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Is StockX legit? Online marketplace explained
Including how to spot a dodgy app
StockX is an online marketplace that allows buyers to find one-off rare designer items that often sell out quickly.
But is the fashion retailer website legitimate, and is the app safe?
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What is StockX?
StockX is a technology leader focused on the large and growing online market for trainers, apparel and accessories, electronics, collectibles and trading cards.
The company is based in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Using dynamic pricing mechanics, StockX’s platform connects buyers and sellers of high-demand consumer goods from around the world.
This approach, affording both access and market visibility, is powered by real-time data — empowering buyers and sellers to carry out their transactions based on up-to-the-minute market values.
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StockX features hundreds of brands, including Jordan Brand, Adidas, Nike, Supreme, BAPE, Off-White, Louis Vuitton and Gucci.
The platform offers collectibles from artists including KAWS and Takashi Murakami.
It also showcases electronics from industry-leading manufacturers Sony, Microsoft, Nvidia and Apple.
When was StockX created?
StockX was founded by Dan Gilbert, Josh Luber and Greg Schwartz in 2015.
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As of September 2024, StockX has roughly 1,400 employees across six continents - — facilitating sales in 197 countries.
According to LeadiQ, the company downsized in recent years, including notable layoffs in April 2020, June 2022, and November 2022.
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In 2022 the company surpassed 1.5 million lifetime sellers, 12 million lifetime buyers and 40 million lifetime trades.
In 2022 StockX also turned away nearly $100 million USD [£78.6million] worth of products that didn’t meet the marketplace’s stringent verification standards.
The same year international sellers [outside the US], accounted for almost 50% of all StockX trades, which was up around 25% since 2021.
Speaking about the company's growth in January 2023, StockX CEO Scott Cutler said: “Our seller community thrived this year, and even with a tough economic backdrop, demand for current culture products didn’t waver.
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“2022 brought new wins for our business as we posted record revenue and trades and served our community of buyers and sellers around the globe.
“Even as the world faces an uncertain climate in 2023, we’re committed to putting in the work and making the necessary investments to continue delivering a best-in-class experience to our global customer base.”
And in November 2023 Cutler explained: “Consumers are eager to diversify their closets and discover new brands — throughout 2023 we’ve seen more and more new entrants compete for share of wallet.
“The growing desire among young consumers to be early adopters has fuelled interest in emerging labels and helped bolster demand for new sneaker silhouettes.
“While we’ve seen price premiums soften on releases from some of the top brands, players like New Balance and Adidas are successfully tapping into consumers’ hunger for something different by launching new silhouettes or putting a fresh spin on retired classics.”
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Is StockX a legitimate website?
Yes, StockX is a legitimate website.
With authentication centres around the world, all of the products on the platform go through a rigorous, multi-step verification process — ensuring the products their customers buy and sell are 100% legitimate.
StockX is also committed to social justice.
How to spot a dodgy app
Detecting a malicious app before you hit the 'Download' button is easy when you know the signs.
Follow this eight-point checklist when you're downloading an app you're unsure about:
- Check the reviews - be wary of both complaints and uniformly positive reviews by fake accounts.
- Look out for grammar mistakes - legitimate app developers won't have typos or errors in their app descriptions.
- Check the number of downloads - avoid apps with only several thousand downloads, as it could be fake.
- Research the developer - do they have a good reputation? Or, are totally fake?
- Check the release date - a recent release date paired with a high number of downloads is usually bad news.
- Review the permission agreement - this agreement gives permission for the app to take bits of your data, and fake apps often ask for additional data that is not necessary.
- Check the update frequency - an app that is updated too frequently is usually indicative of security vulnerabilities.
- Check the icon - look closely, and don’t be deceived by distorted, lower-quality versions the icons from legitimate apps.
All of this information will available in both Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store.
As the website explains: "StockX fosters a diverse and inclusive community, not only for its team members, but for the millions of buyers, sellers, makers, and creators it serves.
"While much of this work is internal and anchored by a six-point D&I plan, the company understands that it is wrong that underrepresented communities must play by different rules.
"As such, we are committed to advancing the work of organizations fighting for equity and social justice.
"In 2020, StockX matched team member donations to organisations including the George Floyd Memorial Fund, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Know Your Rights Camp totalling more than £75K in support of their work."
Is the StockX app safe?
Yes, the StockX app is safe.
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The app has the same checks and guarantees as the website.
On the Apple Store it has a score of 4.7/5 stars, and on Google Play a rating of 4.3/5.
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