One TikTok user’s donated sneakers ended up in Bosnia, tracked via AirTag from Germany. Here’s the surprising reason why, and what Red Cross says happens to your old clothes.
Donated Kicks, European Tricks: A TikTok Tale with an AirTag Twist
TikTok has many things: dance trends, questionable hacks, and now, international secondhand sneaker espionage.
Picked up by MacMagazine, user @Moe.Ha decided to answer the age-old question: Where do my donated clothes really go? His tool of choice? An Apple AirTag, a pair of sneakers, and a Red Cross donation bin in Munich. Cue dramatic music.
From Donation Bin to Bosnia
Here’s how it went down:
- Day 1: Sneakers get dropped into a Red Cross bin
- Days 2-5: Find My app tracks them through Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia
- Day 6: They land in a second-hand shop in Bosnia for €10
- Plot twist: Moe buys them back and completes the circle of sneaker life
You’ve heard of globetrotting influencers, now meet the sneakers with frequent flyer miles.
Scam or System?
At first, it smells like resale fishiness. But credit where it’s due: as pointed out by 9to5Mac, Red Cross Germany actually explains this sorting process on their website.
Turns out, your donations either:
- Go to local depots/thrift stores, OR
- Are sold in bulk to recycling/resale companies
Basically, those kicks might not help your neighbor, but they might help fund humanitarian efforts while moonlighting as backpackers through the Balkans.
The Bigger Picture (and Sole)
This isn’t a scam, it’s supply chain globalization with a splash of Apple tech. It’s a weirdly satisfying reminder that even your old sneakers can go on adventures… maybe before you do.
So next time you donate your wardrobe, just know: somewhere out there, a hoodie you forgot about might be sipping coffee in Slovenia.
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