Jordans have always been the GOAT of sneaker fandom. Love them or hate them, they are here to stay. From the classic 1s to the other numbered staples, they are staying constant – sadly, we’re not talking about the prices on these joints. If you think Jordans are wallet-draining for you, especially this 2022, read on!
Increased Demand, Increased Prices
Amidst new Air Jordan designs and colorways to get the fans and collectors super excited, the brand also revealed looming price increases across the board: Classic favorites, including two color schemes of the Air Jordan 3 and 4, will now cost $210 instead of $190, while other models, like the Air Jordan 9, been bumped from $190 to $200. If that’s not taxing, we don’t know what is.
This crazy price hike has gotten the ire of people which was evident on social media. Some said it made sense because of inflation issues and problems caused by the pandemic. But studies show that sneaker sales have been on the up and up despite the said predicament.
Nothing’s New
However, some pointed out that this has been Jordan Brand’s practice for so many years. As a whole, many are agreeing that the $200 mark is too pricey for mass-produced and marketed sneakers. With times getting more difficult and challenging to the average consumer living paycheck to paycheck, it’s indeed becoming harder to cop and own rock Jordans on the regular.
Usually, Jordan Brand models to go beyond that price mark are the exclusives and collaborations with celebrities which make them far more desirable than their General Release counterparts.
As it is, Jordan Brand at retail has been harder and harder to get through lottery-based draws and apps. This means a limited buying opportunity for the normal, mass-market buyer.
Aside from Jordan Brand’s price increases, one has to deal with the resale market making it far more unobtainable. This causes a great divide among those who want them versus those who can afford and flex them.
Where do we go from here?
Some models though are retaining their usual SRP’s next year like the Air Jordan 1 High OG which will still be at $170–but is that enough to keep the fans happy?
This goes without saying that Jordan Brand’s new prices may be their way of addressing growing reseller and bot issues. Higher retail tags may discourage people from buying crazy numbers of pairs via bots and backdooring. But then, we all know how the cookie crumbles as higher prices make them all the more desirable to the hype-driven public.
Would you still be copping Jordans this 2022? Why or why not? Let us know in the comment section below!
In non-Jordan-related news here’s an adidas UltraBoost created by women for women.
Source: Input Mag
