How to Avoid Buying Jordan 1 Fakes?

The thing that sneaker enthusiasts who are keen on collecting the Air Jordan 1 series fear the most is buying fake Jordan 1s! So this article will teach you how to avoid buying Jordan 1 fakes.

The following are the methods we have summarized to avoid buying Jordan 1 fakes:

1. Choose to buy through formal channels. Official stores: physical stores officially opened by the brand, such as Nike stores, etc., where the goods are directly sourced from the brand, ensuring that the goods sold are genuine. Official website or official e-commerce platform flagship store: online sales channels officially operated by the brand, with quality assurance and after-sales guarantee for goods. Well-known sports brand retailers: such as Foot Locker, JD Sports, etc., these large retailers usually have strict procurement channels and quality control processes, which can reduce the risk of buying fakes, but you need to confirm their legitimacy and credibility before buying.
2. Understand the basic information of the shoes. Color matching and release information: Before buying, be familiar with the various official color matching, styles, release time, channels and other information of Jordan 1. If you encounter some shoes that claim to be limited edition or special color matching, but appear in large quantities in unofficial sales channels and the price is too low, they are likely to be fakes. For example, some popular limited-edition Jordan 1s are officially available in limited quantities. If you see a large amount of inventory in some unknown online stores and the price is ridiculously cheap, it can basically be judged as fake. Shoe shape and details: Understand the shoe shape, material, craftsmanship and other details of the genuine Jordan 1. For example, the genuine toe is narrow and rounded; the lychee leather has a delicate texture, natural texture and luster; the wing logo is clearly concave and convex, and the letters are clear and reasonably spaced. Knowing these features will help you detect abnormalities more keenly when buying.
3. Observe the shoe box and accessories. Shoe box: The genuine shoe box has clear printing and bright colors, and the edges of the pattern and text are sharp, without blurring and smudging. The label information on the shoe box should be complete, with uniform font thickness and reasonable spacing. For example, the shoe size, style, color and other information on the side label of the shoe box should match the shoe itself. Fake shoe boxes may have problems such as rough printing, dim colors, blurred fonts or wrong information. Accessories: Authentic Jordan 1s usually come with corresponding accessories, such as shoelaces, insoles, and hangtags. Pay attention to check the quality and craftsmanship of the accessories. For example, authentic shoelaces are thick, tightly woven, and of moderate length; the pattern on the surface of the insole is clear, and the glue on the back is linear and uniform; the material and printing quality of the hangtag should also meet the brand standards. If the accessories are of poor quality, missing, or inconsistent with the authentic ones, be cautious when purchasing.
4. Check the details of the shoes. Upper: The authentic upper material is high-quality, the leather texture is good, the texture is natural, the grain of the lychee grain leather is full and uniform, and the feel is soft and elastic; the surface of the artificial leather material is smooth and the texture is regular. The upper material of the fake may be poor, the leather texture is unnatural, the lychee grain is too regular or blurred, the feel is hard and lacks elasticity; the surface of the artificial leather may have defects, scratches, unclear or too rough texture. Toe: The authentic toe is small and exquisite, with a natural and smooth curvature; the fake toe may be larger and wider, with an unnatural curvature and look stiff. Line: The lines of genuine shoes are even and neat, the stitching spacing is consistent, the lines are smooth, and there are no workmanship problems such as skipping, missing lines, and double lines. For example, the stitching of the upper, the joint between the sole and the upper, and other parts should be fine. The lines of fake shoes may be crooked, uneven, the stitching spacing is different, and there may even be skipping and missing lines. Sole: The lines of genuine soles are clear and deep, the rubber texture is tough and elastic, and it can rebound quickly when pressed with fingers; the logos and letters on the soles are clearly printed and not easy to wear. The lines of fake soles may be shallow and blurred, the rubber texture is poor, the elasticity is insufficient, and it rebounds slowly after pressing; the printing quality of the sole logo is also poor, and it is easy to wear or fade. Wing logo: The genuine wing logo has obvious convexity and concave, strong three-dimensional sense, clear and full letters, sharp edges, and the letters “R” and “D” are connected. The wing logo of a fake may not have a strong sense of convexity, the letters may be blurred or deformed, and there may be a clear separation between the letters “R” and “D”. Shoe label: The shoe label is one of the important bases for distinguishing authenticity. The font on the genuine shoe label is clear and uniform in thickness, and the layout and spacing of the font meet the specifications; the QR code is clear and scannable, and relevant product information can be obtained after scanning. The font on the fake shoe label may be blurred, uneven in thickness, and the layout is chaotic. The QR code cannot be scanned normally or there is no valid information after scanning. Heel: The shape of the genuine heel is regular, the curvature is natural, and it is closely connected with the upper; the brand logo or letters on the heel are clearly and delicately printed. The shape of the fake heel may be irregular, the curvature is unnatural, and there may be a gap at the connection with the upper; the printing quality of the brand logo or letters is poor and unclear.
5. Price judgment. If the price of a certain Jordan 1 is significantly lower than the normal market price, it is likely to be a fake. For example, if a pair of Jordan 1 styles with a high official price and popular in the market is sold at a price far below the market price in a certain channel, you should be vigilant and not buy it easily for the sake of cheapness.
6. Merchant reputation evaluation. Store evaluation and reputation: When choosing to buy through unofficial channels, carefully check the merchant’s evaluation and reputation. Check other consumers’ purchase evaluations and orders, especially the evaluations on the authenticity, quality and after-sales service of the goods. If most of the evaluations reflect that there are problems with the goods or the merchant’s reputation is not good, it is recommended to choose another store. Merchant qualifications and certification: Understand whether the merchant has relevant business qualifications and certifications, such as whether it is a brand authorized dealer. Some regular e-commerce platforms will certify and review merchants. Choosing merchants with relevant certification marks to buy can increase the guarantee of purchasing authentic products.
7. Keep the purchase receipt. After purchase, be sure to keep the purchase receipt, such as invoices, shopping receipts, etc. These receipts are not only an important basis for after-sales service, but also can be used as evidence for rights protection when there are product quality problems or doubts about authenticity.

The above 7 tips can perfectly help you avoid the risk of buying Jordan 1 fakes. If you suspect that you have bought a fake Jordan 1, don’t panic. The best way is to contact the seller to return the goods. If the seller refuses to return the goods for various reasons, you can report the seller’s price behavior to the credit card platform or third-party payment platforms such as PAYPAL. Usually, your money will be refunded!