Payless Opens Fake Luxury Shoe Shop Where They Trick Influencers By Selling $20 Shoes For $640
Recently the budget-friendly shoe company Payless pulled a savage prank on fashion influencers in California. ‘Payless’ took over a former Armani store in Santa Monica, stocked the shelves with their shoes and opened the doors of the pop-up store to influencers under the fake brand name Palessi.
The fashion enthusiasts were made to believe they are shopping from high-end fashion collections, when in fact the store was filled with disguised Payless shoes, with only one alteration – the price. The biggest offer the store scored was a pair of sneakers worth $19.99 which was sold for $640. Within a few hours after opening the store made $3,000.
Although fashionistas were tricked into believing they are buying designer goods, in the end, the customers lost nothing. Payless refunded the money they spent and let them keep the shoes for free.
Palessi turned out to be a big hit, with fashionistas complimenting the quality and style of the footwear. In a brilliant marketing move, Payless used the hilarious ‘gotcha moments’ of their shoe reveals into an ad campaign.
According to ADWEEK Payless CMO Sarah Couch said. “The campaign plays off of the enormous discrepancy and aims to remind consumers we are still a relevant place to shop for affordable fashion”. With the hilarious stunt, the shoe company proved a high price doesn’t always mean high quality, so why not buy cheaper fashion?
Watch the Payless experiment below
People reactions were mixed. While some praised Payless for a genius marketing strategy
Others couldn’t hold back their harsh words about consumerism
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This is great! My mum (who made clothes as a hobby) always showed us how to judge clothes best on quality, not price. Which has come in really handy...
That's basically the whole concept of fashion. Taking any apparel and convincing people it's worth more than it is because of some artificial cachet. Then you find people with enough money and more than enough stupid and bingo.
I remember seeing a similar experiment on the TV about a restaurant and mineral water. They took different bottles and filled them with hose water from the back yard and then the customers were really impressed by the 5 dollar "mountain spring" water. Oh, after a brief search it was actually Penn and Teller. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFKT4jvN4OE
I JUST WATCHED THAT VIDEO TODAY IN SCIENCE CLASS
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I'm bothered by the constant use of the word "cheap." Lower income people buy what they can afford. They don't want to be told that what they buy is cheap.
Sadly I am low income, but appreciate a reasonable standard of quality and durability in the things I buy. Therefore I happily purchase "used" items in excellent or as-new condition from local Charity shops. I rarely spend more than £5 on an item of clothing and in the past 3 years have only spent more than £10 on a couple of occasions. I dont need this week's "look" or to impress with designer labels even if I could afford it, although I did snag a £500 Chloe handbag for £4 once (someone was not paying attention in the shop when they priced it up). There are more than enough people willing to buy expensive things only to discard them soon after.
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This is the most relevant comment thus far. Influencers are trash and only influence other losers.
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People are waaaaay too obsessed with brand names. People need to look at quality, not brand name. I can't fathom why some people think that having something made by a certain brand name automatically makes it 'better'.
I fully agree. But some brands are famous for their quality too. I never cared for brands until recently I found a few who produce things exactly suiting my needs. It's easier to look for clothes once you have a name, rather than wasting your time trying out countless pieces that don't fit.
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And also not because it's cheaper means it's better. A lot of those massive quantity producing companies use unethical methods. People need to start looking for quality in material, quality in finishing and ethically produced fashion and hold on to their items longer than one season trends. I still wear designer clothes that my mom passed on to me. It all boils down to quality.
Very dumb - if they cant tell the difference between quality leather and polyeurethane. One quick sniff at footwear or a bag is all it takes. Cannot mistake the smell of either.
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Standing ovation for the choice of the name..."Palessi", from "Payless". Just absolutely brilliant! A little touch to this ginormous poor figure these so-called "influencers" did! a-ha! In italian, and in southern dialects "Palessi" sounds a lil bit as " For the boiled", and this just added another laugh to my huge smile! a-ha!
I am stunned that these shills don’t know the difference between plastic shoes and fine leather craftsmanship. Wait...no I’m not.
Leather shoes are the only ones that will adapt to your feet and change their shape to accomodate - to a degree fabric ones will too. Polyeurethane wont. It will squeeze and squash your feet, cause blisters and excessive sweating, fungal infections and odour from the trapped moisture, ingrown toenails from the inflexible pressure from heels and pointed toes. Plastic shoes are bad for your feet, even when vegan.
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The only shoes worth a lot of money are those hand made on a model of your foot. Like the kind english shoemakers make. They first make a wooden model of both your feet so they can test fit the shoe during each stage of construction. And they last forever. I don't know if anyone does this service for women's shoes. I doubt it, women's shoes change fashion so often you don't want to wear a 5 year old pair, but mens dress shoes haven't really changed in a century.
Uh, sorry, but you can tell the quality of the shoes. Most aren't leather, they are cheap synthetics.
Experiments like this have been made over and over again, like the glasses put on the floor or "art" museum and people mistaken them for art. I remember the story of a Reebok sneaker (the double pump), when it first came out, didn't sell very well. Reebok skyrocketed its price and it became the most expensive sport shoe on the market. You know where I'm going with this, the sales skyrocketed too!
This is exactly the same as the art industry, yet they will lecture you as if you can't comprehend the genius behind it.
Absolutely brilliant! I found it hilarious at how gullible these "influencers" are. And as some have acknowledged, these social media darlings are definitely NOT the cream of the intellectual crop! Love it!
My wife translates stuff on fashion and the things she sees... Basically, it's all about bling most of the time, not quality and/or design. Many rich people will buy absolutely anything, as long as they can show their wealth. Luxury brands have understood this a long time ago...
I did this to my son when he was young. He wanted jarred Ragu spaghetti sauce and McDonald's instead of homemade, so I put my sauce in the jar and my burger in the wrapper and Presto! Cheaply made shoes really do hurt your feet, though.
Reminds me of a video some people made, tricking art appraisers into saying that Ikea prints are worth millions. Some people are ready to pay a lot for stuff to prove that they have taste...
I saw this on the news. The customers were raving about the quality and unique style as they paid $600 dollars for $35 shoes. This was a great lesson. But do I think any of them learned anything...nope.
"Influencers"...another name for clueless trust fund babies who equate quality with name & price. I love how these snobs actually complimented the "superb quality" of the shoes just because they thought they were some designer brand. This proves beyond all doubt that "high end" $600 shoes are EXACTLY THE SAME as $20 Payless shoes. But, then again, those of us with functioning brains already knew that.
I've been to that shopping centre, and I am not surprised that they were able to pull it off.
I think that when I try on shoes I can feel the level of quality. I doubt if I'd be fooled.
Okay but regardless of price, Payless makes some ugly a*s outdated shoes. And they aren’t $20 shoes like they used to be anyway. Payless is trash and this is a weak and insulting bid for some attention. While I agree with the central point of the demonstration, it doesn’t make good business sense to insult your potential customers.
They obviously didn't think it through. any attention is good attention right? lol
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I will never feel bad for being a price-conscious consumer & actually appreciate growing up poor--it taught me the value of things. I've never understood buying name-brands either, especially when I can get the same quality (or even better) for a lower price. Why pay for a name? All you're doing is making someone else rich...
And that’s exactly how Payless wants you to feel so you can make THEM rich.
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If you allow yourself to be influenced by influencers you are a spineless mental jellyfish that is too stupid to think for yourself and deserve to be treated like that until you get your head out of your a**e!
"influencers" isn't that the same as the marketing team and telephone sanitisers that were sent off to start a new colony in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?
I really doubt this is real. Influencers are, well, influenced by groupthink, innovative design, celebrities, brand name cache and lastly quality. This little experiment had none of these. Any real "influencer" could tell the difference between a pair of $20 shoes and $200 shoes and would recognize that the designs are all knockoff of known designers or blandly utilitarian.
I wonder if any of them sniffed it out. Im sure they wouldn't show that.
I just don't see how these brands can sell items for hundreds and thousands dollars for a shirt or shoes, and then they sell out. Especially when it doesn't even cost much more money to make it. Consumerism at it's finest. Buy the $20 dollar shoes, no one can tell the difference.
There’s a huge middle ground between searching forever to find a $20 item that’s even worth $20 vs spending hundreds and thousands. HUUUUUGE middle ground.
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No, beacuse then it would be stolen money given to charities.
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One more reason why I think the whole fashion and art industry is full if itself. A urinal is not art and a see through dress with diamonds all over it is not fashion. These people are so full of themselves they've lost all common sense.
Just like when "Celebrities" think they know enough to make political comments
Actually it’s very much nothing like that at all in any way.
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I have nothing against synthetic materials for shoes uppers, other than that due to foot problems I have always found most of them very unforgiving to wear and even comfortable ones have never lasted very long. Currently on my 4th Winter wearing almost daily a pair of Charity shop boots (unworn) which I got for £5 and on looking up the unfamiliar brand online realised they would have retailed for around £150. My previous similar looking pair which I bought new for £30 lasted one season and even then had to reglue the sole back on several times. Sometimes quality is reflected in the price, up to a point, materials and workmanship etc, but it is hard to justify footwear selling upwards and over £1000 just because of it's label. Google Gucci and you will find boots for £2500+
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How? Everyone got fully refunded, got to keep what they bought for free.
Load More Replies... This is great! My mum (who made clothes as a hobby) always showed us how to judge clothes best on quality, not price. Which has come in really handy...
That's basically the whole concept of fashion. Taking any apparel and convincing people it's worth more than it is because of some artificial cachet. Then you find people with enough money and more than enough stupid and bingo.
I remember seeing a similar experiment on the TV about a restaurant and mineral water. They took different bottles and filled them with hose water from the back yard and then the customers were really impressed by the 5 dollar "mountain spring" water. Oh, after a brief search it was actually Penn and Teller. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFKT4jvN4OE
I JUST WATCHED THAT VIDEO TODAY IN SCIENCE CLASS
Load More Replies... I'm bothered by the constant use of the word "cheap." Lower income people buy what they can afford. They don't want to be told that what they buy is cheap.
Sadly I am low income, but appreciate a reasonable standard of quality and durability in the things I buy. Therefore I happily purchase "used" items in excellent or as-new condition from local Charity shops. I rarely spend more than £5 on an item of clothing and in the past 3 years have only spent more than £10 on a couple of occasions. I dont need this week's "look" or to impress with designer labels even if I could afford it, although I did snag a £500 Chloe handbag for £4 once (someone was not paying attention in the shop when they priced it up). There are more than enough people willing to buy expensive things only to discard them soon after.
Load More Replies... This is the most relevant comment thus far. Influencers are trash and only influence other losers.
Load More Replies... People are waaaaay too obsessed with brand names. People need to look at quality, not brand name. I can't fathom why some people think that having something made by a certain brand name automatically makes it 'better'.
I fully agree. But some brands are famous for their quality too. I never cared for brands until recently I found a few who produce things exactly suiting my needs. It's easier to look for clothes once you have a name, rather than wasting your time trying out countless pieces that don't fit.
Load More Replies... And also not because it's cheaper means it's better. A lot of those massive quantity producing companies use unethical methods. People need to start looking for quality in material, quality in finishing and ethically produced fashion and hold on to their items longer than one season trends. I still wear designer clothes that my mom passed on to me. It all boils down to quality.
Very dumb - if they cant tell the difference between quality leather and polyeurethane. One quick sniff at footwear or a bag is all it takes. Cannot mistake the smell of either.
Load More Replies... Standing ovation for the choice of the name..."Palessi", from "Payless". Just absolutely brilliant! A little touch to this ginormous poor figure these so-called "influencers" did! a-ha! In italian, and in southern dialects "Palessi" sounds a lil bit as " For the boiled", and this just added another laugh to my huge smile! a-ha!
I am stunned that these shills don’t know the difference between plastic shoes and fine leather craftsmanship. Wait...no I’m not.
Leather shoes are the only ones that will adapt to your feet and change their shape to accomodate - to a degree fabric ones will too. Polyeurethane wont. It will squeeze and squash your feet, cause blisters and excessive sweating, fungal infections and odour from the trapped moisture, ingrown toenails from the inflexible pressure from heels and pointed toes. Plastic shoes are bad for your feet, even when vegan.
Load More Replies... The only shoes worth a lot of money are those hand made on a model of your foot. Like the kind english shoemakers make. They first make a wooden model of both your feet so they can test fit the shoe during each stage of construction. And they last forever. I don't know if anyone does this service for women's shoes. I doubt it, women's shoes change fashion so often you don't want to wear a 5 year old pair, but mens dress shoes haven't really changed in a century.
Uh, sorry, but you can tell the quality of the shoes. Most aren't leather, they are cheap synthetics.
Experiments like this have been made over and over again, like the glasses put on the floor or "art" museum and people mistaken them for art. I remember the story of a Reebok sneaker (the double pump), when it first came out, didn't sell very well. Reebok skyrocketed its price and it became the most expensive sport shoe on the market. You know where I'm going with this, the sales skyrocketed too!
This is exactly the same as the art industry, yet they will lecture you as if you can't comprehend the genius behind it.
Absolutely brilliant! I found it hilarious at how gullible these "influencers" are. And as some have acknowledged, these social media darlings are definitely NOT the cream of the intellectual crop! Love it!
My wife translates stuff on fashion and the things she sees... Basically, it's all about bling most of the time, not quality and/or design. Many rich people will buy absolutely anything, as long as they can show their wealth. Luxury brands have understood this a long time ago...
I did this to my son when he was young. He wanted jarred Ragu spaghetti sauce and McDonald's instead of homemade, so I put my sauce in the jar and my burger in the wrapper and Presto! Cheaply made shoes really do hurt your feet, though.
Reminds me of a video some people made, tricking art appraisers into saying that Ikea prints are worth millions. Some people are ready to pay a lot for stuff to prove that they have taste...
I saw this on the news. The customers were raving about the quality and unique style as they paid $600 dollars for $35 shoes. This was a great lesson. But do I think any of them learned anything...nope.
"Influencers"...another name for clueless trust fund babies who equate quality with name & price. I love how these snobs actually complimented the "superb quality" of the shoes just because they thought they were some designer brand. This proves beyond all doubt that "high end" $600 shoes are EXACTLY THE SAME as $20 Payless shoes. But, then again, those of us with functioning brains already knew that.
I've been to that shopping centre, and I am not surprised that they were able to pull it off.
I think that when I try on shoes I can feel the level of quality. I doubt if I'd be fooled.
Okay but regardless of price, Payless makes some ugly a*s outdated shoes. And they aren’t $20 shoes like they used to be anyway. Payless is trash and this is a weak and insulting bid for some attention. While I agree with the central point of the demonstration, it doesn’t make good business sense to insult your potential customers.
They obviously didn't think it through. any attention is good attention right? lol
Load More Replies... I will never feel bad for being a price-conscious consumer & actually appreciate growing up poor--it taught me the value of things. I've never understood buying name-brands either, especially when I can get the same quality (or even better) for a lower price. Why pay for a name? All you're doing is making someone else rich...
And that’s exactly how Payless wants you to feel so you can make THEM rich.
Load More Replies... If you allow yourself to be influenced by influencers you are a spineless mental jellyfish that is too stupid to think for yourself and deserve to be treated like that until you get your head out of your a**e!
"influencers" isn't that the same as the marketing team and telephone sanitisers that were sent off to start a new colony in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?
I really doubt this is real. Influencers are, well, influenced by groupthink, innovative design, celebrities, brand name cache and lastly quality. This little experiment had none of these. Any real "influencer" could tell the difference between a pair of $20 shoes and $200 shoes and would recognize that the designs are all knockoff of known designers or blandly utilitarian.
I wonder if any of them sniffed it out. Im sure they wouldn't show that.
I just don't see how these brands can sell items for hundreds and thousands dollars for a shirt or shoes, and then they sell out. Especially when it doesn't even cost much more money to make it. Consumerism at it's finest. Buy the $20 dollar shoes, no one can tell the difference.
There’s a huge middle ground between searching forever to find a $20 item that’s even worth $20 vs spending hundreds and thousands. HUUUUUGE middle ground.
Load More Replies... No, beacuse then it would be stolen money given to charities.
Load More Replies... One more reason why I think the whole fashion and art industry is full if itself. A urinal is not art and a see through dress with diamonds all over it is not fashion. These people are so full of themselves they've lost all common sense.
Just like when "Celebrities" think they know enough to make political comments
Actually it’s very much nothing like that at all in any way.
Load More Replies... I have nothing against synthetic materials for shoes uppers, other than that due to foot problems I have always found most of them very unforgiving to wear and even comfortable ones have never lasted very long. Currently on my 4th Winter wearing almost daily a pair of Charity shop boots (unworn) which I got for £5 and on looking up the unfamiliar brand online realised they would have retailed for around £150. My previous similar looking pair which I bought new for £30 lasted one season and even then had to reglue the sole back on several times. Sometimes quality is reflected in the price, up to a point, materials and workmanship etc, but it is hard to justify footwear selling upwards and over £1000 just because of it's label. Google Gucci and you will find boots for £2500+
Load More Replies... How? Everyone got fully refunded, got to keep what they bought for free.
Load More Replies... 
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