Fake Adidas on vinted

[BreezyClouds]

Dd needed new trainers, she buys from vinted and usually runs things by me first but this time she found some that were new in box but listed as 'very good' with price to match so bought before someone else did - she did not find this suspicious.

Mentioned it to me, I had a look and there are so many similar on there.

Anyway they've just arrived and I'm inspecting them with the help of photos and chatgpt. They are very good. The only firmly fake info is that the bar code on the box doesn't match the size, all other labels, codes, stitching, etc are good and they look identical to her previous pair. I suspect they're genuinely from the factory but with very good fake labels.

She's probably going to keep them, I'm not sure I could convince vinted they're fake. I feel bad that it's funding crime but can't be sure. What would you do?

I wouldn’t do anything to be honest, but then I wouldn’t know how to check so wouldn’t notice.

If she is happy to keep them, that is.

Could they not be legit trainers in a box from a different pair of trainers? It doesn't sound like you have anything to go on,I'm afraid.

If they were sold as good condition with box, it doesn't necessarily specify ORIGINAL box. I sell shoes on vinted all the time and put them in whatever box I have available for easier and sustainable packaging.

In all honesty, if an item doesn’t look obviously fake then I wouldn’t be going to the extent of getting ChatGP to help me scrutinise every tiny detail.

It’s just a pair of trainers, not a premium designer item where you need to be absolutely sure you’ve got the real deal.

It sounds as if you can’t even be certain they’re fake. As long as you think the footwear is good quality and suitable for wear, I’d be keeping them without a second thought. There are lots of reasons why the box might not match and honestly, I don’t think it warrants this degree of scrutiny.

It's mainly that I wanted to return them because I don't want to be involved in illegitimate trade and criminals should not be rewarded - it's related to my job. But theres nothing obvious enough to start a dispute.

On the box, there's no mix up. The box label says size 6 but the barcode is for a size 8, that's definitely counterfeit.

I was only suspicious because so many came up in my search as 'very good' despite the photos showing new with tags and box. There aren't likely to be a hundred sellers downgrading the condition of their item by accident. The seller she bought from also has 2 other pairs in different sizes listed in the same way.

I guess it's a drop in the ocean.

I think there is a big difference between knowingly going out and buying fakes, and then a case like this where you have been led to believe they are genuine, look genuine but you have picked up a differing bar code on the box.

If you did not know to check the bar code, would you even be questioning them?

And then the price paid. If they were sold at store price / perhaps even end of range store sale price then if you feel strongly enough, get your dd to return them.

There was a recent news article (possibly BBC) that said that counterfeit goods on Vinted are usually tagged as New condition. It warned buyers to use caution when buying a New item at a too good to be true price.

Maybe the sellers of those types of goods are wising up to that and hence now tagging as “Very good”.

I can appreciate your discomfort OP. I bought something from Vinted (Very good) and was irked that while useable it turned out to be counterfeit. I kept it rather than returning it but haven’t used it and wish I had returned it.

I would just assume wrong box here if the only issue that leads you to think they are fake is a barcode

If there's nothing whatsoever about the construction, composition or visual appearance of the shoe that makes you think it's fake then just assume it's not?
The barcode on the box is nothing to do with the actual shoe. It might be for a different pair? And does it matter?

Womens 6 is an 8 in the USA I believe, could it be that?

You can get items verified with Vinted. If that option was available and not used 🤷‍♀️