Here is my take on this Package release:
When we first saw the page from that magazine that showed the picture of the Nubuck XII back in Sept. 2003, I thought to myself, I might be able to have something exclusive, but I knew it was JB and that would not happen. A couple months went by, and we heard rumors, knowing that these were going to come out, but when was that main question. So finally Alex and EKIN gave us some info. about it being released as a package, and I thought this could not be bad, but then I heard the price. I figured for a hat and a sweatshirt, along with the shoes, that could not be a bad price.
The time came, we waited for the E-mails that we were supposed to be receiving around the end of Nov. but that did not happen. Everyone waited and stayed up late nights, trying not to miss this "Exclusive" XII Package, but no word. So it was time, we got the link, the page opened up, and we were ready. Then the bad news just got worse. We could not order the package, because NIKE and JB were not ready for what happened. They did not know that so many people were going to be ordering this package, that we crashed the server, and nobody got to order their package's. I slept a total of 5 hours in a 48 hr. period, trying to get this package, and I knew that I cannot miss this package. Finally, a few days later, we were able to order them. I did pick up two packages, but I was quite disapointed when I got the items in the mail.
01. The hat was very flimsy, and was not made well, very soft, and not firm Wool like other hats.
02. The Fleece was very nice overall, nice quality, and very warm. I was very dissapointed with the sleeves though. They are very tight on my arms, and it is very uncomfortable.
03. The plastic eyelets on the shoe is very sad too. Unlike the OG, the retro XII in all colorways have plastic eyelets instead of the metal version. I was not to happy with this either.
All in all, I understand that this is the first time something like this has gone on for JB, but it should have been better prepared.
For future reference, they should make it more "Exclusive" as they stated on the website, and in their magazine. It was a very good idea, just not thought out to well.
I would buy a package in the future, but make it better, more "Exclusive" and something that will be special in the future.
Brian Hirt