In addition to the Kobe X ‘Blue Lagoon’ (aka ‘5AM Flight’), the NikeiD version of the Nike Kobe X is also available now to purchase for $225.
As always on NikeiD, there are numerous glow in the dark options including on the outsole and swoosh. The midsole includes a fade option, albeit with only three different versions.
Stay tuned to WearTesters for the performance review of the sneaker. Click HERE to customize your own Nike Kobe X iD.
What justifies a $45 dollar increase?
the fact that you can customize them…
Not enough colors and other options to justify. Choices on this shoe for areas to customize is about the lowest I’ve seen.
That’s because the shoes has just been released. I’m sure that if you wait a couple months they’ll go absolutely crazy with colourways again like they did with the 9s. I think the 9s ended up being the most customizable basketball shoe on NikeID.
That fact alone shouldn’t be enough to justify the price increase.
A study was done in 2009 and found that Nike had generated an additional 100 million dollars from NikeID.
This number is calculated on the premium alone, assuming that anyone who designed and purchase a pair of shoes on NikeId would otherwise bought a released version if NikeID was not available.
Now that was six years ago. Nike is expected to break the 5 billion dollar mark in revenue for the fiscal year of 2014.
$45 is indeed very steep for some colour changes on an already existing product. It definitely feels as though Nike is taking advantage of the consumers.
I dont see why making money is a sin. If people will buy them, a 45$ increase is justified.
Tony How is nike taking advantage of the consumer? Sneakers are a want and not a need. Does rolls Royce take advantage of the consumer? How about Ferrari? There are other brands that make sneakers at lower price points. The market decides price not the seller.
Its business. They offer you the shoes for certain colorways at retail, you can accept the offer and buy them or you can pass. If you want the shoe but dont want to wear what everyone else is, or just like to be creative and design your own thing then NIKEiD is cool. Again, not forced, just an option for customers. They arent taking advantage as people are willingly buying product. Now if they were the only footwear manufacturer in the world, and increased prices just bc they can – which is what resellers do – then maybe I’d agree. But you have plenty of options, you just want what you want, but you dont want to pay for it. Its like saying BMW is taking advantage when there are kia’s available for you to buy… that isnt a logical way of thinking.
My point is, any demand on the market will be exploited by some company. I would like to see Nike disclosing the amount of money it takes to create a custom colourway for you, and I would definitely like to see the profit margin on each of their models. When I say they are taking advantage of the consumers, I am pointing out the fact that Nike is constantly trying to maximize profit and squeezing as much as they can out of their customers. That is the fundamental flaw of capitalism. The rich becomes richer when everybody else has to live in debt. Is there no sin in making money? How about this example. A kid with rich parents id’s a nice pair of Kobe X’s, then another kid from a low income family who wanted to do the same thing but he had to shop from the clearance rack, never mind designing his own. Money gives a person privileges, so does it mean if you don’t have it you don’t deserved to be special?
There are many perspectives on a subject matter, and I can respect your point of view. You are right that I want what I want and I don’t want to pay for it. But that is because I cannot convince myself to support such idealism, and more importantly I don’t want to instill such values on my children.
Like I said I have my own opinion and I stand by it. However I am only sharing my views here and not expecting to convince anyone to live the way they don’t want to. As well I apologize for turning a simple post into a social economic issue.
you don’t need to apologize, but that kid at the clearance rack was me. Before the clearance rack it was Payless. At the time, it sucked and I was jealous, but it’s what made me work my ass off to get my life to where it is now. No one is entitled to anything in this life. The sooner people begin to realize that, the sooner people can grow up and do work. Nike owes you nothing, nike owes me nothing. Their job is to create product and maximize profit margins… and they do that better than anyone. Don’t think any of the other companies don’t want the same, if they say anything to contradict that then they’re lying.
look at adidas…they have good products and well if they can be customized its only around 20$ more. i wish nike would learn.
What does Nike need to learn exactly ?
The reason Adidas does it cheaper then Nike is that they are playing catch up. I believe Nike owns 95% of the basketball market. When you have that power, control, and influence you can charge whatever you want.
Adidas is now falling behind UA in the bball world and you can’t charge as much, have as expensive shoes, or mark up ID options if your product isn’t as popular.
Again, as Nightwing said, there not forcing you to buy there shoes. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.
I love these shoes