[spitey]

pokey, im a uk 10 and i will drive. my fav. biscuit `digestive` a great dunker. but a few years ago waitrose made a wholemeal shortbread finger. fantastik. sadly no more. `bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!`

[King of the Farm]

I actually have some insider information on this topic...

As many of you know, I work as a Corporate National Account Rep for FedEx here in the US.

I used to have a customer that was an online retailer for Sneakers and trainers. They specialized in Nike's but sold many other brands as well. Much like pickyourshoes, FlightClub, SportieLA & others they really prided themselves on the authenticity of their items.

In my many conversations with them about the fakes in the market, the CEO took me out in the warehouse and handed me two pairs of AF1's. He told me to pick the fake. Of course I couldn't tell. The only way he knew was the barcode on the box. These particular pairs were identical.

He let me know that Nike, just like ALL major shoe companies have contracts with various and rotating manufacturers in Asia. The shoe companies don't own the manufacturers and plants. They're all 3rd party contractors. He said that the most common issue is that these companies keep running the production lines AFTER they've fulfilled their order and obligation. They can then send the finished goods out on the open market and make additional money.

Now this is a much bigger problem with Nike than any other company. We all know that they are the major player in the sneakerhead circles.

But to answer the question that was posed...

YES, It happens all the time

Quick sidenote, He also let me know that Nike and other companies actually contract several retailers like himself to purchase shoes from various retailers in an effort to determine who is selling fakes and try and shut them down. He said he purchases about a dozen pairs per day just for this purpose. That's good to hear.

[spitey]

good info kotf. what about the biscuits???????

[adidasanth]

Pimp the mutha!!!! giant jammie dodger!!!!!

[flyingcod]

That would be great if I liked Jammy Dodgers. Its all about Anzacs for me. And making a donation to the British Legion at the same time.

fc

[adidasanth]

ANZAC's eh? Tried em in Oz years ago, prefer Milo Bars!!

[Effel]

Ive heard of this theory before, on solecollector. I suppose theyre more like clones than fakes.

[olstar]

yeah, i suppose that is a better way of describing them..

i guess that COULD account for a lot of the kicks that look REALLY real, but have things like incorrectly packed laces.. as the factories in asia or whereever may not put the laces in the ones that adidas sell.. or something?!?

[Guiding Star]

Now this is why I love this forum!

The thing is I've only seen one pair of fake 35ths in real life,and they were terrible, the rest all pics of course. If money was no object I'd be willing to risk buying some kicks from asia that "look" legit and investigate for my self. I wish we could start an adidas funded watchdog/research group and dabble with the grey market. If we all lived in the same area we could pool our resources and do it, I bet adidas would take notice.

[olstar]

I have recently emailed watchdog about it, and i have an associate that is helping me and a mate with some marketing.. he used to work with the big dogs of all the large sports brands..

he is gonna try and get me the managing direcotrs direct email address..

why contact the monkey.. when you can talk to the organ grinder!

i am going to tell them who we are, what we do, and that we can help adidas and ebay stamp this problem out (if they give us the rights to buy fakes, check they are fake, then shut the sellers down -and of course give us our money back) yeah, ok so maybe the last bit is a bit far fetched.. but im gonna email him and try and get across to him that its a big problem, and the collectors of the world are PISSED off with it!

we WILL get through to someone one day!