If I can't get the shoes, how about a nice um-ber-ella?
November 30, 2016 7:03 AM Subscribe
For Christmas my wife is interested in a pair of the upcoming Puma by Rihanna velvet creepers. I know that the previous releases in this line have sold out in hours. Now that it has been named Shoe of the Year and this release is dropping in primo holiday shopping season (December 8th) I assume this new set will be even harder to get. My questions are (1) How can I increase my chances of snagging a pair of these shoes online as part of the official sale? and (2) If strategy (1) fails, are there sneakerhead resellers where I can buy a pair after the fact for not too much of a premium on the purchase price?
Note: Similar velvet creepers are not sufficient. She is obsessed with Rihanna and it is the RiRi connection that makes her covet these kicks. I don't understand either, but such are the dictates of fandom and Christmas.
Note: Similar velvet creepers are not sufficient. She is obsessed with Rihanna and it is the RiRi connection that makes her covet these kicks. I don't understand either, but such are the dictates of fandom and Christmas.
Best answer: I don't have experience with shoes specifically, but with other limited-release items. The most important ways to improve the chance of success are to be knowledgeable and prepared.
Knowledgeable: What platforms will the shoes be available in? Just Puma.com and in-store, or will other online retailers be releasing them? Does Puma time releases randomly or always at the same time? Do they announce releases on Twitter? Will there be a product code you can spam-search for on their website, or a "coming soon" webpage you can constantly refresh?
Prepared: Register for online shopping accounts in advance. Get comfortable with your browser autofill capabilities and limitations. Familiarize yourself with the eCommerce system. Follow any Twitter or Instagram or Snapchat accounts that could make an availability announcement. Investigate software that alerts you when a webpage updates (I've had bad luck with these before, but that was 5 years ago). Take the day off work and get ready to flex your F5 button. Use a computer with a mouse and keyboard, not your phone or a touchpad.
That being said, the last Rihanna creeper release took 3 hours to sell out, so I think you will be fine as long as you are organized and prepared. If the shoe does sell out, keep refreshing hoping for a restock.
posted by muddgirl at 9:11 AM on November 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Knowledgeable: What platforms will the shoes be available in? Just Puma.com and in-store, or will other online retailers be releasing them? Does Puma time releases randomly or always at the same time? Do they announce releases on Twitter? Will there be a product code you can spam-search for on their website, or a "coming soon" webpage you can constantly refresh?
Prepared: Register for online shopping accounts in advance. Get comfortable with your browser autofill capabilities and limitations. Familiarize yourself with the eCommerce system. Follow any Twitter or Instagram or Snapchat accounts that could make an availability announcement. Investigate software that alerts you when a webpage updates (I've had bad luck with these before, but that was 5 years ago). Take the day off work and get ready to flex your F5 button. Use a computer with a mouse and keyboard, not your phone or a touchpad.
That being said, the last Rihanna creeper release took 3 hours to sell out, so I think you will be fine as long as you are organized and prepared. If the shoe does sell out, keep refreshing hoping for a restock.
posted by muddgirl at 9:11 AM on November 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Above are good tips, but the link you posted says they are being released Dec 4th. So make sure you have the right date and be ready to roll :)
posted by 58 at 1:06 PM on November 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by 58 at 1:06 PM on November 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Puma by Rihanna website says Dec. 8 at 10am.
posted by muddgirl at 1:22 PM on November 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by muddgirl at 1:22 PM on November 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I NEED TO KNOW....did you get 'em????
posted by Windigo at 8:45 AM on December 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Windigo at 8:45 AM on December 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: No one spill the beans, OK?
It was interesting. I was logging into a few different sites that were supposed to carry them, and when I got on bloomingdales.com I discovered they were already on sale before 8:00 AM ET! The preferred color was already out of stock in almost all sizes, but I actually placed an order for the black ones at 7:59. The order confirmation had a shipping date of 12/23, and I was concerned about pre-release shenanigans screwing up the order, so I got on puma.com at the stroke of 10:00 and got the size and color I (she) wanted. I cancelled the Bloomies order, but it has since occurred to me that I should have kept that order as well and put them on eBay once they came in.
Thanks for all your help!
posted by Rock Steady at 10:44 AM on December 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
It was interesting. I was logging into a few different sites that were supposed to carry them, and when I got on bloomingdales.com I discovered they were already on sale before 8:00 AM ET! The preferred color was already out of stock in almost all sizes, but I actually placed an order for the black ones at 7:59. The order confirmation had a shipping date of 12/23, and I was concerned about pre-release shenanigans screwing up the order, so I got on puma.com at the stroke of 10:00 and got the size and color I (she) wanted. I cancelled the Bloomies order, but it has since occurred to me that I should have kept that order as well and put them on eBay once they came in.
Thanks for all your help!
posted by Rock Steady at 10:44 AM on December 8, 2016 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Way to go! You had a team of mefite sneaker fangirls rooting for you on facebook :)
posted by phunniemee at 11:21 AM on December 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 11:21 AM on December 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I was deeply, emotionally involved in this.
posted by Windigo at 12:01 PM on December 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Windigo at 12:01 PM on December 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Aww, thanks! I will be sure to post some pics once they have been opened!
posted by Rock Steady at 12:14 PM on December 8, 2016
posted by Rock Steady at 12:14 PM on December 8, 2016
Response by poster: Reader, she cried. Thanks again for all the help!
posted by Rock Steady at 8:31 AM on December 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Rock Steady at 8:31 AM on December 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by evoque at 8:58 AM on November 30, 2016 [1 favorite]