What Does Deadstock Mean?

If you’re new to the sneaker game there’s a high chance that you may already be getting confused by all the elitist language that’s commonly used amongst those in the community. Whether you’ve just started browsing Facebook groups, Depop, or even eBay, you’ve probably noticed the word “deadstock” used a lot. Deadstock is often abbreviated to “DS”, which has created several other variants of the phrase such as “UNDS” (undeadstock), "NDS" (near-deadstock) and “VNDS” (very-near-deadstock).

To sum it up briefly, deadstock means shoes that are brand-new, in the box and unworn. It’s used by sellers across plenty of different reselling platforms as a quick and easy way to describe the condition of a pair in question. It’s worth noting in the past that the word was also used to describe completely sold-out sneakers, however this definition has now become redundant in favour of the “brand-new” definition instead.

There really is nothing fancy or special about the word deadstock. It’s a word which many new sneakerheads will be pondering for months on end before it finally clicks that it simply means brand-new in the box. Many would argue that the inclusion of the all-original packaging would contribute to this description, such as alternate laces, special-edition accessories and even the original stickers.

The term deadstock originally had a different meaning than what is used today. Originally used by the retailers rather than resellers, 'deadstock' meant stock that was brand-new but unsold. In short it was dead stock that they could not sell. The term was then used within the industry to describe new-old-stock, items which had been released a while ago but which were still kept in the box. Now however, the term deadstock is often used when selling sneakers which have only just released and even sometimes which can still be bough online or in stores.

In search of a more in-depth description we asked the team over at StockX, a reselling platform which prides itself on only selling deadstock trainers and even carries out inspections to ensure this. They responded:

Deadstock sneakers are now arguably a very important part of sneaker culture. Whatever people may or may not think about it, there’s no denying that the reselling industry is bigger than ever. Sites such as StockX, KLEKT, Laced, eBay and many more are absolutely thriving, which in turn is bringing even more consumers into the game. Many people simply don’t want to buy used sneakers or even tried-on sneakers, so deadstock kicks are where it’s at!

There will always be a price-premium for those wanting deadstock sneakers, as you’ll receive the pair in pristine condition - exactly as they’d arrive from a retailer. For this reason, many resellers will always keep their items in the box, untouched, so they can make more money when they come to sell them. This service is one that’s obviously preferable for many people, especially those new to the sneaker game.

Many sneaker enthusiasts have huge collections of deadstock sneakers spanning back to the ‘80s and ‘90s, which will now demand gargantuan prices. It’s worth noting however that deadstock pairs from many years ago are likely unwearable even if brand-new, the soles simply aren’t made to last that long and will end up crumbling after several wears.

If you’re looking to buy deadstock shoes then your first port of call should always be directly from a retailer, as this is where all pairs originate from! If you’ve checked all the usual suspects and still can’t get your hands on a pair then you have two more choices; private sellers or trusted reselling platforms. Now both of these different options have advantages and disadvantages, for example private sellers will often have lower prices but are considered more of a risk, whereas reselling platforms are more expensive but 100% legit and provide a retailer-esque experience.

If you are set on buying a deadstock pair from the secondary market then always make sure to do your research before parting with your money. Here at The Sole Supplier we will only ever link through to trusted platforms, so anything listed here is assured to be 100% legit! Most members of the sneaker community will also be happy to help out with advice, so never be afraid to ask, it’s nowhere near as bad as getting stung with fakes or ending up out of pocket. Stay safe and happy copping!