I dunno...
To keep it one hundred, if you know what you are doing, flipping kicks can absolutely outperform the market. And, if you've been doing this a long time and were able to take advantage of sales and stuff, you got some heavy ROIs. I have pairs of 2001 Infra 6s, for example, that I bought for $60. What can you get for those nowadays 450+, right? So, find me an investment fund that would have delivered an 800% return over 12 years or whatever?
Nowadays, you can't really get that win because the "market" is more efficient. Prices don't get as low, and for the most part then don't go as high for the majority of stuff. But, it is kind of like stocks in that if you "invested" in the right things, you could have made "profits." There are Polo hats from the early 90s that were in outlets in baskets priced 9.99, that now literally fetch thousands of dollars.
Now, I'm hesitant to even post this because it's they type of thing that will encourage all these young dudes to try to resell. But, my old heads know what I'm saying.
That said, none of that was the reason I got into kicks or gear. When I was falling in love with these things, it was completely unfathomable to think that what has happened would have happened.
And, if people want to get into this sneaker thing as simply a means of making money, that's fine. But, don't try to rub shoulders with the people you are exploiting.
I have lots of "reps" I must be super duper cool!