Yeezy. Jordan. Nike. Dunks. Sound like a Millennial gender reveal party? Not so! These are just some of the sneaker brands being bought and flipped, contributing to a $2 billion market. A market rife with fast-moving stock, big adrenaline rushes, and backdoor deals, all at the hands of the high-tech wizards that run—pun intended—the show.
With sites like proxydrop.com/ popping up, the sneaker reselling market is becoming more and more accessible and not just to the gangsta geeks. Although, having some knowledge of technology is imperative.
The cultural importance of sneakerdom is said to have started in the mid-80s with the release of Nike’s Air Jordan 1 sneaker. The basketball sneaker was named after Chicago Bulls basketball star Michael Jordan. The incredible public response to the release of this sneaker and the aftermath is said to be what birthed the notion of flipping sneakers.
It was the first time that an athletics shoe wasn’t just worn by those who played the sport, but also by fans of the player. The shoe became a fashion statement away from the court, selling over 4 million pairs of shoes in their debut year.
The following year, Nike chose to limit the release of the Jordan 2 to just 30 stores, jacked up the price, and still struggled to keep up with the demand. With the advent of eBay in the mid-1990s, there was a sudden market for non-retailers. This market has continued to explode, especially in the super trendy, seemingly impossible to satisfy sneaker market.
And so began the illustrious history of the sneaker reselling market projected to be a $30 billion industry by 2030, according to Yahoo Finance.
Staying on Track with the Tech
So how does selling second-hand shoes contribute over $1 billion to the US market? Well, a couple of tech-savvy, sneaker-loving geeks decided to cash in and play the game.
The subculture of sneakers is a vast and profitable one. By using the technology available to their advantage, these sneaker geeks are able not only to turn heads but turn a stiff profit too.
“Sneakerheads” (the colloquial term for sneaker enthusiasts) typically invest thousands of dollars and countless hours into staying ahead of the curve when it comes to new sneaker releases. With the help of technology like bots, virtual private servers (VPSs), proxies, and software, these tech whizzes constantly work to stay one step ahead of each other.
Due to many retailers limiting stock to one pair per buyer, buyers often have to look within their communities to find the human resources to make the drop profitable. They employ a “Cook Team,” which is a like-minded group of individuals found on chat or communication software like Discord or Slack.
These cook groups exchange information on markets, release dates of new stock, reselling estimates, and other reselling-relevant information. They can also team up to assist one another on the day of a drop by operating software, handling bots, and inputting credit card information to buy up as much stock as possible.
Bots and What Not
Bots like Kodai sneaker bot, Cybersole, and Ganeshbot are software applications that essentially help serious resellers buy more sneakers than those who manually input details. These bots accelerate the check-out process, ensuring buyers have access to more stock. Bots also assist in overcoming the “one pair per buyer” hurdle.
In this case, bots, much like sneakers, are tricky to get and expensive to get if they sell out. Developers will usually launch via Twitter and only have a few bots available. There is also software available to help buyers find newly released bots, ensuring buyers stay on the pulse.
Bots and Proxies
For bots to function at their best, they usually need proxy networks. These proxy networks disguise themselves as other networks helping users to overcome cart limits and geo-blocking. Server proxies can make it appear as if a large corporation is buying, and residential proxies can change the user’s location. Both of these enhance anonymity, which is essential in staying ahead in sneaker reselling.
To Server and Protect
Sneaker-specific servers work in a very similar way to game-specific servers. They cut out the fluff that slows down the system, and they protect your online real estate. VPSs are excellent at ensuring certain outcomes like speedy internet, anonymity, and access.
Sneaker servers can make things go even smoother by providing close proximity to sneaker dropped sites, where milliseconds can make the difference between coping or not. These servers also help ensure your bots keep performing optimally, keeping users close to the action, regardless of their geographical location.
There are many options available for those interested in access to VPSs, and the costs vary depending on your needs.
Conclusion
In the flurry of the internet, a lot can go unnoticed. To make it as a geek gangsta, you’ll need to be as tech-savvy as possible. The landscape in sneaker reselling changes rapidly and with new bots and servers popping up almost daily, the sneaker reselling market is one to watch.
