Finding cheap shoes to resell is step one. Finding the right shoes at the right price consistently enough to build a $3,000β$8,000/month business β that's the real challenge.
After sourcing from almost every channel available, here are the 7 that produce the best results for serious eBay shoe resellers. We'll rate each on four dimensions: average margin, weekly volume potential, time investment, and reliability.
The classic. Thrift stores have the best margins because the prices are the lowest β $2β$12 for most shoes, regardless of brand. A pair of Nike Air Max in size 10 for $6 that sells for $55 on eBay is a 89% margin. These hits happen regularly if you visit frequently.
The challenge is volume and consistency. You need to visit 3β5 stores per week to find enough quality shoes. Goodwill Outlet (the "bins") offers even lower prices but requires significant time sorting.
Visit mid-week (TuesdayβThursday). Most donations come in MonβWed after weekend drop-offs. Avoid Saturday when competition is highest.
The RealReal has become one of the best sources for designer and premium shoes. They authenticate everything and the prices often reflect "consignment" pricing, not market value β meaning there's a spread between what they sell for and what eBay buyers will pay.
The key is their clearance and sale sections β designer shoes can drop 40β60% below already-discounted prices during sales. A $280 designer shoe bought at RealReal clearance for $85, sold for $185 on eBay = excellent margin with no authentication risk.
Create a watchlist ("Obsessions") on RealReal to track specific brands/styles. They regularly notify you of price drops. Focus on men's dress shoes and athletic β those categories have the strongest eBay buyer base.
Estate sales offer some of the best deals on premium shoes β especially men's dress shoes and boots. Families pricing a deceased relative's wardrobe rarely know market value. A $450 pair of Allen Edmonds in near-mint condition for $25 is a legitimate estate sale find.
Use EstateSales.net and EstateSales.org to find listings. Look for keywords like "large men's shoe collection" or "executive wardrobe." Get there at opening (or find early access opportunities).
Brand clearance sections offer new-in-box shoes at 30β60% off MSRP. The advantage: authentic, new condition, original box β all premium eBay listing attributes. Hoka, On, New Balance, and Saucony clearance sections frequently have shoes at 50% off that will sell for near-MSRP on eBay.
Set Google Shopping alerts for specific models. Running shoe brands clear previous season models to make room for new releases β these windows are predictable (typically Feb/Aug).
Liquidation pallets give you volume fast. B-Stock is the most legitimate platform (major retailers' official liquidation channel). You can find customer return lots from DSW, Nike, Amazon, and other major retailers. The risk: manifests are sometimes inaccurate and condition varies.
Never buy a liquidation pallet without a manifest (item list). "Mystery pallets" are almost always a bad deal. Calculate your maximum bid assuming 20β30% of items are unsellable.
Start small: buy one half-pallet or box lot to test a supplier before committing to full pallets. B-Stock grade "A/B" customer returns are far better than "C/D" returns.
Facebook Marketplace is underrated for shoe sourcing. Most sellers price based on what they "feel" the shoes are worth, not market data β this creates opportunities. A woman selling her husband's shoe collection prices a pair of Allen Edmonds dress shoes at $40 when they're worth $120 on eBay.
Search: "shoes lot", "sneakers lot", "size [X] shoes", "shoe collection". Offer 60-70% of asking price β most accept. Best finds are bulk lots ("moving, selling everything").
Buy underpriced shoes on eBay with poor photos or bad titles, relist with better photos, optimized titles, and good pricing. Lower margins but can be done from a couch and scales infinitely.
Look for listings that sold quickly (check completed items filtered by "sold"), then find similar listings with poor photos or bad titles that haven't sold. This tells you there's demand but the current listing is underperforming.
Quick Comparison Table
| # | Source | Avg Cost | Avg Sell | Margin | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thrift Stores | $4β$12 | $25β$80 | 40β60% | Athletic, casual |
| 2 | The RealReal | $40β$120 | $120β$280 | 30β55% | Designer, dress |
| 3 | Estate Sales | $10β$50 | $60β$300 | 45β70% | Men's dress, boots |
| 4 | Retail Clearance | $30β$80 | $60β$140 | 20β40% | Running, new |
| 5 | Liquidation Pallets | $8β$20 | $30β$80 | 25β45% | Volume / mixed |
| 6 | Facebook Marketplace | $15β$50 | $60β$180 | 40β65% | Bulk lots |
| 7 | eBay Arbitrage | $20β$60 | $40β$100 | 15β30% | Low-risk entry |
The Sourcing Stack: What Works at Scale
Most successful sellers with 500+ active listings use 3β4 sources simultaneously:
- Primary source (60% of inventory): Thrift stores or estate sales β highest margin
- Volume source (25%): Liquidation or clearance β for consistency
- Premium source (15%): RealReal or retail clearance β for high-ASP items
As your store grows, you'll discover which sources work best for your geography, schedule, and shoe specializations. The sellers who scale fastest are those who focus on a niche β men's dress shoes, Nike athletic, running shoes β and become experts at evaluating that category.
β‘ Once you've sourced, let AI handle the selling
The hardest part is sourcing. Once shoes are listed, ResellerAI handles the selling β auto-responding to offers, answering buyer questions 24/7, and flagging repricing opportunities based on sold comps.
Get Early Access β