Have Air Jordan Prices Gotten Too High? Are Sneakerheads Still Buying?

October 14 2025 , by Penny
7 min reading time

Look, we need to talk about the elephant in the room. Air Jordan prices have absolutely lost their minds.

Remember when you could walk into Footlocker and grab some Jordan 4s without selling a kidney? Yeah, those days are dead and buried. We're living in a new world where copping Jordans at retail feels like winning the lottery, and resale prices make you question your life choices.

But here's the real question everyone's asking: Are sneakerheads still buying at these crazy prices, or are we finally saying enough is enough?

The Price Reality Check

Let's start with the numbers that'll make your wallet cry.

Retail Prices in 2025:

Most new Jordan releases: $190-$230
Jordan 11s are hitting $230 for premium colorways
Jordan 5s averaging $210-$225
Basic Jordan 1 Lows are still around $90-$110

Sounds reasonable? Hold up. That's if you can get them at retail.

Resale Reality:

Jordan 4 Black Cat: Originally $190, now selling for $1,000+
Jordan 3 Black Cement: $200 retail, immediately flipping for $400-$500
Popular size 13+ pairs? Add another $100-$200 to those resale prices

The math is brutal. We're talking about 300-500% markups from retail to resale on the hottest colorways. That's not sneaker collecting anymore – that's straight-up luxury goods territory.

Why Everything Went Crazy

The Bot Army Took Over

Here's what happened: Sneaker bots completely broke the game. Regular folks with internet connections don't stand a chance against automated programs that can check out hundreds of pairs in seconds.

SNKRS app releases sell out in under 2 minutes
Most pairs go straight to resellers before genuine buyers even load the page
"Manual" copping is basically impossible on hyped releases

Jordan Brand Plays the Scarcity Game

Nike figured out that keeping people hungry sells more shoes than making them readily available. Limited drops, surprise releases, and regional exclusives all increase the FOMO factor.

Remember that Jordan World Of Flight Philadelphia restock we saw recently? Those in-store-only releases create artificial scarcity, which drives up resale prices.

Social Media Hype Machine

TikTok, Instagram, YouTube—everyone's pushing the same releases at the same time. When millions of people want the same shoe and there are only thousands available, basic economics takes over.

The Size 12+ Struggle Is Real

If you're rocking men's size 12–14+, you already know the squeeze.

Fewer pairs produced in big sizes
Even fewer available at retail
Resellers target 12+ because demand > supply

We see it every week at 12Up Kicks—authentic sneakers for big feet move fast. A size 14 Jordan 4 drop can feel like a feeding frenzy.

Are People Still Buying?

Short answer: Yes, but it isn't very easy.

The sneaker game has basically split into two groups:

The Committed Collectors

Still paying resale prices for must-have pairs
Treating Jordans like investment pieces
Building collections with rare sneakers and limited releases
Using payment plans and "buy now, pay later" options to manage costs

The Casual Buyers Who Got Priced Out

Sticking to GR (general release) colorways
Shopping for budget heat under $150 when possible
Moving toward other brands that aren't as hyped
Buying older/used pairs instead of new releases

The Market Is Starting to Crack

Here's where it gets interesting. We're seeing signs that the bubble might be deflating:

Resellers Are Struggling

Not every release is printing money anymore
Storage costs and carrying inventory are getting expensive
Some colorways are sitting longer than expected
Competition between resellers is driving margins down

Buyers Are Getting Smarter

More people are shopping vintage and pre-owned
Understanding that not every release needs to be copied immediately
Finding alternatives and exploring other brands
Waiting for restocks instead of paying resale premiums

What Changed in 2022-2025

The last few years have been a wild ride:

2022-2023: Peak madness. Everything sold out, prices hit all-time highs, and the resale market printed money.

2024: Cracks started showing. Some releases didn't perform, inventory started backing up, and people began questioning the hype.

2025: Reality check time. Not every Jordan is guaranteed profit; buyers are more selective, and the market feels less predictable.

That Philadelphia World Of Flight restock? Jordan Brand is trying different approaches because the old formula isn't working smoothly.

The Size 12+ Perspective

TL;DR: Bigger sizes = tighter supply and higher prices. Use the playbook below to shop smarter, skip the FOMO, and keep your costs in check.

We built 12Up Kicks for this exact gap—verified, cleaned, properly labeled pairs, fast 24–48 hour shipping nationwide, free shipping in Florida, BNPL options, and a deep 12+ selection that doesn't tax you for your shoe size.

The Real Talk

Have Air Jordan prices gotten too high? Absolutely. We've officially jumped the shark when a basic black sneaker costs $1,000.

Are sneakerheads still buying? Yes, but not like they used to. People are being more selective, shopping smarter, and exploring alternatives.

The market is correcting itself slowly. Resellers who thought they found an ATM are learning that carrying inventory costs money. Buyers who got burned on a few bad purchases are being more careful.

What does this mean for the future?

More people are shopping pre-owned and vintage
Increased interest in non-hyped colorways and GR releases
Alternative brands are gaining market share
Smarter buying habits overall

Finding Your Way Forward

If you're tired of the resale game but still love Jordans, here's the move:

Shop Smarter:

Buy what you love, not what IG says is hot
Consider pre-owned pairs in great condition
Set a max price and walk away when it's crossed
Skip FOMO; there's always another drop

Explore Alternatives:

Retro runners and lesser-known hoops silhouettes slap
Jordan Brand non-numbered releases often sit for retail or less
Try other Nike/Adidas/New Balance models with similar vibes

Be Patient:

Many "limited" pairs get retroed within a few years
Prices often dip 2–4 weeks after release and again on restocks
Regional/in-store restocks happen more than you think

Tactical plays for Air Jordans:

Wait for restocks and in-store events like Jordan World Of Flight (think the Philadelphia restock) and SNKRS shock drops; sign up for local boutique newsletters and in-store raffles
Use legit communities to find deals: r/Sneakers and r/sneakermarket on Reddit, NikeTalk, and trusted Discord groups; always use PayPal Goods & Services and verify references
Try buy now, pay later responsibly: Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay; set a budget and pay it off fast
Shop authenticated marketplaces that clean and verify pairs—like 12Up Kicks—so you get real, ready-to-wear Jordans without surprises
- Free shipping in Florida (no minimums), 24–48 hour shipping nationwide
- BNPL options, plus budget heat and beaters under $150
- A deep size 12+ selection that’s actually in stock
Go budget and vintage:
- Pre-owned beaters under $150 you can revive with a lace swap and a clean
- Vintage/archival pairs on eBay Authenticity Guarantee or Grailed, plus local vintage shops and trusted IG sellers

At the end of the day, sneakers should make you happy, not break your bank account. The Air Jordan price situation is wild, but savvy shoppers are finding ways to build collections without breaking the bank.

The game has changed, but it's not over. You just need to play it differently.

Sources

StockX — The State of Resale 2024: https://stockx.com/about/sx-market-insights/the-state-of-resale-2024/
TheIndustry.fashion — StockX reveals 2024’s bestselling brands and resale predictions for 2025: https://www.theindustry.fashion/stockx-reveals-2024s-bestselling-brands-and-resale-predictions-for-2025/
RunRepeat — Sneaker resale statistics and 2025 projections: https://runrepeat.com/sneaker-resale-statistics

You can stay connected with the 12Up community for more real talk about the sneaker market. We're all figuring this out together.