First off, let’s be real, you saw that ad, right? The one with the “69 likes” (nice) on Facebook selling “Super Fake” Propheres in Hanoi? Yeah, that’s your first clue. If they’re ADVERTISING they’re fake… well, duh. But it gets trickier than that, trust me.
I saw this one blog post, some “shoe addict” talking about spotting fakes. They’re all “Oh, I’m a shoe addict!” and I’m thinking, dude, calm down, it’s just shoes. But whatever, they probably know more than me. They talked about checking the stitching, the boost (if it’s a Prophere with boost, some don’t have it), the box… Honestly? It’s a pain in the BUTT.
See, the thing is, these fake shoe factories are getting GOOD. Like, scary good. They can mimic the materials pretty well, and unless you’re holding a real one next to a fake one, it’s hard to tell. And let’s be honest, who walks around with a real pair of Propheres just to compare them to suspicious looking ones you find at the flea market? Nobody, that’s who.
I personally think, if the price is too good to be true, it’s probably a fake. Like, seriously. Propheres aren’t exactly cheap. You find a pair for, like, $30? Run. Just run. It’s either stolen, fake, or possessed by a tiny demon. I’m not even kidding.
The other thing I’ve noticed is the overall… vibe. The fakes just feel *off*. The glue smells weird, the shape seems slightly wrong, the laces are too shiny… something’s just not right, ya know? It’s like when you eat suspiciously cheap sushi. You know it’s gonna end badly.
Honestly, my advice? Just buy them from a reputable source. Pay the extra money. It’s better than getting ripped off and ending up with a pair of shoes that fall apart after a week and smell like melted plastic. Plus, you’re supporting the real company, not some shady operation in, like, I dunno, Hanoi or something. (No offense to Hanoi, I’m sure it’s lovely.)
And one more thing, don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re buying online, ask for detailed photos. Ask about the return policy. If the seller is cagey or avoids answering, that’s a red flag bigger than a McDonald’s sign.
