Blank pixel used during image takedowns
We know. You want those sneakers and you want them RIGHT NOW. They sold out at your local Foot Locker/Niketown/mom and pop store, and waiting is not an option. Well, hold up a second there, champ. Before you click on "Buy It Now," take a gander at A Guide to Buying Sneakers on eBay, and keep some of that hard-earned loot in your PayPal account for the next pair.
Do Your Research
We understand the allure of "Buy It Now." And with PayPal integration, shopping on eBay is just so easy! Just wait until they get the whole same-day-delivery thing sorted out. But before you click, take a few minutes and peruse the listings of whatever shoe it is you're about to spring for. Maybe that Buy It Now is set well above the going price. Don't pay a premium just because you're in a rush. Which brings us to the next point...
Time It Right
Pretty much every useful eBay rule can be distilled to this: think before you bid. Is that sneaker you're watching a rare OG that hardly ever shows up in your size? Then by all means, bid away and best of luck. Or is it the new hotness (sorry, Agent J) that just sold out of stores yesterday? If that's the case, maybe it's best to hold off for a bit. You didn't get them early, so what's a little more time? Prices can be dictated by the trends of the moment, which means the latest greatest probably start off selling way high, fall off when whatever the NEXT hot drop is hits, then slowly rise again. You're supposed to buy low and sell high, not the opposite.
Read Everything
When is a deal not a deal? How about when you notice after the fact that the shipping on that "steal" is gonna cost you a hundred bucks? Or when you realize too late that those shoes are coming from Hong Kong on the slow boat and might take a month to arrive? Take the extra five minutes and read through everything before you bid. If the seller doesn't give information about shipping, ask. The money you save might be your own.
Look Up "Alternate" Spellings
eBay offers a lot of services—a comprehensive spell check is not one of them. So if a seller wants to list his priceless OG Air Jordan 1 samples under "size 9 air jordon sneakers," no one's going to tell him otherwise. Put those typos into the search bar and see what comes up. Likewise, it's amazing what can be found sometimes by searching things like "vintage basketball sneakers" and "old tennis shoes." Go deeper.
Look For The Tag
Finding an auction with decent photos is only half the battle. How do you know those photos are actually of the shoe you're bidding on? Handwritten or printed tags are really the only sure way to tell, and are generally the mark of a trustworthy seller (as if the feedback and/or Power Seller rating wasn't enough). If someone has multiple auctions going using the same photos it could just mean they're lazy—or they could be trying to put one over.
Beware of Fakes
If a deal sounds too good to be true... chances are it's not true. We're not talking about obvious fakes like the truly horrific "Air Jordan Vs" shown above—anyone who's been into sneakers for more than 45 minutes should be able to pick those out. But if there's an auction for a hard-to-find shoe with untagged photos, a sketchy description and a suspiciously cheap Buy It Now, well, just don't say we didn't warn you.
Set Your Alarm Early
Just as it's smart when selling to make sure your auctions end when people are on their computers, it's smart to buy when no one is. Check those auctions ending late at night or early in the morning, and bid away knowing most of the competition is still in bed.
Let Someone Else Get That First Wear
Of course DS is always preferred. Getting to be the first one to open that box, the first to lace them up, the first to remove that paper from the toes—there is no substitute. But the truth is, in all things, you're rarely gonna be the first to, you know, anything. And in this day and age where collectors stack kicks by the hundreds and often just break them out for epic "What Did You Wear Today?" Instagram mirror sessions, there's a lot of super-clean sneakers being sold that actually WERE "just worn once." Just be careful, that's all.
Make An Offer
See that "make an offer" option on Buy It Now auctions? Use it, and use it well. Don't be insulting (if the BIN is $1,000, don't offer $50), but figure out a price that sounds reasonable and give it a shot. What's the worst that can happen? Just know that if your offer is accepted, it's the same binding contract as Buy It Now. So be prepared to pay.
Gamble... Sometimes
Like the man says, you gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em. Taking a flyer on those DS '99 Air Jordan IVs for $500 and hoping they won't crack probably isn't the best idea, but every once in a while it's worth it to spring for an auction with a questionably worded title or iffy photos, especially if it's an unusual shoe and not particularly expensive. Because some people truly don't know what they have and just want to clear out dad's old basketball shoes from the closet. Don't make a habit of it or anything and it should be OK.