The single most useful check is whether the seller photographs the actual pair you will receive. Catalogue images and stock photos are how first copies get sold as originals.
Online sneaker buying in Pakistan has grown fast, and so has the number of sellers describing replicas as "original quality" — a phrase that means nothing. Here is what to look at.
1. Are the photographs of that exact pair?
Real photos show real wear: a faint crease, a slightly cream sole, the actual lighting of a real room. A listing using the brand's own press images is either dropshipping or hiding something. Ask for extra photos; a genuine seller will send them.
2. Does the price make sense?
A brand-new Air Force 1 does not sell for PKR 3,000 from anyone, anywhere. If a price is far below what the model costs new and the listing says "original", one of those two claims is false. Pre-loved prices are lower for a reason that can be explained — are pre-loved sneakers worth it goes into the numbers.
3. Is the condition described honestly?
"10/10 condition" tells you nothing. A seller who is confident describes what is actually on the shoe: light creasing across the toe, a yellowed midsole, a scuff on the heel. Vague superlatives usually mean the detail would put you off.
4. Can you check it is genuine?
Leather creases softly; cheap synthetic folds into hard shiny ridges. Stitching should be even the whole way round. The size label inside the tongue should be crisply printed with EU, UK, US and CM agreeing with each other. We have written this out in full for two models: the Air Force 1 and the Stan Smith.
5. Is the size given in a system you can use?
A number with no system attached is a guess. Insist on EU or a foot length in centimetres, and check it against a conversion chart rather than your memory of what you "usually take".
6. What happens if it is wrong?
This is the one people skip and then regret. Before paying, know the return window, who arranges the return, and whether you get money back or store credit. A seller with no written policy has no policy.
Ours is written down: 7 days from delivery, full refund, no restocking fee, return in person or by any courier. Read the refund policy in full.
Paying
Cash on delivery removes most of the risk for a first order with an unfamiliar seller, because you are not out of pocket until the parcel is in your hands. Cash on delivery, explained covers what you can and cannot do at the door.
More on how we work on the about page, or ask us anything through contact. Browse the pairs in stock.