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Wondering how to sell sneakers for cash? If you have a bunch of old sneakers you don’t wear anymore, you’re not alone. Most people have worn-out shoes that they don’t want anymore, but they still have sentimental value.
You can make money by selling those old shoes online—and it’s easier than ever to do so! Sneakers are a great item to buy and resell.
Here are a few tips for making sure your sneakers sell quickly and for top dollar…
There are a few key steps to follow when it comes to how to sell sneakers for cash:
- Find the right place to sell
- Clean your shoes
- Take quality photos
- Create a good listing
- Set a good price
- Negotiate and get paid
Find the right marketplace
- Sell on eBay. The online auction site is the go-to spot to sell sneakers and other clothing items. You can generate a lot of traffic by having good pictures and creating an eye-catching listing title, but buyers will expect to pay for it with a markup—and that’s fine! The more you mark up your sneakers, the more money you’ll make from selling them.
- Sell on Amazon. If you’d rather get paid immediately than wait for a buyer to bid or purchase your product, try using Amazon as your marketplace instead of eBay or another auction website like Poshmark or Grailed (which we’ll talk about next). You’ll be able to set a fixed price for each item without leaving anything up to chance—and if someone wants it bad enough, they may buy at that price anyway!
- Use Poshmark. This is a great option if you’re looking for somewhere where users can buy straight from sellers without bidding wars or high fees involved in every transaction; however, keep in mind that this platform only accepts certain brands of sneakers (so make sure yours are compatible before getting started).
Clean your shoes.
After you’ve determined the condition of your shoes and assessed how much they’re worth, it’s time to clean them up.
Clean your sneakers by using a rag or toothbrush (if they’re old enough) to remove dirt and dust from their surface.
Avoid using water on them if you can, as this can damage the material of your shoes.
If you must use water, make sure that the shoes dry completely before selling them; otherwise mold will form inside them and reduce their value in the process of getting rid of it.
Take the perfect picture.
Now that you’ve got your sneakers and the right equipment, it’s time to set up for your photo.
You want to make sure that your picture looks as professional as possible and will attract buyers from all over the world.
First up: use a high-quality camera and lens.
Don’t just whip out your phone because it’s convenient! The pictures are going to be used in listings on websites like eBay or Craigslist, which means they’ll be seen by potential buyers around the globe—so you have to make sure that it looks great.
The best thing you can do is invest in a good DSLR camera with interchangeable lenses so you can get creative with angles and perspectives.[1] If you don’t already own one, we recommend checking out our guide on how to choose a digital SLR camera if this is something new for you.[2]
Create a compelling listing
- Use a good description. A good description will help your buyers know what they are buying, which is especially important for exotic or rare sneakers. If you are selling some old-school Chucks, for example, include any details about the shoe that will give it that extra level of charm; maybe these were the shoes you wore to prom when you were a teenager!
- Make sure your pictures are clear and show all angles. Buyers want to see pictures of the shoes from every angle so they can make sure they’re getting exactly what they’re looking for.
- Use keywords in both the title and description sections of your listing to help people find your listing faster on eBay’s search engine results pages (SERPs).
Set the right price
When you’re trying to sell your sneakers, the first thing you need to do is set the right price. The price you set will have a huge impact on how quickly your shoes sell and how much money they earn.
The ideal price is one that’s competitive with other listings in the marketplace while still being realistic about your own ability to sell at a higher price.
If you think it’s worth $350 but no one else does, then chances are good that no one will buy it for that much—and even if someone does, they might not pay until weeks later when they finally find another buyer at that price point.
Handle negotiations and payment
When a buyer makes an offer, be prepared to walk away. If you’re selling sneakers for cash, chances are you’re not in desperate need of the money. You should have other options and should consider them before accepting a lowball offer.
If the price offered is high, however, don’t accept it either. You may feel like you’re taking advantage of the buyer by rejecting their generous offer—but remember that they’re taking advantage of your desperation if they pay too much for your sneakers!
Be wary of requests that come along with extra fees or requirements that seem excessive; these could be attempts at scamming you out of your hard-earned cash. If an offer seems too good to be true (or just plain weird), it probably is!
This is a pretty similar process to selling sports cards.
You can make money by selling sneakers
This is how you sell sneakers for cash. Here are some takeaways…
- You can make money by selling sneakers.
- Selling sneakers is a great way to earn extra cash.
- There are several ways you can sell your sneakers, including online and at consignment stores.
By following these simple steps, you can make money by selling sneakers online.