There are shoes. And then there are sole mates. On my way home from New York City I found the perfect pair of pink shoes – but I’m not sure if I should buy them.
I had time to kill before meeting a friend who had my car keys so I walked into O’My Sole in Marina Del Rey. A store employee immediately asked if I was looking for anything in particular.
“Nope, just browsing,” I said, dropping my heavy bags in the nearest corner.
“If you need anything, let me know.”
I nodded and began my slow dance around the room, ogling the beautiful leather footwear. I was on the last table when I saw them.
Adorable pink heels. Perfect for work but sassy enough for going out. Covered toes so I don’t have to worry about grubby toenails. And the moderate heel meant comfort was a possibility. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take a picture because I lost my iPhone in New York.
As soon as I picked them up, the salesman sounded disappointed.
“That’s our last pair,” he said.
“Oh, darn.”
“You aren’t a size 10 are you?”
Since when does the last pair ever come in my size?!! Like, never.
“I am!”
“I’ll give you 20 percent off if you take them,” he said before fetching the match.
“Really?”
“You don’t know how hard it is to find a woman in size 10 you wears heels. I’ve been trying to get rid of these for six months.”
I knew a bargain was in the offing. But if they weren’t comfortable, it wouldn’t matter.
I sat down, took off my sweaty socks and boots. Slid the heels on. Please be comfy, I thought. Inhaled and stood up.
The leather rubbed against my right big toe in two places. Not good. But God, were they gorgeous.
I strolled around the floor. Rolled up my jeans and took a good look in the mirror. Possibly the best most perfect pair of shoes ever.
“I love these shoes,” I said.
“I’ll give you 30 percent off,” he offered.
“But they are too tight in the right foot.”
“How uncomfortable are they?”
“I’m trying to decide,” I said, taking a few more laps around the store. “The thing is as soon as I saw them I thought these shoes were made for me. AND I have someplace I can wear them this week.”
“I’ll give you 40 percent off,” he said. “With tax that comes to $111, marked down from $170.” (The shoe brand, El Natura Lista is European and earth-friendly.)
Still a lot of money. I kept pacing the store. He was offering me a great deal on a high quality pair of shoes that I loved and that would go perfect with jeans, skirts, and especially my pink Bargain Babe T-shirt that I wear to business events. I’ve been wanting to replace my business-y heels for a few months, and these could double as going out shoes.
But the toe nagged. “Does the leather stretch?”
“I can stretch them overnight and you can come back tomorrow,” he said.
“Is there an extra charge for that?”
“No, and if that doesn’t help you don’t have to buy them,” he said.
“Deal.”
So my (perhaps) perfect pink shoes await me. I’m going back to the store on Wednesday to try them on again. If you were me, would you buy them?
UPDATE: The overwhelming consensus is that I should buy the pink shoes.
Reader Jill says:
Heck yeah! Try em on, do your laps, hem and ha a little, then work him for 50% off. You know how to work it girl!
Do you disagree? Speak up now! And for the record, I asked if he could make it $100 even and he looked at his computer and shook his head. But I’ll ask him again tomorrow.
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
Hell yeah. Go buy ’em quick (but just for fun, see if youc an get him down to 50 percent). The leather does stretch and conform to your feet f youre’ patient. Besides, who ever finds a pair of pink shoes they love and can use?
YES, BUY THE PINK SHOES!
I’d buy them too! This is why we’re bargain hunters… to be able to splurge (even when saving) when it comes around. I once bought a pair of Bruno Magli shoes, marked down from $180 to $35, that were a tad too tight, just b/c I knew I would wear them for bragging rights! I still have them 18 years later, and they’re still beautiful.
I would ABSOLUTELY buy them. You are a bargain hunter, and these were a bargain. Plus, it’s obvious how much you love them, they will bring you much more than $111 worth of joy.
oh Hells yeah-buy them! i hope they are a hot pink to match your BB t-shirt.
photo photo!! way to strike a better bargain.
great post. hilarious and so real and you-i could see it perfectly from my laptop screen in harlem
ps
NYC misses bargain babe
Heck yeah! Try em on, do your laps, hem and ha a little, then work him for 50% off. You know how to work it girl!
Do it. If it’s one thing I don’t skimp on, it’s shoes. A good pair will last you a long time and if they are multi-use, even better.
YES YES YES. How often do you see pink shoes in your size, the last pair, and he wants to get rid of them.These shoes are meant for you. I say try to get him to give them to you for half off. Good luck…you can do it!!
Yes, buy them! Ask if they can do $100 cash.
if you know the model of the shoe, compare with online deals. And if you are dreaming about it, then buy them don’t let them go.
Call the store right now and insist on buying them. How would you feel if they were gone when you went in on Wedensday? Hurry, don’t wait!
I love this story! And it would only be something a woman understands – perfect pink shoes. Men have 2 shoes – brown and black – and flip flops. that’s it! Go for it!
if it is tight on the toe, better not buy it, anyway it is just me:P
I say, why not! You are getting a great deal on quaility shoes and the best thing is that you will enjoy wearing them!
I don’t know…….$111 is an awful lot of money………AND they are already uncomfortable. No matter how great they look, if they hurt, they are no bargain. I have never spent that much for shoes.
Only buy them if you like the way they fit. $111 is a lot of money to pay for shoes to sit in the closet and that is exactly what will happen if they are uncomfortable… Believe me I am Imelda Marcos.
they can be stretched, YES! buy them! enjoy them on or off, that’s why we’re bargain babes!
Good luck with that stretching! Unless you first tried the shoes on when you’re feet were (most likely) at their most swollen in the afternoon, chances are not good that they’ll stretch enough to be comfy. Plan to keep shoes trees in them if you end up buying them… that’s probably your only chance of making them fit properly. I’m not Imelda Marcos, but I do understand the problems of buying shoes for a large foot.
I’ve been wearing the new pink heels for two hours and so far so good!