Six stops between a
thrift rack and your door.
Every pair we list gets inspected, cleaned and graded on the same bench — no exceptions. Here is the exact procedure, start to finish.
The procedure we follow on every shoe.
One pair, one case file, one grade. Nothing gets listed that hasn't cleared the whole run.
Intake & screening
Every pair lands with a lot tag and a 60-second screen at the door. Ripped uppers, cracked midsoles and unsafe soles are rejected on the spot — only real, wearable pairs make the van.
Bench inspection
Under daylight we go pair by pair: upper and stitching, midsole compression, tread depth, insole wear, lining, glue lines and odour. Every flaw goes into the case file — photographed, not described away.
Deep clean
Uppers washed, midsoles scrubbed, soles deodorized and treads brushed out. We relace, repaint scuffed midsoles and re-glue lifted soles wherever the fix is honest.
Grade & price
Grading happens on the cleaned pair against a fixed scale from Premium Plus down to C — tread depth, creasing, scuffs and repairs are all measured, never guessed. The letter you see is the letter we list.
Evidence photos
Shot under controlled light: top, both sides, back, soles, insoles and a close-up of every defect. One-of-one listings with full condition notes — what you read is what you receive.
Pack & ship
A final bench check before the box seals. Padded packaging, nationwide dispatch and a tracking reference. Balance is collected on delivery, after the shoes are in your hands.
What the bench checks.
Inspection is a checklist, not a vibe. The same eight checks run on a Premium Plus and a grade C pair alike — only the results differ.
Upper & stitching
Material, seams, fraying and panel integrity.
Sizing & authenticity
Size stamps, box labels and construction cues.
Midsole compression
Settled compression, crumbling and sole separation.
Tread depth
Measured wear on the outsole, heel and toe.
Insole & footbed
Worn footbeds, replacements and hygiene.
Collar, lining & laces
Collar stretch, lining wear and lace condition.
Glue lines & repairs
Factory glue vs re-glues, and any fix work.
Odour & hygiene
Nothing ships smelling like its previous life.
Cleaned like it goes back on your feet tonight.
Cleaning happens before grading, so the letter you see is the pair you open.
Uppers washed and spot-cleaned per material
Suede and nubuck brushed and re-napped
Midsoles scrubbed and scuffs reduced
Soles deodorized, sanitized and treads brushed
Laces replaced where worn
Insoles cleaned or replaced
One letter. No euphemisms.
The grade is a measured outcome — higher grade, higher price. The full key lives on our grade guide, where every pair in the shop is filterable by letter.
Full grade guide →Premium Plus — Deadstock-level
Minimal-to-no wear, crisp midsole, full tread.
Premium — Like new
Barely-there wear, factory shape, full tread.
A — Near deadstock
Minimal wear, sharp midsole, full tread. Looks new in hand.
B — Worn honestly
Visible creasing or light scuffs, structurally solid, plenty of life left.
C — Character pairs
Heavy wear or a repaired detail — documented, discounted, still wearable.
Buying from a process, not a photo.
- 01Grading is fixed, not flexible. The letter means the same thing on every pair.
- 02Photos show the flaws, not around them. If a listing says 60% tread, you can see it.
- 03One-of-one listings. No second, better unit hides behind the photos.
- 04If a pair disappoints, our 3-day size exchange window covers the fit.
See what cleared inspection.
Freshly graded pairs go live as soon as they pass the last bench check. Most sell within days.