A new sort of fashion Darwinism is taking hold. We always want what we can't have and love the thrill of the chase when it comes to hard-to-get shoes or to-die-for bags. Last week, Yeezy Boost 350s became briefly available online and at popular mall retailer PacSun. Given the frenzy that followed, the shoes cemented their status as a fashion unicorn, selling out completely and quickly. I'm talking sold out within two (!!!) hours. Supply clearly isn't meeting demand and Yeezy Boosts have earned cult status, which may or may not be an intentional marketing ploy.
That said, if you still covet a pair of Yeezy Boost 350s and were shut out of purchasing a pair, you still have options, like a possible restock or eBay.
But buyer beware in the latter situation. Buying Yeezy Boost 350s via a third party source like eBay is tricky. I did a quick scan of eBay and the tan Boost 350s are going anywhere from $600 to well over $1,000. The markups are insane enough to make me wonder when Adidas will manufacture more shoes to meet customer demand and to stamp out predatory pricing and gouging.
However, here are three key tips and things to consider if you are willing to buy a pair of Yeezy Boost 350s on eBay.
1. Receipts
Some sellers are attempting to prove the authenticity of their shoes by posting images of their purchase receipts, which indicate the shoes go for $200 at regular retail, along with photos of the actual shoes with their boxes. Those are helpful visuals.
But you should review all of the seller's fine print regarding the purchase, the returns, and the proof. Ask questions to make sure the shoes and the receipt are legit, so you get it in writing. That will take some time and effort.
2. Seller Feedback
eBay is not in the business of ripping off buyers and customers. But it does happen. That's why seller feedback ratings and comments are such critical tools. You should carefully review the seller's feedback, investigating both negative and positive comments. If there are negative reviews, find out why. If it's for bogus merch, well, there's a hint not to move forward.
If you page through tons of one or two word positive reviews that seem like they were posted by a bot and not an actual human, those could be fake. Proceed with caution and do your research.
3. Internet Resources
One of the criticisms of the Boost 350s is that they are easy to replicate due to their simplicity, which is also arguably their biggest selling point. There are lots of guides out there on how to spot fake Yeezy Boost 350s. Granted, there's a lot of ether to sift through and you might wonder which source to trust. But that's where your gut comes in. Consult it. Trust it.
There is legwork to do. But if you are going to shell out over 500 beans for a pair of shoes from a third party, they better be legit. So do your homework or get some patience and wait for the next restock.
Images: Adidas (3)
