I am learning about a new phenomenon and it is a little shocking.

Teenage boys buying and selling sneakers, very expensive sneakers, for profit. Sometimes these outlandishly priced shoes are even pre-worn. That’s right, sneakers that some young man has already worn sold at dramatic markup.

How are they sold you might be wondering? Many ways. Online, to friends in school – and then of course there are the “Sneaker Expos”. Correct, “Sneaker Expos.”

When my son and his best friend decided they wanted to go “expo”, it seemed the thing to do to tag along. So, we paid for admission and waited on line.

We didn’t bring any sneakers to sell so we didn’t have to pay the $5 per pair upcharge, just the entrance fee. But the dozens of teens behind us had shown up with duffel bags full of sneakers to sell – or trade. And, each pair was carefully displayed, one sneaker in its neat box, the other perched above. And off we all went into the exhibit hall where teens hawked their sneakers to other teens.

I have been told of teens earning thousands of dollars through the buying and selling of the right pairs of footwear. I have been told of teens waiting on line for hours for the opportunity to purchase that perfect pair of sneakers, not to wear, but from which to profit. I have been told of teens purchasing special inserts for the toe box of their shoes to keep their value high for resale.

I suppose I have made my last trip to the discount sneaker store.

A little crazy.