As the sneaker industry has shifted into the new digital era, the rise of counterfeit sneakers has unfortunately also expanded. Directly or indirectly, chances are you have probably seen a pair or two of fake sneakers out in the wild. With the difficulty consumers have getting sneakers for retail, the counterfeit market has turned into a multi-billion dollar business, leaving consumers more vulnerable than ever to fakes.
Even though secondary marketplaces pride themselves on ‘authenticity,’ ‘protection,’ and ‘guarantees,’ everyone should still do their due diligence when it comes to buying sneakers from a secondary source and give them a personal inspection.
Here are a couple of tips you can take with you the next time you buy sneakers to make sure you don’t get scammed:
Smell Test
This might sound crazy, but the actual smell of a sneaker can be a giveaway that it might not be legit. (There’s a reason our friend Chris from Weartesters always sniffs the sneaker when taking it out of the box) Most of the time, fake sneakers use lesser quality materials, and the smell of toxic glue will be so intense you might even get a headache. If the smell is off as soon as you open the package, that’s a big red flag.
Check The Inside Tag
One of the biggest giveaways regarding fake sneakers is the label or tag. The real deal usually has equally spaced numbers and letters on the label, as well as a more stitched-together label on the shoe. Try comparing it to another pair you have of the same model.
Double-check the actual UPC code on the tag, too, as it should be the same number on each pair of the same size.
Stitching
When you first get the sneaker, one of the first things you should closely inspect is the quality of the stitching throughout the shoe. Many fakes will have lazy stitching and even be missing some stitches in some areas of the shoe. However, minor stitching or paint defects aren’t always a sure sign a shoe is fake.
A lot of the times, counterfeit companies cut corners on fakes to save money, so you can really tell how messy the stitching can be in this instance. A good tip is to use a blue light to flash over the stitching. You’ll be able to see the messiness right away.
Verify The Source
Majority of consumers might buy from the biggest marketplaces out there (StockX, GOAT, eBay, etc.) but there are many other websites that impersonate them and/or offer ‘too good to be true’ prices. To make sure you’re not getting scammed, confirm the site is legit, and always use PayPal or a trusted credit card to ensure you have buyer protection.
If you’re buying on social media, make sure the account is legit and has some credible testimonials. It’s probably not a good idea to buy from ‘LegitSneakers4U’ which has 14 followers. Common sense goes a long way with this tip.
Bonus: When buying on COLLECT, every user is verified to ensure that person is who they say they are. We monitor every transaction to verify no fraud or anything irregular is going on.
Compare & Do Your Research
This one is kind of a no-brainer, but really do some research when buying from a secondary marketplace. Read up on articles (compare what fakes might actually look like), find out what special packaging (if any) comes with the shoe, and check out a couple of YouTube videos reviewing the shoe. As a Premium Member, you can also reach out to either a SoleSavy staff member or your community to get a second opinion as well. We’re always happy to help!
All of these things can help you get more familiar with the shoe and, in turn, will help you gauge whether a pair that you received is legit or not. If it’s too good to be true, then it most likely is. Trust your gut, and be an expert in the products you purchase.
Bonus: Authentication Services
95% of the time it’s really not necessary, but if you want an expert opinion there are services out there that will legit check a sneaker for you. On most product, we wouldn’t recommend this, but on some high value items or bigger transactions, it’s good to have some piece of mind. Our rule is pretty simple: if you’re spending significantly above retail, you can never be too safe. We recommend a third party authentication app like Legitmark, Legit App, Legit Check, and CheckCheck. There’s a small fee but worth it to protect your investment.