eBay plans to give away 500 pairs of sneakers this holiday season with the help of Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis.
The online marketplace’s “Santa Sneaker Drop” kicked off Tuesday and will last through Thursday. Over these three days, sneakerheads with an iOS or Android mobile device can use their phone’s camera and augmented-reality technology to virtually open a shoe box after it tumbles down a digital chimney.
Everyone will have five chances per day. Winners can receive one of a range of shoes, including the Air Jordan 1 Travis Scott, the Nike Air Max 97 Sean Wotherspoon, the Jordan 1 Off-White Chicago and the New Balance 992 Joe Freshgoods.
Davis acknowledged how the giveaway plays into the ongoing popularity of these highly coveted kicks, which remain out of reach for many consumers, and especially those who are struggling financially during the pandemic. “Sneakers are at the top of millions of wish lists this year, and we’re hoping to make holiday dreams come true for sneakerheads across the country,” he added.
eBay also teamed up with Soles4Souls to distribute 40,000 pairs of new athletic sneakers to kids experiencing homelessness in the United States. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Sole4Souls operates locations and warehouses across three continents and has been able to distribute more than 51 million pairs of shoes and clothing since 2006, eBay said.
“For most kids, having the right sneakers to wear for a game of pickup basketball is a given,” Buddy Teaster, Soles4Souls’ president and CEO, said in a statement. “But that’s not the case when families are struggling with homelessness. We believe every kid deserves to have their basic needs met—including a pair of shoes on their feet. This donation couldn’t come at a better time, and a superstar like Anthony Davis brings a whole new level of awareness to our program.”
The holiday giveaway arrives two months after eBay expanded its Authenticity Guarantee program—originally launched in September for every watch sold over $2,000—to cover all new and pre-owned collectible sneakers sold for more than $100 in the U.S. Through this service, eBay said all eligible shoes “will be fully vetted and verified by an independent team of industry experts.”
Although StockX and GOAT have risen to prominence in the sneaker resale world, eBay continues to see massive sales. According to its 2019 data, it sold nearly 6 million sneakers in North America last year. On average, eBay said it hosted more than half a million sneaker listings each day.