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Aftermarket sites like eBay in addition to B/S/T (Buy-Sell-Trade) forums, groups and subreddits are places one can purchase used sneakers. Here we look at the pros and cons
Should You Buy Used Sneakers
Buying used kicks can be a good way to build up a sneaker collection for less cost, but comes with its own set of issues. Whether it’s a good idea for you will depend on your tolerance for these issues.
History of Used Sneaker Sales
Back in the day, sneaker forums such as Solecollector or online auction site eBay were pretty much the two places I would buy older kicks. Often, these transactions involved used sneakers that had been worn by a previous collector.
With the advent of social media, other places began to emerge as sources for older sneakers. These include Facebook groups and subreddits. The medium might be slightly different, but the mechanisms are still roughly the same as far as buying, selling and trading kicks.
Why Buy Used Kicks
I got these from a trusted collector
many years ago in almost new
condition for a great price
When I first started collecting sneakers, I bought used pairs all the time. It was a way to save money which in my younger days was in very limited supply. Many of the older SB “grails” I own were bought from other collectors on older sneaker forums.
Often times brand new pairs of a sneaker simply aren’t available anymore. When building up a collection often one wants to add some heat into the mix, which may involve picking up older pairs that have become hard to find. If you want certain specific pairs, getting used sneakers might still be the only option.
While brand new pairs are usually preferable, often preowned pairs provide a substantial cost savings. In many cases it is the only way to acquire certain shoes without paying full resale.
When To Buy Used Kicks
New collectors looking for older pairs of “heat” to build their collection can benefit from buying preowned sneakers.
I think newer collectors can benefit most from a strategy of getting used pairs, as often they have a lot of catching up to do! Paying resale prices on some older, more sought after sneakers will quickly deplete ones finances. For a newer collector still trying to build up their box stacks, purchasing the occasional used sneaker will help quickly add some heat to the collection.
Additionally, older pairs such as particular Jordan and Air Max retros last longer if they are at least worn occasionally. When buying a shoe that might crumble due to age, it helps to know that the pair has been recently worn and held up during that wear.
If you are good at cleaning up and/or restoring old pairs, a business can be made out of doing just that. Getting worn older pairs and cleaning them up for personal use or resale is an industry unto itself. Especially for those that aren’t scared to put a little work in.
When to Not Buy Used Kicks
If a brand new pair of the shoe is available at a price one is comfortable paying, then this is usually preferable to buying a worn pair.
I got these preowned and cleaned
Them Up To Save Some Bucks
When first building a collection, most collectors go back to grab pairs that existed before they started collecting. Once a collection is built up and contains enough “heat”, the impulse to buy old, hard to find pairs can wane. Why bother with someone’s old, worn, potentially stinky or otherwise dilapidated pair if you can afford a brand new version?
At the end of the day, when you don’t need older pairs anymore to fill out the box stacks, focusing on new upcoming pairs might be a better use of your time. Once you run out of grails, grabbing crusty used pairs doesn’t seem as necessary anymore.
On another note, many classic pairs get retros. Rather than risk buying an older pair, getting a newer and easier to attain version might be a better look.
Pros of Buying Used Sneakers
- The sneaker might be so old or limited that buying used is the only way to get the shoe period.
- Insanely high resale prices on some pairs make the cost savings associated with used pairs more attractive
- Quickly build up a new collection with some rare heat
- If buying from a knowledgeable collector, odds of getting a fake are reduced
- Certain pairs need to be worn at least occasionally to stand the test of time
Cons of Buying Used Sneakers
- Previous owner’s gross foot sweat in the shoe
- Older pairs get retro’d all the time, rendering getting an older version less of a “must”
- Used shoes can be damaged or overly worn; pics online often won’t show the full extent of wear on a shoe
- Lose the opportunity to break the shoe in for yourself
- Pairs might be missing accessories or even the box
Where To Buy Used Sneakers
EBay and forums used to be the only places to get older used sneakers. Now other aftermarket sites, social media and Reddit provide platforms to grab preowned kicks.
Whether you are a new collector looking to cheaply add some heat to the collection or someone that cleans up old pairs for personal use or resale, buying used sneakers is one way to do that. That old pair of Jordans is less likely to crumble if it’s been worn a little, right?
Still, after enough used kicks in the collection, you might get tired of other people’s foot sweat and overall mistreatment of their pairs making its way into your collection. At that point, you might be better off focusing on what you can get new, now, and preferably at or below retail.