It takes a closer look, considering other things, to track down any signs of a fake. One of the very first signs that tell you a lot about authenticity is the price. For example, if a popular sneaker that costs $150 retail is suddenly listed on some sketchy looking site for $50. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 30% of fake products are offered at a much cheaper price tag- ideal for bargain hunters.
You must also look into the packaging. Before discussing the reasons this was done, it is necessary to state that legitimate brands and companys pay a lot for packaging — boxes with logos, tissue papers, stickers. Twelve months ago, a video of an alleged shoe expert doing the rounds showed that knock-off shoes often come in unattractively plain or shoddy boxes. As for packaging, industry insiders state that 70% of counterfeit shoes ship without the sold sealing measures and in-brand branding.
Clothing & Accessories — the material on all of these clothes, approximately 40 unique designs bought and listed on his shoes. With real shoes, they are made of top-notch material and do not feel cheap. A study has recently showed that about 65% of fake sneakers use problematic materials which cause inferior performance and comfort. Once more, verify the stitching; real sneakers have even and close stitches while counterfeits are usually badly stitched.
We need to take a very close look at the brand logos and labeling. Logos of any brand come with certain types of fonts and designs, so any alteration by the company can leave a mark that shows you about fake availability. For example, a group of determined sneaker connoisseurs found that in 2021 roughly 40% of the fake sneakers they looked into had changed brand names, or logos that were just plain misspelled which should be more than enough for those who know the brand to detect.
Reputable brands have authentication tags and / or serial numbers. Typically these tags carry a unique code which can be verified from the official website of the brand. For instance, sneaker reseller StockX states that nearly 25% of the shoes they authenticate every year do not pass due to incorrect or absent verification tags.
Finally, the risk of purchasing a counterfeit shoe is greatly diminished if you buy from legitimate retailers or the brand’s official websites. Another research found that 80 percent of fake shoes are sold by unauthorized sellers. Invest in authenticity, like fashion designer Alexander Wang said “Because not only will it protect your style, but it’ll also protect your investment”
When you think a pair of shoes is fake, do your research. If you want to know more about identifying counterfeit goods, in particular for shoes, please visit the posts we cover on sneaker authentication and consumer defense. Just like understanding the differentiators for consumers; buying authentic items can prevent getting any fraud.