How do I tell if eBay sneakers are fake?

The most reliable first check is whether the listing has eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee blue badge. For eligible sneakers, eBay says the item is sent to a professional authenticator before it reaches you. If a listing does not have that badge, inspect it carefully yourself.

What to check on the listing

• Photos: Be cautious with listings that use only stock images. Ask for clear, tagged photos of the actual shoes, box, size tag, and soles.
• Seller history: Check feedback, recent sales, and whether the seller mainly sells sneakers or suddenly switched to high-demand pairs.
• Price: If the price is far below typical market value, that’s a red flag.

What to check when the shoes arrive

• Overall smell: A very strong chemical or glue odor can be a warning sign, but smell alone is not proof.
• Stitching and build quality: Look for uneven stitching, loose threads, bad glue marks, or sloppy finishing.
• Size tag and labels: Compare the font, spacing, alignment, and style with a verified authentic pair or trusted reference images for that exact model.
• Box and packaging: Watch for misspellings, incorrect barcodes, poor print quality, or flimsy box construction.

Best practice

Compare the listing against official brand photos and trusted authentication guides for that exact model, since fake details vary a lot by sneaker and release.