Shoe blog

Shoe Calendars: Aftermarket Price Speculation.

Yesterday I did a round-up of the 2009 shoe-themed calendars that are currently available in stores and online.

However, while researching that entry, I encountered some items for sale which compelled me to write on a related topic: Calendars treated as limited-edition re-saleable commodities.

Most of us use calendars to mark time and occasionally to express ourselves thematically. However, at the end of the year we usually toss them in the garbage, or better yet, the recycling bin. Craftier types have been known to use them as scrapbook fodder or occasionally to have some of their favorite pages matted and framed.

But consider this: Is it reasonable to consider your old shoe-themed calendars as investments? Take a look at the following three examples of the used/sold-out Shoe Gallery desk calendars by Workman Publishing. In these examples, the aftermarket prices that are being asked represent significant percentage increases over original  prices which were in the $15-$20 range.

Is this a true appreciation in item value? Or is this a temporary attempt at setting an hoped-for price due to likely or perceived limited quantities? Do you feel that limited supply on calendars is enough to shift the price demand to this level? If you would pay these prices for a used and rare book, would you do the same for a calendar?

How long does one offer an item at this price before there is an interested buyer?  And what are the odds that the rare used-shoe-calendar customer out there will be both able to locate these items as well as willing to pay these ’rarity’ prices (Understanding that a seller who partners with Amazon definitely increases customer exposure)?

I must admit, this seems like a highly speculative area in which to ‘invest’ one’s money.  (Feel free to disagree with me if you values and spending priorities differ.)

• 2004 ‘Used, Very Good Condition’  Shoe Gallery Calendar 2006 $364.48 + $3.99 shipping. Gulp, that is *huge* dollars. I wonder if they will have any takers? *

• 2006 Shoe Gallery Calendar. 3 new at $98.94/$98.95 & 1 used at (wait for it) $129.74. Honestly, this simply stuns me.

• Shoes Gallery Calendar 2007, Used, $50.00. Well, at least this is not yet soaring into the stratosphere.

How about you? Am I alone in being surprised by this? I would certainly rather use this kind of money to purchase a pair of real, tangible, and stunning designer shoes that I could get full use from owning. 

So. for the most part, I am simply curious as to who the buyer is that finds these to be a personal shopping value.

I realize that, ultimately, supply and demand will balance out. Either the items will sell as priced, or if no one purchases them at the currently-set prices, then those prices will eventually be lowered to the point where there will be a buyer willing to pay for them.

The question here is: Regardless of whether these items do sell, do you feel that these represent a true purchase value at this time? Would you, as a shoe-lover, make this purchase? Or, would you instead marvel at the price, and then, move on to something else?

*Question answered. The first calendar is no longer in stock indicating sale of, or withdrawal of, the item to be re-priced. Either way, the law of supply and demand has obviously stepped into play here.

So, maybe there was a  buyer honing in on my used-calendar vibe as I typed this. Perhaps instead of wondering how it came to be that calendars are being priced in the range of rare first book editions, I should instead be wondering why I am not positioning myself to somehow take advantage of the shopping ‘deals’ that are left.