Let me explain the jordan game from the point of the sellers who have legit jordan's and its really quite simple.
When jordans are released in the stores like a footaction, champs, footlocker they get there stock (certain stores not all) get there stock 2 weeks before release.
Now i think everyone know Nike will only really a certain amount of pair in the USA so lets just say 50k pair which is really not a lot u can cover 50k in 1 state so imagine only 50k
in the the USA, this is what keep the jordan brand exclusive each and every release because there's a limited amount released.
Now there are two types of resell values u will see from a legit seller of course the stores which will have them at retail value so lets say $150.00, but after all the stores are sold out and nobody can get them now u will have what we call the dead stock value, now what is dead stock? dead stock just means the stock everywhere is dead, u can't get them
anywhere the all sold out.
Now the dead stock value is what a legit jordan seller is counting on because I have been selling jordans for a looooooong time, and i have never paid under the retail value of the shoe i always paid over the retail value by maybe $30.00 - $50.00 depending on which pair i was selling, as a seller im counting on selling them at the dead stock value. which will be $250.00 online.
Jordans are like fine wine, the brand is so exclusive the longer you hold a exclusive release the more people are willing to pay for them.
look at this auction
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Slam-Dunk-6s-Size-8-/161470115105?pt=US_Men_s_Shoes&hash=item25985e6d21
this seller has a receipt, and i think (don't quote me) the dunks went for $385.00 in stores. Now when i checked this auction it was at $470.00 so im sure he will do around $550.00 now think about a legit seller who holds his to around xmas time...these jordans going for no less then $800.00
in conclusion what was this all about
1. you will never purchase jordans under retail value
2. Legit seller's depend on dead stock value
3. The longer you wait to buy them the higher the price gets.