The 2nd hand market is booming these days. I imagine that in the heyday of social media and international clothing access at the edge of one’s fingertips, lots of people bought lots of stuff and then one day woke up realizing they didn’t really need most of it. Hence the amount of ‘buy and sell’ there are across many platforms and forums.
But selling used shoes is not so easy for several reasons that I wanted to point out. And in doing so with the hopes to help you all get rid of your undesirables, potentially to other people on this site looking for them. You know the saying, “One person’s junk, can be the next person’s treasure.”
So, here are the top things to remember when selling used shoes. Follow these simple instructions and you are sure to grab a sale!
Table of contents
Price Accordingly
This is the number one issue with most people selling used stuff. They value their stuff more than it’s actually worth and way more than anyone else values it. Getting your money back is next to impossible and if you don’t accept that, you won’t make any money at all. If it’s not a big deal for you then no problem. But if you are eager to make a sale and wondering why you haven’t already, chances are that your price is too high.
Used shoes are like used cars. The second you drive them off of the lot they lose 50% of the value. Same thing with the 1st wear of a pair of shoes. Heck, even if you are not the brand itself, or a credible retailer and the shoes are brand new, it will be hard to get full price. If your shoes are worn, getting 50% of the value will be good. Getting anything more will be amazing. But it is best to aim at around 30%-40% of retail value for anything more than 5 uses.
Good Presentation
No used shoe looks good without shoe trees in it. I don’t care what shoes they are. The second you wear them is the second they lose the lasts’ natural shape, when unaccompanied by a foot. Stick a shoe tree in. You don’t have to sell them if you don’t want but it helps make the shoe more attractive.
Secondly, polish them. Brand new shoes unshined are not so attractive. So imagine used shoes….ugly. Dirty. Unpresentable. It doesn’t help make your price justifiable. Shine them. At least cream them. Do something. Don’t just take them off your sweaty feet, snap a pic and post them for sale. That doesn’t work.
A good shine with shoe trees in your used shoes will create a presentation that gives you a far greater chance at making the sale!
It is imperative that you follow the rule presentation when selling used shoes.
Good Photography
I just don’t get it when people mess up point 2 and on top of that take some very dark and unflattering photos. I guess it just shows that in reality, they are not so fussed about selling the shoe. Good photography is not so hard. And most cell phones take decent photographs. The key is lighting. Take the pictures outside under natural daylight. This will increase the chances the picture is eye-catching as the natural light will show the shoe’s details more easily.
Take photos of flattering angles of the shoes A shoe is beautiful mainly due to last shape. If you make the last look ugly no one will buy them. Take many photos, edit them down to the top 5, and then post them
Show The Details
Details add value to your shoe. Rubber bottoms with toe taps cost a good chunk of money to add on so can be a huge win for a customer. A deal-breaker so to speak. A clean-looking sole that looks relatively unworn is also a good thing. Clean that sole up and show it. It will help your case and maximize your chance of a sale.
If you stick to these simple rules, your odds of making the sale will increase.
If you are selling something right now and are breaking rule #1, go do a price drop and bet your shoes will sell quickly!
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
NCJack
If the shoes are very lightly worn, then usually the brand labeling on the insole will look crisp and new: show that. I try to buy judging on the likelihood that the footbed will not be imprinted by the owner’s foot, and a “clean” interior helps a lot.
Justin FitzPatrick
Thanks for the input Jack! That also makes sense as no one wants sweaty shoes!
Sevesteen
Re: photography–stand back and either zoom in or crop. Most phone cameras default to wide angle when what you need for beauty shots is a short telephoto. If you’re too close, people’s noses and the toes of shoes look abnormally wide.