I sell used sneakers on Goat to pay for new pairs to add to my collection. Here's how to guarantee a sale on the resale platform. (2024)

It was then I also committed to a system: two new sneakers in, one used sneaker out. In other words, I started monetizing my used sneaker collection for extra cash to buy new shoes. I do not purposely purchase sneakers at retail just to flip them for a profit.

The point is not to cover the entire expense of the shoe, but to instead offset some of the price. Essentially, I rent a shoe for a few months until I want to find it a new home.

I currently own about 50 pairs of sneakers, not including running shoes. They range from Nike and Jordan to Adidas classics, Yeezys, and New Balance shoes. My favorite pair is the Adidas Yeezy "Wave Runner" which I got for retail on Yeezy Day 2021.

Many sneakerheads can fill entire rooms with their collection, but I have bills and would like to retire some day. I also took about a six-year break from collecting shoes around college and started up again in 2019.

I have sold shoes in person and on Poshmark over the past year, but my favorite platform to sell sneakers is Goat. I've made about $500 on the platform so far.

It's not perfect. But unlike its larger rival StockX, Goat allows sellers to list worn sneakers. Sneakers with defects are also fine to list. The company even authenticates all used shoes, in addition to new, which gives buyers more confidence they are not buying replica pairs. Poshmark authenticates items that sell for at least $500.

Goat is a very respected resale marketplace. The company merged with consignment retailer Flight Club in 2018. Foot Locker invested $100 million in Goat Group one year later.

Making your first sale on Goat

Of the roughly 10 used sneakers I've resold, three have been purchased on Goat, including the Yeezy 450 "Utility Black" and the Retro Jordan 12 "Playoffs." It normally takes about one week from selling a shoe to receiving my payment. By contrast, receiving a pair of shoes purchased on Goat can take up to two weeks, in my experience.

Many factors go into what shoe I decide to put up for sale. How many times have I worn the sneakers? How long have I owned them? How many shoes do I have of a similar color? How much money can I reasonably get for them?

Some shoes – like a brand-new pair of Nike LDWaffle x Sacai x CLOT "Orange Blaze" sneakers – sell for under retail on Goat in most sizes. The shoe features a translucent upper, which lets other people see your feet. I would take a $70 loss after fees if I sold my worn size 11 pair. On the flip side, my worn Jordan 4 "White Oreo" would fetch $375 used compared to the $210 I paid at retail.

Becoming a seller on Goat is simple. Request to become one on the "sell" tab on the app. Assuming you already have an account to buy from Goat, the company already has most of your info needed to become a seller, including a phone number and shipping address.

Once approved, you'll start out with a 90 seller rating, compared to Poshmark, where you work your way up from a 0% "Posh Ambassador" status to 100%. Goat sellers add two points to their ratings after each completed sale. Canceling orders or not shipping orders within two business days will hurt your seller rating, resulting in higher fees paid to Goat.

Sellers start by paying Goat a 9.5% commission fee, in addition to a flat $5 seller fee in the US. Both are cheaper than StockX's fees of 10% and $9, but still pricey. Poshmark takes a flat 20% of the total sale.

To list a shoe, search for the sneaker you want to sell by SKU or name. Then enter the size and the condition of the box and shoe. Goat also asks for a series of images of different angles of the shoe along with a picture of the size tag on the box. Make sure you take photos with natural light. Some listings have photos that just look lazy. You can also upload extra photos to stand out from other listings.

The final step is to determine the price you want to list your shoes. I like to set my price at exactly $50 lower than what the shoe goes for new in my size. There should be a substantial difference between your price and what the shoe sells for new. I find this leads to faster sales, especially if your shoes are in good condition. Some listings on Goat are sometimes priced way too high, which can work to your benefit.

What to do after a sale on Goat

When you get an email or push notification from Goat that your shoes have sold, first confirm the sale on the app. Then, you have a couple of days to drop off your shoe at UPS. Trust me, Goat will not be shy about reminding you to ship the shoes.

It's best to have an extra shoe box, printer, and tape at home. My local UPS now charges to print the prepaid shipping label and to tape up the box. My guess is yours does, too. Goat's fees are already high enough without having to pay UPS another $4 to $5 dollars.

After shipping the shoes, update the listing on the app to inform Goat and the buyer that the shoes have shipped for authentication. In my experience, anywhere from two to four days can pass by the time Goat receives and authenticates the shoes.

But once the shoe has been authenticated, you'll get access to your earnings in the Goat app. You can use those funds to buy other shoes on the marketplace. But most people, like me, want their cash on hand to potentially buy their next sneaker for retail.

Now comes my biggest gripe with Goat. The company charges a 2.8% fee to transfer your money to your checking account. That's on top of the other fees you've already paid. Not counting UPS charges, a pair of $200 shoes sold on Goat will net you about $170.

I'll continue to sell shoes on Goat going forward. But I'm keeping my options open, especially if StockX begins to allow the sale of used shoes. I'll certainly take advantage of their periodic promotions on seller fees that I've seen be up to 50% off in the past.

For now, Goat does the job. it's not perfect. But the user experience on the app is very seamless. The platform offers an easy way to sell shoes quickly that you barely wear or have buyer's remorse over.