StockX is undoubtedly one of the fastest-growing internet marketplaces. This is your go-to retailer for cool sneakers, streetwear, and collectibles. Since its launch in 2015 by Dan Gilbert, the online retail giant has taken the sneaker world by storm.
When it comes to online shopping, there is one major issue that concerns buyers: is the product I am buying legit? Is there the possibility of a vendor selling me fake sneakers?
Keep reading on to find out what happens to shoes that do not pass the authentication test at StockX, among other information.
What Happens If Your Shoes Don’t Pass Authentication StockX?
If shoes don’t pass StockX authentication process, StockX will try to connect the buyer to another vendor and return the original shoes to the seller.
Upon the arrival of a product at the StockX warehouse from the seller, a dedicated team commences a thorough inspection process. This step is crucial as it ensures every product meets StockX’s condition guidelines.
In addition, the team receives constant industry updates and training to preserve their expertise. Only after verification will StockX ship an item to the buyer.
It is always StockX’s intention for buyers to receive the items they order. So, if the item in question doesn’t pass the authentication test, the first course of action is attempting to connect the buyer to a new vendor.
It is important to note that the buyer incurs no extra costs in such cases. If an order is ineligible, StockX refunds the buyer and returns the item to the seller before taking the precautions to ensure no repeat of the sale.
To learn more about StockX authentication process, keep reading…
How Strict Is StockX Authentication?
StockX is inarguably one of the few online retail stores with a stringent authentication policy in place. It relies on machine learning technology and artificial intelligence paired with human expertise to ensure all the items passing through its warehouses are legit. StockX’s AI and machine learning can detect fakes before vendors list them on the platform.
On the other side, some expert human authenticators are responsible for rigorously inspecting each item by smelling, touching, looking at the stitching, boxes, laces, and any other authenticity markers.
This team is constantly mastering the authentication of new styles and SKUs, and the state-of-the-art technology collects data that helps improve and innovate StockX’s authentication technology.
Do Fakes Pass StockX?
While quality is the hallmark of StockX, this doesn’t mean there is a 100% guarantee of authenticity. After all, the strict authentication process only assures buyers of 99.5% accuracy. While it is rare to be sold fakes on this platform, it doesn’t hurt to be on the lookout for vendors dealing with fake products. This is true because there has been a rise in counterfeit manufacturers taking advantage of modern technology to replicate StockX tags.
So, how do you ensure you are not a victim of duping? Here is how to spot a fake StockX tag:
- Placement of the Tag
StockX’s verification process is elaborate, so it is unlikely that you will receive a fake tag from them. The problem, however, arises when you buy an item from outside sources, and they come with the StockX tag. While it is possible that someone could have purchased the item from StockX and wants to resell it, it is also possible that they might want to pass off a fake as real.
Once you see the tag, the first thing to do is look for the shoe that holds it. If the tag is dangling from the right shoe, know that it is a fake as StockX only places tags on the left shoe. With streetwear, however, identifying a fake is more complicated.
- The Shade of Green
You might already know that the StockX tag is green, but real and fake tags have some variance in hue. Fraudulent tags could have all the various shades of green, but a legit one will always have the same color.
Telling a fake tag from a real one will be easier if you already have a real StockX tag, as you could easily compare the two.
- The String
Another aspect you can use to distinguish real tags from fake ones is the string attached to the tag. For starters, you can use the string color to make a distinction. A legit StockX string is also green in colour, but with a yellowish undertone. The most common StockX tags have a shamrock shade of green.
Another way to use the string as a determining factor for authentication is to check whether you can put it together. You cannot connect and disconnect a real string. You can only cut it.
- The Letters on the StockX Tag
The real StockX tags have huge and bold letters saying “Verified” and “Authentic.” Unbeknownst to many, this is where most of the imitation tags stem from. The paint quality on authentic tags is visibly better than that used on fake tags. Most of the time, you can identify a phony tag from the chipped white paint and messiness.
Original tags have premium paint that is known not to chip easily. These letters also have long letters with a more prominent texture. Another thing you should remember is that original StockX tags are thinner compared to their fake counterparts. While it may be challenging to spot this from pictures, looking at the tags from certain angles will help.
- The QR Code
Each StockX tag comes with a QR code on the reverse. If you ever have suspicions concerning the legitimacy of these tags, you can easily rule out a fake by scanning the tag using your smartphone. Real StockX tags yield a code used by the company to identify a particular product model and brand. On the other hand, a phony tag will have a fake QR code that redirects you to the company’s website.
- The StockX Card
Each time you receive your package from StockX, it always comes with a thank you card with more details about selling and shipping via StockX. While the card usually has the same green colour as the tag, StockX also uses black cards. However, most of the fake cards are usually black. Besides, their dimensions could also be different from the real card, as they are usually narrower and longer.
Where Does StockX Do Authentication?
StockX has 50 different checkpoints throughout New York City and Los Angeles used to determine the authenticity of products and to check whether they meet the “deadstock” condition standard.
Want to learn more about StockX? Check out these articles to learn how long does StockX take to authenticate, what condition do shoes have to be to sell on StockX and how long does StockX take to ship.
Conclusion
To sum it up, StockX is the real deal as they take the authentication process. This way, they instil confidence in their customers who can have peace of mind knowing that they will receive the exact item they ordered.
So, if you are a StockX vendor, you ought to ensure that your merchandise matches up to their standards.
This is because when StockX catches you selling a fake product on the platform, the repercussions could be severe. Failing to follow the company’s guidelines could also inconvenience the buyer, as the company may have to connect them to another seller.