Where you should sell sneakers depends on one question before any other: are they deadstock or worn? Deadstock pairs have a liquid market with published prices and several platforms competing for your listing. Worn pairs have a thinner market, more haggling, and fewer places that will take them at all. Answer that, and the rest of this guide sorts itself.
We buy sneakers outright at Sabi, so we're one of the options below. We've tried to describe the others honestly. If you want a number today, start here.
Deadstock or worn is the first question every buyer will ask. Photo: Junior Samson on Unsplash.
The options, and who each one is for
StockX
Bid-and-ask marketplace built around deadstock. You list an ask, a buyer's bid meets it, you ship to StockX for verification, and you're paid after. Prices are transparent, which is the best and worst thing about it: you'll get market price, and so will everyone else, so there's no upside from a good listing. Seller fees and payment processing come off the top, and you wait for verification. StockX has been expanding into used pairs for select US sellers, but deadstock is still the core.
For: deadstock hype pairs where you want the market price and don't mind the wait.
GOAT
Similar model to StockX with a used-pair category that's been around longer. You photograph the pair yourself for used listings, which means more work but a real path for worn shoes. Fees and shipping apply; payout comes after the buyer receives and GOAT verifies.
For: deadstock and lightly used pairs, especially if the pair isn't hyped enough for StockX's bid market to be deep.
eBay
Largest audience, auction or fixed price, authentication on sneakers above a price threshold. You control the listing and can hold out for a price. You also handle questions, returns, and the occasional bad buyer.
For: older or unusual pairs, vintage, and sellers who already have an eBay habit.
Sneaker consignment shops
Flight Club and local sneaker boutiques display and sell the pair for you, then pay a percentage. You get their foot traffic and their credibility. You also wait, and you don't control the price after drop-off.
For: high-value pairs where a physical store's audience matters.
Outright buyers
Photos, offer, handoff, paid. No fees, no waiting for a buyer, no returns. The trade-off is the payout: an outright buyer needs margin to resell, so the offer is a percentage of market price. Sabi pays 30 to 65 percent of recent sold prices for the exact pair and size, in Zelle or cash, with a reply inside 24 to 48 hours. In Portland you drop off by appointment; anywhere else we send a prepaid label. Terms and what we buy are on the Jordan and Nike sell page.
For: multiple pairs at once, worn pairs that marketplaces make painful, and anyone who values a fixed number this week over the best possible number next month.
Pawn shops and buy-sell-trade chains
Same-day cash, lowest offers, and little sneaker-specific knowledge. They price to flip fast. Fine for a beat-up general release you just want gone.
Side by side
| Where | Deadstock | Worn | Payout timing | Your effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StockX | Yes | Limited | After verification | Low |
| GOAT | Yes | Yes | After verification | Medium (used photos) |
| eBay | Yes | Yes | After delivery | High |
| Consignment | Yes | Sometimes | After sale | Low, long wait |
| Outright buyer | Yes | Yes, if clean | At handoff | Low |
| Pawn / chain | Yes | Yes | Same day | Low, low payout |
Which pairs are worth selling at all
Check the last sold price for the exact colorway and size, not the retail price and not the asking prices. Collaborations (Travis Scott, Off-White, Union, fragment, sacai), OG colorway retros, and limited Dunks and Air Maxes usually clear retail. General releases usually don't, which means after fees you may net less than the shoes cost you. That's not a reason not to sell; it's a reason to pick the lowest-effort route for those pairs.
What to photograph before you ask for a price
- Both shoes from the outside and inside profile.
- Soles, flat, in good light.
- The size tag inside the tongue.
- The box label, if you have the box.
- Every flaw: creases, yellowing, scuffs, heel drag, glue stains.
Every buyer on this list will ask for these. Having them ready is the difference between an offer today and an offer next week.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to sell used sneakers?
GOAT and eBay for the highest possible price if you'll do the work. An outright buyer for a fixed number with no fees or returns. StockX is still mostly a deadstock platform.
Can I sell worn sneakers on StockX?
Only in limited cases, for select US sellers, as of this writing. GOAT and eBay are the established routes for worn pairs online. Outright buyers take them if the condition is clean.
How much do sneaker shops pay?
A percentage of market price. Buy-sell-trade chains and pawn shops land around a quarter to a third. Specialist buyers land higher. Consignment pays a larger share but only after the pair sells.
Is StockX or GOAT better for selling?
StockX for hyped deadstock where bids are deep. GOAT for used pairs and for deadstock that isn't hyped enough to attract bids. Compare the net payout for your specific pair on both before listing; fee structures change.
Do you buy sneakers in Portland?
Yes. Nike, Jordan, ASICS, Saucony, adidas Originals, and Vans, with a focus on collaborations and OG colorways. Dropoff by appointment in Portland, prepaid label everywhere else. Details on the Jordan sell page, and the full brand list on the sell page. For designer footwear that isn't a sneaker, see where to sell designer shoes.
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