[Nemtynakht]

As long as it's on the sole, I don't mind. Although I agree that it's annoying. If it was a shirt, you could get a markdown on the item if there was writing on it. But the bottom of shoes? How is that acceptable?

That said, when Nordstrom first opened in the mall near my parents' house many years ago, they used to write the id number on the bottoms of all the shoes I bought, new or discounted -- it was their way of id'ing them. (Granted I was typically buying from the younger section and never bought terifically expensive shoes.)