Fake VFFs and Dubious Sellers - Post Your Questions and Warnings Here

[yimp]

i contacted this seller on e-bay a week ago (questioning the authenticity of the product), but he has not responded (but left feedback to others).

do you think these are real?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Five-Fingers-W3656-SeeYa-Light-Grey-Blue-40-/290745851669?ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123

i don't own a pair of seeya's but i'm still a bit suspiscious about the listing. even though the seller quotes they're authentic, a few things come to mind:
1. his tardiness in responding to my question on what he can show as proof for the authenticity
2. the stitching on the heel looks too curved in. looking at the reviews (on birthdayshoes), the curve doesn't look as pronounced. also - the strap looks a bit too "straight", but it could be just the viewing angle.
3. only showing 1 picture and does not include one of the sole (so you can't see the vibram logo)
4. why is it that he has to put it in a shipping box and not in the original box (apparently it's being recycled)?
5. the listing - it was five fingers (and the model number), but why not create a single listing for each model? I noted that there were separate listings for the different sizes and colours for the bikila's.

what do you guys think? or have i got this one wrong lol

[mrbally1988]

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/Five-Fingers-Seeya-Womans.htm

Looking at the pattern on the heel in the advert and on the Vibram website, they are different. The little beady bits are in different places... Im sure they would be consistant if they were real...

The Blue colour also looks a little off and the pattern on the shoe seems lighter...

Also they, to me anyway, look a little 'cheaper' ... I wouldnt risk it.

Unless of course youre not that worried about authenticity? I have friends who openly wear fake ones, they get them for cheap.

[skyli]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111048385831?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1426.l2649
Are these fakes? Or is it some old color? And what about that: on some original Treksports, the vibram text is over the seam (only for the side of the left shoe) and on some, its below (

ۛ

- or is it a fake too??)
And this: http://www.zappos.com/vibram-fivefingers-treksport-black-charcoal~1 ? Why is there a difference with the vibram text position ont the left shoe?

[nowster]

I'd be inclined to think they're fakes. The arrangement of Xs and +s on the sole is wrong for the Trek pattern. The sole has smooth patches too.

[skyli]

Thank you! You are right!
Im very curious about this:
Why are there 2 variations? The left image is from here: http://birthdayshoes.com/close-up-review-vibram-five-fingers-trek-sport
The right is from vibram official site.

[nowster]

The "official" photos often look very different to how the shoes look in real life. Compare the official photos of the black Speed XCs with those in the reviews on this site.

[paulr]

The "official" photos often look very different to how the shoes look in real life. Compare the official photos of the black Speed XCs with those in the reviews on this site.

True - also some models of the same range can differ - I bought 2 pairs of Bikila LS from reputable dealers in the US and the locking mechanism for the laces were different.

[litz]

I'd be inclined to think they're fakes. The arrangement of Xs and +s on the sole is wrong for the Trek pattern. The sole has smooth patches too.

Looks just like the bottoms of my Trek LS's ...

[nowster]

Looks just like the bottoms of my Trek LS's ...

The fakes go "xxxxxxx" on the row closest to the toes. The real ones go "++xxx+" (right foot). Just checked against two pairs of TrekSports and one pair of Treks. The xs rotate clockwise going left-to-right.

Here's a shot of the sole of my Orange TrekSports.

[skyli]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2colors-Men-NWB-Vibram-KSO-TREK-fivefingers-shoes-toe-socks-gift-EUR40-45-/300884700054?pt=UK_Men_s_Shoes&var=&hash=item460e202b96
Can these be real? What about the seller? Its from china but for me from the pictures, it seems real?

[nowster]

The photos are probably real, but not necessarily of the product you will receive. The offer of a "toe socks gift" is a very bad sign. I have received a pair of fake Treks from a UK seller and sent them back. The rubber of the sole wasn't the right type, the upper was cloth not leather...