My Retro 9 Shopping Adventure Starts
So I got obsessed with those retro 9 sneakers after seeing ’em on Instagram. Zero clue where to buy authentic pairs though. My first move? Just googled “buy retro 9 legit” like a total noob. Big mistake – first page showed sketchy sites and overpriced eBay listings. Felt like digging through garbage.
The Deep Research Phase
Decided to actually use my brain. Made accounts on three sneaker forums and lurked for days. Key things I learned:
- You MUST check production dates (retro 9 re-releases happen every 3-4 years)
- Original box always has that bumpy texture – smooth = fake
- Stitching above the air unit should look like tiny shark teeth
Spent nights watching YouTube tear-downs of fakes vs real pairs. My eyes almost bled from staring at sole patterns.
Hunting For Sellers
Tried local shops first. Visited 7 stores – three tried selling me used pairs as “vintage unused”, others had awful colorways. Then checked resellers, almost choked seeing $700 price tags. Hell no.
Finally scored on a Japanese proxy site after setting stock alerts. Saw OG white/red colorway for $200. Panic-clicked so fast I almost threw my phone across the room.
The Payment Nightmare
Payment got declined THREE TIMES. Bank thought it was fraud. Had to call them waving virtual arms: “YES I REALLY NEED THESE DAMN SHOES!” Currency conversion fees raped my wallet extra hard. Still salty about that ¥ to $ conversion rate.
When The Box Arrived
Two weeks later, this crushed cardboard hell shows up. Almost had a heart attack seeing the dented corner. Ripped it open praying to the sneaker gods. Did the legit check:
- Pressed the insole – firm cushion? Check
- Smelled inside (real ones got that chemical glue stank)
- Checked tongue label spacing (fakes always mess this up)
Did the toe crease test – bent it like a maniac. Held up perfect. Currently wearing ’em while typing this. Victory dance included.
