Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
Release day blues got you down? Are you tired of consistently missing out on grabbing those limited shoes you’ve been eyeing, due to them instantly selling out? We feel your pain! Try out these 8 tips and tricks to maximize your chances of grabbing that next pair of elusive sneakers on release day, and, with preparation and a little bit of luck, success will be yours!
1.Have a pre-launch game plan – Know the release date and what type of release it will be (general, limited, quick strike, etc.). You can get this info from Nike’s own website, the SNKRS app, various Twitter accounts, etc.
Check out this basic list of sneaker head terminology, including explanations of various types of Nike releases.
Depending on how widely available the shoe is, you’ll have a better idea of how hard it will be to get a pair, and how much prep you need to do.
2. Website preparation and tools – On release day, make sure you have customer account(s) set up for the shoe website(s) you plan to purchase from. Be logged into your account and have the purchase page up (if possible) for the shoe you plan to purchase. To increase your chances, have multiple pages up with different websites, etc. Also, if possible, use webpage extension tools to your advantage. Many of these tools are free to use. A couple of good (free) ones that are used by many sneakerheads (both of them used specifically with Google Chrome) include:
- Autofill – it fills forms automatically “without any user interaction.” Get it here
- Page Monitor – it “stays in the background and monitors web pages for changes”. Get it here
3. Use a shoe app – below is a list of the more well-known ones out there:
- Nike SNKRS – More information here
- Adidas – More information here
- Footlocker – More information here
- Kicks on Fire – More information here
- Sole Supplier (for UK folks) – More information here
4. Be connected on social media
A few of Jared’s favorite twitter handles to follow (there are many useful ones out there – this is just a handful of ones we like and use, in no particular order):
- Sole Links – @SOLELINKS
- Heidi Burgett (Nike Senior Director, Global Communications) – @heidiburgett
- Gentry Humphry – @GentryTwo3
- Kicks Deals – @KicksDeals
- DeadstockNYC – @DeadstockNYC
- TheShoeGame – @TheShoeGame
- Sneaker Shouts – @SneakerShouts
- J23 iPhone App – @J23app
- Eastbay – @Eastbay
- Nike – @nikestore
- Where to Cop – @WhereToCop
- Nice Kicks – @nicekicks
5. Go to the store
Here is a list of major online/physical retail stores that typically carry Air Jordan releases:
For more purchase options, check out this list of authentic Jordan brand dealers and consignment shops
6. Be persistent – don’t give up. Sometimes a website just needs to catch up with itself due to the heavy traffic it is suddenly experiencing. Even if a shoe or particular size of shoe shows as “sold out” or “out of stock,” it could be worth refreshing the page and trying back over the next little while (minutes, hour, etc.).
7. Be on the lookout for restocks – Social media is your best bet to know when these happen (refer back to tip #4). Sometimes, more often than not actually, Jordan and Nike will quietly restock shoes without any advance warning or notice. These restocks usually sell out extremely quickly though, as a lot of people are monitoring this. The best way to prepare for restocks is to monitor the website/webpage through tools such as the Page Monitor chrome app (see tip #2) and to follow social media accounts (as discussed in tip #4).
8. Last resort – If you REALLY want the shoes to the point that the want becomes a NEED (think of your grails), you can almost always get them – but you’re going to pay a premium over retail to get them, and this is through reseller or consignment websites. Some of the more well-known and reputable ones are Flight Club, Grailed, Stadium Goods, STockX and GOAT (which actually merged forces with Flight Club in 2018). Our favorites (we’ve used them both) are GOAT and StockX. Both of these are reputable and provide the additional service of authenticating the sneakers before sending them your way.
*9. Sneaker Bots – Definitely one of the hot button issues among sneaker collectors, purchasers and resellers. Sometimes it feels like everyone is using bots these days. We don’t use ’em ourselves, but we won’t judge if you do. For us, as casual shoe collectors not looking to resell – the thrill of the successful hunt is half the fun, and a bot, if nothing else (ethics of using bots aside), minimizes that fun aspect of the shoe game, as the process of grabbing those limited shoes is much more automated and assured (and boring!), through use of the bot. We’re not here to preach though. At the end of the day, you do what you gotta do.
- An introduction to bots and Nike’s answer to the growing problem
- Check out this somewhat humorous article on how retailers are fighting back against bots
- Here’s a bot provider’s (obviously pro-bot leaning) guide on what bots are and how they are used.
- An interesting read on challenges and issues of bot usage in the online marketplace
