Basketball shoes are no longer just sneakers associated with the sport; now, basketball shoes can be luxury items and collectible objects, commanding a pretty good price even when used. It's even possible to pawn your basketball shoes if they meet certain conditions. Every pawn shop will vary in what it wants, even if you're trying to pawn the shoes at a store that specializes in sports shoes. One thing that is consistent is the demand for decent quality. The shoes you want to pawn have to be in "good condition," which sounds vague, but it's not as random as you think.
Scuffs, Stains, and Scratches
Shoes in good condition will have a minimum of scuffs, scrapes, stains, and scratches. When someone buys used basketball shoes, they know there might be some minor wear; not every pair of used shoes was rarely worn by the original owner. But people don't want to pay for shoes that are visibly old and worn, with stains that are large enough to mar the design and other colors on the shoe. The pawn shop will evaluate your shoes with potential resale in mind because they know there's a chance you might not redeem your pawn loan for the shoes. If you can spot scuffs and such on the shoes at first glance, that will lower your chances of being able to pawn the pair.
The Condition of the Sole
The sole needs to be in decent shape as well. The top and sides can be in pristine condition, but if the sole has no traction left on it or has very obvious damage (such as areas where rocks dug into the sole), that's an issue, too. Basketball shoe soles need to let you move quickly on the court, but they can't be too slippery because then you'll have no stopping power if you skid on the court surface.
Insole Condition
Inside the shoe is just as important. The surface you place your foot on is the insole, and those can become pretty torn up over time, especially where the ball of your foot hits the material. That can be uncomfortable, and it's not something a pawn shop may want to have to deal with, unless the shoe is otherwise perfect and totally coveted by people. They can buy insoles to cover up the damage, but the pawnshop would likely prefer to see an intact original insole.
Loose and Replaceable Parts
Grommets around shoelace holes, the shoelaces themselves, and other decorations – are they all clean and tight? Is anything loose, or are the laces not holding? You might be able to get away with replacing the laces, but you'd have to be honest that the laces on the shoes were no longer the original ones. (And you should always ask the pawnshop first if they would issue a pawn loan on shoes with replaced laces.) Loose grommets need to be secured.
A shoe that's in good condition is not just one that still has some life left in it. You should inspect every part of the shoe and ensure there is little to no damage. If you have a particular pawn shop in mind, such as Capital City Loan & Jewelry, contact them to find out their exact requirements.
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