Some sneakers are just more special than others.
’90s kid currently in his mid-30s, I still remember everything about the day I got my original pair of Air Jordan 5 sneakers.
It’s an early but vivid memory: It was 1991-ish. I was in 1st grade. I was quickly outgrowing whatever kicks I had at the time, so dad took me to the small shopping mall in our hometown. We bonded over basketball – specifically watching Michael Jordan begin his domination with the Bulls. It was all his idea for me to try on the Jordan 5s – Specifically, the original White/Black-Fire Red colorway, with the signature Nike Air cushion sole.
They fit perfectly. I went home a happy camper, glowing to my pops about how these would be the sneakers I’d wear when we played hoops together in the driveway.
And I did until I wore them out.
That pair of Jordan 5s was the beginning of a childhood obsession with all things Jordan: Collecting the Wheaties boxes, the Sports Illustrated issues with MJ on the cover, the basketball cards during the Bulls dynasty.
And, of course, Air Jordans themselves.
The Jordan V originally came out in four colorways during its initial run in 1990. Nike first brought them back 10 years later, in 2000. This past summer, during Last Dance mania, they rereleased the Jordan 5s in the original Jordan 5 Fire Red colorway.
I wanted it. I needed it. I had to have it to relive my childhood again.
Except I slept in that Saturday morning, completely whiffing my chance to buy my favorite pair of childhood Jordans on the day of the release. I was bummed – As a relatively new sneakerhead, I really needed such a special memento from my childhood.
Knowing that I was buying these simply for nostalgia sake, I held off making a hasty purchase, waiting to see where prices landed on the secondary market.
When eBay rolled out their brand new Authenticity Guarantee this past October, I considered that a sign from the universe that it was time to make my move and buy one of the best pairs of basketball sneakers ever made.
What is the eBay Authenticity Guarantee?
The brand-new eBay Authenticity Guarantee is eBay’s new third-party verification service for making sure that the Jordans and Yeezys you buy on eBay are real. They have launched with new Jordan and Yeezy’s over $150, but are ramping to all new and pre-owned collectible sneakers $100+ in early 2021
eBay partnered with industry leader Sneaker Con to create a new state-of-the-art facility – leveraging some of the top authenticators in the industry to build out a robust checklist of product specifications, and best-in-class processes to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
When you buy a pair of Jordans or Yeezys, first look for what you’re shopping for with a the blue checkmark next to it.
For example… Note the blue checkmarks when searching eBay for the Jordan V Fire Reds.
That blue checkmark means the shoes go through a multi-point inspection where third party professional authenticators verify the box, sizing labels, soles, stitching, logos, heel tabs, laces, etc., making sure you are getting what you pay for.
This is what the eBay Authenticity Guarantee Jordan 5s looked like when they arrived at my house.
Related: The 10 Best Verified Authentic Jordans To Hit eBay This Week
As you can see, they come tagged after verifying their authenticity. That eBay Authenticity Guarantee tag is an NFC-enabled tag, attached to each pair of sneakers once they have been verified and activated with a digital stamp of authenticity and customized with the sneakers’ details.
In fact, I made a little unboxing video just so you can get an idea for what the whole experience is. With so many secondary markets exploding for sneaker sales, it’s nice to know the sneakers you snag are legit.
Whether you’re a die hard sneakerhead or a simple enthusiast looking to build a collection, don’t sleep on eBay when it comes to locating the hottest kicks on the net. Not only do they have hundreds of styles and models of sneakers, they now have a way of ensuring what you’re buying is the real deal.
Long live the eBay Authenticity Guarantee and the Jordan 5s, one of the most iconic pairs of Jordans ever made.
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The BroBible team writes about products and services that we think you want. Occasionally, we write about items that are a part of one of our affiliate partnerships and we will get a percentage of the revenue from sales.