Branded online sneaker store Zadeh Kicks has shut down its LLC, a move that’s left multiple customers wondering if they will be refunded money for sneakers they pre-paid for. Based in Eugene, Oregon, Zadeh Kicks is a nine-year-old business described on its site as offering “limited authentic sneakers from top brands such as Nike, Adidas, Jordan and more.” The company claimed its sneakers were sourced through suppliers and retailers. As of today, the site is not longer live and all social media accounts have been taken down.
While the site was known to sell single pairs, it also sold dozens of pairs to resellers and stores. While no customer claim has been confirmed, there are multiple users on Twitter stating they are currently out thousands of dollars.
Customers first became aware of the news when they visited the site yesterday (May 24, 2022) and were greeted by a note declaring the business had been dissolved. The note read in part, “The owner of Zadeh Kicks LLC petitioned the court for voluntary dissolution under Court supervision and the appointment of a Receiver in order to protect and preserve the assets belonging to the Receivership Estate and to assist in the dissolution of the business. The Receiver will provide updates as they become available. Please report back to this website periodically to stay apprised of events regarding the dissolution/liquidation of the business. In the meantime, please direct all inquiries or correspondence to the Receiver at zadehkicks@stapletoninc.com.”
Information from the Zahed Kicks LLC Court Case. @SneakerPhetish @snkr_twitr @SwiftCop pic.twitter.com/CsIcL7wGip
— I Like basketball cards (@ilikebballcards) May 25, 2022
On Twitter, user @ilikebballcards also linked to a state of Oregon court motion titled the “dissolution of Zahed Kicks,” a company owned by Michael Malekzade. Reflecting the company’s financial standing, the document reads, “It is unquestionable that Zadeh Kicks is insolvent. As set forth in the Petition filed herein, Zadeh Kicks’ liabilities greatly exceed its assets. 2 Preliminary estimates put the deficit at millions of dollars. 3 Given this situation, Zadeh Kicks is unable to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business.
As part of the process, the court has appointed attorney David P. Stapleton, who will be in charge of managing the assets and paying back the company’s creditors. As of yet, Zadeh Kicks hasn’t declared bankruptcy.
Given Zadeh Kicks operated without a physical storefront and frequently sold top-tier Nike and Jordan models few retailers have access to, Zahed Kick’s legitimacy has long been debated within sneaker culture. Though never confirmed as a legitimate account, consensus among customers was that the sneakers Zadeh Kicks sold were authentic. At the same time, the Better Business Bureau site listing Zadeh Kicks is filled with posts from people complaining about the company’s business practices.
A Google search reveals a Reddit post titled “Is Zadeh Kicks Legit?” Meanwhile, sneaker podcaster Sockjig included Zadeh Kicks in an April 2022 episode titled “Sneaker Conspiracy Theories,” a episode in which he theorized on his legitimacy and the source of his shoes. Providing additional details on how the store operates, Sockjig noted when the store was operating, it made use of a Shopify platform and only accepted Paypal for payment.
Making use of pre-orders, Zadeh Kicks sold a wide range of sneakers some of which were sold under retail. While customers pre-ordered prior to the official launch date, the sneakers were sometimes shipped after the launch and could not ask for a refund in the form of a credit until 10 months following order placement.
Customers who made use of Paypal have a window of 180 days to make a claim on an unfulfilled orders. Those that used a credit card to make the Paypal payment will have varying degrees of protection. Sockjig provided additional feedback in his latest podcast titled, “Zadeh Kicks Rugged,” which includes a link to the Zadeh Relief Group Discord group for people who are owed money by the company.
