. - carcass93 20:19:34 06/30/15 (2)
- Knock yourself out... - Ivan303 20:30:00 06/30/15 (1)
- I don't think you can be sure of anything at all. - carcass93 20:52:37 06/30/15 (0)
- Yes. - three_sox 18:22:00 06/30/15 (0)
- There is something to be said for very comfortable shoes - Mossback 17:41:57 06/30/15 (1)
- The term for your dream cowboy boots is "bespoke" I believe. - carcass93 18:09:07 06/30/15 (0)
- RE: Got into shoes a little bit lately - interesting parallels between two addictions. - Cameraman 16:00:36 06/30/15 (1)
- RE: Got into shoes a little bit lately - interesting parallels between two addictions. - Old SteveA 07:44:21 07/01/15 (0)
- Not Into Shoes........ - Todd Krieger 15:03:49 06/30/15 (4)
- RE: Not Into Shoes........ - SgreenP@MSN.com 13:18:59 07/03/15 (0)
- Me either... - Eddieh 17:46:33 06/30/15 (1)
- Sandals & cowboy boots & - LWR 17:53:13 06/30/15 (0)
- RE: Shaving soap - genungo 16:06:39 06/30/15 (0)
- My kind of shoes nt - G Squared 13:15:00 06/30/15 (0)
- RE: Got into shoes a little bit lately - interesting parallels between two addictions. - Devils Advocate 11:34:34 06/30/15 (1)
- AE is a remarkable value - a pair of Park Ave was my only "good" ones, before the obsession started. - carcass93 11:43:16 06/30/15 (0)
- Mostly a female thing, for some reason... - genungo 11:17:11 06/30/15 (6)
- You're most likely correct - but I suspect motivation is different, at least in some cases. - carcass93 13:50:55 06/30/15 (3)
- I think Imelda was a "collectioneer" (nt) - Brian H P 17:15:25 06/30/15 (2)
- RE: I think Imelda was a "collectioneer" - genungo 17:51:47 06/30/15 (0)
- Oops... my intention was double "n", as in French. Fixed. N/T - carcass93 17:19:18 06/30/15 (0)
- They don't care what YOU are looking at..... - Ozzy 11:55:45 06/30/15 (1)
- I really don't like where this branch of the thread is going... :-) - carcass93 12:01:59 06/30/15 (0)
- Shoe obsessions. - Mr. Dick Hertz 10:59:46 06/30/15 (0)
- Two topics missing from the Shoe Asylum I assume - woober goober 10:47:40 06/30/15 (0)
- Everything can be an addiction... - musetap 09:52:40 06/30/15 (0)