Here’s a story that came my way Memorial Day weekend, but since it’s semi-evergreen and today is a travel day I have saved it to (a) make my life easier and (b) give you something to read.
The story goes like this…
(My friend) Vlad walked into the Foot Locker at 543 Fulton Street in Brooklyn on Wednesday. He picked up a New Era fitted Mets fashion cap, ticketed for $34.99, prepared to buy it at full price. He went up to the register and it was $9.99. He leaves the store, thinking maybe it just got rung up wrong and he got a great deal. But then he goes back in thinking maybe other hats are on sale.
The cashier, who was named Stephanie according to the receipt and according to Vlad was very nice, told Vlad just Mets hats were on sale. Nothing else — and they had hats from out of town teams, i.e. Oakland, Toronto.
Vlad’s only suspicion was that Stephanie was a Yankees fan and was yanking his chain, because she made a crack about not liking the Mets. But she brought hats out from the back, other Mets hats that were on sale at various prices.
“She told me it’s because they don’t sell,” Vlad said.
That’s not to say that every Mets hat in the store was on sale — some of the on-field authentic caps were still regular price. And it’s possible other Foot Locker stores could have different pricing.
But in Brooklyn? Home of the mighty Wilpon-owned Cyclones and sharer of the 718? Mets hats are discounted but the A’s hats are full price? I guess Dallas Braden’s a hotter ticket than Fernando Nieve.
He went back in later to look at more hats to see if they were all on sale: some were, but just Mets hats, because they’re not selling, he was told by a clerk. Mind you this store sells A’s hats, plenty of other teams, etc. I believe the only caveat was your classic on-field Mets hat was still full price.
But isn’t that something? Is that a sign of how little people are interested in the Mets at the moment, that in their own city, their hats are being discounted?
I don’t know if that story actually happened that way or not, but let’s assume it did.
I imagine that a lot of Mets fans bought caps in 2008 (Final season at Shea) or 2009 (Citi Field patch).
At some point how many Mets caps do you need to own?
That it’s a fashion cap is a little more trouble-some. Â Maybe this particular location over-estimated the demand?
Is anyone else seeing caps being discounted?
