How to spot fake Nike Trainers - What To Look Out For Chinese Fakes, Thailand etc

Hi guys,

in today's post we will look at how to spot the signs so we can tell if a pair of Nike trainers are real or not. There are a lot of fake shoes popping up all over the place for sale on Ebay, Amazon and other places by sellers looking to make a quick turn around on cheap knock offs that are nowhere near as high quality as the real Nike shoes.

Video for spotting fake Nikes:

 

It may fool many people that you have bought the latest pair of Nike Air max shoes worth about £120 a pair or more, but someone who has the genuine article will be able to tell with no doubt that they are totally fake. Even if you hid the cost of them from someone who has already owned a pair that they cost only £30, they can tell from owning the genuine article anything that may be a bit askew or off on your pair. Its the little things that give the fakes away and we are going to have a look from different sources on the Internet how people have spotted the tell tale signs of a fake.

Don't get burned, if your looking to get the best from a manufacturer either with shoes or clothes, don't judge them on the quality of cheap fakes that are out there, visit the genuine shops and Internet retail sites that are authorised to sell the branded merchandise to compare them to the ones you want.

As usual if its too cheap and to good to be true.....it always is and is a fake!

This is actually first on my list of things to watch out for:

1. What price are the Nikes? If someone is selling a pair of Nikes which have a retail price of £90 RRP and are selling them for around £20....I would bet good money they are fake. Unless it was from a well known chain store closing down or shop clearance such as JJB, Podium for Sport, Decathlon, Sports Direct etc, I would not trust them to be the genuine article. When you buy an authentic and genuine Nike product you are paying for the quality and durability of the materials used. These two qualities are a worthy investment as they will last much longer than cheap pairs of shoes made with inferior materials.

2. The time it takes for products to arrive. This may not strike suspicion with someone ordering a pair of Nikes as to whether they are fake or not, however, products for instance ordered from Official Nike websites either in Europe, USA, Asia, South America etc will take about 3-5 business days to arrive at your home. If they take around 7-18 days to arrive....chances are they are coming from China which would ring alarm bells in my ears! Most Nike websites will deliver fairly quickly as they have large fully stocked warehouses full of products and makes it much cheaper to have them there in the country they are sold in than paying shipping to send a pair of shoes or t shirt half way around the world per order.

3. US sizes are usually not listed on most counterfeits. Most counterfeit Nike trainers do not have a USA size of 13 and up for men or size 9 and up for women. If you can see all other sizes listed on the website, its usually a sign that they are authentic Nike's.

4. How are the shoes packaged? Some sellers sound quite sincere like they are looking out for your best interests when it comes to shipping. Some may say they can do the postage cheaper if they do not send the Nike trainers in a box. This however is a bit of a ploy as to avoid you inspecting the cheap and flimsy boxes that the Nike trainers come in. You of course will accept not sending the box to maybe save a few dollars or pounds which everyone will do these days. Nike trainers come in very strong and sturdy cardboard boxes that can take a bit of strain before bending or breaking. Flimsy cardboard boxes with skinny walls are definitely a sign of a fake!

 5. What do the soles look like and what are they made of? If you have bought a real pair of Nike shoes, they will use BRS 1000 rubber. When looking at photos of them on websites online, it may be hard to tell whether or not they are made of this material, especially if the seller has touched up or photo shopped some of the photos to make them look more appealing. Soles that look plasticy, slippery or very shiny means there is a very high  chance they are counterfeit. Sporting people using these for running, jumping etc may need to take care as they may be made using sub standard products and actually cause people to slip now and again as they will not have as good a grip on the ground as the authentic shoes.

6. Do the SKU numbers and print match on the box and the shoe itself? On the outside of the box should be a label with the SKU number. Check the tag on the shoe itself to make sure it matches the SKU number on the outside of the box. Sometimes the counterfeit sellers will put on an SKU number which may actually relate to a totally different pair of shoes, making them appear authentic when really the SKU number means nothing to this particular pair of shoe. If the box or shoes is missing the SKU number altogether.....run for the hills from that website!

Always buy from trusted sources, I buy from Amazon every time as nothing sold by Amazon themselves or the Official Nike retailers is fake:

          

The main source website I used for collecting the majority of this information was at: http://www.mademan.com/mm/how-spot-fake-nikes.html It has been rewritten in my own words.


Here is some more articles to spot specific types of Nike shoes being fake and other tips:

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_5923790_tell-fake-nike-shoe.html 
For Nike Air Max Shoes 24-7

http://www.leifwild.co.uk/how-to-spot-fake-nike-air-max-tell-tale-signs 
For Nike Air Max Comparison, Real Vs Fake Post

Thanks for reading,

Henry

How to Spot Fake Louis Vuitton Handbags from China and other places

Hi guys,

when it comes to fashion, everyone knows that Lois Vuitton is the creme De la creme of luggage and handbag brands and is known all over the world from the Antarctic to the moon for its sleek design, sumptuous leather and intricate details that make every one of us want to buy it. I know I am a man and may not see the attraction to buying such an expensive handbag from a design or aesthetically pleasing point of view, however I would buy one as an investment for the future, especially rarer design ones.

Great Video on how to spot a Louis Vuitton:

Your probably thinking some strange thoughts about a guy wanting to own a handbag and I would be the same in your shoes, however I did see a Louis Vuitton Antique luggage case sell on the popular Channel 4 show called "Four Rooms" in the UK. It was from around the 1930's if I remember correctly and the guy sold it eventually for £4000, even though it was not in the greatest condition. So for a man seeing money to be made and a long term investment in buying a bag like this so not only would it look a woman look stunning, as if they aren't stunning and gorgeous enough, this bran of bag on your arm will make you a goddess and others will fall at your feet and worship you!

Now before you go nuts breaking out your credit cards and checking the bank balance to see if you can afford one, I know I cannot, make sure what you are buying is 100% genuine as if you have bought a dodgy one from a dodgy seller, asking for your money back will more than likely make him or her run for the hills.

Luckily I am here to help in weeding out the fakes and making sure you get the top quality, authentic and beautiful bag you deserve. I have found a very good article on Forbes.com which I will put a link to in the end of this post as there is a video with it too I will try and embed also.

How to Spot Fake Louis Vuitton Handbags:

1. Is the bag made of leather or not? A lot of Louis Vuitton bags are made from a coated canvas, however the trim on the bag is made of real leather. Leather to the touch feels quite dry and not oily, slippery or sticky which some of the Chinese versions feel like. This is probably synthetic leather which feels kind of cheap to touch.

2. Is the stitching perfect? Every Louis Vuitton bag will have went through a rigorous quality check before being let out of the factory. Every stitch will be checked to make sure it is even, not lop sided or skewing slightly compared to the other stitches. 

3. Have you seen any sloppy spots? No back and forth stitching should be found anywhere in the bags seams, even under flaps, and in nooks or crannies. Louis Vuitton does not approve this type of stitching to be of a high enough standard for their bags.

4. Do the patterns match when they go over seams? Look at the seams and follow the pattern on your bag around the seam to make sure it matches up on the other side. If any letters of the logo crosses seams they will be continuing straight away on the other side of the seam as Louis Vuitton does not split its logos apart. These should lineup and match precisely.

5. Does the inside lining match another bag from a trusted source? If you have already seen your bag in a shop and looked at the inside of it, make sure the inside of the one you are ordering matches the colour tone exactly. If it is a near match and not 100% totally matching then it is fake.

6. Does the bag feel heavy or hollow? If you have ever had even a real leather wallet you will find there is a little bit of weight to it. A bag is no different and should have a heavy feeling to it as there is a lot of material and leather in these bags so if its light as a daisy and feels loose or kinda hollow, its not a real one.

7. Can you see any imperfections in the printed design on the bag? If you have a brown colour on the outside of your bag and there is a design printed over the top of it, for instance a red flower, all that should be showing inside the flower is the colour red and there should be none of the brown colour of the bag showing anywhere inside the red flower, especially at the internal borders of the design. If you see some of the bags colour showing through in between gaps of the colouring on the design, its a fake.

8. Just because it has a Louis Vuitton logo on it does not mean it is genuine! Some counterfeiters put the logo on to make it appear more authentic than it really is. However if you look at a real bag online or in the shop, that may not be the location of where the logo should be, or, some bags do not have any at all on them. If you see this on a bag and compare it to the original and its not the same its one for the bin I am afraid. This is the same as copying the hang tags that come with bags to make them appear very authentic, save your money don't be fooled, knowledge is power!

9. Where has this particular bag been made? Not all Louis Vuitton bags are made in the same place. Different designs are made in different countries. Some may say they are made France for example, but a quick check online on the real websites, you can see the original label may say made in Spain this particular design. That's when you know you have another copy for the scrap heap.

10. My top tip is always.....If it sounds too good to be true......it usually is! If you see a bag you know from Louis Vuittons website is £650 or $1000 and someone is selling the exact same bag for around £50 or $80 roughly, you know its a pile of junk. DON'T try selling your fake handbag if you find out it is a fake. Better putting it in the bin, you can get into serious trouble on Ebay and even at customs if they find out your importing fake bags and selling them off as real. DO NOT DO IT please!


Further ways to spot fakes from others:
http://www.wikihow.com/Spot-Fake-Louis-Vuitton-Purses

Where to buy? The Louis Vuitton Website or Amazon.co.uk:
http://uk.louisvuitton.com/eng-gb/homepage



       

This has been the source of information for this article: 
http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efik45efleg/how-to-spot-a-fake-louis-vuitton-10-questions-to-ask-107/


Thanks for reading everyone.

Henry

Identifying fake Chinese Breitling Watches - Compilation of guides

Identifying fake Chinese Breitling Watches - Compilation of guides and tips

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if anyone had ever came across some of the fake Breitling watches that have been circling around online? I have had the pleasure to see 3 different fake Breitlings bought for £65 from India the supplier was from, and taken to a jeweller, and they thought it was a real Breitling. A friend in work I know has one and he took it to a jeweller here in the UK to get the battery changed inside it and the jeweller told him that he wasn't insured to work on those types of watches, even though he examined it quite thoroughly.

Here are some quick tips from an Ebay.co.uk user guide on spotting fake Breitling watches:

1. On a Genuine Breitling the window for the date is large and eats into the second and minute markers, The fakes like above do not.

2. Original Breitling's do not have raised sub dials.

3.The inner bezel on the fake does not blend seemlessly into the dial, You can see a black ring on the picture above. The genuine watches do not have this.

4.Breilting and wings logo are embrossed on genuine watches, On the fakes they are Stamped on.

5. On a Breitling fighter watch the finish is completley brushed. On the fake its a gloss finish.

6. The back case. The original has markings on the underside, Normally 4 -6 letters and number on the 2 closest links, The fakes do not.

The dead Give away. On an Original Breitling, Look at the very center pin that holds the minute, hiur and second hand. It should all be the same color, Normally silver. The fakes all have a black pin.

Here is a history of breitling watches to watch before checking out how to spot the fakes:

This is what facinates me by the Chinese, how they are able to make such good quality copies of things that even experts are fooled by. Before you spend a couple of grand on a Breitling watch, I have composed a compilation below of videos and tips to look over briefly before making the purchase to make sure that the watch you are buying is the real deal. The actual watch can fool everyone but unless you have the right paperwork such as the reciept or certificate for the watch, or know how to check to see if the watch is genuine or not, I would keep yer money in your pocket until you do. The only way to make sur eits genuine is buy from a trusted well known jeweller online or go into the shop itself.

I have seen 3 different models of Breitling and to tell you the truth I had no idea they were fake either as they were so good I was afraid to hold one when I looked their price up online. Then when I found out the friend had paid £65 for it,  I was nowhere near as worried anymore :).

Here are some guides collected from people around the internet as not a lot of information is available about fake watches, check them out and let me know what you think.

Straight from the horses mouth (unofficially):

http://www.breitlingsource.com/articles_replica_dials.shtml

Here is some simple tips from Ehow on how to spot if the Breitling watch is a fake:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4843084_identify-fake-breitling-watch.html

Some tips about auciton sites and common sense:

http://f4buz.com/watches/breitling/fakes/toptips.html

Hope this helps if your buying someone that special something this Christmas.

To buy authentic Breitling watches please check out the following Amazon links which are sold by Breitling themselves and are 100% authentic! No one else can sell these watches on Amazon as they are not approved:


                                  


See you soon.

Henry

Fake perfumes from China like Coco, Davidoff, Hugo Boss Etc

Hi guys,

I thought I would give some people a heads up on some items that look very very real, but don't necessarily SMELL very real when you open them. The Internet has no way of letting you smell an item of course until you have received it, however I think there is a gadget that lets you do this with certain things, but anyhoo if you are ordering any perfumes from China at crazy prices like $15-$25, you can be pretty sure it isn't real.

Common sense dictates a perfume isn't real if someone no one has heard of before offers it at way below what major retail outlets and chemists can offer it at. However some people will be tempted to purchase these items because of the huge discount a seller is offering, only to be disappointed by the lack of smell or doesn't smell anything like the original which they may have purchased PROPER versions from a genuine retail shop.

People usually can tell that a perfume is fake mainly just by smelling it or applying it and seeing how long the effects of the perfume actually last. Most genuine perfumes and aftershaves can last for up to 6 hours some even 8 before starting to dwindle on the scent, whereas a fake perfume will last maybe an hour or possibly two in some cases I have heard, but then just disappear and evaporate into sometimes a nasty musty smell.

This musty smell I heard of intrigued me into what might be in the fake perfumes to replicate the smell of the originals. I looked it up on youtube and found an interesting video below describing some ingredients that go into fake perfumes and nearly threw up as if I knew I had been putting things like traces of urine onto my skin which has come from god knows where, a person and animal, I would rather go au natural body odour than stick that stuff onto me I can tell you know.

Some tell tale signs of perfumes that are fake are told in the video but include: cellophane not tight on packaging, thin cardboard for the boxes used, bar codes in wrong places, some wrong fonts used for the title of the perfume etc.

Check out the video below and be wary when buying Chinese products as the supplier may not answer you or give you a refund. They sometimes get away in their descriptions by saying that it is the China version of the product and this means its not original. I say that is no way to describe a product and if someone sells a fake to you or you even suspect for a micro second something is fake, simply return it and keep hounding the supplier for your money back.

If its on Ebay or through Paypal, submit your case through them as they will probably have dealt with a similar situation with this supplier before and vote in your favour and return your money :D. Check out the vid but don't squirt any perfume or aftershave on till you know whats in it LOL

Buy from Amazon to get the real deal as only authorised companies are allowed to resell the expensive or licenced perfumes. Check out the ones below if any interested you, the only problem is the price :):



Thanks,

Henry

Smoothie Maker from China - As Seen On TV

Smoothie Maker - As Seen On TV from China - Available in White and Red

Worldwide Shipping now available I have got some for sale on Ebay.co.uk while stocks last:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150832258879?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

This is a great seller all year round as nearly everyone at some point in the year aims to loose weight and thinks of different ways to do it and diets to try. A lot of people like the idea of a smoothie as they are very tastey and can try out different recipies or make up their own with ingredients they have in the house.

The "Smoothie Maker" is an amazing little gadget that you used to see on a lot of late night shopping channels where the commercial had a presenter come on and show you all the things you can do with it like making ice cream, cooking sauces and great tasting smoothies. The thing though that makes this smoothier maker stand out a lot more than any other is the way in which it operates. Check out the commercial below thats on youtube to see it in action and you will think its an ingenious idea.

To make it work you put the ingredients in the large or small cup, depending on the size of smoothie you are wanting, and to activate the Smoothie Maker, the cup and top part of the unit rotate to a vertical position and turns on the blades. When you think it has had long enough to blend the ingredients together (It doesn't take more than about 10 seconds or less) you simply tilt it back down again and a safety switch knocks off the unit.

You can simply twist the cup the ingredients were in and the cup detaches from the unit which you can drink out of right away. There is a plastic lid that comes with the two cups which fits over the top and allows you to drink it like a coffee you get in a garage or takeaway cafe.

Another great safety feature is that to clean the blade of the Smoothie Maker, you do not need to touch the blades, as there is a small quarter sized cup that comes with it that you simply put water into, tilt it up and the blades clean themself in the water. You can see if you fill the large cup with water and turn on the machine that the blades create a unique column of water thats like a whirlpool in the centre, which helps suck all the ingredients down to the imulsifying disc down below which is amazing to watch.

I had bought two of these from a supplier in China and you get everything in the box the Smoothie Maker machine, 1 small cup, 1 large cup, a cleaning cup , one spill trayand the lid to place over the cups for instant drinking. One thing to remember is that ordering this item from China is that you will need a travel adaptor for the plug as its a 2 prong plug and not like in the UK a 3 prong. Travel plugs are cheap enough though to pick up on Ebay or at local supermarkets for like £2 or so.

I have seen the real deal package a friend of mine ordered off TV however the Chinese one does not come with the promised in full colour recipie book which was dissappointed with. There are tons of websites out there for free smoothie recipies you will find no shortage of ideas. It only comes with a black and white instruction booklet which offers some good safety advice I suggest you read first as usually smoothie makers, blenders, food processors (anything with fast moving blades) scares the crap out of me to use.

Just use common sense and you can be enjoying some great smoothies, soups, sauces or even ice creams (made using frozen fruit, very tasty) try it out for yourself.

Try some other models of smoothie makers with great reviews below:

                                    


Thanks for reading guys.

Henry

Ice watches from China - GOOD QUALITY BUT CANNOT SELL THEM EEK!

Chinese Ice Watches (Replicas I should say)

I bought about 4 months ago some Chinese "ICE" watches after stumbling across them from a Chinese supplier. I had at that time no idea what the heck an ICE watch was and thought it might melt  because of the time it would take to get here to the UK from China.

However because they looked so cool with their fancy retail packaging (which was also copied) along with a cool gift bag, guarantee card and set of instructions, all with the ICE brand logo's on them, I thought I would give them a go.

When they arrived and I took them out of the packaging, I found that 2 of them were broke, which was no biggy I thought due to the price I had paid for them. Once I got them, I started to put them onto Ebay and straight away BOOM! email coming back saying that these are counterfeits and was not allowed for sale on Ebay. 

I was like wow that was quick about 30 seconds to see they are counterfeit its a new world record. So after getting this telling off, I went in search of the real watches at my local jewellers in Belfast and low and behold, there they were! The selling price of a basic model of the one I had was from £79.99! My eyes nearly popped out of my head and could see from the price I paid for them and the price they should be, I got screwed by a bunch of fakes. BUT VERY GOOD FAKES I MUST SAY.

They were such good fakes that my sister in law had a red REAL GENUINE ICE WATCH her husband bought her for Christmas. I  took my fake RED watch around and tried to spot the differences between them. To my astonishment, I could not find a thing at all different about the two. My brother, my sister in laws husband, took it home for 2 days to find a difference between the two and he did find one very small thing which we missed time and time again.

On the metal buckle part of the watch where the strap goes through to tighten, the REAL ICE WATCH does not have the ICE logo stamped into it which the FAKE one did. That is the only difference after several days we could see from the original to the copy that made it stand out. Even the packaging was the same down to a T. It comes with a barcode which seems to relate, all the barcodes attached, to the pink ice watch, along with a small photo of the pink watch attached to it. 

There is ICE watch tags as well along with every watch which is a nice touch and is very well done. They also come in a plastic lego style box which can be used as a money box afterwards and with a black cardboard surround with a hole in the top showing you which colour is in the box.

You can now get these exact same watches with the ICE logo removed from Chinese suppliers which is a good thing. Selling counterfeits is not a good business to be in and I would not be associated with it. Overall very good watches, out of 25 I got 3 broke altogether as 2 were when it was delivered and one of them the hand fell off after about 2 weeks. The other 22? Working perfectly....the supplier also gave me some free extra batteries to go with it how sweet :D.

I have given them out to family and friends so not to rip people off but you will see people on Gumtree selling these for like £7-£35 and upwards and you can definitely tell from these prices...THEY ARE NOT REAL :).

Below is a video comparing the real watch to the fake watch. It seems the real watches have glass as the material to cover the watch, where the fake ones have a plastic covering on them over the face of the watch:

 

Looking for the genuine article? ICE Watches are sold on Amazon.co.uk by Ice themselves as no one else has permission to list them. Some models are listed below if interested in purchasing for that special someone:

              

Thanks.

Henry

Yili Balo Weight Loss Gel - Chilli oil / Cranberry scented burns like hell more pain the less you gain!

YILI BALO Cranberry Scented Chilli weight loss gel - 85ml


This product I purchased 50 bottles after doing a lot of research on Ebay and finding they were selling like hot cakes, no pun intended.

Its a weight loss gel that you rub over yourself in certain "Problem Areas" such as the arms, bum, thighs, love / motorbike handles (vroom vroom), etc to sweat out excess water and speed up your metabolism. First you have a warm shower that opens up the pores in your legs, You then rub it in an upward direction until the gel is absorbed into the skin. You will then get a burning sensation in that area sort of like similar to your tongue when eating a curry or Indian.

Apparently it does seem to work but you have to use it for 6 days to see any significant results.

Careful of the sensitive areas when applying it though or it'll be like a scene 10 times as painful from the film "Something About Mary" when the guys zipper gets stuck on something when going to the toilet.

Even though I found it hard to believe it worked, I gave it ago on my hand to see if I could feel the sensation. It took about 8 minutes after applying for me to feel the burning and it was a strange sensation.

Please read the instructions below as they are in English. The ones on the back of all the different types of bottles are in Chinese and a lot of people complain that they don't know how to use it.

I suggest don't use if: PREGNANT, CIRCULATORY PROBLEMS, LIVER / KIDNEY PROBLEMS, HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN OR RASHES ETC COME OUT VERY EASILY ON YOU.

Its just as a precaution and it seems to be working as I have sold all but 12 of my 50 bottles in about a month. Seems a good product just stick to the guidelines as I haven't had any complaints as yet. Do not overuse it or you be red as a lobster like the guy below.

DONT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU

The instructions and how its to be used below from my Ebay Auction:

Burn fat the fast way! Please read ALL instructions before purchasing including the ingredients section in case there is anything you may be allergic to. If you have sensitive skin, are pregnant or have any circulation problems you should NOT use this product. Printed instructions which are listed below will be included along with this gel.

It is derived from a most unique formula, Helps to burn fats, accelerates the metabolism and slimming. Effectively minimising the appearance of slackened skin due to water retention, tiredness and weight gain, weight loss and ageing

Body slimming gels help to break down excess fats, stimulates the blood and lymph circulation and accelerates the metabolism, help get rid of fats faster.

Note: Test the product before using, by applying the gel on a small patch of skin, such as behind the ear. Make sure that you do not have any allergic reaction.

USAGE1. Apply after shower/bath on fat area parts, such as wrist, arm, waist, lower abdomen, buttocks and thighs, never use on the face. Only a pea sized amount is needed for each area as the gel is quite thick and goes a long way.

2. Massage in an upwards direction, there might be a burning sensation and itchy feeling after use straight away or it may take up to 15 minutes to feel the sensation.

3. Immediately wash your hands after use, including sides of fingers, under nails etc.

4. Use no more than twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Different people may experience varying degrees of heat due to skin type. Use a cooling product like aloe vera gel to cool your skin if it is too hot or cold water NEVER USE HOT WATER.

5. NOT suitable for pregnant women.

INGREDIENTS
· Cranberry, Natural red pepper oil, natural beeswax, natural ginger extract, seaweed essence, carbopol, tea, EDTA, MP.

NOT SATISFIED WITH THE PRODUCT? NOT EVERYONES METABLOSIM IS THE SAME, EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT. THIS ITEM IS RETURNABLE

Make sure to also check you are not allergic to an ingredients contained in these gels....especially chilli of course!

Thanks for reading

Henry