Okay, so I really wanted that System of a Down women’s shirt, the official one, you know? But prices online are all over the place. How do you know you’re not getting ripped off? Here’s exactly what I did to figure out a decent price.
Where I Started Looking
First thing, I jumped online to the usual suspects – big music merch stores and the official band shop sites. Figured that’s gotta be the baseline, right? Wanted to see the brand new price.
What I Found (And My Wallet Cringed)
Checking the official sources, brand new SOAD women’s tees were mostly sitting between $30 and $40 USD. Some basic ones were maybe $30, nicer ones or limited prints hit like $38-$40 before shipping. That stung a bit, but seemed legit for official gear.
Then The Wild West of Third-Party Sellers
Got curious, clicked over to marketplaces where anyone can sell. Oh boy, talk about chaos! Found listings like:
- Way Too Cheap ($15-$25): Loads of these! But the pictures looked fuzzy, descriptions were vague, and shipping came from sketchy places. Screamed knockoff. No way I’m risking that.
- Suspiciously “Fancy” Priced ($45-$60+): Saw a few jacked up prices, mostly from stores I didn’t recognize, sometimes bundled with stuff I didn’t want. Felt like they were just hoping someone wouldn’t check elsewhere.
- A Few Gems ($25-$35): Dug deeper and found a few used or older stock listings from sellers with solid ratings. These felt more realistic, sometimes even official shirts just secondhand or on sale.
Made Up My Mind
After all that clicking around and comparing, here’s what makes sense to pay:
- Brand New Official: $30-$40. If it’s straight from a trusted source, that’s the going rate. Paying within this feels fair, like supporting the band properly. Hitting $40 stings, but okay.
- Used/Older Stock (Good Condition): $20-$30. Found some legit looking ones here. If it’s a style I like, and the seller seems cool, this is a win.
- Anything Under $25 New: Smells way too fishy. Gonna be crap quality or fake. Hard pass.
- Anything Over $45 New: Feels greedy or just clueless. Unless it’s some rare collector thing they can prove, forget it.
So yeah, that’s the drill. Stick close to the official price for new stuff, hunt for deals on used, and avoid the extremes that scream scam. Settled for a legit new one around $34 myself, felt alright. Good luck finding yours!