Is It Safe to Buy Running Shoes on StockX?

02/21/24 • 5 minute read

When on the hunt for a new pair of running shoes, we hope you'll come to RunningShoeScore to help you find the right pair. But if you don't find them here, you might stumble upon some tempting deals on a site called StockX. The prices advertised on StockX can sound great, sometimes so much so that you may wonder if they're too good to be true.

In this post, I'll cover the question: is StockX a reliable place to purchase running shoes? From our experience, the answer is a YES: StockX is legit and reliable, but there are some important details you should be aware of before putting in your order.

What Is StockX and How Does It Work?

StockX isn't your average shoe retailer–in fact, they don't sell you the shoes. Instead, it functions more like a true marketplace or stock market, where buyers and sellers negotiate prices through bid and ask prices rather than fixed pricing. So for example, if I'm interested in buying a pair of the Nike Zoom Fly 4s, I can put in a "bid" for $90 and wait to see if any sellers come along to take it. Similarly, any seller can list at an asking price and wait for buyers to come along. This bid/ask dynamic can lead to some attractive deals, especially for sneaker enthusiasts looking for rare finds or sold-out models.

Because any seller can offer their products on the marketplace, authenticity is a valid concern. StockX addresses this through an authenticity guarantee. When you purchase a pair of shoes, they're first shipped to StockX to confirm they're legitimate before they're sent on to the buyer. This is a crucial feature, given the proliferation of counterfeits in the market.

Here at RunningShoeScore.com, we don't track StockX prices, primarily because they fluctuate rapidly and vary significantly by size and color. However, for those hard-to-find older shoe models that are no longer available through traditional retailers, StockX can be a goldmine.

Our Experience with StockX

I've personally purchased several pairs of StockX in the StockX marketplace in the past. Most recently, I picked up two of my favorite running shoes that are no longer available in stores: the Nike Zoom Fly 4 and Nike VaporFly Next% 2.

The Shopping Experience

Navigating StockX in search of the perfect running shoes can be daunting. Prices can vary wildly based on color and size, and due to the site's design, you need to sift through these variations yourself, requiring patience and diligence to find a good deal in your size.

For example, as of this writing, a search for "VaporFly 2" brings up about 37 different variations of the VaporFly 2 (and lots more of the 3). Each of these variations shows an attractive price–but it's not the price you're likely to pay. It's the lowest asking price for any size, which is often extremely large or small. To see the prices for your size, you'll need to click in and select it manually. With 37 colorways to sift through, this can be a real pain–but worth it if you find a good price.

If you don't find a price you like, you can set up a bid on any of the variations you like. This is what I did to snag my shoes from StockX–I simply put in a lower bid on a bunch of variations and waited. And waited. And waited. It took some time, but sure enough, two of my bids were filled. I got a pair of Zoom Fly 4s for $78, and the VaporFlys 2 for $155, both prices lower than the best asking prices at the time by about $20-$30.

StockX's Authenticity Guarantee

After receiving confirmation that my offers had been taken, the next step was to wait for my shoes. But this step also worked a bit differently than with most retailers. First, it took a few days for the shoes to ship–the sellers are mostly not big well-oiled retailers like Amazon, but smaller stores or individuals with excess stock.

Second, instead of being shipped to me directly, the shoes were shipped to StockX for authenticity checks. The StockX authenticity checks involve looking at the condition, packaging, accessories & more to ensure that the shoes are genuine and match the seller's description. This is a crucial step in an open marketplace due to the proliferation of counterfeit shoes on the market.

Fortunately, both of my pairs passed StockX's rigorous authenticity checks, and just as importantly they passed my quality check: I've owned both of these shoes before and the new pairs matched my expectations. (If these VaporFly's aren't real, then we're living in an age where counterfeiters have indeed mastered the art of replicating the advanced running technology of one of the world's biggest shoe manufacturers).

Shipping Costs and Times

One downside to StockX is the shipping fee, which was $14.95 for our orders, unlike many online retailers that offer free shipping. Additionally, the process takes longer because of the authenticity verification, requiring the shoes to be shipped twice: once from the seller to StockX, and then from StockX to you. Factor in the variable speed at which individual sellers actually ship the product, and you may be waiting a little longer than usual for your shoes.

My shoes took about 10 days from accepted offer to delivery, which is longer than most shoe purchases, but not completely unreasonable. Additionally, since I put in bids and waited for them to get accepted, my purchasing experience took even longer. Though that aspect was my choice, if I had been willing to pay a higher price for the shoes, I could have purchased them from another, more traditional retailer and gotten them faster.

Return Policy

One downside of StockX compared to some retailers is the return policy. While StockX guarantees authenticity and protects you from counterfeits, poor quality and incorrect product descriptions, it does not offer generous return policies you might find at other retailers. So if the shoes fit you poorly, or give you shin splints or you simply have buyer's remorse, you may be out of luck.

My advice is to only buy shoes from StockX if you're confident in your selection of model and size and have owned the same shoes and size before. StockX is great for picking up a pair of your favorite (and possibly discontinued) running shoes, but may be a risky choice for trying out a new model.

Conclusion: Should You Use StockX?

StockX is a trustworthy marketplace for running shoes but has a couple of important differences from other sites. Here's our recap of the pros & cons of purchasing from StockX:

Pros:

• guaranteed authenticity
• great deals
• great for finding rare or discontinued models

Cons:

• slower delivery times than other retailers
• difficult to navigate site for finding the right color/size
• very limited return policy

Altogether, we find StockX to be an excellent resource for runners searching for great deals. It works best when you're not in a hurry and know exactly which model & size you need, as well as when you're looking for hard-to-find or discontinued shoes. For those looking to get their hands on a new pair of shoes quickly, or who want to try a new model or size, we recommend sticking with a more traditional retailer.