Why Doc Martens Are So Expensive | So Expensive

When Doc Martens first appeared in the UK, in 1960, they were working boots that would cost you under $3 a pair. These days, a pair of Made in England boots could set you back $225. So, what has changed? And why are these shoes now so expensive?

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Why Doc Martens Are So Expensive | So Expensive

[DanielleDeFreeze]

My daughter is 16, I gave her my 10 eye Doc's I wore in high school in 1993. I can't speak on the quality of the ones made today, but mine are still in excellent condition.

[heychelchels]

Celebrities started to wear them so the price went up the average person can’t afford them anymore same thing happened to champion

[jmckendry]

Did I miss something, or did this video never actually explain why they go so much more expensive? There were numerous mentions of the price going up, but not one indication of why.

[DementedDistraction]

I've been wearing Docs since the mid 90s, and there is a definite difference between the made in UK vs made in China boots.
The Chinese leather is a lot rougher inside and not as thick or supple as its UK counterpart. (The cuff on the Chinese boots are very floppy, while the cuff on my UK boots is more rigid and stands straight and firm.)

The finishing on the edges of the leather is also cut quite roughly compared to my UK boots, where the edge is smooth and has a liner at the cuff.

Also, the stitching on the outsole of my Chinese Docs has blown out after 4 years, whereas the same stitching on my UK Crazy Bombs that I got in 1999 is still going strong.

[dougster]

The new ones are comfortable but don’t expect them to last forever like the old docs did, also very difficult to resole. It’s a shame they’ve sacrificed quality while increasing the prices.

[STLYRZA]

“When doc martens first appears in the 3 dollars a pair”

What?

[cammysmith]

I wear solovairs on my farm. They originally made doc martins before they moved production abroad so they are the original doc Martin maker and are still all made in England. Not only are cheaper than the made in England boot, but you can resole the boot meaning it’s a boot for life (you can either buy spare soles to bring to a cobbler or send it back to them and they will repair them). They are also a higher quality material. Sad what’s happened to Docs.

[caranook]

My brother got a pair of docs in (I am guessing) around 2002. He did wear them a lot, but it never really showed which was great. He still has them, and they are still in great shape. Apparently people are saying the newer ones aren’t as durable, which is a real shame because that’s one of the things that I really like about them.

[CallieMasters]

That's pretty good to get a detailed response from the company instead of a crappy "no comment" or "thanks for your enquiry!".

[ourtime-downhere]

The pair I bought in high school over 20 years ago are still in great shape. They were $100 way back then. I've heard the new ones aren't near as good, which is typically what happens unfortunately. Companies get popular and go away from what made them great in the first place.

[senik]

i lost it at the “comfortable” worker’s boots:) i get it, times changed etc but these are undoubtedly the worst shoes I own in terms of comfort. they’re still hella pretty though

[iseeu-fppo]

When I was a kid in the 90's would see Doc Martens on people I thought looked cool and when enquiring about them I was told they "could last a lifetime", and this is the image I've always connected to the brand. I realise that was a bit of an overstatement back then, but they were really known to be extra durable. It is a bit sad if that is no longer the case, especially since the price has risen. I've never owned a pair of them so I don't know.

[JoseGuzman-stcc]

quality went down while the cost went up?

[KairoK]

The way they just have their fingers near the machine. Anxiety

[jeffpuglisi]

I have two pairs, one made in China, one made in England . The made in England feel better on my feet. But the other is very good also. Love the way they look and wear.

[jrose]

Brought mine back in the very early 2000's they're still rock hard with perfect souls in 2022 😊😊

[blancaw]

I bought my son a pair when he was 17 years old and a senior in high school in 1998. Yesterday I noticed he was wearing a pair and he told me they were the same pair. He's 41 now and it's been about 23 years and they are still in excellent condition. I know he doesn't wear them on a daily basis, but the fact that a pair of boots that I paid $100 for are still going strong 23 years later is a pretty awesome testimonial I thought. I decided to buy him another pair in another style as a gift. I hope they will serve him as well as these have.

[flt]

It's the standard private equity playbook: 1) buy a classic consumer brand, 2) move manufacturing to the cheapest labor country, 3) switch to much cheaper materials, 4) spend a lot on marketing, 5) jack up the price 3x, 6) rake in the money for 10 or so years until everyone realizes it's overpriced junk, 7) sell and find another trusted brand to exploit.

[kuekuatsheumotley]

Bought my pair when I was stationed at Lakenheath in 85. Still wear them everywhere I have been, from Singapore to Macedonia. They are still awesome looking and so comfortable.

[SymbolicSplenetic]

One thing that neither Weston nor Doc Martens company mentioned is the difference in the quality of the sole rubber between the UK made and Asian made boots/shoes. From my experience, having owned multiple pairs of both, the UK made ones are a bit more tolerant to cold weather, whereas the Asian ones can harden and crack easier.