Being a sneakerhead isn’t just about flexing the latest pair of hype kicks. It’s about the culture, the history, and definitely classic kicks. However, when you’re new to the industry, it’s kinda difficult to get kicks that dropped years ago. Or discontinued lines for that matter (Yeezys, we’re looking at you). That’s one of the reasons the aftermarket exists. And today, we’re gonna discuss sneaker consignment stores and why you should know about them! Whether you wanna flip or buy sneakers, you’ll wanna read on.
PS: If you wanna learn how to become a reseller, make sure you have what it takes. Once you do, check out how to become one here!
PS #2: If you’re looking for sites other than StockX to buy and sell kicks, check this out.
What Are Sneaker Consignment Stores?
Okay so, imagine that you lucked out on getting that really hype sneaker. (Bit of a stretch if you don’t have a sneaker bot, but whatever.) But the pair wasn’t your size, and you don’t wanna keep it, so why not benefit from it? You could always list that pair on resale websites. Or, you can walk into sneaker consignment stores and put it there.
In other words, a consignment store takes your sneakers (in deadstock state usually) and sells them for you. When the sale happens, they call you and give you your share. These services don’t happen for free though. Each consignment store charges a different fee for the transaction, but we’ll share those a bit further down!
Sneaker Consignment Store Facts
- Stores won’t immediately sell kicks after release. They’ll wait until resale values settle before they actually start the transactions.
- Hype is an important factor when it comes to consignment. However, you’ll still find your average pair of AF1s or Dunks there.
- Many store stock up on sneakers and keep them on ice. That way, they cash in on the kicks when their time comes… big time!
Best Sneaker Consignment Stores in the Game Today
There are so many sneaker consignment stores around today. Some are as authentic as they come, others are shady (to say the least). We’ll just save you the pain and list some of the best stores we trust and love. However, that doesn’t mean that others aren’t just as good! Now let’s check out our favorite sneaker consignment stores, shall we?
Stadium Goods
First on our list is the NYC Stadium Goods. The store launched back in 2015, and since 2020, it operates under the Farfetch company. And yeah, that was pretty big news when it happened. Anyway, the process is pretty simple. You send your kicks to the store where they legit check them and put them on sale if they’re all good. The reseller actually sets the price, but Stadium Goods take a good 20% of that value in commission. That’s why the prices you see there are a bit higher than other resale platforms. However, SG is pretty trustworthy. If Complex’s Sneaker Shopping trusts it, so do we!
Flight Club
Okay so, first off, we gotta mention that Flight Club and GOAT merged in 2018. However, they still operate as independent companies (and websites). Now, Flight Club is a consignment store that you can find in NY, Miami, LA, and online. Once you subscribe as a reseller, you gotta prove your authenticity. After that, it’s pretty simple because Flight Club will handle the sales. Their fees are also pretty straightforward: 9.5% + $5 seller fees, and a 2.9% cash out fee.
Sole Supremacy
The world is fast, but so are some sneaker stores! Sole Supremacy is one of the coolest sneaker consignment stores we have on our list. They don’t make you wait for an actual sale to pay you. Instead, they buy the kicks from you on the spot. You also trade in your shoes, and if the store isn’t near you, you can mail your kicks in and get store credit! Pretty cool huh? You can check out their policy in detail here.
Round Two
You definitely heard that name at some point if you like cool kicks. The owner of Round Two is none other than Sean Wotherspoon! That store is a place for people who “tear the packaging” of their items. Items are meant to be touched and cherished according to them. In other words, you can sell a pre-owned/used item there, and they’ll pay you on the spot!
Urban Necessities
When it comes to consignment at Urban Necessities, it’s a whole process. In other words, you need to register and wait until they restart sneaker processing. But if it all goes well and you try to sell, UN will charge 20% of the sale price or $45, whichever is greater. Keep in mind that there are also cleaning and storage fees. You can check those out right here!
Now That You Know the Best Sneaker Consignment Stores…
…You’re gonna need some kicks to flip, right? In order to do that, you gotta know what the best sneaker bots in the game are. You can’t just rely on your luck and speed anymore, not when most people are running bots. Once you get a sneaker bot, check out this guide, it’ll give you all the pointers you need to get started! However, there’s a lot more to learn. Fortunately, we already prepared helpful guides on our blog to help you navigate sneaker botting.
If all fails though, you can go to sneaker consignment stores for the kicks you took an L on. Hopefully, that won’t be the case if you have a copy of the upcoming NSB3 with all its awesome upgrades. Check it out here before you get coppin’! Godspeed.
