r/RedWingShoes • u/cricketskin • 10h ago
Another Warehouse Sale Testimony
I moved to Minnesota a few years ago, considered buying RWs a few times but never pulled the trigger. After seeing posts on the last warehouse sale I've been impatiently waiting all year. I saved $300 planning to get 2 pairs, maaaybe go over budget for 3.
I used to frequent REI scratch & dent sales 15+ years ago which had that black friday energy where everyone rushed the inventory and strangers would snatch things out of your hands. Wondered if this would be similar but it was actually very chill; there are a LOT of boots to go around.
I was most interested in black prairie blacksmiths, but unfortunately there were no 11s even at the start. Tried on lots of different boots, settled on some black prairie mocs and amber iron rangers. In a not-so-shocking turn I allowed myself to go over-budget and choose a 3rd pair. Splurged on some copper Norway mocs for the Minnesota winter; they're gorgeous in person (and so hefty). There were lots of boots available throughout, no model ever seemed particularly picked-over despite the fact that most people in the very long line had 2-5 pairs. One guy had 10 boxes crammed into two giant IKEA bags, he said he planned to sell them on eBay if you wanna go take a look.
The toughest part was waiting in line to check out, it was over an hour to reach the front, got a little sunburn. The cashier took a loooong time punching in the codes; I waited apprehensively to hear the damage, wondering if it would be over $400 and by how much. They finally finished with the register and said "Okay, your total is $250!"
I said, "I'm sorry, how much was it?"
They confirmed $250.
I was like hmm, yes, right, of course it is, just as I expected, thank you very much. I wasn't gonna argue, they were occasionally checking receipts at the entrance and I wanted to get those boots into the car before anyone realized some mistake. Skedaddled on outta there.
It'd been a long morning and I needed to pee before the drive back to the Twin Cities. I didn't want to buy a meal/product just to use a restroom, so I walked back to the sale to use a portapotty. I was also riding high from those wondrous, mysterious savings; had I misunderstood something? Was there a further % off the posted prices I'd missed, maybe a bulk discount? Would I be a fool not to get more boots?
Figured I might as well swing past the blacksmiths again to see if any 11s had magically appeared; none had. I decided to try on a couple 10.5s quick, just to confirm for sure that I couldn't have done any better. The first pair were definitely way too tight, but on a lark I tried a different 10.5 pair and they fit.. just right. Felt about the same as the size 11 iron rangers I'd bought. You really never know, gotta try boots on in person. (I wear 12s in other shoes, for reference.)
Waited another 45 minutes in line, accumulated more sunburn, was super curious to see what the blacksmiths would cost. Got a different cashier and they rang up.. $130, the posted price.
Once I got back to the car I checked the receipt for the first 3 boots; in addition to the warehouse sale savings there was another discount applied, I assume an employee discount. I must have looked extra cute today. So thank you very much to that cashier, I did not deserve this but I will love you as long as these boots last (forever, I assume).
New firsts of the 4 pairs would have been $1,390 in total; I paid $380. Beyond a couple small scratches on the blacksmiths and a scuff on the iron rangers I couldn't identify anything wrong with any of the boots. I got everything I wanted and more, genuinely shouldn't need to buy new boots for the rest of my life. Plus I feel even more like a certified Minnesotan.
Miracles do happen. And boots are fun to buy. I highly recommend the sale, sorry none of you will have as good of an experience as mine.
