As many of you know I've been on a sneaker hunt for the ever elusive Cheech and Chong Nike SB Dunks, and I finally had a pair lined up only to let them slip right out from underneath my nose. These shoes are whats called a "QuickStrike" which means, only 1,000 of these pairs are made and shipped out by Nike to all Skate shops who have a Nike Skateboarding account. Nike doesn't sell these online, or in any other retail store like footlocker, they are reserved for skateboard shops only and that is awesome.
I got word that my local spot would be getting these in and was told a pair would be set aside for me. I was going to go on my lunch break today, but I decided I'd get there for opening, which was 11 to pick up my pair. See the thing I was trying to avoid was exactly what ended up happening to me. A sales rep clueless to the fact that these were set aside specifically for someone would end up selling them. I left the house at 10:40 and drove past the shop, no one in line outside, awesome I thought in and out and then off to work. I could not for the life of me find a parking spot anywhere close to the shop, so I was forced to park a small trek away. I hobbled my gimp ass up the street and walked into the shop at 11:02. As I walked in I noticed one of the owners with an upset look on her face, I strolled up to the counter and she said, you need to go speak to the guy in the back..... At that point I knew the asshole I walked past on the street with a bag stuffed with Nike SB boxes had my box among his bags. I walked into the back and I met with the other owner of the shop, he wore a rather grim expression on his face as he explained to me that my shoes had been sold.
Sold. Gone. A whirlwind of emotions went through me at that point, I really didn't know how to act. I took in the story, which to his credit was not either of their faults. Apparently an employee who did not know the shoes were set aside for a reason saw the line outside of the store and decided to open the shop early and sold all the pairs before the 11 o'clock hour. Am I mad? Actually no, I'm not mad, I'm a bit disappointed but I'm not mad. I can't be mad at the rep for selling them he is a cool dude, he gripped my board and popped the bearings out of my old wheels into my new wheels last weekend(bearing pushing and pulling is a pain the ass). I'm sure he thought he was doing the right thing by supplying the demand. If you're reading this dude, I ain't mad at ya. Of course I will continue to do business at the store, the shop is awesome and the owners are really cool.
Want to know the thing I AM mad at? The guy who bought all five pairs is some asshole who came down from Montreal. I can guarantee that these will be listed on ebay canada this evening or tomorrow. He's not into sneakers, he's into exploiting the people who are into sneakers for a quick buck. Fuck him.
Check ebay right now for Nike SB Cheech and Chong the prices these are going for will make you shit yourself. Buy it now ranges from 275 all the way up to 400 dollars. I want these shoes but I don't want to pay those prices. Who knows maybe I'll happen by a pair for a reasonable price.
In the grand scheme of things, my manager put it in perspective for me today. It's only a pair of shoes, get over it. You're right, I have an awesome job, an amazing girlfriend and a great life. So I will keep telling myself... It's only a pair of shoes, get over it.
