A major sneaker consignor is barring users from raising prices on Kobe Bryant sneakers as the resale value explodes on sites like StockX

The athlete partnered with Nike and Adidas for various sneaker releases during his lifetime.
Jaysse Lopez, the founder of multimillion-dollar consignment and resale company Urban Necessities, told those who consign with him that upping the prices on Bryant-branded items in the wake of the tragedy would not be allowed.
"Not how I built my brand or how I need to make a dollar," Lopez wrote in a comment on Instagram regarding his decision.
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The sudden death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant has spurred a renewed interest in his sneakers.

The former Los Angeles Lakers player who died Sunday in a helicopter crash collaborated with brands like Nike and Adidas to release different signature sneakers throughout his lifetime.

Since the news of his death, pairs of the athlete's shoes have skyrocketed in price on resale marketplaces like StockX, as different resellers try to profit off the news that has shaken the athletic community.

Pairs on StockX, a leading resale marketplace, that had previously gone for less than $200 were being sold for upwards of $1,000 starting on Sunday.

But some consignors are actively stopping users from profiting from Bryant's tragic death. Jaysse Lopez, the founder of multimillion-dollar consignment and resale company Urban Necessities, told those who consign with him that upping the price on Bryant's items in the wake of the tragedy would not be allowed.

"Not how I built my brand or how I need to make a dollar," Lopez wrote in a comment on Instagram regarding his decision.

Urban Necessities reportedly sent a letter to consignors after people started to try and cash in on the athlete's signature merchandise.

"Due to the recent passing of Kobe Bryant and out of respect for his family and legacy, we will not allow price changes on Kobe items that are consigned," read the letter, Complex first reported . "If you have increased prices on Kobe items, we will be reverting the price back to the original listing price."

Elsewhere, prices on different pairs of Bryant's sneakers essentially exploded overnight. StockX sales data for a pair of Adidas Crazy 97 EQT Kobe Bryant 1997 Slam Dunk Contest sneakers revealed that the pair, which had previously sold for around $200, was selling for over $1,000 following the news of Bryant's death.

Screen Shot 2020 01 27 at 2.11.03 PM StockX

For some pairs on StockX like the Kobe 4 Protro Undefeated Los Angeles Lakers the price at resale almost quadrupled overnight.

Screen Shot 2020 01 27 at 3.14.27 PM StockX

Bryant retired from the NBA in 2016, but he continued to release sneakers following the end of his basketball career. Nike was a longtime endorser of Bryant and called the player a "beloved member of the Nike family" in a statement .

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