Most of the boxes for fake Nikes are hastily glued together and therefore not as sturdy as true Nike boxes.
Real Nikes are always softer[2] X Research source than fake ones. This is because they are made from real leather, while fake Nikes are manufactured from pleather. The midsoles of fake Nike shoes tend to have visible dots from the manufacturing process, unlike real Nike shoes. Check the lacing. Real Nike shoes are usually fully laced, while fakes tend to skip every other lacing hole.
Check the tongue label. Often, fake Nike manufacturers put outdated sizing labels on the inside of the shoe. For example, a fake label may tell you the shoe was designed in 2008 when in fact Nike first manufactured that item in 2010.
Most fake Nike sneakers do not fit true to size. They generally are 1/2 size smaller and significantly narrower than real Nikes. Try the same Nike shoe in a trusted retailer to get an accurate reading of how it feels. You can find official Nike shoes on their website here.
Try buying Nike shoes directly from the source. You can purchase shoes on Nike’s official website here. Read website ratings and reviews before buying anything. Bad reviews is an obvious sign that the seller is not reliable or reputable. However, be careful because some sites will choose to only show “good” reviews. Do a third party search by inputting the seller in a third party search site and examining their reputation there instead of on the seller’s site. Ensure you are protected from fraud. Some online websites provide their customers with a return policy, even if the seller is a third party of the site. Having security that you will get your money back will protect you losing if you do happen to purchase fake Nike shoes.
You could try to contact the seller and ask them to take another photo of the shoe with an item that determines the date or authenticity of the photo. For example, ask the seller to take a photo of the shoe next to today’s newspaper. [5] X Research source
View the seller’s entire inventory. For unknown reasons, counterfeiters tend not to sell U. S. sizes 9 or 13 and above. Older Nike shoes that are out of production are almost never available in a full sizing run. For example, if you’re searching for a pair of vintage Nikes and find a site that has a stock of 200, they are likely fakes.
Generally, a Nike shoe that is priced in half is most likely fake. A reasonable discount is more realistic, especially if the shoe is a limited edition or vintage. A seller might price it extremely high and offer you the chance to haggle to a ridiculously low price. Be careful, especially since you don’t have the physical shoe to verify its state and existence. Check the shipping estimation. If it will take between 7 and 14 days to deliver your shoes, they are likely traveling from China (a verified source of fake Nike shoes) or from another distant country. [8] X Research source If you must order Nikes online, it’s best to purchase them directly from the company’s website or from the list of authorized [Nike retailers. ]
These shoes may look like an upcoming design but are most likely modelled very closely to look like it. Early release photos allow counterfeits to be produced without originals to be compared with and many people fall into the trap of attempting to get their hands on a pair before everyone else.
Double check with Nike or a trusted retailer’s website to compare them with an image of the original shoe. Ask the seller to verify that the shoes are authentic. You can also ask for their supplier’s contact information for further information.
