This was posted 4 months 15 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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New Balance 998 Made in USA "Plum Purple" Sizes US 5-11 $180 + Delivery @ laced.

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New Balance 998 Made in USA "Plum Purple" Sizes US 5-11 $180 + Delivery @ laced.
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rosebank on 14/12/2023 - 17:31 laced.com.au (1812 clicks)
Last edited 15/12/2023 - 11:49 by 2 other users

A true embodiment of New Balance's timeless design and performance innovation returns to the MADE in USA lineup. The original 998, released in 1993, was the first shoe to utilize ABZORB cushioning. This revolutionary step forward in shock absorption was matched visually with a sleek updating of the classic 99X series look. The MADE in USA 998 features a special-edition Plum Purple colorway, and premium, pigskin suede and mesh upper construction.

The 998 is one of my favourite Made in USA NBs because it has a sleek profile with an extended midsole at the heel, and keeps the retro toebox design. I have 996s and they are a bit chunkier and round compared to the sharper silhouette and more angular design of thee 998. If I wanted to go full retro, I'd rather get the 990v1 which I got on sale for $180. I also have 990v4s which has a nice balance between old and new, and looks very similar to another one of my favourites, the 2002R. The 990v6 just looks too modern, and the 990v2 has a weird midsole and heel, and is the worst of the 9XX lineup imo.

Anyway, there's also a purple 990v4 for $250: https://laced.com.au/collections/sale/products/new-balance-9…

Shipping is quite expensive. I bought 4 pairs last night and it was $60.

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closed Comments

  • captainmac on 14/12/2023 - 17:33
    +5

    Hmm I wonder where they are made. I guess we'll never know.

  • mick123 on 14/12/2023 - 17:35
    +6

    Expensive mowing shoes ,😉

  • park on 14/12/2023 - 17:37
    +5

    Is there a demonstrable benefit in product quality/performance due to it being made in the USA, or has New Balance just found a new tagline to justify a premium price point?

    I get that the "American jobs" thing could resonate for parochial consumers in the US, but why do I care about that in Australia?

    • rosebank on 14/12/2023 - 17:47
      +5

      There's also Made in UK, like Docs. These are reissues of old designs so the performance would be worse than modern sneakers. You just get better colourways with the Made in USA/UK models. Increase in quality is marginal, if I showed someone a Made in USA 990v4 and a Made in China 2002R, they probably won't be able to tell the difference.

      I buy these only if I can't get something similar in the regular NB range, and they're on sale.

      • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2023 - 18:38

        Docs have always been "hip" for a niche target audience. whilst the NB hype is over and nobody wants the "dad shoe" especially at these prices.

        • beltdrive on 14/12/2023 - 18:47

          NB is still flying off the shelves at full price, including pairs that cost over $300.

          Some get discounted like this pair because an all purple shoe is harder to pull off

          Source: I’ve been buying NB for over a decade and it’s never been harder to get good pairs cheap

          • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2023 - 18:52
            +1

            @beltdrive: harder to find doesn't mean its flying off the shelves and people are buying them out. popular shoes have plenty of stock on hand because its popular.

            • beltdrive on 14/12/2023 - 19:00
              +1

              @[Deactivated]: I keep an eye on the NB launches page. If there’s a big collab or a desirable colourway they still sell out almost instantly

              • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2023 - 20:00

                @beltdrive: I don't doubt theres NB collectors like yourself. spend your money however you want, but that doesn't mean selling out of something of limited quantity is in the same game as say air 1 pandas.

                • refutchable on 14/12/2023 - 20:38

                  @[Deactivated]: what are air 1 pandas?

                  • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2023 - 20:45

                    @refutchable: more commonly known as panda dunks. btw not a fan of anything panda but women love them.

                    https://youtu.be/iubBKwiYAO8

                    • beltdrive on 14/12/2023 - 21:51

                      @[Deactivated]: Panda Dunks are so 2021

                      • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2023 - 22:10

                        @beltdrive: the air 1 pandas was released this year as a womens exclusive. so regardless of the year pandas are still selling out unlike the NB hype.

                        • beltdrive on 14/12/2023 - 22:16

                          @[Deactivated]: Air 1 Panda? I assume you mean Air Jordan 1 Panda. Yeah I’ve seen those. They’re still in stock at a bunch of places.

                          The Jordan hype and Panda hype have separately both died down a lot. A year ago they would have been really difficult to buy at retail

                          • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2023 - 22:30

                            @beltdrive: not a fan myself but I recognize credit where credit is due. NB hype was a trend that came and went, pandas are here to stay as a staple.

                          • rosebank on 15/12/2023 - 15:29
                            +1

                            @beltdrive: There was also the semi-hyped AF1 panda. lol @ air 1 panda. Dude has nfi what he's on about. NB hype is higher than ever

    • Michael15286 on 14/12/2023 - 17:47
      +6

      Knowing it's not made in a sweatshop that may or may not use child labour is probably a good thing for ethically minded consumers. As for quality I imagine it'd be much the same.

      • MasterScythe on 14/12/2023 - 18:13
        +2

        Always a slippery slope there though. In a lot of places those sweatshops are the only jobs available.
        I'll support better wages\conditions all day long, but most (not all, most) locations that do still use them, don't have unemployment, or other career options.

        Gotta be sure you don't take away a familys only income before there is better available; Otherwise we'll have a repeat of the whole Bangladesh clothing incident.

        • Michael15286 on 14/12/2023 - 18:31
          +1

          It's definitely a good thing to think about.

          That said, buying goods made from sweatshops DIRECTLY benefits and incentivise the expansion of them. This can redistribute more of the local economy to sweatshop industries and takes away capital investment and labour that could otherwise go to diversification of the local economy. Strangely enough it can replace better jobs for workers with worse jobs.

          A less serious example of this happening in Australia is when a new supermarket opens in a suburban community. Soon after, the half dozen stores that previously serviced the community will struggle and often go out of business. People who previously worked at the small businesses now get pushed into working at said supermarket. A job that is often paid less, more stressful and less flexible.

          But yes it's not a simple issue. If a consumer really wanted to do their ethical best, they would seek out an alternative from the same region that does not use sweatshops. But I'm here on a bargain site, so usually my biggest factor for purchasing is price!

        • drprox on 15/12/2023 - 09:06

          It's an interesting point and I recall one of my economics lecturers at uni making a similar one. He thought more sweat shops could drive up wages and conditions given competition for workers (probably not because I'd expect big fashion to collude but it's a nice thought).

      • annarchon on 14/12/2023 - 18:37
        +1

        But its all New Balance, NB made in China/Vietnam etc vs NB made in US/UK. So it either New Balance is using sweatshops or New Balance is not using sweatshops.

        • Michael15286 on 14/12/2023 - 19:07

          Businesses can and do modify their offerings in line with consumer demands. If New Balance noticed a significant drop in sales for their Made in China/Vietnam offerings AND an uptick in its Made in US/UK, they would likely pivot more production to those regions.

    • casualusercts on 14/12/2023 - 18:07
      +3

      It’s a lot better quality than the glue-stained crap that Nike have been serving up on the past 12-18 months.

      The materials are definitely better than what you get from Nike, Adidas etc and I’ve found them to wear pretty well.

      As someone with lots of Nikes and Jordans (and I mean a lot) I pretty much buy NBs exclusively now.

    • dan o on 14/12/2023 - 18:30

      I suspect a lot of the parts are made in China/Vietnam but assembled in USA… Can confirm the build quality and materials are excellent tho!

      • beltdrive on 14/12/2023 - 18:48
        +1

        IIRC a certain amount needs to be domestic for them to claim MIUSA - I believe the soles are imported

      • BargainGeezer on 14/12/2023 - 22:39

        Minimum 70% domestic value, so no, it's mostly made from materials sourced from the USA.

  • rosebank on 14/12/2023 - 17:37

    @beltdrive

    • beltdrive on 14/12/2023 - 18:47

      Big fan of the grimaces. Seriously considering em

      • rosebank on 15/12/2023 - 15:26

        Do it, colourway is dope and price is great for a Made in USA/UK

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 14/12/2023 - 17:44

    Nice

  • bargainatoraah on 14/12/2023 - 18:20

    Grimace

  • dan o on 14/12/2023 - 18:28
    +1

    https://laced.com.au/collections/new-balance/products/copy-n…

    These 990V6 MADE IN USA GREY for $250 is a banger deal

    • JutakuHome on 14/12/2023 - 19:20

      Highs & Lows (WA store) had these for ~$175 inc shipping on Cyber Monday

      • dan o on 14/12/2023 - 19:23

        Love that store… You should have told me!

        • JutakuHome on 14/12/2023 - 21:12

          I deeply regret not pulling the trigger. Doubt we’ll see them at that price again

  • whitlam on 14/12/2023 - 19:10

    Estimate tells me $20 shipping to Sydney suburbs

  • zombie hunter on 14/12/2023 - 21:40

    no clowns size 12 and 13 shattered

  • WasBargain on 15/12/2023 - 02:11

    This ain't a watch.. damnit!

  • altiarlio on 15/12/2023 - 06:42
    +1

    one of the greatest silhouettes ever made and an absolute treat for the feet once broken.

  • Headless on 15/12/2023 - 07:09
    -2

    $180 doesn't sound like like a good deal

  • telf on 15/12/2023 - 20:39

    I quite like the Made in UK 576.
    Currently $264, down from $330.
    https://www.newbalance.com.au/pd/made-in-uk-576/U576V1-43034.html
    Pity about the size availability

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