Learning where to find cheap sneakers to resell online can be valuable information for new resellers without a lot of capital. By buying sneakers for cheap you can make more money when you flip them online using eBay or another sneaker reselling site.
Reselling sneakers is a good side gig. People find valuable sneakers well below the aftermarket prices all the time. Typically these sneakers are used, but that doesn’t matter. Finding the right pair of sneakers at a cheap price can increase your profit margins and earn you more money.
- Where to find cheap sneakers to resell online?
- Where to avoid buying cheap shoes from?
- What to look for when buying used shoes
- What is a good price to pay for used shoes?
- Recap: Here’s where to buy cheap shoes
Where to find cheap sneakers to resell online?
The following places are where I had the most success finding cheap sneakers to resell online. You can do the same. See our list of unique used items to resell on eBay for more general information.
Thrift stores
Goodwill, The Salvation Army and your local thrift shop are good places to start sourcing used shoes. The cheapest of the three will likely be Goodwill.
You’ll notice that thrift stores probably won’t have the best shoe brands available. It’s because other resellers likely already beat you to them or they are behind the glass in the store and priced higher. Don’t let this bother you.
The employees at Goodwill only know a little about the value of used shoes. I’ve scored many valuable pairs for $6 that the workers had no clue sold for $100. Just keep going back in and looking around, you’ll find a profitable pair.
Brands to watch for at thrift stores include: Nike, Asics, Adidas and some brands of boots.
eBay
Instead of just selling shoes on eBay, you can also source them. Many resellers source cheap shoes on eBay by setting up alerts with filters.
This method works because many rookie resellers don’t know the true value of their items. They list them for much lower than they actually sell for because they want to make quick profits.
When you see this happen, you can either look up the market price of these shoes or you can send offers to the seller that are lower than the asking price. Using this method works great for veteran resellers who can quickly determine the value of an item. Newer resellers should avoid sourcing on eBay until they truly know what they’re doing.
Discount retailers
Outlet stores and retailers like Marshall’s are great for buying new shoes at cheap prices. Go to your local bargain clothing store or make a trip to the outlets. You’ll find shoes that are marked down significantly and can be quickly flipped online.
Your closet
You likely have a few pairs of shoes you can sell online right now that are collecting dust in your closet. If you go look at your personal collection of items you’ll find that many older pairs of shoes still hold value if they are in good shape.
Your personal closet is a great place to find cheap shoes because you don’t have to worry about buying them, you already paid for them!
Where to avoid buying cheap shoes from?
Avoid buying cheap shoes from Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp and Craigslist. Any of these kinds of meetup or local deal sites should be avoided when sourcing cheap or cheap shoes.
There are two reasons for avoiding these types of platforms.
- You don’t want to meetup with sellers in-person.
- You don’t know if higher-end shoes are authentic.
You could be walking into a planned robbery or buying a fake pair of shoes.
If you do decide to do a local deal, meet somewhere safe like a police station or at a local coffee shop.
While you could be buying inauthentic shoes from Goodwill, at least you’re only paying $6 for them. If the buyer finds they are fake then you can just send them their refund and you’ll only lose $6. However, local deals will likely cost you more than just $6 and it’s not worth the gamble on a pair of shoes that could be fake.
In general, I advise new sneaker resellers to avoid local deals.
What to look for when buying used sneakers
There are several key indicators that a used pair of sneakers still has enough life to be resold. Before you can start reselling sneakers for high amounts, the actual condition of the shoes matter. Don’t be the scummy reseller who sells shoes that talk because the soles are falling off.
When buying used sneakers, the first thing to check is the sole of the shoes. Make sure they are firmly attached to the basis of the shoe. If you see any cracks or tears in the rubber or see that the sole is falling off, leave the shoes on the shelf.
Next, make sure to check the condition of the upper materials. Stains and dirt marks can be removed if there are only a few of them, but holes in the mesh or lining can’t be fixed. If a used sneaker has any kind of holes or tears on the upper mesh then it’s best to avoid it.
Lastly, check the insoles. Make sure the insoles of the sneaker aren’t brown or too dirty. They will likely have some kind of sweat stain and that’s alright, but make sure it’s not too bad. If you’re brave you can also do a smell test to see if it smells like cigarettes but that’s not necessary if you have shoe refresher spray at home.
What is a good price to pay for used shoes?
I typically pay about $6 for a pair of used men’s shoes and $4 for youth pairs or bae sizes. Of course, it all depends on the brand of sneaker you’re buying as well. You likely won’t be able to find a pair of Jordans selling for less than $10, even at Goodwill.
Another factor that will determine the price you pay for used shoes is how much you can resell them for. As a general rule for used shoes, try to profit at least four times the amount you paid.
- If you paid $6 for a shoe, your profit should be around $24.
- If you paid $10 for a shoe, your profit should be around $40.
This rule won’t work as much when you get to shoes worth more than $50, but if you have that much capital you should try reselling new sneakers instead.
Recap: Here’s where to buy cheap shoes to resell
It’s all about getting creative when it comes to buying cheap shoes to resell. Go to your local flea markets, buy them for cheaper off your friends, do deals in bulk. You’ll have to search a little harder than your competition to buy cheap shoes at the right price.
Turn to your closet to find and start reselling cheap shoes first. Try looking at local thrift stores if that doesn’t work. Outlet stores and discount retailers will also have a good selection of cheap shoes that you can buy to resell.
If you’re interested in selling new shoes, find out which new sneakers will resell for more money.
Reselling sneakers is profitable, even if they are used. Try cleaning them up with shoe cleaners so you can earn more money.
