You Gotta Look Fly When You Kick It...

Admittedly, I have a problem of sorts. I am a fan of what we refer to in Cleveland as tennis shoes, or here on the East Coast as sneakers, or in Londontown as trainers. No matter the moniker, you can't get in the club with them. So what? Fuck a club. I'm far more of a dive bar type of guy anyhow. Sneakers to me are the epicenter of the outfit. In the event that I'm giving two shits about my appearance, the assemble and all accompanying accoutrement coincide with the shoes. That's just how I do and have always done. 1976-the red saddle shoes match the scarf tied around the neck of the baby in the sailor suit to a tee. 1982-the grey KangaROOS Tai Chi Joggers match the grey fisherman hat almost flawlessly, but I still had to take my shoe off to get my lunch money. 1985-red and black Air Jordans, red and black Air Jordan suit. As if it were planned. 1990-the grey, black, white and red Nike Air Wildwood ACGs looked good with the Girbauds. 1999-burgundy Vasque Sundowners that look kin to the double-breasted, mahogany leather pea coat. 2007-maroon Jordan 5s, maroon Polo hoodie with the diagonally-striped maroon, navy blue and cream Polo scarf serving as garnish. Perpetually primped and preened. Do you know what it is I mean? See, we Black men have been color-coordinating way before the gay dudes punked the frat boys and yuppies inadvertently creating "metrosexuality." This was merely the way of the wardrobe. Dipped in glaze like a Krispy Kreme, y'nahaameen? Nonetheless, the sneakers are something of an addiction. I watched Just For Kicks which made me feel a little better since I don't have it as bad as Tommy Rebel nor Damon Dash. Nor do I have the vast collection that those dudes have. No really rare Tokyo-only or ultra-expensive releases. I made a valiant effort to buy some Air Pressures on eBay, and if you know anything about them, you'll understand why I couldn't afford them. My arsenal consists of many well-researched purchases. I tend to be biased towards the old school looking tennis shoes since those seem to never get played out. But to make a mindless rant shorter-I have bought far too many shoes this past year. So, on this particular day on eBay, I find a pair that I have yet to ever seen. Kinda plain with the red stripe, I figured them be an old pair of some pre-1985 Nike tennis shoes. Whatever. They were cheap, so I went for it. A week later, I receive a box and rip it open and laugh really loud cause these Nikes are fake as fuck. Cheap sole, red marker etchings on the Achilles' heel tab, pinchbeck-ass leather. Ersatz as fuck, yo. These ain't no Tabula Rasa. So, like you gotta do with Internet business, I had to email the dude up. Here it goes...

hello,
i just got these shoes, and i'll be expecting a refund in full for these ersatz-ass nikes. fakes are what you sold me. full refund or else i'm going to ebay with this.
onasuss
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Hi, I have no idea what you are talking about. The serial number is on the shoe. I live in Portland, the headquarters of Nike. I have over 20,000 feedback, why would I try to pass off fake shoes. That is a ridiculous accusation. I am happy to accept a return, and will refund the bid price. However, I am not going to play this game of counterfeit merchandise. If you aren't happy, that is fine, I do accept returns. I am sorry but nobody gets to my place in Ebay by selling fakes, that is a joke.
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maybe it was an accident, but these are indeed fakes. examine them upon return. where to send them?
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Please return them to
Joseph xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxx xxxxxxx xxx
Portland, Oregon xxxxx
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will do. however i want the total price refunded. not just the item price. i will send these to you c.o.d. and i expect a return of $51.84 initiated on your part via paypal. after that is done i will return the shoes.
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I will refund your bid price when these are returned. I am accepting a refund based on the fact that you do not like them. That is totally fine. They will be relisted exactly the same as before. These are vintage shoes, and I have been in the vintage business for many years. I have sold 25,000 pairs of shoes online. I will not accept a refund on the basis that these are counterfeit merchandise, simply because they are not. I inspect my items thoroughly, and i would never list fake merchandise. In fact-----I HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MAIN ADVOCATES THAT REMOVED THE FAKE CHINA AND HONG KONG, ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL FAKE SHOES ON EBAY ----I LOBBYED FOR 2 YEARS TO DO SO.

I just want you to understand I am happily accepting a refund, but you need to know your assumptions are not correct.

I will refund the price once the shoes have been returned. You are dealing with a gold powerseller with 19 negative feedback out of 21,000 transactions here.

Please tell me why you insist these are knockoffs. That might help me understand.
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no disrespect to you as a power seller, but i am a sneaker buying fool. i can spot a fake. things like the leather being of a inferior quality, the tab in the rear has been colored over. nike always embroiders or at least prints something on that tab. nike also does not use the type of sole that is on these shoes. you can also tell by the pinchbeck interior and the poor quality of the tongue. since you live in portland near the headquarters, you can take these shoes there to see if my prognosis is correct or not. i'd put twenty on me though.
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These shoes were made about 20 years ago. They have had dozens of manufacturers and production revisions in that period of time. There was a period where they were manucacturing in about 5 countries and had major problems with consistency. In any case, I really am not trying to argue, but they weren't even a big enough company back when these were made for anyone to try to knock them off anyway.
I will happily refund your initial payment you made, but I need you to refund them soon. That way I can offer them to the next highest bidder.
Thanks,
Joseph
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listen man,
20 years ago marks 1987, right? in 1987, three years after nike had just revolutionized the sneaker game with the air jordan, they came out with the air max 1, with the visible air bubble. i think i bought the grey, white, black and green air trainer one's that year too. nike had just made a billion dollars in 1986. there was no way that nike had any problems with manufacturing a consistent product whatsoever. your position is sophistry in full effect. you're out of your arena, man. take 'em to the headquarters and see what nike gone tell you.
onasuss
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Hi, that is what I said, I will refund your initial payment. I believe these came out in the 80's. I know the era you are talking about, my brother worked there for 15 years. I am not trying to argue with you. This is a single pair of shoes. I am glad you are into sneakers, and sorry you don't like these.
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"I am glad you are into sneakers" Ha! He's a funny guy, and so I am I to say the least. To contribute to the Illustrious Chaddie B's Sneaker Fund, please send all contributions via Paypal to me, Chad B. Thanks in advance... I wanna be able to flip it like these dudes...