How to buy limited sneakers online: Best manual practices
Best methods for manually buying shoes online
There are two basic ways to buy sneakers for resale: the first is sneaker botting and the second is going manual.
While it can reap rewards like checking out with multiple pairs, sneaker botting requires advanced expertise and is not for beginners.
Sometimes the best method is to cop manually, which can make you tons of money like many ordinary people are currently doing in this market, particularly with shoes like Off-White Nike Jordans.
There’s also our Hypemaster Playbook that includes everything you need to know for starting and scaling a sneaker business, including bots and manual methods.
You can also just browse all the other posts in this blog.
For now, let’s see how here:
1. Nike manual tips
Nike is at the forefront on the war against sneaker bots. They’re doing everything they can to prevent sneaker bot users from being able to use auto checkout software, aka bots, when purchasing shoes from their website.
To prevent this, they are releasing limited shoes primarily through a raffle system in which users must enter using the email address associated with their Nike account.
The winners are then chosen through a random raffle. Since bots rely on being able to quickly check out at a set time in a normal check out process, a raffle in which no check out process is involved is impossible to game using bots.
Some people are getting around this issue by raising their chances of winning by signing up with multiple Nike accounts.
Of course, there’s a limit to the amount of accounts you can sign up using your own computer and IP address, so there are people out there buying and selling Nike accounts to increase their chances of winning one pair but also opening up their chances of winning more than one pair.
If you look into dealing with Nike plus accounts, be sure to not get scammed as in 2021 many people are selling fake Nike accounts on social media, so do your due diligence or take the steps to learn how to create multiple accounts on your own.
Manual success on SNKRS App
One of the most profitable recent releases in 2018, the Off-White Jordan 1 “UNC” came out on the Nike SNKRS app exclusively for its first surprise release, with a retail of just $190.
Another way Nike is combatting sneaker bots is through its SNKRS app. This app was released in 2015 and completely changed the buying process of shoes.
Instead of going on Nike’s website and logging into your account and browsing through a ton of products to get to your shoes of choice, the SNKRS app was like scrolling through an Instagram feed of only the best sneakers (roughly half or more of all SNKRS releases are resellable for a profit at retail, compared to maybe 5% of the shoes on Nike’s site).
When you saw a pair of shoes that you know through research has resale value, you can set up the app to send you a push notification reminding you of the release and another one right on the release time.
Setting up the push notification on the SNKRS app is extremely helpful as when you click/swipe the notification at the release time, it will take you directly to your desired shoe and right to the checkout process.
You’ll get a notification saying to hold tight and wait to see if you’ve “Got ‘Em”. The odds for you getting a pair at this point are very high, so don’t exit the app and be ready to wait for up to 10 or even 15 minutes.
Make sure the settings on your phone have the auto lock on your screen turned off so that after not touching your phone after any amount of time, your screen will still stay open and not automatically lock.
Advanced techniques that will give you a huge number of chances to win the Nike Draw are discussed in depth in the Hypemaster Playbook, which you can get here.
I’ve gotten over 50% of my attempts at highly resellable shoes through the sneakers app, including 2 pairs that I made over $300 each in profit off of. Even if you get the disappointing “Didn’t Get ‘Em” notification after waiting, give it another try and you just might get lucky.
Remember though that when using the SNKRS app, be sure to get on the app exactly on the release time, either through clicking the push notification that happens on the release time, or getting on the app minutes before the release time and refreshing exactly at the release time, which is usually 10:00AM EST, and the buttton below the shoe will turn into a price rather than a “Notify Me” button.
Press the price and proceed through checkout with high hopes.
This app alone has basically made my car payments through some months.
2. Adidas manual tips
Although is a popular target for users of sneaker bots, it doesn’t mean that you’re not able to manually purchase a pair of Yeezys through Adidas or through Yeezy supply (Kanye’s direct Yeezy brand retailer. ) You’ll have to have a couple things in advance set up to do so.
Twitter accounts:
Adidas will release Yeezys at a random time on the release day. Although some have pulled all nighters with their eyes peeled open to the screen, refreshing every 30 seconds, it’s not worth doing this. Historically, Yeezy’s have dropped sometime between 10AM and 1:00PM EST. Also, the window for you being able to purchase the shoes is about 30 minutes.
So if the shoes initially release at 10:45AM, you’ll have until about 11:15AM to have your shot at getting them. It’s also been said that it doesn’t matter to adidas whether you went to their site right at the release time or some time after, so long as you are within the window which the shoes are still available, since the process is random.
The best thing to do to prepare yourself is to follow a number of twitter accounts, including (but not limited to) the official twitter of adidas and that of Kanye West, @adidasalerts @solelinks and @yeezymafia
Whenever the shoes become available, these accounts will normally take you to a direct link to the shoes.
Often, the link is So another method is to have open in your browser with no other tabs or windows open, and Twitter push notifications set up on your phone so that the instant you get the notification of Yeezys becoming available, you can go onto the site and refresh the page, putting you in the “waiting room” for Yeezys.
Be ready to wait up to 40 minutes to be given the chance to go through the checkout process, also be ready to be faked out by the website numerous times before you actually make it through the process.
Make sure that when you get to the buying page that you select a size that’s available and add it to your cart. Sometimes, a size will be listed as in stock but when you try to add it to cart, it’ll say it’s out of stock. You can try the size again or try out a different size, but either way, if the shoes have not been added to your cart then you’re not buying them.
Also, if you’re lucky enough to pick a size and it goes to your cart, you’re not in the clear yet. Proceed immediately to the checkout page, as adidas will time you out for inactivity, and remember that you have not gotten your pair until you have completed the checkout process and you’ve gotten a confirmation email. Even then you’re at 90%, as adidas has been known to occasionally send out emails of orders being unable to be fulfilled even after the confirmation email, although this is very rare.
You’re only at 100% when you’ve gotten a follow up email along with a tracking number.
To make it to this point is totally possible without using a sneaker bot, but the odds are pretty low so be mentally prepared for release day to go both ways.
To buy Yeezy’s at retail is definitely an amazing feeling, but is also worth the shot at manually purchasing, but be prepared for an early rise and to follow Kanye’s twitter account to know when to purchase.
Historically, Yeezy Supply makes the shoes available for purchase around 5AM-6AM EST, but has been known to release as early as 4AM.
Remember that not until you get the email confirmation of your order as well as the shipping follow up a day or two later do you have a pair of shoes secured.
Also remember that even when you’re on the page with sizes still available, your chances remain slim. Putting yourself in the position of being able to buy the shoes is better than missing out completely, and with enough persistence and some luck you will eventually be able to buy a pair of Yeezy’s for retail using this method
Another method to manually buy Yeezy’s without the use of sneaker bots is to try lesser known sites for better odds!
Thanks to the wonderful resource, I’ve been able to go on lesser known sites and luck out on the occasional pair of Yeezy’s!
Be aware though that some of these lesser known sites are international, so not only are some not in English, but you’ll have to log onto the site at a strange time (like 3:00 or 4:00AM) and possibly use an international parcel forwarding service like Borderlinx to have your mail forwarded to you from a European address. Most of these services are free to set up and make it really easy to cop from a site like END clothing.
Apps and Raffles.
You’re also able to purchase a pair of Yeezy’s as the winner of a raffle. If you live in or near a major city like New York or LA, there will probably be a store in the city doing an in store raffle. Interestingly, smaller cities like Cleveland (retailer: Xhibition) and Charlotte (retailer: Social Status) have been known to stock Yeezy’s in store and hold in store raffles at their boutique retailers that are approved to stock Yeezy’s.
Another way to secure yourself a pair of Yeezy’s is through the adidas confirmed app. Champs, Footlocker and Footaction have all made their own version of this app in which you’re able to buy a pair of Yeezy’s at their store, and although the process is slightly different for these apps, all of these Yeezy grabbing apps are dependent on your location.
With the adidas confimed app, you’ll have to first register for your shot at reserving a pair before the deadline expires, then you’ll have to go on the app exactly at the instructed day and time (typically the Thursday before the release weekend at 4:00PM EST), and tap like crazy on a circle that appears (or sometimes doesn’t) on your phone for your shot at reserving a pair.
If you get the notification that a pair is reserved for you, you’ll see a store location and a timeframe, and if you’re able to buy shoes according to those parameters, then you’re all set! It’s pretty cool if you’re trying to resell these shoes because you can coordinate with a buyer exactly where you’re going to be and immediately and safely sell the shoes right after you buy them (in or right outside of a store full of cameras, other people, and often police. )
The other reservation apps that retailers like Footaction are offering work on a point system. Your odds are higher if you’ve purchased from the store before. You’ll probably have to make a physical check in at your desired store just to enter for the drawing initially. Your odds are greatly increased if you reach a higher status based on your purchase history as a member of the store, usually in tiers of $200 or so.
I’ve heard that at the highest status, you’re pretty much guaranteed a pair. To maintain the highest status, you’ll have to spend upwards of $500 at the store, sometimes more, so in my opinion, unless you’re spending $500 on resellable shoes or stuff you can at least break even on to resell on, it’s not really worth the hassle of spending that much, but if you want to do that then by all means go for it.
Unless you’re close enough to drive or willing to make a trip to cities where location based apps open up the door for you or raffles are being held in store, you’re SOL when it comes to physical raffles.
Apparently there are ways to spoof your phone or iPad location, but these methods are shady and I haven’t known people who have legitimately gotten this to work, and if you see this being advertised online as a service, it’s likely a scam. Luckily, you still have a shot to score Yeezy’s, albeit a very slim one, using online raffles.
Again, the awesome resource Justfreshkicks also has the most extensive list of online raffles that I’ve seen. Most online raffles are as simple as entering your name, size and email address, and all I have seen are free, however, be sure to pay attention to the time frame in which you are allowed to enter the raffle. Don’t miss out! The most work you’ll have to do to enter a raffle is an Instagram raffle, where you’ll have to mildly embarrass yourself by reposting a retailer’s image on your Instagram along with a certain caption that normally includes you tagging a number of your friends and keeping the post up until the drawing happens.
Even though tons of people enter these sort of raffles, it is free to enter and having a 5 in 1000 chance is 5 times better than having a 1 in 1000 chance so keep on doing whatever it takes to score a pair if it’s your goal to be able to buy yeezys online manually without a bot.
Remember these lesser known retailers like Xhibition and Social Status, because when it comes to securing limited kicks that aren’t quite Yeezys but still resellable, these sites are often less crowded and you have a higher chance at a manual purchase.
3. Supreme Manual Tips
Supreme is also on the war against bots, although apparently they’re not very good at it as I know many who are still using bots to get their hands on limited supreme items.
Like many sites that combat auto check out bots, Supreme will shut down orders that have been executed quickly. Hilariously, I have heard to some super fast Supreme site veterans have been shut down because Supreme thought they were a bot but they were actually just that fast.
The skate brand is having a really hot year in 2020 and is definitely here to stay on the radar for Hypebeasts and fashion addicts who want the hottest gear, which Supreme New York certainly is.
If you follow Instagram accounts like @Supcommunity, which is an excellent resource for Supreme news, you’ll see that items that resell for hundreds of dollars above retail are sometimes available to be bought for over 1 minute after the release time. Although this doesn’t sound like a lot, if you’re able to log in right at the release time and type in information pretty quickly, you have a good shot at getting your desired clothing item or pair of shoes.
One time I logged into Supreme’s site right at the release time and the page wouldn’t load. I waited 5 minutes and went back on the page, and finally, 9 minutes after the release time I got to the product page for the Supreme Air Jordan 5’s and was able to get them in a desirable size, manually. I purchased them for $190 and resold them for $550 2 days later.
No bot was necessary for this process! I’ve also lucked out on some other Supreme clothing items without the use of a bot. So stay up to date with Supreme news and be ready Thursday mornings at 11AM EST for the drops!
Physically entering for a Supreme raffle only happens in major cities like NYC and LA, and the process is secretive so I won’t write about it here but I get into it more in the newly updated 2020 Hypemaster Playbook.
If you want a guide specific to Supreme techniques, we have the highly reviewed and previously private guide, The Supreme Resale Bible, recently updated for 2020, which you can check out here.
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Well that about does it for manually copping limited kicks like Yeezy’s! Try out these methods and then customize your process to something that works for you, and I promise you that with enough persistence you’ll be able to score a pair of kicks at retail, without a sneaker bot. Of course you’d want to know what actual shoes to buy to apply these new techniques.
For a look at some upcoming hype drops and further sneaker resale information, check out the top 12 shoes to resell in 2021
If you’d like to learn about sneaker botting techniques to add to your arsenal of skills, check out our blog post here.
Despite all the weirdness, 2020 was an incredibly lucrative year for sneakers, and 2021 is looking ripe.
So get your game on, learn these techniques and don’t miss out!
Check out the Hypemaster Playbook today, and get a piece of the Billion Dollar Shoe Pie.
Click here to get it now!
Best online Shoe Stores 2021 | Top Ten Reviews
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We’ve done the tricky job of deciding the best online shoe stores for 2021. Shopping for shoes only accounted for roughly 30% of all shoe sales in the US before the COVID-19 pandemic, but has increased rapidly since then, according to data from NPD. That means more and more people are turning to online shoe outlets to get their footwear. There are obviously advantages and disadvantages to this – the main drawback being that you can’t handle and try-on the physical shoe or boot before you actually buy it. However, the advantages are many: cheaper prices, a larger selection of shoes, and the ability to get feedback from users – rather than store assistants – on how the shoes wear in real selecting the best online shoe stores we considered not only the stores themselves, but the way people shop for shoes in 2021. With an increasing reliance on their online outlets, traditional shoe stores have been forced to ‘up their game’ when it comes to virtual customer service, which means fewer are charging return or restocking fees. You have to be able to shop with confidence, knowing that when you buy you can always return footwear at little or no cost, if it isn’t for you. When you’re shopping our top-rated online shoe retailers, we recommend looking for a few key things when you’re buying. It’s essential that a shoe store has a robust returns policy, and we’ve actually listed these below, with each entry. Even with rich data on each shoe, and great product photography, you never really know how you’ll feel about a shoe until it’s on your foot. Doesn’t matter if it’s a heel, a comfy sneaker, a running shoe, or a pair of amazing boots – the proof is in the wearing. And if you don’t like it, you need to be able to send it back easily, and (ideally) at no extra should also take advantage of the benefits of shopping online. Sales are more frequent, and easier to browse, and you’ll often benefit from earning reward points on your purchases, if you sign up for VIP programs. We also love the ability to see feedback from other users on how accurately the shoes fit feet of certain sizes, and how well they wear and last when used for real world situations. Many sites offer various shipping options and curbside pickup, and some even offer price guarantees, to help you claim back money if you see your shoes cheaper elsewhere. You’ll even find exclusive ranges on certain sites, and some will guarantee things like ethically created or US-made shoes, for the more conscientious course, you won’t always find what you’re looking for, so check out our guide to the best online auction sites, which will help you track down more obscure online shoe storesBelow is our list of the best online shoe stores. While we have Zappos as our top pick, all the retailers below it are seriously worth checking out, as each one offers something we really like in a shoe store. Don’t think of this as a ranked list – it’s a guide to our favorite shoe stores, designed to help you find exactly what you need. (Image credit: Zappos)Excellent 365-day return policyGreat website with user reviews prominentGood price ranges, and a wide variety of is our top pick for online shoe stores because it provides an excellent all round service, while offering a good range of shoes at competitive prices. The website itself is easy to navigate, has excellent product photography, and offers loads of useful information on each product you choose a pair of shoes to view you’re given a range of sizes available, a drop-down menu with color variations, and other style options – all contained in the right-hand navigation of the page. We love that the picture of the shoes has pride of place, and there are so many images for each pair, showing you almost all the angles you could possibly want to see. Zappos also makes a feature of its user reviews, and underneath each product you get statistics from customers detailing information on the shoe, like ‘True to fit’ and ‘True to width’, so you get an idea of how your particular shoe compares to others of the same size and also get free returns on Zappos shoes, which is a big deal, and you can return shoes within a massive 365 days of buying them – one of the most generous returns policies of any online shoe store. The only downside is that you need to either print your return label, or have a sticker delivered by the USPS, which does slow down returns a little. We really appreciate how Zappos has ‘Customer Service’ right at the top of the page, in the primary navigation, and this is consistent throughout every page you visit on the site. Phone, email, live chat, and other options are all available, and the customer service is prompt and friendly. Overall, it’s a very good user an A+ rating, and accreditation, via the Better Business BureauScores 4 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsWe looked at more than 200 user reviews of Zappos, both via customer review sites, and of products purchased via the site itself. Many applaud the excellent customer service and returns policy offered by Zappos, although some note that it does take the company a little longer than some rivals to refund you the money. The average refund time is ten days, and in some instances it has taken longer. For most with issues, the customer service team appear to be friendly, professional, and largest complaint about Zappos appears to be that some people have accidentally received shoes with imperfections, incorrect sizes and combinations (a few people report getting two left shoes instead of a pair! ), and – on rare occasions – shoes that appear to already have been worn. In most cases these were resolved, but one or two customers were unhappy that they were offered store credit instead of cash refunds. Overall, however, the customer experience from Zappos is very positive, especially when it comes to selection of shoes and customer experience. (Image credit: DSW)DSW: Best dedicated online shoe storeA large range of shoes and boots, with no other clothes on siteExcellent clearance section for cheaper pricesThe JLO collection is great to browseDSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) carries many of the biggest brand names, including Nike, Steve Madden and UGG, so it is a good place to shop if you’re looking for designer shoes, boots, athletic shoes or sandals. There’s a JLO collection on there too, which has its own zone on the website, and the range is fabulous to look at. While it may not be to everyone’s taste, there’s no doubting the prestige of it. In terms of range, DSW is one of the product pages are good, but not perfect. You see good, clear product images, and we appreciate the fact that you don’t have to click through a gallery to see your shoes from all the different angles. Sizes and shoe variants are listed in the right-hand side of the page, along with an overall user score. We’d like to see more feedback from customers included here, and more buying advice, but overall the display is you sign up for DSW’s rewards program, you earn points for every dollar you spend. These points can be redeemed for gift cards, which is a nice touch. DSW only offers free shipping on all sales to VIP members, which isn’t the best. While exchanges are free, and can be done within 60 days, returns come with an $8. 50 charge. Another one of DSW’s drawbacks is it doesn’t offer as deep of discounts as other shoe stores we looked at, although there is a well populated ‘Clearance’ section on the website. While this is welcome, it doesn’t feel like an event in the same way as the sales you’ll find on other User Reviews and RatingsHas an A+ rating via the Better Business BureauScores 3. 5 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsAfter looking at more than 150 user reviews for DSW, we noted that customer service – especially in their physical stores – was something people loved. Many also praised the benefits of the VIP program, and noted that the discounts you get from it more than make up for the ‘costs’ of sign-up. You do appear to surrender a lot of data, and DSW is persistent in sending you coupons once you’re signed up, but this is no bad thing considering the discounts you will the negative side, some users noted that the delivery is far from perfect, and that customer service isn’t always as effective at resolving the issues. While the majority praise the customer service experience, some have noted that they were unhelpful. DSW has also had a few issues with VIP points balances on its site, which has drawn a handful of negative reviews. Overall, though, users love the combination of online and physical stores when it comes to DSW, making this a strength of the brand. (Image credit: 6pm)6pm: Best discount shoe storeSome deep discounts on designer brandsPlenty of stock to select fromFree shipping on larger ordersIf you’re hunting for outlet-level prices online, 6pm is a great place to start your search. It’s the outlet site for Zappos, and carries many of the same brands. However, as it’s an outlet, you can get shoes for much, much cheaper, if you’re willing to dig around for something you like. You’ll find regular discounts, daily sales, and there are numerous coupons available for the site if you know where to find site itself is more standard than many of its rivals, but is easy to navigate and contains some bright, colorful product images. Once you’re on a product page you get to see shoes from many different angles, and you can change the size and color/style settings by using the drop-down menus on the right of the page. There are no user reviews on the product pages, so you do lack that additional information on each the negative side, the service you get from 6pm simply can’t match that of Zappos. While you do qualify for free delivery if you buy two or more pairs of shoes, or spend more than $50 (which most will), returns cost extra and there is no option to exchange shoes. You simply need to pay to return the ones you bought, and buy something else. Customer support is available, but limited in terms of hours, and there are no VIP clubs or price-match promises here (as you’d expect from an outlet store). Overall, you’ll love the prices at 6pm, but be sure you want something before you buy. 6pm User Reviews and RatingsHas an A+ rating and is accredited at the Better Business BureauScores 3. 5 out of 5 via YelpWe looked at around 55 reviews of 6pm, and found them to be broadly well liked. People love a cheap price on shoes, and many were pleased with how little they paid while shopping at 6pm. Many highlighted the fact that you need to be quick to get the best deals, and almost every user has commented on how good the range of discounted shoes majority of the complaints about 6pm, especially those on the BBB, center on delivery and shipping issues of the shoes. Some users reported late dispatches for shoes, and others said delivery took longer than advertized on the site. One or two said that the shoes they received were not in a good condition, and these were returned. Overall, 6pm is good at responding to complaints, as this is a common theme of user reviews. (Image credit: Overstock)Excellent prices, and some great additional discountsClean and easy-to-use siteThere are loads of other products here is one of the bigger names in online discount retail. The site covers everything from home furnishings to electricals, but there is a superb selection of shoes to be found here too. You’ll find sneakers, heals, clogs, booties and all kinds of different shoes, all from brands such as Nike, Adidas, Birkenstock, and more. You’ll even find some designer labels like Jimmy Choo here, although they are very limited in product pages are clean, but lack a little information when compared to the likes of Zappos. You’ll see good product images of the shoes, and if you scroll around the page you will find a limited number of user reviews, but rarely enough to inform your decision-making. There’s a Q&A section, which is good when it’s populated by users, and while we applaud the effort of the Tips and Inspiration tab… the content in there isn’t very ipping is free to all states except Hawaii and Alaska, and is quicker than most other stores on this list. There’s a 30-day returns policy, which is standard, and users are responsible for the cost of ‘buyers remorse’ returns. Sadly, this does include shoes that don’t fit, which is one of the perils of buying from a more generalist an A+ rating and is accredited at the Better Business BureauScores 1 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsWe looked at over 200 reviews of and found that it’s a company with a range of both good and bad user feedback. We were surprised to see Overstock score only a single star on Consumer Affairs, so looked at the reasons why this could be. Many are for defective products that required assembly, and few of the negative reviews apply to shoes purchased on we did see was a lot of praise for Overstock’s prompt shipping, with users enjoying the fact their items arrived sooner than expected. The customer service has mixed reviews, with some stating it’s helpful and others bemoaning the fact that it didn’t resolve issues at all. Overstock is good at answering complaints via the BBB (of which there are a lot), but it does so in a very dry and factual way, which lacks a little human understanding. (Image credit:)Great variety of shoes, especially if you need specialty pairsFrequent discount codes and couponsGreat website with loads of search has a large inventory of shoes, free exchanges and helpful customer service. In addition to a large selection of everyday footwear for women and men, there are many specialty footwear options, covering narrow and wide shoes, and even things like dance shoes for search browser is useful to find a specific shoe, or you can find a category type, like boots, oxfords or slip-ons if you want more browsing options. You can also filter for such specialty features as orthotic-friendly, vegan, moisture wicking, insulated and diabetic-friendly. You can refine your search further under specifying categories like canvas, clogs, flats, size, color, price range and brand. The product photography on each page is clear and bright, and there are further options for changing size and style. Scroll a little further down, and you get a good range of customer reviews and comment on the fit of the shoes. The site is really good.
offers free shipping, and there’s no minimum value needed to qualify. If you decide you don’t like the shoes, you can return them within 60 days for a complete refund, and shipping on returns is free. However, there is a fee of $6. 95 for ‘restocking’. Items that are labeled as final sales, however, don’t qualify for returns. There’s also a rewards club called Shoefans, which is worth enrolling an A+ rating and is accredited at the Better Business BureauScores 2 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsWe looked at around 90 reviews of and found that they were largely positive. While the store scores low ratings on Consumer Affairs we did notice an awful lot of ‘user error’ reviews, or reviews calling out for very minor issues with their service, like being a day late with shipping. Where negative reviews and complaints were filed, we were delighted to see that the company’s response – especially on BBB – was prompt, polite, and often resulted in customer terms of positive reviews, people were pleased with the exchange policy on offer, and the selection of shoes. The generous exchange period was mentioned too. While clearly isn’t the cheapest online shoe store, it’s well thought of and clearly has excellent customer service. (Image credit: Amazon)Amazon: Best for ‘try before you buy’ shoesPrime Wardrobe lets you try before you commit to buyAmazon has excellent shipping and returnsGood selection of shoes and brandsWe all know Amazon and, love it or hate it, there’s no denying it’s an excellent place to buy stuff. The shoe selection at Amazon is very good, and there’s a decent range of both new and pre-owned shoes thanks to the various third-party retailers associated with Amazon. The website is actually harder to navigate than many of its rivals, but that’s because Amazon has such a massive range of items – you need to drill into the site to find sets Amazon apart, however, is the Prime Wardrobe services, which is included as part of a regular Amazon Prime membership. Here you can choose up to eight items of clothing – shoes included – at a time, and order them to be delivered to your home. There is a three-item minimum and a $1000 maximum value. Once they arrive you have seven days to try them on, and mark all unwanted items for return. After that you pay for the stuff you want to keep, and use pre-paid packaging for all the returns. It’s so, so simple and is a great way of shopping for clothes and downside? Well, it’s tough to see one, although the fact you need to be a Prime member is something of a barrier. You are slightly limited in terms of choice – not everything on Amazon is part of Prime Wardrobe, so you may not be able to use it for your chosen pair of shoes or boots. Overall, though, it does feel a lot like the future of shoe User Reviews and RatingsHas an A rating and is accredited at the Better Business BureauScores 3 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsIt’s near impossible to get a sense of the Amazon user reviews for its shoe service, so we took a cross-section of about 50 reviews across a number of products we found in the shoe section on the site. Overall, they reflected the quality of each individual brand and, while there were complaints about shipping and lost orders, they were very ‘s A rating on the BBB comes as little surprise, given the volume of complaints received for a wide range of problems encountered by users. Amazon’s responses aren’t always convincing, and many consumers fail to accept the resolution offered. Again, though, it’s difficult to find a large number that specifically relate to shoes or the Prime Wardrobe aspect of the did check some style blogs for reviews of Prime Wardrobe. Many talked about the limitations of the service, such as the narrower selection, the fact you have to use a credit card, and the three-item minimum. However, the overall impression was positive. (Image credit: Foot Locker)Superb range of sports and outdoor shoesGood returns policy and refund periodExcellent for children’s shoes tooFoot Locker has an impressive selection of athletic shoes of all kinds, including field sports, track and field and general exercise. Women’s shoes are organized by brand, price and category and you’ll find shoes specifically designed for things like cheerleading and tennis that you won’t find elsewhere. You can find shoes for children that have extra support or safety. Children’s shoes come in a wide selection of brands and colors – there are even name brand infant and toddler shoes website has a discount section so you can search for a good deal on the type of shoe you’re looking for, and you can filter by maximum price. You’ll also get discounts on site, and via the Foot Locker newsletter. Shipping costs from Foot Locker vary depending on your purchases. You can receive free shipping on select items or if you meet a certain minimum purchase requirement. If you choose expedited shipping, Foot Locker guarantees delivery within the promised timeframe or they will reimburse you for shipping, which is a nice have 30 days from the product’s shipment date to get a full refund. You can either take your shoes to your local Foot Locker store to return or exchange them, which is a nice feature if you’re based near a physical store. The rest of the returns and exchange options aren’t great – you pay $6. 99 for return shipping, although you won’t be charged for the postage of replacement items in the event of an an D- rating via the Better Business BureauScores 3. 5 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsWe looked at around 120 user reviews of Foot Locker, and separated the ones that were specifically for the online service offered. What users really like about Foot Locker is the brand and the way it treats its customers. The selection of shoes and the style of footwear is usually praised, and it was good to see a range of ages leaving positive reviews. Foot Locker’s physical stores were complimented too, and several members of the online customer service team have been praised by name, which is a great mplaints usually stem from shipping and incorrect orders arriving, which are very common among other online shoe stores. There were several grievances around ordering via phone, which isn’t a common method of buying shoes, and this does seem to have caused some confusion among customers. Unusually, Foot Locker has a terrible D- rating via the BBB, and it doesn’t seem to be that good at closing customer complaints. (Image credit: Famous Footwear)Near-constant sale events and discountsGood turnover of stockMembers club is worth joiningIf you’re looking for the best prices and opportunities to save more, Famous Footwear is one of the best options. It isn’t quite on the same level as 6pm, but is one of the best discount shoe stores out there, and has an impressive range of has a sale tab on its site and consistently runs other promotions. For example, it often runs end-of-season sales during which you can get shoes, sandals or boots for as much as 50% off. Famous Footwear also has a rewards program that earns you points for each dollar you spend. These points can then be redeemed later. When you sign up for the rewards program, you also get exclusive offers and free shipping on any orders you make online. This may be one of the best perks because standard shipping applies to non-rewards members’ you want to exchange or return items you get 60-days (or 90 if you’re a member) and you can ship back via any courier of your choosing, so the fee for this is an A+ rating via the Better Business BureauScores 3. 4 out of 5 via Consumer AffairsWe researched around 100 reviews of Famous Footwear, and found them to be quite mixed. The positive reviews focused on the quality of the products that arrived, and the fact that they had been bought for so cheap. There’s an assumption with outlet-style online stores that they’re going to be sending substandard goods, but this isn’t the case and people are mplaints tend to center on errors with being charged for cancelled orders, and for problems with shipping. The response from Famous Footwear is inconsistent, if users are to be believed. Some like how efficiently the company resolves shipping issues, whereas others found them very unhelpful. Overall, there were no real red flags from the negative reviews, as you’ll see a lot of complaints that revolve around shipping for every online shoe retailer. (Image credit: Shoe Carnival)Shoe Carnival: Best for kids shoes and costume shoesGood range of kids shoes and fancy dress wearDecent prices on shoes, although delivery and exchange is expensivePlenty of sales events to save you moneyShoe Carnival is – as the name suggests – a good place to pick up both unusual and costume footwear. While it has all the usual categories that normal online shoe stores have, Shoe Carnival has a bunch of other categories to help you complete fancy-dress and Halloween costume outfits. You’ll see sections like ‘Cowboy’ and ‘Character’ on there, which demonstrates a breadth of shoes that many other retailers can’t quite site is great for kids shoes too, and there are loads of categories that children will actually want to shop from (as well as the more practical ones they need too). Everything is sensibly laid-out when you get to a product page, with multiple photos of the shoes clearly displayed. You can select size and colors from a drop-down menu, and there are user reviews on page… even if Shoe Carnival doesn’t get the same volume of reviews as many other sites. We don’t really like how much the site tries to ‘sell’ extras to you, as it makes the experience feel a bit ipping starts at $6. 95, although it’s free if you spend in excess of $75. Annoyingly, there’s a $10 surcharge if you live in Alaska or Hawaii, which other shoe stores don’t impose. You’ve got 60-days to return items, which is pretty generous, but you will be charged a $6 fee. Exchanges are essentially treated like returns, so if you do get the wrong size, you’ll need to pay that fee when you send the original pair of shoes back, and then you’ll pay again for delivery. Of all the shoe stores we reviewed, Shoe Carnival has the worst exchange Carnival User Reviews and RatingsHas an A+ rating via the Better Business BureauScores 2 out of 5 via YelpWe looked at around 45 user reviews of Shoe Carnival, as there were fewer related to the online version of the store than the brick and mortar retailer. What we found were a lot of critical reviews that took issue with the delivery and returns process of the site. Some users had really struggled to return items, and in some cases the issue had been ongoing for several months. While users had fewer issues with the stores, they also suggested that customer service was average at best. Another more troubling review suggested that they were unable to get a refund for a defective item and, while there are often reasons why stores won’t accept refunds on worn shoes, this wasn’t an isolated case. We also noted that several users didn’t like the more aggressive sales tone that both the regular stores and the website take with customers, with one noting “Just let the shoes be the shoes”! We couldn’t agree more. (Image credit: ASOS)ASOS: Best for shoe inspirationA great range of brands, some of which are lesser knownGood prices, and lots of discounts availableGreat returns method and policyASOS is a UK brand that is rapidly growing in the US. And with good reason – the site has a large range of shoes, and other clothing, and it’s incredibly easy to buy from. While the selection isn’t as wide as the likes of Zappos, you’ll find a number of brands here that aren’t as common across the rest of the shoe stores we’ve listed here, so if you’re looking for something a little different you’ll likely find it here. It’s great to just poke around on the site looking for new shoes and clothes, so we’ve listed it as our top pick for oduct pages are laid out a little differently to many other shoe retailers, but you’ll recognize all the elements, including a gallery of pictures of the shoe itself, and an option to change the size and style too. There are no user reviews on site, but there are help guides to assist you with finding the right size and it comes to delivery and returns, ASOS is very good. While the returns policy is only 28-days for a full refund, you can also get store credit for up to 45-days. You can return items via any USPS office, and you can often use the same packaging your shoes arrived in for the return, which does save you money. There are no paper slips to fill out in ASOS orders, so all the returns process is done online, which is better for the environment. Overall, we like what the company is trying to do User Reviews and RatingsHas an F rating via the Better Business BureauScores 4 out of 5 via TrustpilotWe looked at over 200 reviews of ASOS, and found some very inconsistent things. While it has a terrible F rating at the BBB, many consumer review sites – like Trustpilot – have very favorable overall scores for the site. A rating of 4 stars on Trustpilot, for example, is higher than most other retailers on this list. Positive comments focus on the customer service that people have received, and the speed of resolution that occurred. The company is quite prompt at responding to complaints on the BBB too, so we don’t see why the rating is so most common issues that people face with ASOS are around the time it takes to process some returns, and to refund the customer. While it’s fairly standard, we note that the company promises a refund within 14 days, which is unacceptable given how quickly they’re able to accept payments. A few people have bemoaned the lack of a complaints department, and seem to have vented frustrations elsewhere, but overall the customer experience seems very good with we choose the best online shoe storesAbout our online shoe store guideWe have considered all the big names in online shoe and clothing retail to create our guide to the best online shoe stores. We arrived at the final ten options by browsing and using each site in a variety of ways to determine the customer journey and the overall quality of service you will experience. Because we know this can vary across states and customer orders, we looked at over 1000 user reviews to give as accurate an impression as possible of the experience you’re likely to get at each online shoe store. Our Promise to You1. Range and pricesAn online shoe store lives and dies by the value it offers, and the range of shoes you can get. The magic combination is good quality, cheap shoes, in a large range of popular styles. We often see online shoe sites offering discounts on end-of-line shoes, which is often the best time to buy, but many will have the latest styles in-stock at prices lower than what you find in your local shoe retailer. 2. Website experienceOur whole team are experts on website experience and user journeys. Because everything is done online when it comes to buying shoes from web retailers, we look at the whole process – from first arrival on the website, through to receiving and keeping the product you get. We know that the user journey doesn’t end when you checkout, or when the package is delivered, and we take that into account with each store we assess. 3. Shipping and returnsThe shipping and returns policy of an online shoe store is vital. One of the drawbacks of buying shoes online is that you can’t try before you buy, so you need to be able to return shoes that don’t fit with the absolute minimum of fuss. So, we consider things like: do stores provide packaging for return? Do they allow free returns? Do they allow you to easily return items via couriers or drop-off points? 4. Customer service and knowledgeOne of the reasons to buy shoes in physical stores is that you get to chat to knowledgable assistants who can advise you on fit, how to protect shoes from damage, and advise you on other shoes they have in stock. These are things online shoe stores have to replicate virtually, so we consider the methods they use to provide these aspects of the service – from information on how to measure your own feet, through to customer aftercare and similar product recommendations. 5. Discounts and salesFinally, we look at the frequency with which retailers offer sales and discounts on their stock. Not only are these excellent opportunities to save money for you, but they’re also good for clearing out old stock to make room for new shoes, so a retailer with more sales tends to refresh their range a little more Shoe Store FAQsWhile we’re sure most of you know how to shop via the best online shoe stores, we have collected some useful advice for the overall process of buying shoes online. Most of this centers on refunds, exchanges, and your rights as a consumer, so it’s worth a quick are your consumer rights for refunds? While most of the best online shoe stores offer at least a 28-day refund policy on all items, we find that the terms of these policies vary wildly. You may be wondering what your rights are, as a consumer, and the answer is that it varies per state. This guide from the excellent FindLaw website breaks down your federal and state rights in relation to online shopping, so if you’re in any doubt, head over there and look up your particular state. California, for example, mandates that a full refund must be offered within 30-days but ONLY if the retailer fails to clearly state their refund policy at the point of sale. Most other states do not offer these protections.
The basic summary is that, while it’s seen as best-practice for retailers to do so, stores are not legally required to accept returns on goods whatsoever. So, while it’s unlikely you’ll find any online shoe stores failing to have a refund policy, you are not legally protected if you buy from somewhere that doesn’t have a full returns policy. Ouch.
When it comes to specific online protection, we note that federal law states that the site’s refund policy must be clearly displayed on a website in order for online purchases to be valid. So, if this isn’t the case, the site has no right to charge you for an item, and therefore you could very reasonably ask for the full amount of money to be returned on the ground that the sale wasn’t valid in the first place. A little confusing, but it does
How Do Sneaker Resellers Get So Many Shoes? – Fashion & Mash
Sneakers are more than just a fashion statement. The kind of shoes you wear describes the kind of person you are. But how do sneaker resellers get so many shoes? Or how do they make tremendous income from reselling sneakers?
Currently, several entrepreneurs are generating an astronomical amount of cash from this business. It’s a provable way to overlook the work from home scams and get into the real ground-breaking business.
If you’re looking forward to starting your own sneaker reselling business, we’ve provided some of the most important things you might need to know. But we get started, let’s have a quick rundown at the sneaker reselling market.
Sneaker flipping is well among the proven ways of making money within a short period of time. In fact, the sneaker resale market is quite profitable in comparison to some other business.
One report showed that the global sneaker market was about $ 58 billion in 2018, which is further projected to grow at 7 percent between 2019 and 2022.
So Where Do Sneaker Resellers Get All These Shoes From?
For the most part, sneaker resellers get nearly all of their shoes online. This might involve the use of certain computer programs in an attempt to secure more sneakers. These programs virtually automate everything, trying to rapidly check out numerous pairs from websites before they actually sell out.
And they do so much faster than any man could. They are common among most resellers, though these computer programs aren’t outright fair as you’d probably expect. Programs available to the public are likely to be inferior to those used privately.
Also, sneakers resellers making the most money have connections with investors, industry insiders, elite hackers, and even access to private software that essentially gives them a monopoly over the supply.
After looking at what type of sneaker they want, what sizes, and where to buy them, substantial experience, tools, and blockbuster finding basically guarantee their success.
These people can get thousands right from their laptops, while others are probably camping out all night just to snag a pair or two- even with the said computer programs. Of course, it’s easy to feel sorry for them, but that’s how it works, apparently. In the end, when you get your hands on these shoes, it’s like winning a lottery ticket.
Another thing is that every release is different. Thus the point is to get as many as possible before they run out.
For instance, one reseller stated that they got about 100 pairs of the Off-White Air Jordan from last year’s release. A pair of these cost around $190, and they spent around $6, 000 on the set up to make it an accomplishment.
He said that the sneaker was released exclusively in the EU, so the prices were very high. Less exclusive sneakers such as Yeezys may generate a profit margin of barely a couple of hundred dollars or so, but securing 1, 000 pairs will easily make up for that.
Where Do They Sell The Sneakers?
This is probably the easiest thing about sneaker reselling. Sometime back, it used to be a different story. However, today there are well-driven marketplaces for sneakers such as GOAT, StockX, and Hypremium, enabling them to do almost everything from an app.
Now that Google has turned every thrift shop attendant into a sneaker devotee, you’ll rarely find a pair of vintage Air Jordans, for instance, in your local shop bargain bin. That means that for beginners, new releases are your go-to-goa.
This makes the whole process a breeze and ensures authenticity for both the seller and buyer. The apps essentially serve as a stock market for sneakers. It leads to pretty consistent resale prices, making reselling much easier than ever. For example, when you want to shift hundreds of thousands of pairs, you would simply sell them directly to a bulk buyer, which is still convenient.
How Much Does Sneaker Reseller Make?
For starters (and if you’re serious), you can easily make a few thousand a month considering it as a side job. It’s not a wonder that most people in this sneaker niche are college students who just resell casually and earn a decent income.
Moreover, sneakers are always on release, which you can make bucks on. And what’s even great is that when you buy an item that you can’t resell for some reason, you can simply return it for free. Nothing to lose, apparently.
You can also ideally buy multiple pairs, sit on them for a while, maybe months, and they’ll probably be worth even more. There’s always a handful of shoes throughout the year, which will certainly go for 5-10 times the retail price. Sometimes quite a lot more, going for 3-5 times markup.
However, there’s a catch. Some of the major sneaker companies might try to stop you. This could mortar stores or online websites. They are likely to set limits of one pair-per-individual on certain exclusive sneakers.
It’s more fun as some will even employ some of the most profound cybersecurity companies in the world to try and prevent resellers from purchasing online. And as we all know, in a case where profits are so abnormally high, it’s probably a cat-mouse game. But sneaker resellers always find a way around things.
Is Sneaker Reselling Legal?
As for now, it is legal. Of course, trends are coming around, which is nothing new to the magnitude crowd, but for some reason, the trends always pass by without making any impact. Before they get to actually making any money, it’s too late.
Opportunities appear that just can’t be ignored. And sneaker reselling is one of them. You might want to the advantage of it while you can. It’s from taking this advantage that sneaker resellers have unobtrusively been making massive income from a side hustle. It’s a huge market opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions about how to buy limited shoes online
How do I buy limited edition sneakers online?
Zappos.com: Best online shoe store overall.DSW: Best dedicated online shoe store.6pm: Best discount shoe store.Overstock.com: Best shoe store for discounts.Shoes.com: Best store for specialty shoes.Amazon: Best for ‘try before you buy’ shoes.Foot Locker: Best for sports shoes.Famous Footwear: Best for shoe sale events.More items…•Jun 7, 2021
What is the best website to buy shoes off of?
For the most part, sneaker resellers get nearly all of their shoes online. This might involve the use of certain computer programs in an attempt to secure more sneakers. These programs virtually automate everything, trying to rapidly check out numerous pairs from websites before they actually sell out.Dec 18, 2020
How do resellers get so many pairs?
Exclusive Access invitations extend personalized purchase offers to members of the SNKRS community based on their engagement with the SNKRS app. 2. The more active a member of the community is, both in engagement with SNKRS’ content series and specific releases, the more personal Exclusive Access invitations become. 3.Jun 17, 2021