By Ikenna Pius
Have you ever seen a nice looking pair of shoes at the mall or shop, only to find that it falls apart after a few wears? You have fallen for a shoe scam, and have every right to respond with similar emotions as a woman would do after being aroused with caresses for action that lasts under a minute.
Sadly, the market seems under attack from these types of shoemakers; filling up the whole place with rubbish shoes, just like fast fashion brands have almost destroyed the clothing industry.
But these scams seem rather like traps for the unlearned. They will catch their prey, but it does not have to be you. They are not too difficult to identify.
How To Identify Shoe Scams
Price
Price is the number one symptom of a fake shoe offer. It is like a bait used by these fake shoe makers to hook their prey. One look at the shoes, and the price tag, and most people are already reaching for their wallets.
This is especially so because the price gap between these ones and the others at the same stores are usually quite significant. Seeing the prices, some may think they are about to score huge bargains, or that they are about to cheat the store.
The joke is on them; these shoes will fall apart within a short while because they are made of poor quality materials.
The Materials
As a rule, leather shoes do not come cheap. Leather is still the most durable material you can find out there, from which quality shoes are made. There are different types of leather, but at different ends of the spectrum are tanned leather, and suede leather. Tanned leather is smooth, lustrous, and fine. Suede is somewhat rough to the touch, and there are small particles loose, easy to tear off.
It is very important to note this; one must develop an eye for identifying leather if one must not be cheated by fake shoe manufacturers.
These days, leather is not the only material that can last. Some footwear can be made entirely of fabric – and they can last for several years, even with continuous use. In this case, it seems that identifying quality brands will be the key. See the bottom of this article for more on this.
Faux leather is another development that has become interesting. This is the whole basis of this article; faux leather can be foolish, or it can be worth the investment. Some will crease and tear after a few wears, while others may last several years. Can you tell which is which?
Fake Leather Versus Faux Leather
Fake leather may look like it has some fabric underneath the leather. It may also look like if the leather is not solidly bound to the fabric at the base. That is usually a sign of a shoddy material – one that will come apart after wearing it a few times, or after coming in contact with water.
Pinch it at the base (somewhere the seller will not notice) and see if the material pulls into your fingers. If it does, quietly put it back on the shelf. It is rubbish; built for the sole purpose of taking your money.
Faux leather on the other hand looks like leather in the proper sense; there is no hint of fabric about it. Usually, the same material is used for the outside and the inside of the shoes, and the cushioning as well.
Faux leather is being made increasingly tough, the developers hope that it will one day replace leather. Faux leather comes in different types; but polyurethane is one of the most popular. To tell if the leather is PU, take a closer look to see if there are small pores. It looks as if the paint is not well distributed on the material. If you can do a water test, you will find that it will not absorb the water.
It will also have a plastic smell to it. The most peculiar thing though may be that it will be very light.
Weight
Weight is one of the best ways to tell if a product is good. The motto is usually, the heavier the better. This is only valid if the shoes are not made from faux leather or fabric.
If the seller says that the shoes are leather, and you find that they feel too light, then just put them down and walk away. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Buying shoes is an investment, and should pay off. If it does not look like the shoes will pay off, just walk away.
If you find a shoe that does pay off, keep buying from the maker. It has a solid brand.
Branding
Paying attention to the brand may be a good way to avoid shoe scams. This may be a good way to identify shoes that will stand the test of time. In most cases, that is the truth. Please keep in mind that quality shoe brands are not necessarily the same as big name shoe brands – sometimes big brands deliberately make shoes to fall apart.
That is something called planned obsolesce – it is a completely different matter. Below we will discuss how to avoid it.
Further Reading:
- How To Avoid Planned Obsolesce In Shoes
- Quality Clothes May Be Cheaper
- Solid Shoe Brands Worth The Investment
No matter how cheap they are, shoes that fall apart after being worn a few times are a terrible idea. Makers of these shoes are well aware that their products are rubbish; they hope that consumers will buy more as soon as the first one breaks.
The old ones will thus end up in a river somewhere, poisoning the land and fish, burning holes in our pockets, and causing all manner of psychological damage.
The only way to stop this is to stop buying fake shoes. The makers will then get the message, and stop making them.
