How to spot fake UGG boots

Christmas is just around the corner and gift-shopping season is approaching (that is, if it hasn’t started in earnest in your area yet). So start thinking and shopping for gifts now, or you’ll end up doing your Christmas shopping at the 11th hour, just when prices have already gone up!

Are you thinking of buying shoes as a gift for Christmas? Sheepskin boots would be an ideal gift at this time of year, due to the freezing temperatures brought on by winter. And if you and I are on the same “wavelength”, what better sheepskin boots to give away than a pair of genuine and heartfelt “UGG Australia” shearling boots, right? As they say, “Don’t give anything but your best!” But the problem is, where should you look for authentic “UGG Australia” sheepskin boots? Sure you could say nohere are many stores in my area that sell authentic “UGG Australia” sheepskin bootsbut are you sure they are, in fact, authentic “UGG Australia” sheepskin boots? And are you aware of the “controversy” or “dispute” between the Australian boot makers and the American company that makes the authentic “UGG Australia” sheepskin boots? Then take a look at the Wikipedia article on UGG Boots .

Now that you’ve spent some time learning about the American and Australian “interpretation” of the word “UGG” and the background behind the “UGG Australia” controversy, let’s move on as I show you the ways you can distinguish a pair. from genuine “UGG Australia” sheepskin boots to fake ones. However, let me start by saying that all my “suggestions”, “suggestions”, notes and comments that follow apply ONLY to “UGG Australia” boots found in a “real” store and not in a “virtual” store ( like those “online” and / or “retail” stores), okay? For the sake of conciseness or brevity, I will discuss the detection of fake UGGs among “virtual” or “online” stores in another discussion.

Let’s get the ball rolling by talking about PRICE. Genuine “UGG Australia” sheepskin boots are quite expensive. I will not mention figures, because prices vary and change from time to time. But here’s what I SUGGEST you can do to “root out” the obvious fakes – If there are multiple stores offering UGGs in your area, check the prices for each and every one. If they are all grouped within a small range, that means 1.) Either they are all selling genuine UGGs, which is good; or 2.) Everyone is selling fakes, which is a shame. My point is, if one store offers a price that is much, much lower than the others, then in any language, it is a gift that that store is selling fake UGGs.

Now let’s say everyone sells UGG in a very tight price range. What should you do next? Take a look at their LOOKS. Here are several visible “telltale signs” that reveal fakes:

• If one or all of the labels on a particular boot (both outside and inside) show “Made in Australia” or “Made in New Zealand” then they are definitely counterfeits. Because Deckers has been making them in China for quite some time.
• If the quality of the stitching is very bad, then it is false. Of course, it can be difficult to distinguish “very bad” from “bad” and “good”, but if it is obviously very bad, then the boots are fake.
• Look at the black UGGs from the store. Genuine black UGGs have black soles and black labels with the “UGG” logo in white, while fake “black” UGGs have light brown soles and brown (or non-black) labels.
• Ask for the “Nightfall” model. If the “Dusk” presented to you is any color other than Brown, it is false. Deckers only does “Nightfall” on Chestnut.
• Order a “Sundance” model. If you see a “Sundance” in any color other than Sand Brown or Chocolate, it is false. Deckers has stopped making it in black. There may be old stocks, but anyone selling large amounts of them is probably selling counterfeits.
• While you are still on the subject of the boot color, note that there are no “camel” color UGGgs. So if someone offers you one, bingo!
• In a genuine UGG, the sheepskin around the boot matches the color of the boot, but the sheepskin on the bottom of the boot, where the foot sits, is always natural in color ( or “cream”).
• The sole of a genuine UGG is about half an inch or more, while the soles of fakes are very thin, like maybe ¼ inch.
• Now try looking at the “size” label on the UGGs of your women and children, if they have any. All Euro, UK and US sizes are displayed on a child’s UGG, while the Women’s UGG only shows the US size on it.
• Whether it is a blue card or a brown “leather” tag (some of them may say “Made by CGM Co. Ltd.”), or a light brown or beige dust bag that says “UGG” or, to Sometimes “Snow Boots” goes with the UGG pair, then it’s fake. Most “innocent” shoppers are fooled by this apparent “attention to detail” or “extra touches.” The truth is that no genuine pair of “UGG Australia” boots has a pinned tag (or attached “leather swatch”) or comes with a dust bag or shopping bag!
• If you bring (or wear) a pair of genuine UGGs with you, or one of your partners brought their genuine UGGs with them, try comparing your genuine UGGs to a fake one from side to side; a fake one that is the same “model” as your genuine UGGs will be higher or lower than yours.
• Also, while it is still on the subject of side-by-side comparison, the “UGG” label on the back of the boots is higher up in a fake and the lettering is different from the genuine UGG. The letters may have spaces between them in the fake, while in the real, they overlap. Lastly, the word “australia” in the “UGG Australia” logo is in a bolder font on the counterfeit than it is on a genuine UGG.

Now, suppose the counterfeiters have vastly improved, and so far the UGGs you are looking at have passed all the above “visual” tests. There are still a few more ‘tests’ you can do to ‘root out’ counterfeits. For example, try this FIT TEST: If you know your boot size, try ordering a pair of UGGs that are one “notch” larger than your size, then try wearing them. If they are genuine UGGs, they should fit snugly, or even be a little baggy. Fake UGGs, on the other hand, are notoriously ill-fitting!

Do you want more “proof”? Try these simple SKIN TESTS: Look at the inner fur of the boot. Genuine UGG fur is fluffy and thick in appearance and should be a rich cream color. Fake UGG fur, on the other hand, is synthetic and they are thin and delicate in appearance, and are “grayish” or “white” rather than cream in color. Now “feel” the fur with your hands. They should “feel” very soft. Then try rubbing your fingers against them. You could tell the fakes because parts of them would “pop out” or “pop out” even with a slight “brush”. Lastly, smell the inside of the boot and the skin. If there is only a slight paint or “lacquer” smell, then that is your indication that the boots are fake. Genuine UGG leather doesn’t even have a hint of that “shellac” smell, because real leather doesn’t have to be dyed to “go” off like the “real thing”.

Let’s try a “new” approach to these “tests”; Instead of testing the boots, LET’S TEST THE SELLER. Here are some ways to do it:

1. Start a conversation with the vendor about UGGs and where they are made. If you mention that the genuine ones are made in Australia and / or New Zealand, then you are selling counterfeits. Likewise, if the seller doesn’t list Deckers Outdoor Corporation (or Deckers, Inc.) as the “parent” company, then that’s another sign that they are selling counterfeits.
2. Try to “fake” a slight disappointment with the “model” or size of the boot that was presented to you, as if it might not be what you want. If the seller says, “Take your time to choose. I have many different ‘models’ and sizes for you to choose from.”So most likely you are selling counterfeits, because UGGs are, by the very nature of their “raw” materials, in short supply or in limited supply. Anyone who has a truckload of them at this time of year is very suspicious!
3. Then look around the place and try to mention a “model” that is not there, asking if you can “order” it, how many days it will take, and where you get it from. If the seller mentions that he got it directly from his supplier in China, then he is selling counterfeits. While it is true that all Deckers UGGs are made in China, a seller / reseller does not source them directly from China.

That is all. I’ve already covered the bases here. This is by no means a “complete” list of “tips” for distinguishing a genuine UGG from a fake one; in fact, a fake UGG can pass all of the “visual” telltale signals I mentioned above (perhaps because the counterfeiters themselves have “known”), but sure, many fake UGGs fail the “FIT TEST” and the “TESTS OF LEATHER “mentioned above, while many of their sellers fail the” TEST TO SELLER “tests.