They use the shoe mender’s hand-paddling machine to scrub new shoes and render them older in order to sell more expensive.

It is believed that “second-hand” shoes from Italy, Belgium and other countries which are said to have quality material for shoe-making are more durable and expensive than new shoes of same design produced with low quality material. Due to the general belief, hawkers have derived a phenomenon wherein they make new shoes to look like “second-hand” shoes in order to entice customers. Sellers use shoe-maker’s hand paddling machine to scrub the sole and other parts of the shoe. Others scrub it on the tar or hard surface and insert old shoe pad in it to convince buyers who easily fall for the trick.

Many have been deceived and are still being deceived with more victims counted amongst women. The so-called second-hand shoes have reduced some victims to laughing stock in high level ceremonies. The shoe heels either break and turn women into temporal lame or stitches get loose and expose wearer’s toes to fresh air.

To another victim, a pair of nice-looking high-heel shoe she bought for her wedding at FCFA 15,000 got broken during her evening gala. Lillian T. disclosed that she has been deceived twice and given low quality new shoes that barely lasted for a week. She vowed never to buy from hawkers and since then she has been freed from the attractive webs of hawkers thanks to a trustworthy second-hand shoe dealer she met.

Hawkers don’t have feelings; all they think of is making abnormal profit out of people’s hard-earned money, a housewife who came to shop at the Nkololoun market regretted. The lady who has learnt her lessons said Nkololoun market is reputed for selling second-hand shoes.

According to a victim who prefers anonymity, the phenomenon is common among hawkers because they are hardly traced after the act. He advised prospective buyers to purchase from second-hand shoe shops where they can confront owners in case of deceit.