Depends on what you mean. When you buy something, you have benefited the seller, so it’s not a complete waste. After you are no longer around, the collection can be given to a charitable thrift store, so it won’t be a waste.

those are hideous

I know from working at Footaction how expensive Jordans are… if you don’t intend to wear them, I would save the money for something you would wear, or donate it to a good cause. Something like shoes won’t be valuable in x-years, so it wouldn’t be like an investment. And if some day, they’re just going to be donated, you could’ve taken that 100+ dollars and bought lots of pairs of shoes to donate… you know what I mean?

Start collecting?
68 pairs and you talk about start collecting? ~
Those shoes in the pic are probably the ugliest shoes that i have ever seen. No offense.

If it’s something you can afford and feel good about owning, why not? They’re no more useless than some people’s Precious Moments collections, mug collections, mini-giraffe collections, etc.
Sure, it would be “better” to donate the money to charity, but we all buy shit we don’t really need.

That picture doesn’t do the shoe justice. They look like cute little booties on your feet.

It sounds to me like you’re already collecting shoes, but so far only functional shoes. If shoes are your “thing”, go ahead and collect the non-functional ones that catch your fancy. I collect lots of stuff that I don’t use (baby cups, the letter N, birds). I display them, but there’s no function beyond decorative. It’s your money. :)

It’s just a waste unless it’s a commodity. Collect antiques, gold and silver which will always have value. As for the Beanie babies, here today, gone tomorrow.