captain kirk
New User
Seriously, I remember when these shirts used to cost $40, now they're selling for $70.
Nike Men's Spring Premier Rafa Crew
Nike Men's Spring Premier Rafa Crew
Why has Nike apparel become so expensive?
- Thread starter captain kirk
- Start date
captain kirk
New User
Yeah but this was only a few years ago that they cost almost twice as less.
I've noticed it with the Free Run shoes too. In 2011 I paid $80 for a pair, now they're going at $110 for basically the same shoe. I know inflation has to be counted in, but inflation isn't that high.
TahoeTennis
Legend
Supply and Demand. Rafa and Fed are Nike's Dynamic Duo. Their stuff will always sell, and we will always buy. I'm just wondering if the Lunars are taking a hit due to their extreme price and Rafa not wearing them.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
i remember when the prince graphite and boron first came out in the late 70s and early 80s they were $300-500 so clearly inflation is not driving the costs up.
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mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
nike pays rafa and fed a lot of $$,$$$,$$$ to wear nike gear. the costs of advertising and sponsorship get passed to the consumers.
Bdarb
Hall of Fame
I think Nike pays them a lot of money because they can then drive up prices. Not necessarily Nike needs to come up with cash to justify it, I'm sure they can pay them and them some out of just sneaker sales, nvm whatever else Nike sells.
Bdarb
Hall of Fame
True, I guess I don't know what the word is for "s*** just costs more now". Is there anything that hasn't followed this trend?
WildVolley
Legend
Nike, I believe, has a fair amount of pricing power. It seems they've found that a considerable portion of their customers have inelastic demand for the products (meaning they aren't very price sensitive).
As long as they gain more profit on the remaining sales than they lose in product sold, they win.
By paying Federer and Nadal a lot of money to wear the clothing, they're changing the brand into a luxury brand that can compete against luxury brands such as Lacoste. The Air Jordan basketball shoes became a luxury brand long ago and are hugely profitable for Nike.
As long as they gain more profit on the remaining sales than they lose in product sold, they win.
By paying Federer and Nadal a lot of money to wear the clothing, they're changing the brand into a luxury brand that can compete against luxury brands such as Lacoste. The Air Jordan basketball shoes became a luxury brand long ago and are hugely profitable for Nike.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Nike is a corporation. Most corporations have multiple segments/divisions and each segment/division is responsible for generating a certain amount of profit. Nike is most certainly not going to pay the tennis players out of the profits generated by the Running or Basketball divisions. That's not how it works. Everything related to tennis is part of the Tennis division. This ensures that the financial performance of each division can been tracked and measured. Also allows Nike to understand which product lines are not profitable and when to pull the plug on them.
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mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
every manufacturer has power over its pricing. most companies have analysts dedicated to retail price analysis to insure they aren't leaving money on the table. if they increase prices so high that the number of units sold starts to decline relative to the global economic and industry trends, they know they've hit a hit a ceiling.
kimguroo
Legend
1. Nike needs to pay more and more money to Nadal and Fed.
(I am not 100% sure about their contract but I believe that their payment construction is that Nike increases endorsement fee every year: for example, 10 year//100mil contract. 1-2th year: 8mil, 3-4th year: 9mil, 5-6th year: 10mil, 7-8th year: 11mil. 9-10th year: 12mil=total 100mil.)
2. Probably both Fed and Nadal have incentives (winning titles)
3. Production costs are higher too.
(I am not 100% sure about their contract but I believe that their payment construction is that Nike increases endorsement fee every year: for example, 10 year//100mil contract. 1-2th year: 8mil, 3-4th year: 9mil, 5-6th year: 10mil, 7-8th year: 11mil. 9-10th year: 12mil=total 100mil.)
2. Probably both Fed and Nadal have incentives (winning titles)
3. Production costs are higher too.
It's not just Nike that's expensive. Under Armor emerged as sort of the anti-Nike and they're even more expensive than Nike. And I wouldn't be surprised if the Nike tops were being made right next to the Under Armor and adidas tops in the same factory in Vietnam/China/Indonesia, etc.
Devil_dog
Hall of Fame
It's a combo of what Nike pays their stars and what consumers are willing to pay. Me? I generally wait until the garment goes on sale. Mostly shorts and shoes. Shirts, I generally buy from REI they have a great line of shirts with similar fabrics and they cost a fraction of Nike's.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Even on sale, a lot of this stuff is still over-priced. Someone mentioned that they were going to wait for the Lunar Ballistecs to go on sale and be marked down from the current $165 tag, but even marked down, I doubt that they'll come down below the $135 tag that the previous version sold at full retail.
TennisLovaLova
Hall of Fame
dollar is low so the brands try to compensate by rising their prices
racertempo
Semi-Pro
It is not inflation......just wait 4-5 weeks and they will be "on sale" for $35-45.
Rhino
Legend
This.
If we didn't buy so much of it, they would be forced to charge a lower price. But under the circumstances, why wouldn't they keep it high? You would too.
sonyhenryfed
Rookie
Buyer is always fool, seller is always clever.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Actually racquet prices have stayed the same.
parasailing
Legend
As long as the consumers are willing to pay, Nike will continue to increase prices year over year. They have the market. Look at Adidas clothing. It's just as good and significantly cheaper than Nike but even when discounted, they rarely sell out compared to when Nike apparel has a 25% sale where everything just disappears. The demand just isn't there.
Racquets are one of the few items that haven't gone up while prices for everything else has gone up such as strings, grips, etc.. A racquet today is a whole lot cheaper if you consider inflation than thirty years ago when that Pro Staff 85 came on the market. I am pretty sure there is a psychological barrier to breaking the $199 mark and given how competitive the industry they are in, pricing does make a significant difference and nobody wants to be the first to blink.
Racquets are one of the few items that haven't gone up while prices for everything else has gone up such as strings, grips, etc.. A racquet today is a whole lot cheaper if you consider inflation than thirty years ago when that Pro Staff 85 came on the market. I am pretty sure there is a psychological barrier to breaking the $199 mark and given how competitive the industry they are in, pricing does make a significant difference and nobody wants to be the first to blink.
tennis tom
Legend
Higher taxation and government regulation--corporations don't pay taxes, people do--any increases are passed along in the form of higher prices. Companies compete for customers, one way is lower prices. Unfortunately the tax man and politicians don't have to compete. Have a nice April 15th, April Fools is the warm-up. The cost of everything is going up primarily due to government/politician greed.
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Hollywood2
Rookie
The worst insult is the shirts or shorts are not cotton either for that price...they are polyester. Polyester is inferior compared to cotton lacks breathability and comfort.
Don't believe me to compare go buy a pair of cotton and polyester underwear and see which feels better by the end of the day.
Don't believe me to compare go buy a pair of cotton and polyester underwear and see which feels better by the end of the day.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Actually, graphite racquet used to cost $300 in the 1970's so $200 today is a bargain and a huge drop in price (less than $100 in 1970's dollars).
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
The Nike polos worn by Federer went from $45 to $50 to $60 to $65 to $70 to $80 and now they are $90. Totally ridiculous and not worth it!
Hollywood2
Rookie
That's right the shoes and clothing has gone so downhill yet the prices have skyrocket. The feel on these high priced polos feel like compressed paper (the collar) I laughed at the quality in the store a few days ago. Even knock offs are better quality....no joke.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
And if corporations don't pay taxes and government essentially allows this situation, despite some hand wringing, then government alone is not to blame.
bluegrass_stringer
Semi-Pro
Haha. Listened to talksport today. They blasted Nike for charging consumers $150 for the new England World Cup jersey. I find it funny too how some rec tennis players have to have all Nike gear (or Adidas, or whatever) like they are sponsored. I buy what's on sale. I can say a polyester shirt is way better than a cotton one in terms of comfort to play with.
Hollywood2
Rookie
There is NO WAY a polyester shirt is better than cotton. Not even close, cotton is always more expensive fabric or textile. Cotton is true quality.
Like I said simple just wear cotton and polyester underwear for one day and see which is dryer and more comfortable by end of the day. Cotton is a clear, clear answer. Cotton breathes 100x more than polyester.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Cotton is better than polyester for everyday wear, but cotton becomes heavy and wet when playing due to perspiration and makes you feel even hotter as the fabric sticks to the skin.
The treated polyester they use in sports shirts keeps you cool and dry so they are much better for tennis especially when its warm or during the daytime.
The treated polyester they use in sports shirts keeps you cool and dry so they are much better for tennis especially when its warm or during the daytime.
Exactly, fully agreed
Hollywood2
Rookie
Thick cotton shirts this is true but thinner cotton is fantastic. I have some premium light cotton shirts and I prefer them much more to polyester. Cotton is more breathable than a polyester shirt you can't compare.
For you guys that love the feel of cotton, you need to try the touch material that Nike has. 85% poly/15% cotton, but feels like cotton. Trust me, you'll love it.
JT_2eighty
Hall of Fame
I was never a fan of the feel of polyester shirts, but the comfort has come a long way. I sweat a lot when I play, and have made the full switch to poly clothing. There is no comparison to even "light" cotton, that still gets wet and cumbersome during a match. I think the key is the newer blends like the 85/15, etc. All you have to do is find sales, I don't think I've paid more than $20 for any tennis shirt, polos included.
bluegrass_stringer
Semi-Pro
Then this should make us more mad since the polyester shirts are WAY more expensive than the cotton ones!!! In hot conditions when you are sweating a lot, cotton shirts get really wet, heavy, and restrict movement. Might have to change shirts several times. Polyester shirts keep you FAR more dry. This is my opinion. For everyday wear, cotton does rule for sure. I finally switched to the polyester shirts a few years ago, and it is night and day. I only buy when they are on sale. But, this is just my opinion. Some might like the cotton. Some might play without a shirt..who knows..
MachiA.
Banned
Polyester is crap.
I shake the hands of my opponents and they smell like skunks.
Better than very light, extra fine cotton and much more better than polyester is TENCEL (Lyocell), yarn made in Austria.
I wear these made in Germany shirts:
http://www.trigema.de/shop/product/...8083E5FB09AABD7B828F365FABA82D1?origin=extern
The chinese color in this n.ke crap is eating your skin. Sometimes you turn even yellow.
KR
I shake the hands of my opponents and they smell like skunks.
Better than very light, extra fine cotton and much more better than polyester is TENCEL (Lyocell), yarn made in Austria.
I wear these made in Germany shirts:
http://www.trigema.de/shop/product/...8083E5FB09AABD7B828F365FABA82D1?origin=extern
The chinese color in this n.ke crap is eating your skin. Sometimes you turn even yellow.
KR
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JT_2eighty
Hall of Fame
^^hopefully you also wear that scarf when you play
MachiA.
Banned
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
As a fabric cotton is more breathable, but they simply put holes in polyester shirts to make them breathable.
Maybe a very light and thin cotton would work better, but what precisely do you have in mind?
Maybe a very light and thin cotton would work better, but what precisely do you have in mind?
Legend of Borg
G.O.A.T.
I cried some GOATy tears today when I checked the Nike store.
West Coast Ace
G.O.A.T.
Come on. Resistance is futile. Do your part to help the World Economy.
eelhc
Hall of Fame
I would imagine it's expensive because of Fed and Rafa, they both have expensive taste.
So long was the droves of fans are willing to pay a premium to look like their hero, Nike should charge all they can and laugh their way to the bank...
http://youtu.be/MLWD3eWjD4k
Fed and Rafa won't pay your CC bills...
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