"I may be unemployed at least I have cute prim shoes"

Recently I stopped by a store that I had known since it first started years ago.

Back when it first started, this store was but a small shop that had cute items at very reasonable prices. I remember buying almost one of everything. The quality was amazing and affordable. For the sake of anonymity (or an attempt at it) I will call this store, "Store X."

I went to the current footwear area of Store X. This store has now expanded, owning its own sim and creating a MEGA store. While there I came across some cute heels. I began collecting demos of said shoes:

However, when I looked at the price of the shoes, I was shocked to find out the price. One pair of shoes costs $1175L! Yes, I repeat $1175L. XstreetSL estimates the value of $1175 L to be approximately $4.38. I don't think I've ever spent more than 400L on any pair of shoes on SL. In a situation that I did pay that much, you damn well know I was wearing those shoes constantly---in fact I think they are boots that I still wear on a weekly basis. When the price of a pair of virtual accessories looks to me like the price of a meal or the value of some actual decent stuff in REAL LIFE... the price seems to me to be obscene.

A recession is a time to cut back, go on an austerity budget... not spend almost 5 dollars on a pair of SL shoes you will only wear a lot the first few weeks you bought them and then as time goes on they will just sit in your inventory gathering virtual dust. After 3+ years on SL, I know this happens, it always does. As my dad used to say "80% of having something is WANTING it.." after you buy it...the shiny wears off.

I am still shocked at these prices. Do note: Store X does sell shoes at more of a "value"...only $975 L ($3.60) a pair! I went to one of my friend's about these overpriced shoes and explained to her my shock. Her response was, "(the price) is normal these days." What about paying almost 5 dollars on a pair of virtual shoes is "NORMAL"? I spend lots of money on SL items, but when you pay over $1000 L, you better damn well be buying a house, car, textures, HUD or other big ticket items... not shoes.

And when I thought these prices were obscene, my friend informed me, "Well, Store Z charges 2300L a pair, I won't buy those." (Store Z's name has been changed for anonymity.)

Maybe I'm the last of a dying breed who shop for a value in RL and SL. I spend lots of dollars on erroneous things, but there are limits to that. When the unemployment rate in my area is approaching 13%, other nations are experiencing budget crises and credit card rates are souring, you have to ask yourself: Did we learn anything?

Apparently not in Second Life. Well, I'll take my $4.38 and save it for something better.