(Editor’s Note: They actually do let you save the design into a “locker” if you go through the process of setting up a nike.com account. Still though!)

“Due to the high volume of orders, your shoes will take approximately X weeks to arrive”.

Anything is better than closing the door on me and telling me to come back the next day.

So the problem they were having was with their order taking system for their easter pagent. It seemed that the application would only be up for maybe two hours a day, and the rest of the day they had an error message saying that they had taken all the orders they could for that day.

So my sales guy heads down there, by himself, to check out the operation. So he asks about the order taking system that’s having a problem, and for some reason they show him the machine. Well, normally looking at a machine won’t tell you whats wrong, but in this case we had something so stupid even our sales people could troubleshoot: They had the order system sending orders directly to a printer. No database, no xml, not even a csv file. Just print the order out, and someone gathered the orders up and processed them by hand. And once the printer ran out of paper, they program some how gracefully failed and said “sorry, we’ve taken all the orders we can for now.”

Amazing. So maybe that’s what has happened at Nike

May I suggest you are making a mistake. Order a pair of New Balance shoes. They come in widths, aren’t nearly as expensive (still a good price tag, don’t get me wrong) and if you do it right, you will go run on trails and get em all muddy and stuff anyway. I have not seen the New Balance store on-line, but I suggest to you the way to buy running shoes is this:
Find the store the real runners go to in your town … it is not a big box store … they probably have a treadmill or will examine your existing shoes to see how they wear.

Have them figure out what kind of runner you are … do you pronate, supinate, or are you a stable runner. They will get you the right tool for the job you are proposing, running.

What you are doing is the equivalent of going to the computer store and buying a computer because it looks good even though it might turn out to be a windows based machine when you are a Mac guy. You need to try a shoe on to get the right one. Even the same size often feels different if you try two pairs!

When I code a PHP app I have a file that defines errors so you can use “error_45” for example. That wat if something does go wrong the user knows what and can then tell you about it.

And why would they let you make a show you can’t buy? They should have a big message in the corner saying “Design Coming Soon” or something.

“Why wouldn’t you just put my order in queue and manufacture it as soon as you can find the requisite child-laborers to build it?”

You aren’t just condoning the use of sweat shops through your purchase of a nike product, but you are taking a sarcastic swipe at the practice as well.

How did the shoes feel? Does it feel like you’re barefoot? I like the commercial for those shoes. I need to try a pair on..

Also, be sure to check out the “Training Log” over at Nike Running. Talk about another sweet interface…

Don: Yes, you are totally right. Luckily, however, I am not a “real runner”, but just a schmuck who does a three mile jog every so often. I totally agree that buying shoes based on looks/ability-to-configure-online is not a good idea, but as a designer, I have a serious bias towards the well-designed. I even buy food at supermarkets based on how nice the packaging is. Yes, I know… it’s an affliction. Maybe someday I’ll get over it.

Tony: The shoes felt great at the store. Definitely a lot lighter than most shoes I’ve worn. But as Don said, it’s possible there are even better shoes out there (viz. New Balance).

I even buy food at supermarkets based on how nice the packaging is.

wow… talk about feeding the eye before the mouth.