- How to Tell if Nikes are Fake: Product and Packaging
- How to Tell if Nikes Are Fake from the Listing
- Where to Buy Genuine Nike Products
- What to Do If You Buy Fake Nikes
- Frequently Asked Questions
Who doesn't want to get their hands on the latest Nike Air Jordans or Air Force Ones or the newest NFL jersey of your favorite team? Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of the popularity of the sportswear brand by producing convincing fake Nike products, which is bad news for sneakerheads, collectors, and sports fans, who may wonder how to tell if Nikes are fake or not.
A counterfeit Nike scam usually looks like someone is selling authentic sneakers or sportswear on sites like eBay, Amazon, and other third-party selling platforms where it's challenging to authenticate what is being sold. When fake Nikes are sold alongside the real thing, it's even harder to know the difference between a great deal and a scam.
Nike Counterfeit Goods
In 2020, global sales losses from counterfeit clothing and footwear topped 26.3 billion euros. Moreover, 22% of all counterfeit goods seized are footwear, with Nike, Adidas, Louboutin, and Uggs the most common brands to be faked.
In Oct 2019, over 14,000 pairs of fake Nike shoes were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, worth more than $2 million.
How to Tell if Nikes are Fake: Product and Packaging
Nike is one of the most counterfeited brands globally, so it can be difficult to tell the difference between genuine Nike products and fakes as scammers take advantage of the brand's popularity.
Official reseller site StockX found the most attempted fakes in 2020 were Nike shoes:
- Off White x Nike Air Jordan 1 "Chicago"
- Off White x Nike Air Jordan 4 "Sail"
- Travis Scott x Nike Air Jordan 1 High
All three Nike shoes are limited editions sought after amongst collectors, making them lucrative business for scammers if they can produce convincing fakes.
Scammers have become pretty adept at faking Nike goods, so knowing the minor inconsistencies to look out for is crucial.
Check the Packaging
All Nike shoes are packaged in a box that's labeled and tagged correctly. The color and print of the box vary depending on style, but usually, the boxes are orange, red, and brown. Printed on the box should be the style, size, serial number and/or SKU, and barcode.
Scammers try to replicate these boxes, but they'll lack the essential printed details. Scammers may also ship Nike shoes without packaging, which is a big red flag. Ask the seller if the product comes with original packaging and tags/labels if you're unsure.
Note that sometimes scammers do a pretty good job copying genuine Nike shoes, including the boxes they come in, so you'll need to pay close attention to little details like font size and layout.
How to Tell if Fake Nike Shoes & Clothing From the Style
It's always helpful to do some research before hitting the "Add to Cart" button. Visit the official Nike website and browse product photographs and the color combination of the products you're interested in.
Counterfeiters will often sell popular Nike clothing and sneakers, but the color combinations and shades are different from the originals.
Spot Fake Nike Shoes & Products in the Details
The tell-tale signs of fake Nike shoes and other products can often be seen in the small details. Look out for:
- Crooked or uneven stitching
- Unfinished seams
- Misspelling in any of the small print, such as on the clothing label or the tongue
- Mismatched fonts
- The swoosh logo or Jumpman logo being the wrong size or facing the wrong direction
- Poor quality embroidery on the logo or in other parts of the shoe
Look closely at the stitching on your Nike product. In this example of a real pair of Air Force 1s versus fake sneakers, you can notice the swoosh isn't aligned correctly, and there is extra stitching between the letters.
Signs of Fake Nike Shoes
Authentic Nike shoes are made from high-quality materials using advanced technology for comfort and style. If you're suspicious about the quality of your sneakers, each part of the shoe can help determine if your Nike shoes are fake.
- The upper should feature even stitching and quality finishing. The material should be soft and supple without any creasing, and there should be no overlapping colors.
- The midsoles of genuine Nike sneakers are genuinely glued and not stitched. They should be made using quality foam and usually feature the swoosh logo and model name.
- The outsole should be constructed of high-grade rubber that is light and flexible. Check that patterns and ridges are uniformly spaced and even, and the soles aren't stiff or have a "plasticky" feeling.
- The tongue of genuine Nike sneakers features the brand logo on the upper. On the inside of the tongue, the tag should show the product information, including the size and country of manufacture. There will also be a 9-digit serial number, which should match the code on the box.
- The weight should feel light and balanced in your hand when you wear them. Counterfeiters have a problem imitating the real feel of Nike shoes, with the sole usually feeling clunky and heavy compared to the real thing.
How to Tell if Nikes Are Fake from the Listing
When shopping online, it's tough to tell the difference between counterfeit Nike goods and genuine products. You can't hold the sneakers or clothing in your hands to feel the quality of the materials, you can't check the details close up, and you can't try them on to see if the fit is right.
Additionally, when shopping on Amazon, eBay, or similar platforms, third-party sellers can list fraudulent products with relative ease. However, while some scammers are better at disguising their products as legitimate, there are a few red flags to look out for in a listing that point to a scam.
The Seller
Before purchasing Nike shoes or other Nike products online, check the seller's credentials, particularly if you're shopping through stores like eBay, Amazon, or Craigslist.
If you're not buying from authorized retailers, read feedback and reviews from previous customers. They are a good indication of whether you're getting a genuine product.
Bad Spelling and Grammar
Spelling errors and glaring grammar mistakes in the item description are common signs of a scam. Look for unusual wording, bad punctuation, and text that looks to have been through Google translate. If something seems off about the listing, it's best avoided.
What a Deal!
One of the most obvious signs of a Nike scam is an unbelievably low price. If those Nike Air Jordans are super low-priced, they're most likely to be fake. You should have reservations if the marked-down price is discounted by more than 50%.
Unless you're purchasing from an unauthorized Nike seller and there is a clearance sale, big markdowns on Nike products are not common. When looking at Nike deals on online marketplaces, compare the seller's price with the prices on the Nike website or authorized online stores.
It's also a warning sign if a marketplace seller has dozens of units of the same product up for sale at a "steal" of a price. Just ask yourself, how has the seller got their hands on so much product, and how can they afford to sell it so cheaply? It's likely because they are fake Nike products.
While you will get a better price for second-hand Nike products, it's rare to find brand new Nike shoes, jerseys, or other sought-after items going cheap. Remember, not all discounted Nike products are fakes, but if a deal is too good to be true, it usually is.
Where to Buy Genuine Nike Products
The best place to buy Nike products is from Nike itself, either online or in-store. This way, you can be sure you're getting the real deal and not a counterfeit.
You can also buy genuine products, including Nike shoes, online and in-person from the brand's official resellers, including:
Fake Nike manufacturers aren't able to get their products into official reseller stores, so you don't need to worry about counterfeit Nike shoes when buying from these retailers.
Although you might find a great deal when buying Nike shoes online via classified websites like Craigslist and OfferUp, it's best to avoid buying Nike items from these sites as you're more prone to being scammed.
- Shop Nike Originals and Collections
- Men's, women's, and kids
- Free shipping and returns on eligible items
What to Do If You Buy Fake Nikes
Sadly, if you've been scammed with fake Nikes through an online marketplace, there isn't a great deal you can do. Your first step should be to report the listing for selling counterfeit Nike products and leave a review detailing the scam to prevent others from buying.
Then get in touch with customer support and inform them of your situation, including as much detail as possible. You may be able to open a dispute and get your money back, but this is by no means guaranteed.
It's important to verify links and contact details to beat imposters.
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