Nike shoes are also very famous among the counterfeiters who produce counterfeit pieces. If you're not careful, you could buy a pair of fake sneakers for the price of real ones. Fortunately, there are many ways to tell them apart and avoid buying counterfeit Nikes.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Shopping Online
Step 1. Do a search of the various online sites that sell Nike products
You have to be especially cautious when buying branded footwear on the internet, because you can't physically see them so it's very easy to find yourself with some money wasted on a counterfeit product. To prevent this from happening:
- Read other buyers' ratings before buying anything. Negative reviews are obviously a sign that the seller is neither trustworthy nor reputable. However, don't "let your guard down", as some online stores "filter" comments by posting only favorable ones. Do parallel searches by typing the seller's name into another search site and check their reputation, instead of just relying on the reviews you read on their own page.
- Protect yourself from fraud. Some sites offer customers a guarantee to return the product even if the seller is a third party and the site only acts as an intermediary. The security that the money will be returned to you protects you from a possible bad purchase.
Step 2. Be wary of sellers who replace photos of real shoes with those downloaded from the internet or from advertisements
The latter are much more eye-catching and more pleasing to the eye, but an image taken clearly in a house gives you the guarantee that the pair of shoes really exists and that the product description is true.
You can try to contact the seller and ask him for more photographs of the shoes that also include an object that certifies the date of the shot or its authenticity. For example, ask him to portray the shoes next to today's newspaper
Step 3. Avoid any ads claiming to sell "sample", "custom" or "variations" of other styles of Nike shoes
The real Nike shoes of the sample are only available in American sizes 9, 10, 11 for men, 7 for women and 3, 5 for children. There is no original Nike "variant" or "customization".
- Check all the seller's stock. For some strange reason, counterfeit shoes are never available in US sizes 9, 13 and above.
- It is very rare that older models that are discontinued are available in all sizes. For example, if you are looking for a pair of vintage Nikes and you find a seller who has 200 in stock, then the chances are that they are fake.
Step 4. Avoid sites that offer Nikes at too low a price compared to their normal market value
These are certainly counterfeit or badly damaged shoes.
- Half-priced shoes are usually fake. A certain discount percentage is more realistic, especially in limited edition or vintage models.
- A seller may charge a very high price and then offer you the chance to haggle up to a ridiculous amount. Pay close attention, especially as you can't physically see the shoes to make sure they exist and are in good condition.
- Check the shipping times. If it takes 7-14 days to get the shoes, chances are they come from China (where the counterfeit Nikes are sure to come from) or some other distant country.
- If you need to order Nike online, it's best to trust the company's official website or one of the authorized stores.
Step 5. Do not purchase models that are available before the official launch date
It is almost certain that these shoes are counterfeit.
The shoes may look very similar to the ones that are about to be marketed, but they will be just a well-made copy. The photographs of the new models, which are shown in advance, allow the counterfeiters to produce copies without the possibility of a real comparison and people can fall into this trap attracted by the idea of owning something before everyone else
Step 6. Check out the shop
Once you have found the shoes you like, do all the necessary checks to ascertain their authenticity.
- Check the Nike website or that of an authorized retailer one more time to compare the images.
- Ask the seller to prove to you that these are an original pair of shoes. You can also ask for their supplier number for more information.
Method 2 of 2: Recognizing Counterfeit Shoes
Step 1. Examine the packaging
Most counterfeit footwear is not sold in the original Nike box. On the contrary, the shoes are delivered to the customer in a transparent film or without any kind of packaging.
Most of the fake Nike boxes are badly glued and not as sturdy as the originals
Step 2. Check the condition of the shoes
If you've had a similar pair of Nikes in the past, use them for comparison. If you feel that they are quite different in quality, then there is a high chance that the new ones will break after a few days of use.
- Original Nikes are always softer and deeper gray than counterfeit ones. This is because they are made of genuine leather, while the fake ones are of imitation leather.
- The insoles of the fake Nike have some visible dots caused by the manufacturing process, while the original ones lack them.
- Look at the laces. Real Nike shoes, in general, are completely laced, while in fake ones the laces are inserted into the holes alternately.
Step 3. Check the SKU number located on the box and on the label inside the shoe
Each pair of authentic Nike shoes is sold with its own box bearing the same SKU number. If the numbers aren't there or don't match, the shoes are most likely fake.
Check the label on the flap. Fake shoe manufacturers often put a label on the inside of the shoe with an incorrect production date. For example, you might read that that model was designed in 2008, when Nike actually brought it to market only in 2010
Step 4. Try wearing them
The insoles of most counterfeit Nikes have a "plastic" feel and don't offer much grip, while the original ones are made with BRS 1000 rubber.
Almost all fake Nikes do not correspond perfectly to the size shown on the label. They are typically half a size smaller or much narrower than the original shoes. Try the same model in an authorized shop to understand exactly the type of fit
Advice
- Report stores selling counterfeit Nikes by emailing the company. By doing this you help other people not to fall into deception.
- Ask the clerks at a Nike flagship store to help you figure out if your shoes are authentic or not. Unfortunately, the company is not responsible for footwear sold by unauthorized retailers or through unofficial channels, so they will not give you a refund or compensation for the damage suffered.
