In this post, I'm going to help you spot the fake A&F websites from the real ones. As you all probably know, there are tonnes of fake Chinese websites offering counterfeit goods from all 4 Abercrombie and Fitch brands. I'm going to show you some of the most 'popular' sites.
Abercrombie and Fitch Trading Co. are super tight on brand protection, hence them having the distribution centres at their Home Office, New Albany, Ohio. These can be seen in the picture below.
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| The 2 Distribution Centres (Image from Google Maps) |
So let's get started. These were the first 4 results that came up on Google when I simply typed in 'Abercrombie and Fitch'.
1) http://www.abercrombieukcol.me.uk/
This classes itself as an 'Abercrombie Outlet'. It sells Abercrombie & Fitch (Mens & Womens), Hollister (Mens & Womens) and Ruehl No.925 (Womens) as well.
If it wasn't advertising A&F products, the website is actually quite good, yet simple. The biggest giveaway about this website is that it is white, something the genuine Abercrombie websites lack.
The prices are hilarious! The RRP of one Hollister tee was apparently £53.99 ($87), now I don't know about you, but personally I have only ever seen Hollister tees go up to a maximum price of £30. This website is selling tees around the £24 mark, which on average is £4 more than what you would pay for a genuine HCo tee over here! I would much prefer a genuine item over a more expensive fake item any day.
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| £4.15 more expensive than a genuine Hollister Tee! |
2) http://www.afsale2013.co.uk/
This site sells counterfeit Abercrombie & Fitch (Mens and Womens) and Hollister (Dudes and Bettys).
One Abercrombie & Fitch Hoodie (see image below) was on sale for £39.60. The RRP was stated as £124.76! Another fake RRP. They usually sell in the UK for £80/£90, but less in the USA. So £39.60 is about half the usual A&F price for a Men's hoodie. Although there might be a saving, these items are not genuine A&F and are usually seized by Customs and/or Border Control. They are typically of exceptionally low quality as well.
3) www.abercromsfitchdessoldes.com
Yep, you guessed it. This site also sells Abercrombie & Fitch (Mens and Womens) and also Hollister (Dudes & Bettys). The two most popular and copied A&F brands.
This website doesn't look too bad, being a student of web design, it ticks all of the boxes except from spelling and copyright (obviously). Also, it shows the Bettys sizing on the Dudes clothing (see bottom picture).
One of the Hollister hoodies for Dudes, retails for £28.85. It states that you are saving 62%, which makes the RRP £76.78. A fake RRP again... The price for this item was only £40 when it was on sale at Hollister Braehead, Glasgow. That was without any promotions, discounts or any sort of sale.
4) www.abercrombieoutletsale2013.co.uk
Deary me... This is seriously the worst website I've ever seen. "Abercrombie & Fitch Mens Slippers"?? I think you'll find that they are actually Flip-Flops..."slippers", honestly!
You can maybe see the 'Up to 70% Off Selected Wines' banner on image here below. I wasn't aware that Abercrombie sold wine!? [sarcasm]
Also, can you spot the 'Join us and you will get £3 cupon' writing? (Top of both pictures) I'm not exactly sure what a £3 Cupon is? ;)
Apparently these "slippers" (see image below) retailed at £96.17 in Abercrombie! Fake. The most expensive flip flops I have ever seen in Abercrombie were only £48. I must admit, £16.13 for a pair of flip-flops isn't bad, but would you buy from someone who couldn't spell the word 'coupon' or know the difference between slippers and flip-flops? Neither would I.
All of those URLs have something in common: they all contain 'A&F', 'Abercrombie' or 'Fitch'. But check this out: the next site came to my attention when C.E.R (Editor-in-Chief) mentioned it to me after a friend had brought it to his awareness. And since I've handled counterfeit topics on the blog, C.E.R. referred this site to me to report: http://www.euafer.com. Weirdly, the site doesn't mention anything about Abercrombie in the URL web address. Although it states that it is an Abercrombie & Fitch Outlet, they have copied the Hollister web design! It's not only the clothes that are dodgy. ;)
It is actually the first website I have seen that has copied the A&F All-Season Weather Warrior Jacket. It is seriously my favourite jacket... ever! Apparently the RRP is £171.49, which is false. Currently on the A&F website, the jacket costs £120. So this website is selling it at £63.84 for pretty much more than half price. Still far too expensive for a fake jacket. I would advise you all never to buy an fakes! I have bought a few in the past to check them out, and they are the worst quality.
So there you have it guys. A sample of the ultimate sites to stay away from! Remember that if you buy fakes, you are hurting A&F's business and supporting fake sellers. You are also wasting money if you care about quality (although if you're buying fakes, then again you prob don't care), as the color washes out quickly and the fabric is super thin!
The only websites for you to buy genuine A&F goods from
are the OFFICIAL online stores, of course!
abercrombie.com
abercrombiekids.com
hollisterco.com
gillyhicks.com
Always report A&F Family fakes! Brand Protection: Abercrombie & Fitch (see here); abercrombie (see here); Hollister Co (see here); and Gilly Hicks (see here).
Until next Tuesday,
Stay FIERCE!
~Cameron