Been reselling kicks for a while now and I see the same mistakes over and over from people just getting started. Here's what kills most beginners:

1. Buying every hype release without doing the math

Just because something is hyped doesn't mean it's profitable. You need to factor in fees, shipping, and the time it takes to sell. A $20 profit on a pair that takes 3 weeks to move isn't worth tying up your capital.

2. Not having a system for tracking inventory

If you don't know what you paid, what you listed it for, and how long it's been sitting — you're guessing. Guessing doesn't scale. Track every single pair from purchase to sale.

3. Sleeping on retail drops and only going for limited releases

Some of the best margins come from general release shoes that everyone ignores. Less competition, easier to cop in bulk, and the profit per hour of effort is way higher.

The game is about consistency — not just hitting one big flip. Build the system, trust the process.