My wife just spent almost 200 bucks on shoes.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

The problem isn't the 200 bucks spent. The money's not the issue at all.

The problem is that she bought all of them at some kind of bargain clearance going-out-of-business last chance sale goodwill outlet store. And now we've got so many pairs of shoes cluttering up the place it looks like Imelda Marcos came over for tea and exploded. Yeesh.

[miss_american_pie]

1. I'm still not seeing the problem

:shrug:

;)

[LSK]

3. .

:rofl:

[RetroLounge]

44. You wouldn't, would you?

:rofl:

RL

[LynneSin]

2. I've spent $200 on A pair of shoes

Be grateful she got many pairs for that price (I still love those Calvin Klein pumps!)

[crim son]

4. What's her size?

You can mail some of them to me. I like shoes better than I like men!

[philosophie_en_rose]

5. Sounds like she found a great deal!

Think of all the money you saved!

:)

[redqueen]

6. argh

wtf does anyone need so many pairs of shoes for?

[GirlinContempt]

8. Wearing.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

7. I never understand shoes.

Hate the damned things. Bare feet are better.

:P

[struggle4progress]

29. Broken glass on city streets convinced me otherwise.

I used to walk almost everywhere barefoot -- even short distances in the snow.

I must say I was quite proud of my callouses -- which were real handy whenever an emergency required me to painlessly stomp out a few small embers.

But some city streets are full of tiny pieces of broken glass. The really tiny pieces weren't a problem -- they didn't work their way in very far and I could brush them out or ignore them.

But I got tired of the small razor-sharp triangular splinters that kept moving: once every few days, depending on where I walked, I had to sit down somewhere for twenty minutes and dig out glass.

I am ashamed to admit I became a moderate on the subject and now believe shoes are sometimes acceptable.

[BikeWriter]

9. You ought to get lucky tonight!

[Midlodemocrat]

10. If the money isn't an issue, why is she shopping at Goodwill?

I have a hard time with people who shop at Goodwill to get 'good deals' when they don't have to. The store is really in business for those who can't afford to shop anywhere else.

[Richardo]

11. Well, not really.

It's there to provide employment for the disabled and generate revenue for their programs.

Shopping at thrift stores is great sport for some (Mrs R included)

[Midlodemocrat]

12. Our Goodwill shops here employ the non disabled, so maybe

it's different around where you are?

I have neighbors who live in $1 million houses that shop there for 'deals' and it pisses me off. Leave it for folks who can't afford a big house.

:rant:

[Bunny]

13. Stores may employ non-disabled people, but there are usually disabled

workers involved somewhere in the supply chain.

[grace0418]

19. I think of it as recycling. There are plenty of resale shops with plenty of cheap

clothes around. I don't see them running out of clothes for poor (or not-so-poor) people to buy any time in the near future because there are always people buying tons of new clothes that they don't really need. Have you ever been in a resale shop? There are MOUNTAINS of clothes in every one of those shops. More than enough for poor and rich folks alike to buy as much as they need.

When I was broke, I shopped there out of necessity. Now I shop there because I enjoy it. I also donate clothes to resale shops that I don't wear anymore, and I'm certain I donate more than I purchase.

But why should we use more precious resources to create more new clothes all the time when there are plenty of perfectly good clothes already in existence? It's wasteful as far as I'm concerned.

[Midlodemocrat]

23. Actually, no, I never have.

I don't view it as recycling, although I understand why you do and that is a very valid point. I honestly think of thrift shops as designed for those who can't afford to buy new, so I really can't justify my shopping there nor my neighbors.

[ghostsofgiants]

34. Not to mention you can find great stuff at thrift stores that you'd never find elsewhere.

[Maddy McCall]

26. The Goodwills around here have the main goal of selling off people's stuff...

for revenue to pay for their programs. I've always been proud to shop at Goodwill because I know my money will help Goodwill help someone.

I've never heard that shopping at Goodwill stores was reserved only for those who are poor or struggling financially.

[Midlodemocrat]

31. Might be the way I was raised.

That those stores were designed for folks who couldn't buy new and those of us who could would make our contribution through monetary and other donations.

[Critters2]

38. Buying new clothes supports sweatshops--almost always

Few clothes are made in the US or in countries with ethical labor laws. Read the labels of all those new clothes you're buying, and ask your conscience how it feels about those purchases.

Oh, and Goodwill has an auction site--shopgoodwill.com Considering that there is still a digital divide in this country, I doubt they mind if people who can afford decent computers also buy their goods.

[Midlodemocrat]

41. I buy so few clothes that everything I buy is made in the US.

I don't need to dress for work, so I wear the same things for literally years because I don't wear them out.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. LOL. Because IT'S A GREAT BARGAIN!!!1!

Apparently.

[asthmaticeog]

21. I can afford new clothes, but I shop at thrifts anyway.

It keeps my money from going to sweatshops. I can't do anything about the people who bought the garments in the first place - they'd have bought that stuff whether I eventually thrifted it or not - but at least the outsourcers aren't getting MY money. Almost all new clothes are sweatshop made now, it's damn near impossible not to give direct support to that system unless one buys most of one's clothing secondhand. Plus, my fave thrift supports a veterans charity.

(I should clarify that socks & underwear and whatnot I still buy new. Because eeew, just eeew, there's no fucking way.)

[Midlodemocrat]

22. Okay, but what about those who 'can't' afford to buy new?

When I was growing up, it was pretty much an unwritten rule that if you could afford to buy new, you didn't shop at thrift shops because it took that particular item off the market for those who couldn't afford to buy new.

And, who's to say that what you purchased at the thrift shop wasn't made in a sweat shop in the first place?

Not flaming you, dude, not at all, just wondering.

[Critters2]

27. I shop at two thrift shops that benefit non-profits

One is run by the local hospital auxiliary (just used their money to buy a second open MRI machine--a worthy cause); the other by the local homeless shelter. They would like EVERYONE to shop there, as much as possible, not just those who can afford not to--to raise funds for their projects. I'd much rather give my money to buy new equipment for the hospital or to shelter the homeless, than support sweatshops in China.

And as someone said earlier, the sweatshops don't benefit from our purchases of their goods at resale shops, even if they benefited from the original purchase.

The other thing I've noticed is that I get a better quality of goods at the hospital thrift shop than I would probably get if I bought new. Those doctors and their families have nice things, and give 'em away in good shape! I did two funerals yesterday in my "funeral suit", a good quality tailored black skirt suit I bought at the thrift--and I always get compliments on it.

[Midlodemocrat]

30. I think, actually, I KNOW, that they would prefer donations from

those who us who can afford not to shop there and allow the nice goods to remain on sale for those who can't.

The thrift shops in our neighborhood carry very nice stuff, but in good conscience I can't buy it because I can afford it new if I chose and there are loads who can't.

[Critters2]

37. I know people involved with the auxiliary, and I KNOW they don't care

who shops there. They make good use of the money they make. Yes, they make good quality clothing available to those who otherwise wouldn't be able to buy them, but any funds they make benefit the community. So, they welcome all comers, and are grateful for the business.

In good conscience, I can't buy new clothing because it supports sweatshops.

[Midlodemocrat]

40. Well, we'll just have to disagree.

Goodwill was a client of my firms a while back and what you are saying doesn't jive with what they told us.

[Critters2]

45. Why would non-profits care who is contributing to them?

The two I named run thrift shops for the express purpose of making money for their projects. The exec director of the homeless shelter made a presentation to our ministerial association, and explicitly reminded us that there were lots of nice items we might want to purchase as Christmas gifts for OUR family and friends. Do ya suppose she thought we were all in need of financial assistance? I think not. She needs money to run the shelter. She doesn't care whose money it used to be.

[asthmaticeog]

46. Point by point...

"you didn't shop at thrift shops because it took that particular item off the market for those who couldn't afford to buy new."

I'm in the poorest large city in the US, and no thrift store around here is ever short of good clothes. A lot of 'em restock twice a week. Nobody who's thrifting because they have to is going naked.


"And, who's to say that what you purchased at the thrift shop wasn't made in a sweat shop in the first place?"

Most of them almost certainly are. I thought I addressed that, but I must not have been clear enough. I can't stop people from buying sweatshop garments. But when I shop for clothes, the money I spend goes to whatever charity the shop supports (veterans, mostly, but also hospitals for the indigent, homeless services, yadda yadda) instead of to an outsourcer. Again, there's nothing I can do about where they're from originally, but I can deny *my* money to companies who engage in practices I despise by buying secondhand. There are enough decent used clothes out there (well, around here, anyway, there are fucktons of really good thrifts in Cleveland, YMMV) that one can bypass the outsourcers, help out a charity and still not deprive anyone in genuine need of affordable clothing.

[Midlodemocrat]

48. Gotcha.

Here, there is just the one thrift shop, Goodwill. It's located on the outskirts of a pretty poor area. And, I have to admit, it drives me nuts when my neighbors drive there in the brand new vans or SUVs and buy.

The sweatshop aspect is certainly noteworthy and I agree with you.

If I lived in an area with an abundance of thrift stores, I would probably feel as you do.

[jakefrep]

14. I think it's a crime of opportunity....

...Go to a shoe store and observe how much shelf/floor space is devoted to women's shoes as opposed to men's shoes.

:hide:

[Ms_Dem_Meanor]

15. Did she get red pumps?

If so, buy her some Victoria's Secrets and have fun!!! Spend $200 if money's not an issue!!!;-)

[BOSSHOG]

16. My wife has an incredibly large walk in closet

full of "nothing to wear." If the shoe boxes started tumbling from the shelves they'd kill someone.

[Midlodemocrat]

32. LOL. That's funny.

I actually almost always wear flip flops, all year long. Due to some health issues, my feet hurt a great deal, but I found the greatest set of flops from Earth Shoes (remember them?) and they actually make my feet not hurt.

[Broken_Hero]

17. Holy cow, I would be in the hospital

if she spent that much money on shoes....heart attack city...

[Shakespeare]

20. "It looks like Imelda Marcos came over for tea and exploded"

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Great visual. Sounds like my sister's shoe collection.

[huskerlaw]

24. I just spent $116 on one pair of shoes.

But they're customized Nike running shoes. And that includes tax and shipping, so they were actually a pretty good deal.

[skygazer]

25. I'm an admitted shoe junkie

I'm down to about 20 pairs now - at one point, I had about 50. The funny part is, I hardly ever wear any of them except for my work shoes and a pair of riding boots. I just love shoes and can't resist 'em.

If she wears a size 9, send some over here. :bounce:

[querelle]

28. 200 Bucks?

Feh. I routinely spend $600.00 for a single pair. Your wife is a rank amateur, sir.

Q

[TommyO]

35. Yeah, but that's Canadian dollars!

:rofl:

Oh, wait, with the way the U.S. Dollar is going, your's will soon be worth more than ours.

:cry:

[struggle4progress]

33. Maybe she would like to buy some of my old shoes?

I have six or eight pairs around the house that I haven't yet had the heart to throw away. They're men's shoes and may need cosmetic surgery (a sole has fallen off or a side has split open) but I'd be happy to take such minor defects into account when negotiating a price for the lot.

[MichiganVote]

36. :):):) Sounds like she had fun

[mtnester]

39. Be thankful she got what sounds like quite a few pairs....

you know, she could have EASILY come home with a single box. Then, no space issues!

I was at DSW for the very first time last Saturday...I have been avoiding that store since its inception because I KNEW I would be in trouble. I got a great pair of Diesel tennies, a cute pair of Sketcher flats, and a fantastic pair of peek toe red 3" stacked heel Michael Kors...to DIE for!

Shoes and purses...they are my addiction. I WILL have my own walk in shoe and purse store when we build our next house.

Again, be glad she came home with "pairs" instead of "pair."

Now, who wants to go shoe shopping with me?

[Sanity Claws]

42. The Flying Spaghetti Monster told her to do it.

How could she resist when your deity told her to do it?

[xchrom]

43. oh so YOU'RE the guy who married immelda.

how is she anyway?

did she give out any dirt on husband number one?

[astral]

47. When I was a kid, I thought thrift stores were only for the poor

We had a Salvation Army, nothing else. It never occurred to me that my mom & dad could take me in there to shop. I would have been in Seventh Heaven! Instead, I scoured the Sears Catalog and bought the '3 dresses for the price of one' deal because I really liked one of the dresses, and I thought we were 'kinda' poor~!

Another girl in my class had the same dresses and I knew both me and her knew where they came from but I never knew if anybody else did.

Today I know the thrift shops are okay for everyone to use because I can easily plop down $50 for a couple bags of old clothes and it helps the shop, and I can give them my used clothes, and I know they GIVE clothing and shelter away to the really needy who literally can't even afford to just go in there and shop.

It's a cycle, a continuous cycle, and it's not bad. Sometimes they just make up the prices while I am standing at the til, and I never bat an eye knowing they'd charge a different price for a poor customer.

[Ramsey]

49. She got several pairs for only $200?

Sounds like she's a great bargain shopper.

I won't even mention the most I've spent on a SINGLE pair of shoes! But it's way more than $200.

[Karenca]

50. ..........

I can buy a shoe for one foot for $200.00.

[Tyo]

51. If you're worried about excess and needless clutter,

what does your garage/basement/workshop look like?

[eauclaireliberal]

52. You'll love THIS joke then!

I never have quite figured out why the sexual urges of men & women differ so much. And I never have figured out the whole Mars & Venus thing. And, I never have figured out why men think with their head and women with their heart. And, I never yet have figured out how the sexual desire gene gets thrown into a state of turmoil, when it hears the words "I do".

One evening last week, my wife and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says, "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me."

I said, "WHAT??" So she says the words that I and every husband on the planet dreads. She explains that I must not be in tune with her emotional needs as a Woman. I'm thinking, "What was her first clue?"

I finally realize that nothing is going to happen that night, so I went to bed. The very next day we went shopping at a big unnamed department store... I walked around while she tried on three very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take, so I told her to take all three of them.

She then tells me that she wants matching shoes worth $200 each to which I say OK. And then we go to the Jewelry Dept. where she gets a set of diamond earrings. Let me tell you ...she was so excited. She must have thought that I was one wave short of a shipwreck, but I don't think she cared. I think she was testing me when she asked for a tennis bracelet because she doesn't even play tennis. I think I threw her for a loop when I told her that it was OK.

She was almost sexually excited from all of this and you should have seen her face when she said, "I'm ready to go, let's go to the cash register."

I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No, honey. I don't feel like buying all this stuff now." You should have seen her face ... it went completely blank. I then said, "Really honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while."

And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, "You must not be in tune with my financial needs as a Man."

I figure that I should be having sex again sometime during the Spring thaw.

[NNadir]

53. Imelda Marcos exploded?

:rofl: :bounce:

[Skittles]

54. I do not understand shoe obsessions

what a waste of money

[Manifestor_of_Light]

56. Because you get what you pay for

Shoes are one of the few products where price makes a BIG difference.

Cheap shoes cause calluses, irritation, and are stiff as a board. They don't bend when you walk.
Your foot DOES bend when you walk.

I run around in sneakers, but I have to buy Italian shoes for dress shoes, because I am a very narrow size (a triple A, the narrowest they make is a quadruple A) and they are soft and they bend.

However, I don't understand women who buy spike heels that hurt like hell, ruin your feet and are dangerous to walk in!!!! Soft and comfy and FLAT for me!!

[Skittles]

58. mis-sized shoes cause problems

I've never had foot problems with cheap shoes because I buy the right size

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

55. It's not how much she spent ...

but how much she saved.

:rofl:

[Lyric]

57. I have exactly three pairs of shoes.

Nike sneakers, black leather "dressy" shoes, and comfy Birkenstock-clone sandals.

I do have an addiction to lacy underthings. But ThinkBlue1966 doesn't complain much about that. ;) :blush: