Today’s “Rubik’s Cube” Quiz: How much would these same “basketball boots” cost today?

I came across this old print advertisement from Kmart.

Beyond bringing back fond childhood memories, these predecessors to Nike’s Air Jordans were reportedly manufactured in Czechoslovakia – now the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Considering inflation, the 1965 sale price of $1.12 would be $10.67 today (give or take). Conversely, the base Air Jordan 1 Mid sells between $115 to $130 today, depending on the color scheme and additional details. However, since 1985, Nike’s are manufactured in China.

Before you say that I am not comparing apples to oranges – I agree that the Kmart special compared to Air Jordan’s is like comparing the Mitsubishi Mirage to a Bugatti or Ferrari.

Let’s close the gap a little and compare it to the Converse Kids’ Pre-School Chuck Taylor All-Star Shoes, which sell for $49.99. Even considering inflation, the Converse still costs 4.5 times as much as the adjusted $10.67 price of the one sold by Kmart. In short, inflation isn’t the only influence on MSRP. By the way, Converse shoes are manufactured in one of the following four countries – Vietnam, China, India, and Indonesia.

The question is – what are the other factors besides inflation that contribute to the price difference? It seems the answer is obvious – or is it?

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