To add to the frustration - there are a lot of overseas retailers that won't ship Nike to NZ, due to licensing controls. 

Football boots are a classic one - really hard to get here in NZ in the upper levels and very widely available overseas, but unable to ship to NZ. Even with the shutdown of the Nike online store here. It's absolute rubbish. 

Nike also won't sell any of its top tier running shoes to retailers. These include AlphaFly and Vaporfly carbon plated shoes. 

I've asked running specialist stores, and the company that owns the Nike (franchisee) stores - they all said the same. They don't stock those shoes and in the past, Nike won't sell them the shoes. 

So the very so-popular Vaporfly shoes won't be sold in NZ. 

This also applies to their elite running apparel such as the Nike Aeroswift shorts and singlets - no retailers would sell them.

I would love to reach out to someone senior in Nike about this but chances are low. 

Guess I'll be switching to another brand. 

Sounds like they are shooting themselves in the foot, sure, Nike make nice stuff…but so do the other sports brands, so I guess I’ll just look for alternatives. 

As a competitive runner I have always been happy with New Balance kit. I've tended to perceive the Nike brand as being a bit pretentious and oversold. 

alasta:

 

As a competitive runner I have always been happy with New Balance kit. I've tended to perceive the Nike brand as being a bit pretentious and oversold. 

 

Pretty much moving to New Balance and Adidas now. I have the NB RC Elite v.2 and absolutely love it.  

I've gone all in on New Balance now for running shoes. 1080s for road miles and the Hierro for off-road. Most comfortable shoes I've ever run in.

I used to have 600 series New Balance shoes for running (680 I think?) but moved to Solvis a while ago. The latter are a massive improvement, and I highly recommend them for longer distances. 

JaBZ: Doesn’t really make sense. Retailers aren’t going to stock every type of Nike.
Their own stores have like 10 shoes and all rest is apparel or other nonsense!

Nike are dead to me. Their retail stores don't carry golf ranges, just athletic and casual stuff.

johno1234:

 

Nike are dead to me. Their retail stores don't carry golf ranges, just athletic and casual stuff.

 

Yes, golf apparel is all I ever bought from Nike. I don't understand why they don't range it here?

Senecio:

 

johno1234:

 

Nike are dead to me. Their retail stores don't carry golf ranges, just athletic and casual stuff.

 

 

Yes, golf apparel is all I ever bought from Nike. I don't understand why they don't range it here?

 

My mate in the golf retail industry says NZ (and Aus) are too small for Nike and they can't be bothered! He suggested function18.com who ship to NZ and carry everything. 

johno1234:

 

My mate in the golf retail industry says NZ (and Aus) are too small for Nike and they can't be bothered! He suggested function18.com who ship to NZ and carry everything. 

 

Is there an equivalent to this for (Nike) shoes?

I've got my last three running shoes direct from Nike with models that just aren't stocked here (Wildhorse and Zegama). For some reason, Nike shoes just work for me, and when I've tried other brands I always end up with blisters on my arch.

Looking at Amazon AU it appears that they will ship the models I use over here. Some of the prices are.....stupid but it's at least something.