How to Predict Sneaker Resell Value - [Guide]

The sneaker market is extremely specialized and has little in common with other speculative markets. For many years, shoes have become very profitable assets where one can quickly double or triple their investment and generate significant profits. However, before buying shoes, it is important to understand the market, keep up to date with fashion and anticipate the demand for the models.

This subject is both simple and complex. Sometimes it’s enough to check out specialized Facebook, Instagram or Discord groups to understand the hype around a model. Sometimes, a more in-depth analysis is needed to predict the brand’s strategy.

Before trying to make money selling pairs of shoes, it is important to realize that 80% of the sneakers sold will be worth nothing (except their retail price, i.e. the purchase price in the primary market). The resale/resell market is called the secondary market). Only 20% will be limited edition pairs that can be resold at a profit.

While there are many factors to consider in determining whether a pair of shoes will sell, it is important to know that the three most popular shoe brands are Nike, Jordan and Adidas. Since the reputation of these players, the history of these brands and their ability to generate excitement around their products are already factors that can drive up prices (especially since even their “mainstream” models are already priced quite high). But don’t forget that other brands don’t have to be thrown away: Asics, Converse, Reebok, or even New Balance, all these brands offered sneakers that collectors rushed on. The strength and reputation of the brands is crucial as they have the resources and marketing influence to present powerful alliance proposals.

You can get a general idea of the demand for a pair of sneakers based on quantity (information that occasionally leaks on Twitter), co-branding, model, or even exclusivity or non-exclusivity in a country or continent.

Now that you know a little more about the field, let’s get into the nitty gritty. We will list 3 ways to predict the future price of a pair. This ranking will be done in order of effectiveness, from the least effective to the most effective :

1. Social networks

For a pair to gain value, there must be people asking to buy it. This is the principle of supply and demand. But how do you know if enough people are interested in the sneaker so that its price can increase ?

Well, the quickest and easiest way is to check the social networks. At a time when everyone shares what they think, when they think it and where they think it, this information can become a real gold mine for those who know how to exploit it.

Just type the name of the pair on the Twitter search bar (it’s the social network where sneaker addicts are the most active) and you’ll come across a slew of people discussing the pair you have in mind. Now it’s up to you to take the temperature and determine if there seems to be a craze or not. With experience and practice, you will eventually know exactly if a pair is really in demand or not.

This method is simple and can be used by anyone. It can be effective for those who know it inside out.

But the problem is that it takes time and your own biases (your personal opinion about the pair) may distort your judgment. If you think that a pair of shoes - and especially if you hope for it - will increase in value, then you may select only the positive comments about it. This will necessarily distort your result. And conversely, if you don’t like a pair, you may miss a great opportunity.

This method is therefore based on feelings. As the saying goes “Men lie but numbers don’t”, right? So what could be better than numbers to measure the craze around a pair? This is the second method we are going to present you.

2. Marketplaces

Yes, people lie, but not numbers. And that, some sharp investors have understood it well! That’s why marketplaces that were basically just intermediaries for buying and selling have started to exploit the data they have in their possession to benefit their community and push prices even higher.

This is notably the case of the famous StockX platform. This platform had the good idea to transpose the stock exchange system (of live supply and demand) to the world of sneakers and streetwear. Thus, the bidders can determine a price at which they accept to give up the pair, and the buyers a price they accept to pay for it. In this way, the prices are balanced and nobody gets hurt.

Well, you see, potential buyers can place their purchase price before a pair is even put on sale by the brand. This means that if a pair is in high demand, the price that some people will be willing to pay is already determined in advance.

Let’s look at an example so that you understand what this is all about and how it should be done:

• You want to buy a pair X with a retail price of $130, it is only available in 10,000 units and you don’t know if it is worth it. So you want to know what the hype is around the pair in order to participate or not in the draw.
• You go to the Stock X website and search for the pair you have in mind. You discover that buyers have already placed bids above 130, and that the lowest price offered is $250.
• This means that if you are drawn, you will be allowed to buy pair X at $130, and you can immediately resell it for $250.
• The difference is $120, so this pair is worth it, you have to participate to the draw.

Do you understand better? This method is much more accurate than the previous one. If you know how to look for additional information, you will become a real pair hunter and will be able to live comfortably.

But this is where it gets tricky: the additional information. Because if you have access to the prices proposed by the buyers of the pairs before they are released, you still need to know WHICH pair is going to be released, in which colors, in which proportions, in which size, etc.

Having this information requires you to be a real detective and is a full-time job. If you’re just getting into reselling, I’m guessing you don’t have your life to spend looking for all this information. That’s why this third and final method is by far - in our opinion - the best:

3. Sneakers cook groups

This is the Holy Grail for anyone looking for a profitable resell. Cookgroups are a real diamond mine for anyone who is seriously interested.

A cookgroup is a group in which sneaker and resell professionals do all the work upstream so that you can finally be profitable in your turn. It’s a permanent monitoring work that is carried out and that allows the members of the group to have access to all the primary and complementary information.

These professionals tell you exactly what to buy, where to buy it and when to buy it, with exclusivities, and by making you benefit from their network. Some even offer more advanced services, but all of this is detailed in our article Why join a Cook Group? if you want to know more.

You may think it’s too good to be true, and that no one is doing charity, so it’s impossible?

Well, you’re partly right. Because it’s not charity! Of course, in return for all this valuable information, they require a minimum of financial participation. Most cookgroups are paid, and some are only partially free, meaning that you have access to a limited amount of information until you subscribe.

This subscription you will pay is monthly and is often a pittance compared to the real cost of the information you get. If we had to summarize the spirit of the cookgroup in one sentence it would be “Together we are stronger”.

So this is the best way to predict the value of sneakers, via a cookgroup that will inform you exactly which products are best to buy.

4. Specialized applications

There are in each country applications specialized in the analysis of drops, we advise you to search on Youtube the last available and active applications! In Europe, there is WhenToCop, a powerful application that will list the latest pairs according to their estimated resale price!

Conclusion

To conclude, you will have understood, predicting the resale price of sneakers can be very difficult and cost a lot of time if you do not want to put a little bit of money in your wallet. By joining a cookgroup, you will be able to become a big name and finally become profitable in reselling.

You will also find the list of all the existing cookgroups, classified by zone and by price, exclusively on our site cookgroup classification.