I Used to Love Sneakers Until Resellers Ruined Everything

The Sneaker Game's Ugly Underside

As a lifelong sneaker enthusiast, I've had a complex relationship with the culture of reselling limited edition kicks. Like any sneakerhead, scoring a pair of grails brings me joy. But as prices and demand have skyrocketed, thanks to reseller bots and backdoor connections, copping for retail has become nearly impossible.

The Thrill of the Drop

I still get excited when icons like the Air Jordan 1 or Dunks get re-released. Sitting there refreshing apps, hoping to beat the bots, brings back memories of better days. Back then, before sneaker mania went mainstream, scoring a pair retail made you feel like a winner.

Of course, taking an L still stings. But it's the sense of community around drops that I miss most. Nowadays quando much stock gets backdoored or eaten up by bots, it feels pointless even trying.

Prices Going Stratospheric

As anyone into fashion knows, resell prices have gone crazy. Classic colorways that used to sit on shelves now fetch 4X or 5X retail. I'll never pay $500 for Air Force 1s, or $2,000 for AJ1s, out of principle. But clearly many are willing to pay these astronomical prices.

It's not just the iconic silhouettes either. These days people are reselling GR New Balances and Asics for $300+. I understand supply and demand, but come on. These are general releases, not friends and family exclusives!

Where Does it End?

Hype is nothing new in the sneaker world. Jordans have always commanded a premium on the secondary market. But things have gotten out of hand recently. When limited drops sell out instantly, only to appear on StockX minutes later, something is seriously wrong.

Blame shifting consumer culture all you want. If it wasn't so profitable, resellers wouldn't exist. At the end of the day, brands like Nike and Adidas allow this to happen through artificial scarcity and poorly policed releases. And as long as people keep paying resale, it's hard to see anything changing.

Is There a Solution?

I don't claim to have all the answers. But a few tweaks could help level the playing field for actual fans trying to cop kicks to wear.

Better Release Strategies

Brands need online infrastructure that can withstand bots, backdoor link sharing, and other illicit methods. Raffles and waiting rooms help when executed properly. Regional in-store drops also make botting difficult, though lines and violence often follow.

There's also a case for flooding the market to kill resale demand. But exclusivity has always been part of the sneaker game's appeal. For mature collectors, increased supply only cheapens the feeling of acquiring something rare.

Crack Down on Resellers

Sneaker consignment shops and resell platforms like StockX and GOAT enable the aftermarket frenzy. But they also offer security and convenience compared to sites like eBay. Completely eliminating these secondary outlets seems unlikely and unwise.

However, brands could pressure sites to make their sales data transparent. Nike and Adidas might also restrict retail accounts caught backdooring stock to resellers. Or ban those selling limited shoes above a certain premium. Drastic perhaps, but probably necessary.

Accept Reality or Walk Away

As an OG sneakerhead, part of me wants the game to return to its roots. But hype culture and sneaker investment are here to stay. Coming to terms with that may be the smart play.

There will always be affordable general releases for people who just want fresh kicks on feet. And if the money and frustration aren't worth playing at the top tier anymore, nothing wrong with walking away.

I can't imagine quitting the culture I love completely. But diversifying into less hype-driven brands like New Balance and Asics could be a middle ground. The thrill of the big drops will have to sustain me through increasing Ls.

FAQs

Why do people hate resellers so much?

Resellers use bots and backdoor connections to buy up limited sneaker releases, making it almost impossible for regular fans to cop at retail price.

Are brands like Nike and Adidas unable to stop reselling?

The brands could do more to crack down, such as pressuring resale sites to share sales data or banning retail accounts caught supplying stock to resellers.

What drives the insane resale prices?

Exclusivity and hype drive up resale prices. Some sneakers are now seen as investment assets. As long as people pay thousands above retail, prices will remain stratospheric.

Should resell sites like StockX be shut down?

These sites enable the frenzy, but also offer security and convenience. Completely eliminating them seems unwise, but pressuring them would help.

Are there any solutions to democratize releases?

Better infrastructure to withstand bots and regional in-store drops would help. But hype culture likely isn't going anywhere without brands flooding the market.