The Best Websites to Buy and Sell Sneakers in 2020 (2023)

The Best Websites To Buy and Sell Sneakers

Okay, we know–we’re putting ourselves at the top of the list. But, trust us, there’s a reason behind the blatant bias and ego. Grailed is the preeminent marketplace for men’s fashion and streetwear—obviously, that includes sneakers. Beyond the most recent drops, vintage models such as 1985 Air Jordan 1s or early 2000s Nike SB Dunks—sneakers competitors either do not have or simply cannot source—regularly appear on the platform. With the ability to buy both new and used sneakers, Grailed has the best prices anywhere.

For Sellers:

Pros
Grailed offers the lowest fees of any platform around at just nine percent (plus Paypal fees). The only true sneaker marketplace, you can communicate directly with your potential buyer, inducting them into the Grailed community. Grailed additionally allows you to sell used sneakers as well, unlike competitors who only allow brand new ("deadstock") sneakers on site.

Cons
Grailed is a true marketplace, meaning we don’t offer a traditional SKU system–but we do have SKUs for a massive amount of in-demand sneakers, with more added regularly! While we are adding product categories everyday, the majority of products are spread across multiple listings rather than all located under one landing page. Still, in terms of depth and variety, no one holds a candle to us.

For Buyers:

Pros
Given our industry low fee structure, sneakers are legitimately cheaper on Grailed. As sellers keep a greater portion of each sale, they can charge a lower sticker price, which means sneakers are often below “market." Lastly, our offer system allows you to directly negotiate with a seller to work towards an ideal price.

Cons
Unfortunately not all sellers are as reliable as others, and it can be difficult to communicate with a seller once you have purchased a listing. That said, our team of round the clock moderators and community team are constantly working to ensure that items are received in a timely manner. Also, as a true marketplace, sneakers are often mislabeled, however our product team is rolling out a slew of new features including auto-fill sell forms and product pages to minimize the issue.

Consensus: There’s a reason Grailed has such an incredible user retention rate. Between fees, prices, the ability to purchase slightly worn shoes for well below their going rate, no other site compares. We hate to say it, but if you’re looking to buy or sell rare or vintage sneakers, there’s no better place than Grailed.

Shop sneakers on Grailed here

The self-described “stock market of things” StockX began as a marketplace to determine the actual aftermarket value of hyped sneakers. Today, the company sells everything from streetwear to watches and handbags, all of which are in brand new condition. With a big marketing push, StockX has established itself as setting the market rate for many of the most hyped sneakers.

For sellers:

Pros
StockX acts as the middleman, meaning once your sneakers sell and you ship them to a StockX warehouse you are paid out. That said, higher fees and longer wait times make selling on StockX a longer process than competitors.

Cons
StockX is less straightforward than competitors. In order to sell, a user must fill out a sell form by finding the product and listing it on the website. Once the item sells, the user ships it to an authentication center, or drops it off at one of only a handful physical locations. Then once properly authenticated, the item is shipped and the seller is paid. StockX fees operate on a sliding scale but range from 9.5 percent to 8 percent plus credit card fees depending on the users “seller level”—i.e. the more you sell, the less you pay. StockX only allows brand new merchandise, meaning anyone with once-worn or slightly used sneakers is out of luck. In general, sellers tend to make less money per sale than with competitors.

For Buyers:

Pros
Every sneaker is in “deadstock” condition, meaning brand new, unworn in the original packaging. There are a number of options to purchase, including a “buy now” feature or an “ask,” a binding contract akin to Grailed's "offer" system. The retail experience is relatively straightforward and all items are authenticated in-house at one of StockX's warehouses around the world.

Cons
Stock is limited to the product pages and catalogues the company has uploaded, meaning rare or highly specific product may be unavailable. Also, since StockX authenticates every item in-house in one of many warehouses, products can sometimes take a number of weeks to arrive, and overheard (albeit indirectly) leads to steeper costs. Additionally, authentication fees and duties (if you're an international shopper) can potentially add a significant price bump to any purchase.

Consensus: For those searching for exclusively deadstock sneakers, StockX is a good option. Prices are generally fair—higher than other sites, though—and the shopping process is relatively simple, granted the “stock” system is at times convoluted. Sellers who have a lot of brand new inventory are in luck, however anyone with lightly used goods cannot sell at all, and the additional transaction fees mean that checkout price is often considerably higher than advertised.

GOAT is an online only sneaker site that sells both new and lightly used sneakers. GOAT focuses exclusively on footwear, predominantly recent drops and noteworthy collaborations. Unlike other websites, GOAT functions differently as it is predominantly geared towards buyers. The website offers a traditional retail experience, with worldwide shipping and simple buying mechanics, search functionality and so forth.

For Sellers

Pros
For sellers, GOAT is not an ideal website. As previously mentioned it is predominantly geared towards buyers and with a sliding fee scale that maxes out at nearly 20 percent, the website eats into your profit margin. That said, if you maintain a high seller score, deal predominantly in new sneakers—though GOAT does allow used pairs as well—then you can potentially make money.

Cons
GOAT is significantly more complex for sellers than other platforms. First, potential sellers must apply in order to list items on the website. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and can take days to be processed. Once you’re approved, GOAT assigns each seller a “seller score,” which begins at 90. Each sale henceforth affects your score, with 2 points added for a successful sale and 10 points deducted for a poor sale. Fees correlate directly with your seller score, with the lowest possible fees (9.5 percent) awarded to sellers with a score of 90 or above. Those below pay on a sliding scale, with the highest fees reaching 20 percent. On top of the fee structure, each sale invokes an additional flat region-dependent tax that ranges from $5-$30. Once you actually sell an item, GOAT (like StockX) sends you a prepaid shipping label to send the sneakers to an authentication center. After the center verifies the item, your funds are released and are available as “Credits.” In order to cash out, an additional 2.9 percent fee is applied, meaning in order for you funds to hit you bank or PayPal account there’s a minimum 12.4 percent fee plus an additional $5 minimum charge.

For Buyers:

Pros
The website offers a traditional retail experience, with worldwide shipping and simple buying mechanics, search functionality and so forth. Sneaker prices vary by size, with the lowest price available for any given size listed first, with more expensive options for those who want sneakers as quickly as possible. Shipping is a flat fee, so prices are relatively straightforward. For those searching for mainstream new or lightly used sneakers, GOAT is a solid place to buy.

Cons
Prices can be slightly higher than other platforms (a result of the high fee structure) and the catalogue gears predominantly towards new collaborations, hyped releases and ultra-expensive grails. For those looking for cheap footwear options or shoes below market, GOAT can be difficult.

Consensus: From a buyer’s perspective, GOAT is great. There are a lot of options—though primarily newer releases and ultra-expensive grails—and buying is very straightforward, tax is even included! That said, if you’re looking to enter the resell game, GOAT may prove difficult. Between fees, rolling admission and turn around time, as a new seller you may have missed the boat.

Once rivals in the space, early last year GOAT and consignment shop Flight Club “merged” into one company. While technically one entity, each still operates independently and are seemingly autonomous. As such, we included them separately. One of the first sneaker consignment shops, Flight Club transformed from a simple retailer to a powerful online sneaker buying and selling platform.

For Sellers

Pros
Flight Club operates under a traditional consignment model. For those looking to sell, you can either sign up on the Flight Club website and ship your sneakers to either the LA or NYC location, or choose to drop off the sneakers in store if you're local. After you drop off your sneakers, Flight Club handles the rest as you sit back and get paid.

Cons
As Flight Club is a true consignor, you are only paid once your sneakers sell. For its service, Flight Club charges a 20 percent flat rate fee on every pair of sneakers sold—a hefty price compared to competitors. Flight Club only deals in new sneakers.

For Buyers:

Pros
Flight Club is a true retailer, and since all product is onsite in either a store or a warehouse, turnaround times are quick. Shopping at either the website or brick and mortar locations is reminiscent of a traditional ecommerce or retail experience, respectively.

Cons
Since Flight Club is still technically a brick and mortar store, prices tend to be a bit steeper—they have to cover rent and inventory. While Flight Club recommends prices, sellers are allowed to list their own, which means often sneakers are priced above market. While Flight Club has almost every new release you may be searching for, older models–which are more difficult to authenticate–are often not available.

Consensus: While an iconic destination, Flight Club is predominantly a retail experience. For buyers it is straightforward, however for sellers the high commission can eat away at profits. For that reason, there are other better alternatives.

Similar to Flight Club, Stadium Goods is a consigner that has a significant online presence. While initially focused on only sneakers, Stadium Goods recently entered the streetwear game as well, and now offers Supreme, Palace and even Travis Scott “Astroworld” merch. The catalogue is similar to many competitors, and like many others only deals in brand new merchandise.

For sellers

Pros
If a seller has 10 pairs or less, they can simply walk into the Canal street store front and drop them off to start selling—anyone with more than 10 pairs must make an appointment. For those in the New York area, selling requires almost no overhead and is very straightforward.

Cons
For anyone not in the New York area, Stadium Goods requires you to set up a seller profile and communicate online with its internal sales team, creating a bar to entry. Again, due to a brick and mortar location and warehouse needs, Stadium Goods commands a 20 percent flat commission from every sale, sent once your sneakers have sold. As of now, Stadium Goods does not allow consignors to drop off streetwear, despite the fact it sells it.

For Buyers:

Pros
Stadium Goods is a similar experience to many other platforms, offering a wide array of sneakers varying in cost due to size and demand. For popular sneakers, they almost always have stock.

Cons
Like Flight Club, Stadium Goods lets consigners set their own prices, however works with them in order to try and match market cost. Tax and shipping are tacked on after a purchase, and the store ships to most countries, though at a cost.

Consensus: While convenient from a buyer’s perspective, like other consigners the steep 20 percent fee structure and lack of seller tools make Stadium Goods less than ideal. If you’re looking to cop a pair of hyped sneakers online, it’s great. But like the others, those interested in buying and selling may find the platform limiting.