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The sneaker resell world is a dark and dirty place.
Bulk buyers will find ways to backdoor hundred of pairs of sneakers at a time only to resell them for 2-3x more than the initial retail price, sometimes more.
Perhaps the most glaring examples of this involve rapper Travis Scott and his Nike line of sneakers.
Scott first collaborated with the sneaker giant in 2018 for the release of Air Jordan 4 “Cactus Jack.”
The sneaker initially sold at retail price of $225. But according to leading sneaker resale site StockX, the going rate for the shoe today is $950 plus taxes and fees.
Yikes.
And that’s not even the worst of it.
In fact, it’s not even close.
The Travis Scott Jordan 1 Retro x Fragment sold for $200 at retail price. The last pair sold on StockX went for $2,651.
Some pairs can’t even be found on the resale market, such as the Travis Scott x PlayStation Nike Dunk Low.
So with the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low golf shoes set to release this Friday, you could understand why resellers are lining up to get their hands on as many pairs as possible.
Nike
While Nike may not care who buys the shoes so long as they self, one golf shop is going to extreme lengths to make sure only golfers can get their hands on them.
London Golf Shop Stops Travis Scott Resellers With Genius Idea
British company Trendy Golf and Pitch London are holding a raffle for buyers to pick up one of the just 72 pairs it has in stock. But in order to claim the pair, raffle winners must first pass a test.
“Upon arrival, you will be checked against the guest list and will receive a numbered wristband (1–72); this will secure your place to get in and be your place number to use the golf simulator. So please arrive early to queue, as doors will open at 10 a.m.,” Trendy Golf says on its website. “There will be a welcome drink upon entry as you make your way down to Pitch’s exclusive members-only area, where the event will be taking place. To qualify to purchase the Travis Scott Nike Jordan shoes, you will have to make 2 attempts to drive the ball 200 yards or more (150 yards or more for ladies). This is to ensure that the shoes are being purchased by golfers rather than resellers.”
Talk about pressure.
On one hand, it’s a genius idea. On the other hand, what if you accidentally shank a pair of drives?
That would be a brutal way to lose out on the shoes.
But it’s still better than them going to a reseller. And, sadly, these are the lengths stores have to go to.