So in an attempt to save you both time and money, here are five ways to find deals on sneakers.
1. The websites of the usual suspects
When you don't know the answer to a question, you usually turn to Google, right? So when you're searching out sneaker deals, it's just as likely that you turn to the heavy-hitting, brick-and-mortar, mainstay websites like Foot Locker, Eastbay, Champs Sports and Finish Line. Although this is where most people go hunting for sneaker deals, these giant companies maintain huge inventories that their physical locations simply can't support. And if you make it past the first 5-7 pages of shoes, there are massive discounts, even on signature athlete's shoes, like LeBrons and Kobes, to be found.
2. In-store markdowns
For a variety of reasons, most of the larger sneaker stores limit their most sought-after releases to online. But there's still plenty of value in taking a trip to your local mall. When these stores need to move slower-moving sneakers, in order to make room for upcoming releases, the customer wins. It's not surprising to find a pair of shoes that once featured a $200 retail price tag (or more) discounted by $60, $80 or even $100. These deals vary by location, so not every Finish Line will have a certain colorway of LeBron 13s on sale for $99. Check back at your local stores early and often.
3. Sole Steals
Arguably, Sole Steals is the best-kept secret in the sneaker world. The rise of untrustworthy dealers peddling B-grades, knockoffs or fake sneakers (namely Air Jordans) has made many people who seek out sneaker deals skeptical of many online retailers, and it would be easy to view Sole Steals in the same light. But take it from yours truly: Sole Steals is 100 percent legit. The prices on retros, signature and OG kicks on Sole Steals has to be seen to be believed, and even then you'll probably do a double take. In order to get in on the savings, members must sign up for a weekly ($7.99), monthly ($19.99) or yearly subscription ($199.99). Restocks occur every Sunday at 6 p.m. EST. Get a sneak peek on that weekend's drop by visiting Sole Steals on Instagram.
4. Kixify
Founded in 2013, Kixify has grown into one of the largest sneaker marketplaces on the web. You can find almost any shoe, big or small, new or used, Nike or Adidas on here. There is inherent risk in dealing with unauthorized resellers, but each seller has a feedback rating and "verified sellers" are marked with blue ribbons to help ease your mind during the buying process.
5. Ebay
People have been turning to Ebay to buy just about everything for years, including sneakers, but the deals are just as plentiful on the popular bidding site as they've ever been. Patience, knowledge and a keen eye for saving money will go a long way towards keeping your wallet happy and your sneaker closet full when shopping on Ebay. Also, many sneaker auctions feature a "Best Offer" option, just in case negotiating is your strong suit.
How do you find deals on sneakers? Did we leave out a website or shop that people should know about it? If so, drop us a line at contact@dayton.com.
About the Author