How we verify
We check kids' shoe prices daily and tell you whether a price is worth it: buy, hold or wait. Here's how, and what we won't do.
- 01
We check daily
Kids' sneaker prices at the stores we track, every day.
- 02
We track every price
Each pair's price over time, so a "sale" has to prove itself.
- 03
We tell you: buy, hold or wait
A good price with evidence behind it, a fair price with no rush, or one that's been cheaper lately.
What the calls mean
- BUY: A good price with evidence behind it; good enough to buy ahead.
- HOLD: A fair price, no rush; buy it if you need it now.
- WAIT: It's been cheaper recently; wait if you can.
- Everyday price: It's been this price for weeks. Fair, not a markdown. A code that beats it turns it into a BUY.
New pairs
When we've just started tracking a pair, its card says "New on our radar". We hold off on calling it a deal until we've watched its price for a while.
Everyday prices
Some pairs are "on sale" every single day. That's just the price. We show it as the everyday price, without the crossed-out number, and we tell you if it ever really drops.
Sizes
We show the sizes a store lists as in stock. Where a store only tells us how many sizes it has, we show the count and send you there to check yours.
Promo codes
We only show a code when the store publishes it on its own site. Every code says where it came from and when we checked. Codes we haven't confirmed never appear.
Shipping and the all-in estimate
Each card shows the store's shipping policy as we found it, on the store's own site or from real orders, and says when part of it isn't verified yet. The all-in is an estimate for one pair, before tax. Where shipping is free with a free membership, the all-in assumes you join. When a store doesn't publish its shipping fee, or we haven't verified its policy, we don't show an all-in at all. Policies and promos change, so confirm at checkout.
Photos
Product photos load from each store's own website or the image servers it uses. When we don't show a store's photo, or a photo is missing, you'll see our own artwork instead, with a link to see the real shoe at the store. Never a photo of a different shoe.
What we'll never do
- Fake urgency. No countdowns, and a size count is just a count, never "only" or "left".
- Paid placement. No brand or store can pay for a call or a spot on the list.
- Invented numbers. Every price, discount and count on this site comes from our own records: our daily price checks, the stores' published policies, and the checks described on this page.
- Hide how we make money. See Disclosure.
Questions
Do you sell shoes?
No. We check prices and link you to the store. You buy from the store.
What do TD, PS and GS mean?
Toddler (2C–10C), preschool (10.5C–3Y) and grade school (3.5Y–7Y). C sizes are "child" sizes and Y sizes are "youth"; after 13.5C comes 1Y.
Is it only sneakers?
Mostly. When stores put other kids' shoes on sale alongside the sneakers, like clogs and boots, they show up too.
Why do some cards say "Check sizes at" a store?
Some stores don't publish which sizes are in stock on their listings. Rather than guess, we send you to check.
How often do prices update?
Daily. Each card's Details say when we last checked it, and if our daily check ever misses, the site tells you the prices may be out of date.
Why did a shoe's call change?
Because its price did, or because we now have enough history to judge it.
Why isn't my favorite store here?
We add stores as we can check them fairly. When a store blocks our checks or asks us to stop, we stop the same day, and we'd rather add it through its official product feed. How our bot works
Is the price you show the price I'll see?
Usually, but stores can show different shoppers different prices. We show the price we saw when we checked; confirm yours at checkout.
Is the all-in price exact?
No. It's an estimate for one pair, before tax. Confirm at checkout.
Can I get deals just for my kid's size?
Sign up with their size. The weekly email is sorted by size, so theirs is easy to find.
Why is a pair I saw yesterday gone?
It may have sold out in the sizes we track, or the sale may have ended. We only list pairs that are in stock when we check.
I had a problem with an order. Can you help?
Your order is with the store, so the store handles payment, shipping, returns and customer service — contact them directly. If something on our site was wrong, tell us at hello@solesprout.co and we'll fix it.
Who runs SoleSprout?
An independent project run by a sneaker-loving parent. We're not owned by any brand or store. Questions: hello@solesprout.co