Sports Direct - Possible Fake Arsenal Kit

bergkamp10

Hey all. So I bought an Arsenal Authentic jersey from sports direct.

https://www.sportsdirect.com/adidas-arsenal-authentic-home-shirt-2023-2024-adults-378919#colcode=37891908

After receiving the item, the first thing I noticed was that the Adidas tag was attached using one of those plastic things, and not the string that the videos online all seem to suggest. The string was meant to be tied into the inside collar label as mentioned in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AygRXefDtXc&t=105s

However mine did not come like that. The tag should be attached to the label with a string, however the one I received seems to be with a plastic tag holder, the basic type, and attached directly to the shirt. The label you see the string being looped around with the code HR6931 seems to have been cut with scissors or something in the one I received.

The tag itself looks to have the price sticker between the serial sticker and the top of the tag, however in the video above that area would not usually have enough space for a "sale" price sticker.

Here is a video

https://imgur.com/a/8cg0ekn

 And some photos below:

I have not inspected the item any more than that and infact have not even unfolded it. At this point I do not know whether it is fake, or whether it is an item that had a damaged label and is why the tag was attached directly to the shirt instead of to the label, or whether there is something dodgy going on and someone swapped it at the warehouse. I do not want to unfold the whole thing to check more details because I am already unconvinced by what I have seen so far.

From the terms they seem to want the return to be done online with an additional shipping cost, and will not refund the shipping costs. I have tried phoning them, but they have no number to be contacted on.

At this point I don't know what to do. I would want a replacement, but I am not confident what they will send out if this is what they sent me first time. And the item is sold out everywhere else as it is from last season. Only reason I bought it is because I was looking at this season's kit on the website and noticed it was like 50% off full price.

MattMattMattUK

bergkamp10 said:

Hey all. So I bought an Arsenal Authentic jersey from sports direct.

https://www.sportsdirect.com/adidas-arsenal-authentic-home-shirt-2023-2024-adults-378919#colcode=37891908

After receiving the item, the first thing I noticed was that the Adidas tag was attached using one of those plastic things, and not the string that the videos online all seem to suggest. The string was meant to be tied into the inside collar label as mentioned in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AygRXefDtXc&t=105s

However mine did not come like that. The tag should be attached to the label with a string, however the one I received seems to be with a plastic tag holder, the basic type, and attached directly to the shirt. The label you see the string being looped around with the code HR6931 seems to have been cut with scissors or something in the one I received.

The tag itself looks to have the price sticker between the serial sticker and the top of the tag, however in the video above that area would not usually have enough space for a "sale" price sticker.

Here is a video

https://imgur.com/a/8cg0ekn

 And some photos below:

I have not inspected the item any more than that and infact have not even unfolded it. At this point I do not know whether it is fake, or whether it is an item that had a damaged label and is why the tag was attached directly to the shirt instead of to the label, or whether there is something dodgy going on and someone swapped it at the warehouse. I do not want to unfold the whole thing to check more details because I am already unconvinced by what I have seen so far.

From the terms they seem to want the return to be done online with an additional shipping cost, and will not refund the shipping costs. I have tried phoning them, but they have no number to be contacted on.

At this point I don't know what to do. I would want a replacement, but I am not confident what they will send out if this is what they sent me first time. And the item is sold out everywhere else as it is from last season. Only reason I bought it is because I was looking at this season's kit on the website and noticed it was like 50% off full price.

None of that indicate that it is a fake. 

If you do not want it then return it, Sports Direct are known for issues, including charging for returns, bu not for selling fakes. 

bergkamp10

MattMattMattUK said:

None of that indicate that it is a fake. 

If you do not want it then return it, Sports Direct are known for issues, including charging for returns, bu not for selling fakes. 

Thank you. Appreciate the response.

I guess I just don't know why, if it was 100% genuine, it has come looking like that with the label cut off with seems like scissors, and the tag itself looking different from all the videos and images I have searched online. I would want the item, but the one I received looks like a either a job to make something that did not originally pass QC for the labels, sellable. If it is not fake the it is the only explanation I can think of why it has the tag attached with that plastic thing, and why the label with the product code looks like it was cut off.

Emmia

bergkamp10 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

None of that indicate that it is a fake. 

If you do not want it then return it, Sports Direct are known for issues, including charging for returns, bu not for selling fakes. 

Thank you. Appreciate the response.

I guess I just don't know why, if it was 100% genuine, it has come looking like that with the label cut off with seems like scissors, and the tag itself looking different from all the videos and images I have searched online. I would want the item, but the one I received looks like a either a job to make something that did not originally pass QC for the labels, sellable. If it is not fake the it is the only explanation I can think of why it has the tag attached with that plastic thing, and why the label with the product code looks like it was cut off.

I think if you're in doubt about the authenticity I'd return it, and buy elsewhere, perhaps direct from Arsenal.

bergkamp10

Emmia said:

bergkamp10 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

None of that indicate that it is a fake. 

If you do not want it then return it, Sports Direct are known for issues, including charging for returns, bu not for selling fakes. 

Thank you. Appreciate the response.

I guess I just don't know why, if it was 100% genuine, it has come looking like that with the label cut off with seems like scissors, and the tag itself looking different from all the videos and images I have searched online. I would want the item, but the one I received looks like a either a job to make something that did not originally pass QC for the labels, sellable. If it is not fake the it is the only explanation I can think of why it has the tag attached with that plastic thing, and why the label with the product code looks like it was cut off.

I think if you're in doubt about the authenticity I'd return it, and buy elsewhere, perhaps direct from Arsenal.

Thanks. Guess that is the only choice. In fact their website seems to have sold the last few they had of the same size so not sure if they would even have any stock left aside from S and XXL.

Can't buy it elsewhere though, Arsenal don't sell it anymore, Adidas have xs size, and other places don't seem to be stocking it anymore. I was surprised when I saw it available from sportsdirect at half price and in stock.

Emmia

bergkamp10 said:

Emmia said:

bergkamp10 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

None of that indicate that it is a fake. 

If you do not want it then return it, Sports Direct are known for issues, including charging for returns, bu not for selling fakes. 

Thank you. Appreciate the response.

I guess I just don't know why, if it was 100% genuine, it has come looking like that with the label cut off with seems like scissors, and the tag itself looking different from all the videos and images I have searched online. I would want the item, but the one I received looks like a either a job to make something that did not originally pass QC for the labels, sellable. If it is not fake the it is the only explanation I can think of why it has the tag attached with that plastic thing, and why the label with the product code looks like it was cut off.

I think if you're in doubt about the authenticity I'd return it, and buy elsewhere, perhaps direct from Arsenal.

Thanks. Guess that is the only choice. In fact their website seems to have sold the last few they had of the same size so not sure if they would even have any stock left aside from S and XXL.

Can't buy it elsewhere though, Arsenal don't sell it anymore, Adidas have xs size, and other places don't seem to be stocking it anymore. I was surprised when I saw it available from sportsdirect at half price and in stock.

Is it possible yours was a return that had the swing ticket reattached as the original fastening was broken? I would unfold it and check for other indicators of authenticity before deciding 

bergkamp10

Emmia said:

bergkamp10 said:

Thanks. Guess that is the only choice. In fact their website seems to have sold the last few they had of the same size so not sure if they would even have any stock left aside from S and XXL.

Can't buy it elsewhere though, Arsenal don't sell it anymore, Adidas have xs size, and other places don't seem to be stocking it anymore. I was surprised when I saw it available from sportsdirect at half price and in stock.

Is it possible yours was a return that had the swing ticket reattached as the original fastening was broken? I would unfold it and check for other indicators of authenticity before deciding 

It could be. But do retailers sell returned items which have been opened and tags removed in this way. At least if they do it is clearly sold as a customer return item with an additional discount when compared to one which has not been? By the way, the plastic it came in had a hole in it, not in the place with the sticky part where people usually open the package from.

I guess I don't want to unfold it any more as I do not want them trying to claim it is either not their fault or even their item, which I have read about on here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6548139/sports-direct-refund/p1

So I think I would rather keep it as untouched as I can just to avoid issues.

Emmia

bergkamp10 said:

Emmia said:

bergkamp10 said:

Thanks. Guess that is the only choice. In fact their website seems to have sold the last few they had of the same size so not sure if they would even have any stock left aside from S and XXL.

Can't buy it elsewhere though, Arsenal don't sell it anymore, Adidas have xs size, and other places don't seem to be stocking it anymore. I was surprised when I saw it available from sportsdirect at half price and in stock.

Is it possible yours was a return that had the swing ticket reattached as the original fastening was broken? I would unfold it and check for other indicators of authenticity before deciding 

It could be. But do retailers sell returned items which have been opened and tags removed in this way. At least if they do it is clearly sold as a customer return item with an additional discount when compared to one which has not been? By the way, the plastic it came in had a hole in it, not in the place with the sticky part where people usually open the package from.

I guess I don't want to unfold it any more as I do not want them trying to claim it is either not their fault or even their item, which I have read about on here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6548139/sports-direct-refund/p1

So I think I would rather keep it as untouched as I can just to avoid issues.

Yes. As an example I bought two pairs of jeans in the sale recently from a shop which had generic barcodes attached as they'd both lost their swing tickets. What do you think shops do with returned goods that are saleable? It's on a decent discount and is an end of line - so it's likely to have been returned, possibly more than once.

The truth is they can claim it's not their item even if you don't unfold. I don't buy from Frasers/Sports Direct.

Ergates

Retails can and do sell returned items - if they didn't/couldn't they they'd not accept returns (other than those they have to under law).  Not sure why they'd need to discount them, if they're still in as-new condition.

bergkamp10

Emmia said:

bergkamp10 said:

Emmia said:

bergkamp10 said:

Thanks. Guess that is the only choice. In fact their website seems to have sold the last few they had of the same size so not sure if they would even have any stock left aside from S and XXL.

Can't buy it elsewhere though, Arsenal don't sell it anymore, Adidas have xs size, and other places don't seem to be stocking it anymore. I was surprised when I saw it available from sportsdirect at half price and in stock.

Is it possible yours was a return that had the swing ticket reattached as the original fastening was broken? I would unfold it and check for other indicators of authenticity before deciding 

It could be. But do retailers sell returned items which have been opened and tags removed in this way. At least if they do it is clearly sold as a customer return item with an additional discount when compared to one which has not been? By the way, the plastic it came in had a hole in it, not in the place with the sticky part where people usually open the package from.

I guess I don't want to unfold it any more as I do not want them trying to claim it is either not their fault or even their item, which I have read about on here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6548139/sports-direct-refund/p1

So I think I would rather keep it as untouched as I can just to avoid issues.

Yes. As an example I bought two pairs of jeans in the sale recently from a shop which had generic barcodes attached as they'd both lost their swing tickets. What do you think shops do with returned goods that are saleable? It's on a decent discount and is an end of line - so it's likely to have been returned, possibly more than once.

The truth is they can claim it's not their item even if you don't unfold. I don't buy from Frasers/Sports Direct.

I think you may be right in that case. The tag did look different to the others I have seen. It may be a generic Adidas tag they have lying around and stuck the product info on it. But then the issue with the inside collar label looking like it's been cut. Not ripped like you would expect someone who just pulled the string it was attached to as that would leave two longer ends ot labelling coming from the stitches and not attached to one another. Unless someone ripped it and the Sports Direct cut it off completely because they did not want to sell it like that.

Thanks for the added info. It's something to consider.

flaneurs_lobster

There are many reasons not to buy from Sports Direct (have you been in one of their stores...) but they are too big and too successful to be daft enough to flog hooky gear.