So this week I got totally obsessed with those Astroboy collab boots everybody’s posting online. Looked so cool but damn, the price tag made my eyes water. Seriously? Almost two hundred bucks just for rubber boots? I told myself “No way I’m paying that,” but you know how it is… kept thinking about ’em.
First Try: Hunting For Deals Straight Up
Went straight to the brand’s official site first thing Tuesday morning. Saw the full price staring at me: $189.99 before tax. My brain screamed nope. Started clicking around Amazon, eBay, even sketchy third-party sellers. Found a pair listed for $150. Got excited! Added to cart… then saw shipping was $28. And the seller had like, 3 reviews total. Felt way too risky. Abandoned cart real quick.
The Discount Rabbit Hole
Wednesday rolls around. Got smarter. Thought “Maybe coupon sites?” Dug through pages of Google results. Found one site promising “Astroboy boots 30% off!!!” Made an account, punched in my email, got the code. Tried it on the brand’s site. Error message: “Promo code not valid for selected items.” Of course. Felt like an idiot. Watched unboxing videos hoping they’d drop discount codes. Nothing.
Getting Sneaky (And Patient)
Thursday morning I had a lightbulb moment. Emailed customer service asking “Hey any sales coming soon? Love these!” Got the bland reply: “We don’t have future promotions scheduled.” Bleh. Then I remembered my buddy works retail. Called him up. He laughed: “Those collabs? Prices are locked down tight. Brands control that like crazy. Your best bet is cashback sites or waiting for a site-wide sale.” Felt defeated. Almost gave up.
The Surprise Win
Then Friday night, just scrolling Instagram ads half-asleep… boom! Saw the boots pop up on a legit streetwear store I recognized. On sale?! $167.95. Double-checked it wasn’t fake. Site looked good, secure checkout, reviews were solid. Even saw “Final Sale – Limited Stock” flashing. Panic-bought them right then. No tax free shipping?! Hell yes! Price difference seems small but saved me $22 and the shipping hassle. Felt like a victory.
Was It Worth It? My Take
So, finally wearing them. Are they cool? Yeah, super cool. Comfy? Surprisingly yeah. Waterproof? Like a duck. But honestly…worth almost $170? Nah. Regular rubber boots cost way less. You’re paying for the character hype plain and simple. If you must have ’em:
- STALK multiple stores religiously (not just official)
- Expect to wait weeks for a random sale
- Ignore tiny shops – too risky
- Use cashback apps even for small savings
- Just DON’T buy full price.
Seriously, it’s hype tax. Save your money unless you find that rare discount. Felt good hunting the deal down though!
