22-08-2012

7 Comments »

Nike Expected to Lower LeBron X+ Price After WSJ & ESPN Spark a Debate »

Initially, the Nike LeBron X was supposed to come out in two versions, with and without Nike+ technology, priced $315 and $180, respectively. Darren Rovell of ESPN has sparked a debate on how that affects the sneaker industry. The Wall Street Journal reported in its Tuesday edition that the LeBron X shoe, scheduled to hit stores this fall, would retail for $315. But one analyst, Matt Powell of SportsOneSource, later told ESPN that price was for Nike+ tech version of shoe, which would be limited in run, and would likely cost closer to $290. The LeBron X has motion sensors in the shoe to track various metrics including how high the player jumps. Tuesday evening, Nike spokesman Brian Strong called the Journal’s reported price “inaccurate,” while clarifying that the main version of the shoe would come at a significantly lower price point. “The LeBron X will be launched in the fall at a suggested retail price of $180,” Strong said, in a statement. “The initial introduction of the LeBron X will be the red, white and blue Nike+ enabled version and that price is still being set, but will be at a higher price to reflect the Nike+ technology embedded in the shoes.” Despite a rough economic environment, Nike has been able to pass on the rising costs of materials to its consumers with little resistance due to the premium associated with its high-end product.