Much like award season for the Hollywood obsessed, June was a particularly exciting month for the sneakerheads of the world. From colorful variations of chunky silhouettes (affectionately dubbed 'dad sneakers' by the internet) to the latest rollouts of Nike's partnership with designer Off-White, the new drops are a timely addition to today's streetwear roster. The only problem? These coveted collabs and long-awaited launches tend to sell out immediately, or be near-impossible to find online.
So what's a sneakerhead to do when their heart was set on snagging a specific pair? Rather than scour the corners of the internet to find a lucky lone pair or stumble upon an under-the-radar retailer with every size still in stock — both extremely unlikely situations — there is one way to fulfill your wardrobe dream. Like so many greats that came before them (OG Fenty x PUMA Creepers or literally any pair of limited edition Jordans, we're looking at you!), that one place is eBay.
Over time, eBay has evolved into a mecca for locating everything from home appliances to music memorabilia to, of course, sneakers. Many of them are even brand new — a whopping 80 percent of all sneakers sold on the site, to be exact — or direct from the retailer! And if you didn't already know those little pieces of information, imagine how much more there is to learn. Sneakerheads, get your screenshots ready, because this guide will help you score your dream styles like the savviest shoppers in the game.
No one does acronyms quite like online sellers; NIB, NWT, BIN — the list goes on. Here's a handy glossary of terms that'll make it easier to weed through the seemingly-endless pages of listings.
Good things come to those who wait . . . said no sneakerhead ever. But, on second thought, maybe you should follow this mantra a little more closely. A number of factors can influence the availability, prices, and volume of active listings at any given time. For example, you might not head straight to eBay the second after those brand new Jordans sell out. First, no one lucky enough to get a pair will have received their order yet, so pickings will be slim to non-existent for the first few days after a new launch. Second, they're red hot on the trending scale, which can spike prices like you'd never believe.
Our tip? Hold out if you can bear it. Not only will new options become available, but prices may change significantly if a release ends up being less buzzworthy than anticipated. On the other hand, if you spot an extremely rare style or you just gotta have 'em now, do your thing and place that bid or add to your cart.
We can't tell you exactly what sneakers to like (or love, for that matter), but what we can do is help you figure out which listings are worth your time. A few examples:
Discount Code Terms & Conditions: This Coupon is a 10% discount valid from 6:00 AM PT July 30, 2018 until 11:59 PM PT on August 3, 2018. Discount applies to the purchase price (excluding shipping, handling, and taxes) of an eligible item(s) of $25 or more on ebay.com, cafr.ebay.ca, and ebay.ca. Eligible items are item(s) purchased from select sellers. The discount will be applied to eligible item(s) only and will be capped at a value of $75. Eligible items exclude warranties and protection plans. Coupon can be used once per eBay account, within a single transaction (or cart), while supplies last. Any unused difference between the discount amount, as shown on the Coupon, and the purchase price of an item(s) in a single transaction (or cart) will be forfeited. Coupon is subject to U.S laws, void where prohibited, not redeemable for cash, has no face value, and cannot be combined with any other Coupon, or when paying with PayPal Credit Easy Payments or Gift Cards. eBay may cancel, amend, or revoke the Coupon at any time.