Limited Edition Jordans Can't Run From Bad Economy

It’s one of the great stories of the week. The last colorway of Air Jordan XX3’s getting into consumers hands this morning. Only 23 pairs released in each of 23 stores (529 total) around the country for $230 each. One of the most hyped shoes ever.

Air Jordan XX3
Source: Foot Locker
Air Jordan XX3

With the shoe as hot as we’ve seen in a while, collectors and people trying to make a quick buck have stood on line for days to get their hands on a pair.

There have been some great tales. Like a guy who said he flew from Miami to Atlanta because the store in Miami already had 23 people on it. Or the people we spoke to. Like the guy we spoke to who was No. 1 at the Foot Locker in New York City, saying he’d been on line for a week. Or the kid who said he slept at McDonald’s three nights in a row.

Air Jordan XX3
Source: Foot Locker
Air Jordan XX3


From the people we spoke to, we found that most of them were likely going to sell the pair, believing that it was the easiest $2,000 anyone could make in this economy.

Despite the economy, Caroline Magris, who waited on the line in Manhattan through a snowstorm and frigid temperatures that, with the wind chill, reached single digits, said the state of the nation wouldn’t affect these shoes. “I think people, the big collectors, usually have the money to dash out and buy them,” she told us. Magris saying she thought she could get $3,000 for the pair.

Air Jordan XX3
Source: Foot Locker
Air Jordan XX3

I'm not too optimistic people will get what they want. The guy who was selling No. 113 of 529 listed it at $3,500. The link was taken down minutes ago, which means he presumably sold them, though we're not sure at what price.

Another guy, who has No. 15/529 lists his shoes at $2,750, but says he’ll consider offers above $1,200. The eBay listing shows he’s already declined two offers, meaning he’s likely gotten lower bids.

All in all, we expect the economy to play a part in everything—including limited edition Jordan shoes. We’d be surprised if the average selling price for these shoes winds up at anything north of $1,400.

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