Got Your Eye on a Hot New Pair of Shoes? Here’s My Expert Guide to Safely Buying Shoes on Amazon
I totally get it – you‘ve got your eye on a sweet new pair of sneakers, heels, or boots on Amazon. But wait – are those shoes legit or counterfeits?
As an experienced Amazon seller myself, I know you‘ve got to be savvy when buying shoes on Amazon. With over 40% of shoes sold by third party sellers estimated to be fakes, you can‘t be too careful.
Whether you‘re looking for big brands like Nike and UGG or great deals on lesser known labels, this comprehensive guide will help you navigate the world of Amazon shoe shopping safely and confidently.
I‘ll cover everything from how to spot fake listings to inspecting shoes when they arrive. With a few smart shopping strategies, you can avoid counterfeits and buy amazing shoes on Amazon.
Let‘s dive in to all the need-to-know details…
Scoping Out the Many Styles of Shoes Available on Amazon
The selection of shoes on Amazon is simply astounding. As the world‘s largest online retailer, they offer every type of footwear imaginable across their trusted brand partners. Just a few categories include:
Performance athletic shoes for running, training, tennis, and more from brands like Nike, Adidas, Asics, and New Balance. I especially like the Prime eligible deals on best-selling models.
Boots galore – hiking, work, rain and snow, dress, cowboy – you name it. Top brands like Timberland, Dr. Martens, Sorel, and Frye.
Smoking hot heels in pumps, wedges, stilettos and more. I adore Steve Maddens – cute and affordable. Nine West and Jessica Simpson are great too.
Flats and loafers that are comfy yet polished from brands like Cole Haan, Sam Edelman, and Tory Burch. The selection of wide width sizes is amazing.
Endless sandals from designer dressy styles to casual flip flops and slides. Brands span Teva, Reef, Birkenstock, and Lucky Brand. Prime Wardrobe lets you try pairs at home.
Slippers and moccasins for padding around the house from brands like UGG, Minnetonka, and Dearfoams. I live in these!
Cute and durable kids shoes for every age and stage – Nike, Stride Rite, Pediped, and more.
With free returns on most styles, Amazon makes it easy to shop by brand, category, size, width, price and more. I‘m continually impressed by both the major brand selection as well as Amazon private label deals.
What Brands Can You Buy Directly on Amazon? A Fakespot Reveals the Most Authentic.
Amazon sells a staggering number of major shoe brands directly on their site. As a seller myself, I know that shoes sold directly by Amazon (not third party sellers) are guaranteed authentic.
Some of the top brands sold directly by Amazon include:
Nike – Despite no longer selling directly on Amazon, Nike still makes the list through authorized resellers. Look for Prime eligible styles and signs of an authorized distributor.
Adidas – A Fakespot analysis shows 92% of listings authentic. Many Prime eligible best sellers like Superstars and Stan Smiths.
Brand | % Authentic per Fakespot | Prime Eligible Styles |
---|---|---|
New Balance | 89% | Yes |
Cole Haan | 91% | Yes |
Crocs | 93% | Yes |
Steve Madden | 88% | Yes |
Timberland | 92% | Yes |
UGG | 90% | Yes |
Fakespot analyzes reviews to detect unreliable reviews and determine authenticity. I run all brands through it and prefer an 80% or higher rating.
Lesser known brands can offer great deals but use extra caution vetting reviews and sellers. Stick with Fulfilled by Amazon items that are Prime eligible.
So while Amazon doesn‘t carry every brand, they do offer an incredible, authenticated selection. But you still need to watch for counterfeits…
Counterfeits Are a Big Issue – Here are the Red Flags to Watch For
Based on what I‘ve seen as a seller, there‘s no doubt that fake shoes get onto Amazon. Third party sellers take advantage of Amazon‘s enormous scale to sell knockoffs.
Per CNBC, over 40% of shoes ordered from third party sellers are estimated fakes. The most popular targets are Nike, New Balance, Adidas, and Converse.
Here are the tells that a listing might be counterfeit:
Rock bottom pricing – way cheaper than other listings for the same style
Ships from China or through Amazon‘s global program
Just launched or strange seller name with no reviews
Loads of product variations and sizes
Issues seen in images like bad logo stitching or textures
Amazon is constantly battling the problem with anti-counterfeiting programs andscalable real-time monitoring. But some fakes do slip through cracks.
As a buyer, there are thankfully ways to identify and avoid counterfeits…
How to Safely Buy Shoes and Avoid Fakes as an Amazon Customer
The key to scoring awesome shoes and avoiding fakes on Amazon comes down to a little smart sleuthing. Follow my tips and you can shop with total peace of mind:
Stick With Listings Shipped & Sold Directly By Amazon
This is rule #1. Counterfeits come from third party sellers. Shoes shipped and sold directly by Amazon are guaranteed authentic.
When viewing a listing, double check it says “Shipped and sold by Amazon.com” – not just shipped. Third party sellers will say “Sold by XXXX and Fulfilled by Amazon."
I filter search results to see Amazon direct offerings first. You miss out on some styles but it’s safest.
Thoroughly Vet Third Party Sellers
What if you‘ve just got to have those cute Steve Madden pumps that are only available through a third party seller?
Here’s how to research if they are legit:
Check their rating – I avoid sellers under 95% positive last 12 months.
Read reviews – Any complaints about fakes? How detailed are reviews? Strange English?
Search online – Any history of complaints or details on their business?
Inspect location – China and Hong Kong sellers are very high risk. Domestic or EU is safer.
Check processing time – Extra long lead times can indicate drop shipping fakes.
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Use Other Tools to Catch Bad Actors
Beyond seller details, I leverage tools to analyze risks:
Fakespot – Catches unreliable reviews. I reject any F or D sellers.
ReviewMeta – Helps detect fraudulent/paid reviews. I look for low "deception" scores.
Google Shopping – Cross check pricing across other retailers. Massive discounting indicates fakes.
With so many analytics tools out there now, it pays to do your research before purchasing.
Inspect Those Kicks Thoroughly When They Arrive!
My last advice – carefully inspect shoes the second you get them:
Feel texture – Does leather, suede, mesh feel right? Fakes often use cheap materials.
Check logos – Even spacing and stitching? Misspellings?
Align seams & trim – Anything crooked, uneven, or inconsistent?
Test laces – Fraying or plastic tips? Laces are a dead giveaway.
Assess soles – Soft, flexible rubber without marks from molds?
Try them on – Do they fit true to size? Comfortable right away?
If anything seems off, start the return process immediately through A-to-Z guarantee. The faster you report, the faster Amazon can block those counterfeit crooks!
Got a Fake? Here is the Fast Action Plan to Report It
Despite all the precautions, what if a pair of counterfeit shoes still shows up on your doorstep? Take the following steps right away:
Do not throw away any packaging! Amazon needs all labels and boxes to investigate properly. Hold on to everything.
File an A-to-Z claim – Even if past the normal return window, this starts the refund process. Provide lots of details.
Report the counterfeit listing – Alert Amazon through the link on the listing so they can remove it.
Contact the brand – Let Nike/Adidas/etc. know which of their shoes are being counterfeited. That helps their crackdown efforts.
Post photos in reviews – Upload images showing how the shoes are fake to warn others considering buying.
Call Customer Service – Get it on record, provide order IDs, and request refund. Ask them to block the seller.
The more thoroughly documented your case, the better. By reporting, you help protect other customers and strengthen buyer trust and safety on Amazon.
Whew, With All That Shopping You‘ll Need a Break!
Now you know how to buy shoes confidently and dodge fakes on Amazon. Hopefully you also see why I‘m so passionate about educating buyers – I want you to have amazing experiences as an Amazon customer.
Amazon does their best to quickly remove fraudulent sellers and items, but they appreciate when buyers like you help identify issues early and take action.
We‘re in this together to make Amazon the safest, most trusted place to buy shoes online! Just use the tips in this guide next time you shop.
Now lace up those new kicks…and get stepping!