[Spooky23]

The missing factor is that when shoe production was completely sourced to a few companies in China (70% of US market), nearly all shoes turned to shit. So Payless wasn’t really differentiated itself from any other value brand.

The end of Payless is just another private equity story, and poor kids will just get a smaller variety of shitty shoes from WalMart, TJMaxx, or Dollar General.

The majority of us get screwed in other ways, as we pay more for increasingly lousy footwear.

[Hydraulix989]

It's a shame how true this is. My wife went through three pairs of Nike shoes -- all of them were over $100 and they caused bruises and wounds on her feet. I have a pair of Nikes as well that is one of their higher end shoes, and even they are extremely uncomfortable to wear for walking.

As an aside, Payless Shoes also has bittersweet memories for me. When I was young, I didn't fully comprehend what shopping there meant because I was in my own filter bubble -- growing up in the American midwest. Now, I feel conflicted and judged and out-of-place after having a few lucky breaks that enabled me to break into tech and live in the Valley. It didn't even click to me until recently the real connotations of shopping at these kinds of places. I really appreciate being able to shop at Nike, and wish I could go back in time and keep some of my original self-confidence of being able to wear Payless Shoes in a tier-one city free of judgment.

[tropo]

Now you can be judged for wearing Nike, especially if you step out of that city or travel back to visit the American midwest. New Balance is a far better choice.

https://www.newbalance.com/made-in-us-and-uk/

[octonion]

Nike is doing better than ever, and it's silly to even suggest that wearing the best-selling brand of athletic shoes would be an issue anywhere in the US.

[Hydraulix989]

I don't think that's actually true.

[pard68]

Never been to PayLess, is it any good, or rather was it?

Also, should mention TJMaxx has decent stuff. Never bought shoes there but I get pants, shirts, and random stuff for the house. My wife gets plenty of clothes there though.

[joe_the_user]

Payless has been my favorite shop for years.

I buy shoes that look like leather loafers but as basically as floppy as slippers. This is exactly what I want and need. They are respectable enough to wear in work situations but I can also use them for martial arts or any other physical activity. Basically, they're nearly as good as barefoot, which isn't practical for various reasons.

I find it ironic that a lot of folks buy $120 "toe shoes" when they learn of the value of nearly barefoot ... when they could just buy the proper cheap shoes instead.

(Edit, I've studied bodywork, balance system and such. The arch supports and such of "good shoes" are arguably actually back for most people, interfering with the natural rhythm of walking, etc).

[YUMad]

Can you give any links or pic of those shoes?

[joe_the_user]

You may google this:

https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22toe+shoes%22+&ie=utf-8&o...

[YUMad]

No, I meant the shoes you buy.

[neilv]

Payless did sell some perfectly sensible utilitarian mens black leather-looking walking shoes, which got me through grad school.

I upgraded to DSW when I could afford (or cost-justify) it, and mainly for dating appearance reasons.

Currently, I have to order running shoes, to get the right size&color of a model I know works for me (local running shop sadly doesn't carry it), but the durability has gotten so poor that I contacted the well-regarded brand corporate.

[op00to]

Every time I bought PayLess shoes, they were destroyed in weeks. I haven't been in 10 years, but fuck that place.

[starik36]

My were usually gone by 6 months to a year, which isn't great. But then they cost $20. I'd usually buy 2 pairs.

I think they were worth their cost.

[flukus]

6 months to a year is what I generally get out of "high quality" name brands like asics and nike, the only difference seems to be which part of the shoe goes first, with budget brands it's the sole, more expensive ones it tends to get holes around the top of the toe area.

[AwesomeFaic]

A lot of it comes down to which kinds of shoes you buy from which maker. I buy many leather Jordans and SB Dunks from Nike and have never had a pair fall apart before I donate them. Currently wearing Jordans I bought in 2017 and have worn ~500 times since then. Other than minor scuffs and outsole wear, they're in fantastic condition.

[Washuu]

I have the opposite problem. When I was a kid(very active, used 8+ hours a day) all I had were shoes from Payless and they lasted two years. Recently I have purchased different "high quality" brands in the $50+ range and each has worn through the soles in less than six months. I barely wear my shoes an hour each day.

[protomyth]

Well, when I was a kid you could say at least we aren’t buying K-Mart or Pamida shoes. Foot Locker or its equivalent had the name brands.

[Kluny]

They were very heavy shoes, made of low quality materials, glued together with cheap glue that often peeled before the soles wore out.

[username223]

> The majority of us get screwed in other ways, as we pay more for increasingly lousy footwear.

Tell me about it. I can usually find name-brand running shoes for under $80 on clearance, but many models are just garbage that will fall apart after a few dozen miles. La Sportiva or New Balance? Mostly good. Salomon? Hit or miss.

[meddlepal]

I've put hundreds of miles on some of my $60-70 New Balance running shows. I think I've only had one dud in several years.

[dehrmann]

> The end of Payless is just another private equity story

There have been a few of these, lately. I'm having a hard time telling if the debt PE loaded the firms with is the problem, or if it only sped up the inevitable. PE doesn't buy companies because they're doing well; it buys them because they're failing.

[hodr]

Oddly enough, I order my running shoes directly from China. Usually spend $30-$40 a pair, but get arguably the most comfortable and highest quality running shoes I have owned. For comparison, I used to buy mostly New Balance or occasionally Nike.

[MivLives]

How do you make sure they fit right? Is it just consistency in ordering the same set after finding a fitting pair?

[axaxs]

Do you mind sharing a source?