A University of Michigan student spent a year copping limited sneakers, flipping them on StockX, and watching the profits roll in — on paper. Then he did the full math. He'd actually lost money . This isn't a rare story. It's the single most common experience in beginner sneaker resale, and nobody talks about it honestly. The "I made $80 on this pair" post never shows the $27 in fees, the $14 in shipping supplies, the 2 hours waiting in line, or the self-employment tax you'll owe in April. This