Where Can You Find Free Shoes?
OfferUp Summary
- List and sell your items for free
- Promote your listing from just $1.99
- Low service fee of just 12.9% or $1.99
- You have up to 3 days to ship your item
Selling or getting rid of personal items has blown up into a booming industry. Now there is a bunch of great places you can search online and find items that people are giving away for free or selling for cheap.
OfferUp is a great example. It is an online buy/sell/swap platform that connects people in the same area. The premise is simple. You snap a photo of something you want to sell or get rid of, post a listing in the app and connect with potential buyers. Or as a buyer, you can search through the listings in your area and chat with sellers.
It is convenient and easy to use, with apps available on both iPhone and Android as well as a website. Constant updates keep the app running smoothly.
As someone who is looking for free shoes, the app provides you with the perfect platform. You can search within your area for the term ‘shoes’, ‘sneakers’, or whatever is relevant to you, and filter the results to the maximum price of ‘0’.
Sellers can list items for free. There are no listing fees and no commissions. For this reason, there are a surprising number of people using the platform to free up space in their home and get rid of items for free. For example, with the average American owning 19 pairs of shoes, many people may not have the closet space to fit the new pair they just bought. As a solution, they may list an older pair of their shoes for free to get them gone quickly and create extra storage space, allowing you to snatch up a pair of free shoes.
So, OfferUp is great, and you can get free stuff like shoes on the site. But here’s the real secret to getting free shoes: become a product tester. They’ll even deliver them to your door.
Product Testing Shoes
What Does a Product Tester Do?
The responsibilities of a product tester can vary from company to company. However, most product testing programs for shoes work in similar ways. You fill out an application online and give some basic information such as shoe size and address to send the shoes to.
Once your free shoes arrive, you wear them while you walk, run, play sports, etc. You keep track of how you feel while wearing the shoes and provide helpful feedback to the company. It is always important that you do this honestly and report back even small criticisms you may have about the shoes. At the end of the product testing period, you will often also be asked to complete a survey about the shoes. Some companies may let you keep the shoes after you have provided feedback and others may ask you to return them.
Why Do Companies Use Product Testers?
Product testing helps companies generate feedback on their products. This way they can create innovations and improve on their products before they go to market.
How Do You Become a Product Tester for Free Shoes?
Companies are often looking for different types of product testers at different times. For example, when releasing a new line of shoes, a company may target testers in certain demographics such as male or female, age, athletic ability, weight, etc.
To become a product tester, you normally must sign up for the company programs. Once your information has been accepted, you will become a part of the company’s database. When you are a part of the demographic that the company is looking for, you may be chosen as a product tester.
Six Companies That Give Free Shoes to Product Testers
Testing shoes helps companies improve their designs. As such, many big-name brands have product testing programs, such as:
Adidas
Adidas does product testing across its lines. Not only can you possibly get some free shoes, but you may also get apparel and accessories too. Testing periods are normally between two and four weeks and require you to do a certain amount of mileage or wear them for a designated amount of time.
Brooks
Brooks is a well-known running shoe provider. It has some pretty specific requirements for its product testers; for example, you’ll need to know your gait (flat-footed, high-arched, etc.) and running shoe size.
New Balance
New Balance tests its new athletic shoes with product testers. It produces some of the most in-demand shoes on the market and you can get your hands on new products before anyone else by providing the company with helpful feedback.
Red Wing
Unlike the other brands on this list, Redwing primarily sells work boots. It conducts product testing for its boots, so if this is something you are interested in and you live within a 60-mile radius of one of its two manufacturing plants (Minnesota or San Jose), then sign up.
Reebok
Yet another big-name brand with a product testing program that can allow you to swipe some sneakers for free. Reebok has a few requirements for its testers such as being a fitness enthusiast and having internet access. A full list of requirements can be found on its site.
Puma
Puma is one of the most popular sportswear brands of the year. Stepping out with a fresh new pair of Pumas is sure to get a few heads turning. Like most footwear companies, Puma often product tests. For example, this year it ran a beta test program for its new Fi training shoes.
Under Armour
Adults and children (with parental consent) can apply for Under Armour’s product testing. With Under Armour, you often wear the shoes for the testing period and then return them at Under Armour’s expense.
How Do I Become a Nike Product Tester?
Yes, Nike, the daddy of the market, also uses product testers. Free Nike shoes – imagine that! Here’s what you need to do:
Nike is often looking for product testers.
Currently, it has three categories for product testing:
- Adult: 18+ years old
- Minor: 13-17 years old
- Child: 12 years old and under (parents must apply on their behalf)
You can sign up for the Nike product testing program – and who knows, you may have some free Nike shoes in only a couple of weeks!
Product Testing Isn’t for Everyone, but You Can Still Get Great Deals
Rakuten Summary
- High cashback potential of up to 40%
- Earn cashback at over 2500 online stores
- 6 different ways to earn cashback
- Get $10 for free just for signing up
Product testing does require work. It’s not simply being sent a free pair of shoes and taking a quick survey. You must wear them and give constructive and helpful feedback. You must put the time into getting the level of feedback companies are after.
However, if you don’t have the time to be an effective product tester, another way to some good deals on shoes is by using a website like Rakuten. With Rakuten, you can earn cashback rewards on your purchases. Rakuten has cashback offers from a huge range of stores including Amazon and Macy’s. As you spend, you earn cash back – up to 40%. By purchasing items that you really need on Rakuten, you could easily earn the cash to buy a new pair of shoes – effectively sneakers for nothing!
If you sign up for Rakuten, you get an extra $10 off your first purchase.
Start Now and Be Wearing Free Shoes within Weeks
Getting a new pair of shoes does not have to break the bank. Buy/sell/swap apps like Offerup and product testing programs can allow you to hack your way into some free shoes.
Putting in a little bit of effort to search through free listings on OfferUp or offering feedback on new products can be well worth it when you are sporting your fresh new kicks. And by using Rakuten, you can earn cashback that can add up to free shoes quickly!
