That question from the other day - StockX vs. GOAT for authenticity - reminded me of another question @middleagedshoemaster hit me with a while back...he asked me how to not get scammed when buying on

That question from the other day - StockX vs. GOAT for authenticity - reminded me of another question @middleagedshoemaster hit me with a while back...he asked me how to not get scammed when buying on @ebay  
 
eBay, to me, is like a second language. I’ve been dealing with eBay for nearly 20 years so it’s automatic. All of the tips and tricks...like...I don’t even realize someone new to the platform might consider them tips and tricks.  
 
Really, I’m somewhat disgusted and intrigued with what has transpired in the sneaker industry over the past 15 years. I’ve just watched it in disbelief this whole time...like...I feel like it’s just...absolute chaos. Makes zero sense. And the money that is being transacted is absurd. What seemed like an incomprehensible market cap for the secondary sneaker market just a few years ago ($1BN) is small compared to what they say it is today ($6BN). All of that to say - I’ve been focusing more on what’s going on in the marketplace than what I’ve actually been putting on my feet. So...in short...I haven’t been buying much anymore. If there’s something I have been meaning to pick up, I’ll do a quick @eBay / @mercari / @depop / @poshmark / @goat search and see if I can find a pair in my size for a steal. And when I say ‘steal’ I mean STEAL. If I can’t find a steal - I just forget about it.  
 
And a STEAL usually means it’s an individual seller with one pair on hand. I then request pictures of the inner size tag and other known areas that replicators have issues with.  
 
If I can’t determine authenticity in the first 2-3 seconds I head on over to @goat , I look for the exact same pair in the exact same size (IN THE USED SECTION) and compare the pics. I usually look at 5 pairs just to be safe. But I mostly focus on comparing the size tags and the problem areas. If the spacing is off, or the font is off, or the placement is off...I pass. It’s just not worth it. Again, I don’t really don’t purchase hyped (ie: often-replicated) shoes so I rarely have to go through these steps, but that’s my trick. Hope it helps! 
 
Or you can just buy off of trusted sellers (like me!)