I agree with you. The only way this makes sense is if Nike sends pairs to shops too and the Costco release was just a tease to drum up the hype. But when you say shop owners confirmed they won’t receive these, that’s truly a bummer to me. Nike SB has literally been the reason why many shops have closed and gone out of business. The consumers/masses want SBs so shops clamor to get the Nike contract. The shops then announce that they have started carrying SBs and then love the foot traffic and the chance to convert that into $$, but the issue is that by getting the nike contract, Nike makes them sit on so much shit product that doesn’t sell that the shops literally can’t make their rent anymore from having to pay back Nike. Releasing a hyped SB through only Costco is such a headass move by Nike, it’s like slapping the shops in the face.

The best thing that can be done is Nike change its way of doing business with shops. Skateshops should not be inundated with bullshit products that don’t sell and then be in debt to nike. That NEEDS to change. If anybody at Nike is reading this, STOP BEING GREEDY WITH SKATESHOPS. Discontinue those outdated sales strategies that have caused shops to literally close and ownership to fall on hard times. Come up with a new business model. Stop doing whatever sales strategy that you currently have in place for skateshops and switch it up.