Christmas is just around the corner and gift-shopping season is upon us (that is, if it hasn’t started in earnest in your locality yet)! So start thinking and gift-hunting now, or you’ll end up doing some last-minute Christmas shopping, just when prices have already gone up!

Are you thinking of buying shoes as a Christmas present? Sheepskin boots would be an ideal gift this time of year, due to the freezing temperatures that winter brings. And if you and I are on the same “wavelength”, what better shearling boots to give as a gift than a genuine and honest pair of “UGG Australia” shearling boots, right? as they say, “Give nothing but the best!” But the problem is, where should you look for authentic “UGG Australia” sheepskin boots? Sure, you could say nohere are many shops in my area that sell authentic “UGG Australia” sheepskin boots, but are you sure these are indeed genuine “UGG Australia” lambskin boots? And are you even remotely aware of the “controversy” or “dispute” between Australian boot manufacturers and the American company that makes the authentic “UGG Australia” sheepskin boots? If you are not aware of this so-called “controversy or “dispute”, then check out the Wikipedia article on UGG Boots.

Now that you’ve spent some time learning about the American and Australian “interpretation” of the word “UGG” and the background behind the “UGG Australia” controversy, let’s move on as I show you the ways you can tell a pair apart. of genuine “UGG Australia” sheepskin boots from fake ones. However, let me start by saying that all of my “tips”, “pointers”, notes and comments that follow apply ONLY to “UGG Australia” boots found in a “real” store and not a “virtual” one (such as like those “online” and/or “retail” stores), okay? For the sake of conciseness or brevity, I’ll talk about spotting fake UGGs among “virtual” or “online” stores in another discussion.

Let’s get the ball rolling by talking about PRICE. Genuine “UGG Australia” sheepskin boots are quite expensive. I will not mention figures, because the prices vary and change from time to time. But here’s what I suggest you can do to “root out” the obvious counterfeits: If there are multiple UGG stores in your area, check the prices of each and every one. If they’re all clustered within a small range, that means 1.) Or they’re all selling genuine UGGs, which is good; or 2.) They are all selling fakes, which is a shame. My point is, if one store offers a significantly much, much lower price than the others, then in any language, that’s a freebie that that the store sells fake UGGs.

Now, let’s assume that everyone sells UGGs in a very tight price range. What should you do next? Take a look at their LOOKS. Here are several visible ‘tell-tale signs’ that reveal fakes:

• If one or all of the tags on a particular boot (both outside and inside) show “Made in Australia” or “Made in New Zealand” then they are definitely fakes. Because Deckers has been making them in China for quite some time.
• If the quality of the stitching is very poor, then it is a fake. Of course, it can be hard to distinguish “very bad” from “bad” and from “good”, but if they are obviously very bad, then the boots are fake.
• Look at the black UGGs from the store. Genuine black UGGs have black soles and black labels with the “UGG” logo in white, while fake “black” UGGs have tan soles and brown (or non-black) labels.
• Ask about the “Dusk” model. If the “Dusk” presented to you is any color other than Chestnut, it is a fake. Deckers only does “Nightfall” on Chestnut.
• Ask about a “Sundance” model. If you see a “Sundance” in any color other than Chestnut Sand or Chocolate, it’s fake. Deckers has stopped doing it in black. There may be old stock, but anyone selling large numbers of them is probably selling fakes.
• While still on the subject of boot color, keep in mind that there are no “camel” colored UGGs. So if someone offers you one, bingo!
• On genuine UGGs, the shearling around the boot matches the color of the boot, but the shearling on the bottom of the boot, where the foot sits, is always natural (or “cream”). ).
• The sole of genuine UGGs is about half an inch or more, while the soles of counterfeits are very thin, perhaps ¼ inch.
• Now try looking at the “size” tag on your women’s and children’s UGGs, if they have any. All European, UK and US sizes are shown on the children’s UGG, while the women’s UGG only shows the US size.
• If a blue card or brown “leather” tag is affixed (some of these may say “Manufactured by CGM Co. Ltd.”), or a light brown or beige dust bag that says “UGG” or, sometimes “Snow Boots” goes with the pair of UGG, then it is a fake. Most “innocent” customers are fooled by this apparent “attention to detail” or “extra touches”. The truth is, no genuine “UGG Australia” pair of boots has a label attached (or with “sample skin”) or comes with a dust bag or shopping bag.
• If you bring (or wear) a pair of genuine UGGs, or one of your peers brought their genuine UGGs, try comparing your genuine UGGs to fake UGGs; a fake one that is the same “model” as your genuine UGGs will be taller or shorter than yours.
• Also, while it’s still on the subject of side-by-side comparison, the “UGG” tag on the rear of the boots is higher up on a fake and the lettering is different from genuine UGGs. The letters may have spaces between them on the fake, while on the real, they overlap. Lastly, the word “australia” in the “UGG Australia” logo is in a bolder font on the counterfeit than on a genuine UGG.

Now, suppose counterfeiters have gotten a lot better, and so far the UGGs you’re looking at have passed all of the above “visual” tests. There are still a few more ‘tests’ you can do to “root out” the fakes. For example, try this FITNESS TEST: If you know your boot size, try ordering a pair of UGGs that is one size higher “notch” than your size, then try wearing them. If they are genuine UGGs, they should fit snugly, or even be a bit baggy. Fake UGGs, on the other hand, are notoriously ill-fitting!

Do you want more “proof”? Perform these simple FUR TESTS: Look at the inside fur of the boot. Genuine UGG fur looks fluffy and thick and should be a rich cream color. Fake UGG fur, on the other hand, is synthetic and they are thin and delicate-looking, and are “off-white” or “white”, rather than cream-colored. Now “feel” the fur with your hands. They should “feel” very soft. Then try rubbing your fingers against them. You would be able to identify the fakes because pieces of them would “flip off” or “flip off” with even just a light “rub”. Lastly, smell the inside of the boot and the skin. If there is even a faint paint or “lacquer” smell, then that is your indication that the boots are fake. UGG genuine leather doesn’t have even a hint of that “lacquer” smell, because genuine leather doesn’t have to be dyed to “pass” it. off like the “real thing”.

Let’s try a “new” approach to these “tests”; instead of trying on the boots, LET’S TRY THE SELLER. Here are some ways it can be done:

1. Strike up a conversation with the salesperson about UGGs and where they are made. If he/she mentions that the genuine ones are made in Australia and/or New Zealand, then he/she is selling fakes. Likewise, if the seller does not list Deckers Outdoor Corporation (or Deckers, Inc.) as the “parent” company, then that is another sign that they are selling counterfeits.
2. Try to “fake” a slight disappointment with the “model” or boot size you were presented with, as if it might not be what you want. If the seller says, “Take your time choosing. I have many different ‘models’ and sizes for you to choose from.”So he/she is most likely selling fakes, because UGGs are, by the very nature of their raw materials, in short or limited supply. Anyone with a truckload of them this time of year is highly suspicious!
3. Then look around the place and try to mention a “model” that isn’t there, ask if you can “order” it, how many days it will take, and where you can get it from. If the seller mentions getting it directly from their supplier in China, then they are selling fakes. While it is true that all Deckers UGGs are made in China, they are not sourced directly from China by a seller or reseller.

That’s all. I’ve already covered the basics here. This is by no means a “complete” list of ‘tips’ for distinguishing a genuine UGG from a fake; in fact, a fake UGG can pass all of the “visual” tell-tale signs I mentioned above (perhaps because the counterfeiters themselves have gotten “wise”), but certainly many fake UGGs fail the “FITNESS TEST” and the “SKIN TESTS” mentioned above, while many of their sellers fail their “TEST TO SELLER” tests.