Sale at john lobb

[donlipa]

I went to the NYC Lobb store today and they had a really good sale selection (probably ~20 different models) for between 30% and 40%. I expect to see a spike on Lobb eb*y auctions soon.

 

[naturlaut]

With 30% to 40% off, they are still at least $500 to $800 a pair, and you'd have to mark up even higher in order to make a profit, so I don't think that's a good price point on eBay.

On a side note, we should start a discussion on shoe trees.  Lobb's ready-made trees (which are only made after a few lasts) are US$100, which is the most expensive I have come across along with Berluti (60 pounds).  If I remember correctly, Green's trees are 40+ pounds.  I don't like the Ralph Lauren trees very much, and I may have to order some Green trees.  Mantellassi trees are 78 Euro, and charges horrendously high shipping fees.  I like my Grenson trees (40 pounds) made to my last (92); the Trickers trees with higher insteps are not bad too, though they are varnished maple (also 40 pounds).  Berluti has a travel tree that is given if you buy their shoes (which I sold it together with my Berluti on eBay); I like them very much as they are light and screw-adjusted instead of spring.

Aside from price --- which is the least of all concerns for obsessive shoe fanatics like us, which one do you like most?  Know some good generic brands?  What do you use when you travel?