How do original New Balance sneakers differ from fakes?

You can buy original New Balance sneakers here

Do you know how to distinguish real New Balance from a fake? 574, 754, 99x sneaker models are in demand all over the world, and it is not surprising that they are often counterfeited. The original products of the American company meet all the needs of a person who plays sports, practices regular jogging, or simply loves to take long walks or walks. But imitations do not have such qualities; on the contrary, wearing “left-handed” sneakers can cause problems. Curvature of the bones in the foot, sprains, dislocations, abraded skin - all this often causes discomfort to those who are wearing fake shoes.

Shoes labeled “New Balance” have been produced since the beginning of the last century, since 1906, by the New Balance Arch Support Company. The first factory was small and located in Boston, but now production facilities are scattered all over the world. Most of them are concentrated in Asian countries, including Japan. And this fact is skillfully used by both manufacturers of fakes and sellers, explaining the existing differences in the shoes offered with their image in company catalogs, and the place of actual production.

What to look for

You can distinguish original New Balance sneakers from imitation ones by paying attention to the little things, to details that usually no one pays close attention to. Manufacturers of fakes, as a rule, do not reproduce them exactly.

When purchasing shoes you need to consider:

1. The logo on the sole and markings are for the 574 model.
2. Tear-off tag.
3. Packaging.
4. Label on the back of the tongue.
5. Seams.
6. Insole.
7. Sole.

Anti-counterfeit protection

The company is interested in users buying their product, and not replicas. To help the buyer navigate the store, they came up with their own version of checking shoes for originality. To do this, you need to arm yourself with an ultraviolet flashlight. You need to shine it on the label on the inside of the tongue. The letters of the NB logo will appear clearly , in some models even in two rows. On copies, the letters are visible blurry, at a certain angle.

Checking originality with a UV flashlight

Original and fake

Fake model

On the 576, on the logo on the outside of the tongue, under UV light, you can see stitching with the words New Balance.

Tear-off tag

New Balance sneakers have a signature tag. It must not have printing defects or spelling errors.

In Pali, the tear-off tag contains inaccurate information. For example, instead of newbalance.com it says newballence.com, nowbalance.com or even newbalance. no com.

Barcode verification

Particular attention must be paid to checking the barcode. It can have either 13 digits according to the international standard or 12 according to the UPC. This is something to consider when choosing a barcode scanning application.

Barcode location

Reading process

Counterfeit New Balance often has an error when reading the code. In some cases, third-party sites open.

Replica has an error

Package

Enter 13 digit barcode:

The packaging of the counterfeit product often looks sloppy. The drawing may have blurry outlines. The original has no printing defects or spelling errors.

Would you like to buy real American New Balance?

Not really

New Balance shoes are produced in several countries. Therefore, there is no uniform standard for the color of boxes. In the table below you can see what branded packaging there are depending on the location of the sneaker production factories.

New Balance produces its most elite products in the USA and Great Britain. The share of such sneakers is just over 20%. The brand trusts factories in Asia to produce less prestigious models intended for everyday wear. The main countries of production of New Balance sneakers:

• Great Britain;
• USA;
• China;
• Vietnam;
• Indonesia.

As a rule, boxes are not paid much attention due to the fact that their design is constantly changing. However, the difference in design never affects the fundamental, key design elements.

Counterfeit New Balance often has an error when reading the code. In some cases, third-party sites open.

The label of original New Balance sneakers should not contain hieroglyphs.

The barcode provided, in most cases, has 12 digits instead of 13. This sometimes causes difficulties in reading it and checking it through applications on a smartphone.

The barcode on branded packaging complies with the Universal Product Code standard, which is common in the USA.

Only 20% of the company's products are produced in the United States. These are mainly models 754 and 574. Shoes and other goods manufactured in the country are intended only for the domestic market. Therefore, if the box says “Made in USA”, this is a reason to be wary, not happy.

The barcode that is present on the packaging must be duplicated on the sneakers themselves. Checking it is another way to distinguish New Balance from a fake. The fake one is missing or does not match.

Price

The price tag for the original New Balance at branded points of sale can reach 20 thousand rubles and more. Fake sneakers are a more budget option, their cost is 3-4 times lower. But the service life of a fake is negligible compared to the original shoes. By purchasing real New Balance, you can provide yourself with stylish shoes for at least 4 seasons.

As you wear the sneakers, you can appreciate the cushioning built into the sole. You can extend the life of your shoes and maintain their original appearance by using a water-repellent solution for suede.

If you see the Made in China mark on the packaging and the shoes themselves, you shouldn’t be afraid of it. New Balance is also manufactured in the Republic of China. All factories that create sneakers have the same standard of quality.

The lack of packaging may indicate dubious origin. The box contains all the information about the sneakers, including the origin.

Elementary care will help you make the right choice. High-quality shoes will not only add style, but also delight you with long-term wear.

Current prices and articles.

Tongue label

You can buy original New Balance sneakers here

The underside of the tongue of a sneaker is not often looked at when purchasing, but this is where the label is located that allows you to determine whether the shoe is real or not.

Label characteristics:

1. The fabric base, if the label is made of oilcloth, means the sneakers are “singed.”
2. Clear, easy to read font.
3. Availability of information about the model and series number, completeness and size.
4. The barcode and personal production number are indicated.
5. A protective image is applied, visible only under ultraviolet rays.

Illuminating the label with ultraviolet light will allow you to recognize the imitation.

This product has a clear design depicting the letters and symbols “NB”.

When examining the tag, it is important to check for the presence of the letters NB. They must not have significant defects. The presence of hieroglyphs is unacceptable.

Next, it is recommended to check the article number. It should match the label on the box. It is easy to find out the appearance of the shoe by entering it into a search engine.

The original sneakers must have a barcode that matches the information on the box.

Each sneaker has its own unique serial number. It is different on the right and left tongue.

Online barcode check for New Balance sneakers

ATTENTION! The correct barcode is not a 100% guarantee that New Balance sneakers are original. At the same time, an incorrect barcode is a clear sign of counterfeit.

To check the authenticity of the sneakers, enter the numbers in the field and click the “Check” button. If the barcode is correct, then it is recommended to also check the country of origin.

Important! This service checks the relevance and correctness of the applied barcode, but does not guarantee that the entered code is not taken from another product and that the New Balance sneakers being checked are not counterfeit.

Seams

Dishonest sellers sometimes place fake New Balance sneakers in original boxes. Therefore, after inspecting the packaging, it is important to pay attention to the shoes themselves. Copies are inferior to the original in many ways.

The copy often has no stitching and everything is held together only by glue with an unpleasant odor. The original always has a high-quality, uniform seam.

Branded shoes have double and triple seams. This increases the stitch strength. The seams should have even stitches with the same pitch. For fakes, a single stitch with protruding threads is often used.

The completeness of the model is shown on the tongue. It should match on the sneakers and the box.

The country of manufacture is indicated at the bottom of the tag. The most expensive sneakers are produced in the USA and Great Britain. More budget versions are made in Asia.

The label shows the shoe size. It is specified in several standards. The size is also given in centimeters.

Insole

The brand is indicated on the insole of branded shoes. It can be applied in various ways.

For copies, only the size is indicated on the insole.

It is difficult to fake an original insole; even those who are engaged in the production of high-quality imitations, as a rule, cannot cope with the manufacture of complex shapes and perforation features.

Distinctive features of the original insole:

• Curved shape - the edges of the insole are curved down, and the fold itself is curly, following the contour of the foot.
• Complex perforation with sealing, applied along anatomical lines.
• Silver circle on the heel for thermoregulation.

An ordinary, familiar insole is a sign of imitation, even if the shoe itself does not raise suspicion based on other characteristics and appearance.

There is no middle seam on the base under the insole; there are side seams, made with oblique stitches and tightly fitting. It is impossible to pick up threads or break them. The 574, made in Europe, has an additional pressed cardboard insert under the insole, a material similar to that used for the waistbands on jeans. Cardboard is elastic, does not tear or wrinkle, and resembles soft leather.

What to do if you were sold fake New Balance

Sometimes it seems that buying a counterfeit pair of sneakers shouldn't be frustrating - such shoes usually cost less and are unlikely to cause significant damage. However, such a purchase has several disadvantages:

• the client will not receive the expected results - the consumer qualities of the fake pair are noticeably lower than those of the original one;
• some materials may be harmful to the health of the buyer (certain properties of chemical elements appear after some time);
• if it was not initially stated that the presented product was counterfeit (although the distribution of such products is considered a criminal offense), the consumer pays a large amount and does not receive the expected result.

The sale of counterfeit products entails punishment at different levels - from civil (payment of compensation, return of goods) to criminal (imprisonment, ban on certain types of activities). If after payment it turns out that the purchased shoes are fake, you need to perform several actions:

• contact the sneaker seller or manager verbally (this is the first step; some distributors do not want to advertise and create a negative impression about the store, preferring to resolve such issues “quietly”);
• prepare and send a written request, where it is necessary to indicate the details of the seller and buyer, describe the situation, indicate the requirement (refund of funds, exchange of sneakers, payment of compensation), set a deadline for resolving the issue. Attention! There are several things to consider when filing a claim. The application is drawn up in two identical versions - one must be given to the manager, the second must be left (put a mark indicating acceptance of the application or a receipt for sending by registered mail with notification);
• If no offers or funds are received from the seller, legal action will be required.

Expert opinion

Karnaukh Ekaterina Vladimirovna

Graduated from the National University of Shipbuilding, majoring in Enterprise Economics

To submit documents to a judge for consideration, you must prepare a statement of claim and collect a package of documents. It rarely gets to this stage - sellers try not to spoil their reputation and resolve issues at the stage of verbal communication or receiving a complaint.

Sole

The sole is the part of the shoe that every buyer considers first. Of course, those who “rivet” fake sneakers know this and try to impress the consumer by complicating the configuration with all sorts of inserts, images and additions.

All elements of New Balance branded sneakers have a uniform structure. You may notice paint peeling or swelling on replicas.

New Balance never uses superficial, low-grade sole paint. Therefore, any uneven color overlay is a sign of a fake.

Peeling paint on fake New Balance:

In copies, paint often gets onto neighboring elements. The reason for this is the use of low-precision, cheap equipment. The original does not and cannot have such defects, since completely different technologies are used.

The skin of copies often has defects. There are especially many of them in the area where they are attached to the sole. Sometimes they try to disguise them with glue. Excessive bleed through of glue is unacceptable for branded shoes. This also applies to any strong odors.

Low-grade copies may have significant defects, such as cuts. Such shoes will quickly tear, so it is not recommended to buy them.

The sole of the original sneakers has nothing like it, it is simple and functional. On the side there is the inscription:

1. ENCAP.
2. ROLLBAR.
3. C-CAP.
4. REVlite.

These are the names of the materials from which the sole is made. Such a designation is one thing; the American company does not practice a combination of materials in the production of shoe soles.

The heel determines the convenience and comfort of wearing shoes. Inspecting it is another way to distinguish original New Balance.

In branded shoes, the heel is not distorted. It fits nicely on the leg, precisely following the contour.

It is recommended to squeeze the heel with your hand. For the original, it will quickly restore its original shape. The replica will remain compressed. It will return to its previous appearance only if the heel is smoothed out by hand.

Brand history

New Balance is an American company founded in Belmont in 1906. Its creator was William Riley, an emigrant from England. He sought to offer customers a balanced combination of quality and convenience.

Riley developed the first shoe support system, equipped with an arch support and a special heel support. This innovation brought him worldwide popularity - this is how the New Balance Arch Company was born, which has become a true legend in the world of sports shoes.