It’s that time of year again when many outlet stores are liquidating winter weather gear. As a result, there are great sales to be found on amazing, high-quality winter jackets.
Unfortunately, there are also many scams and fakes that get posted to sites like Craigslist. Even if it’s not the item itself that is counterfeit, there are also many posts scattered on Craigslist that has links to discounted Canada Goose Jackets. Search Craigslist, and you will be sure to find them in every city.
Here is a link to the official Canada Goose website. If they are not having a sale, then the “sale” advertised on another site is likely a fake. (Spoiler alert: you won’t find a sale on the Canada Goose website).
Why are there so many fake Canada Goose jackets?
If you have been reading any tabloid magazines, or even walked outside this past winter, you have probably noticed that everyone is wearing a Canada Goose Jacket. They are a winter must-have for both men and women and are consistently one of the best-selling jackets at high-end retailers such as Holt-Renfrew, Nordstrom, SportingLife, and others.
Being in such high demand opens up the market to counterfeit items trying to cash in on the demand, and the high prices that come with it. Canada Goose has been known for its exceptionally high-quality apparel since it began in 1957.
Yes, the story is true, these jackets were actually made for Antarctic scientists, which explains the logo. These jackets are of the highest quality and demand the highest prices of most jackets on the market.
7 ways to tell if the Canada Goose Jacket post is a fake:
Remember, Canada Goose doesn’t go on sale. If the link you see in the post says that there is a massive Canada Goose Jacket Sale on Now… there isn’t. They are either selling you a jacket at full price, or a fake jacket at a discount.
Canada Goose has VERY strict Quality Control in its manufacturing process. Canada Goose jackets and clothing lines are all made in Canada using only the highest quality materials including down and coyote fur. Attention to every detail is found in authentic Canada Goose apparel, so if your jacket-to-be doesn’t measure up – its likely a fake.
What to look for:
If you are looking at buying someone a Canada Goose jacket on Craigslist, Kijiji, or any classified ad site, here are some tips on what to look out for:
Price:
Simply put, if it’s real, the seller will not part with it for a few dollars – it will still cost hundreds. A used jacket will still sell for approximately 80% of its retail value. Never trust a “story” of how they are selling it for a friend, how it was a gift from an ex or relative. Anyone with an authentic jacket understands its worth, and will not part with it at a 90% loss.
If buying retail, understand that Canada Goose does not go on sale.
Tags:
Canada Goose changes the Tags every so often. A quick google search will show you what the tags were for a given year. Counterfeit tags do not keep up with the trends and generally remain constant. Tags are different than the emblem logo on the sleeve. These are the identification tags inside the jacket, and since 2011 have featured a hologram. This hologram has changed over the years and since 2017 features a polar bear along with other images.
Tags will be neat, with clean edges, clear print, and no tearing of threads.
Fur:
The fur is a dead giveaway for a fake jacket. As I stated above, real Canada Goose Jackets use genuine premium coyote fur. This is expensive stuff and counterfeit jackets will use synthetic fur or cheap fur that is not uniform and pieced together from multiple sources (old fur coats).
However, there has been mounting pressure on the company by animal rights groups to stop the use of fur. Bowing to that pressure, Canada Goose has stopped the use of animal fur on its jackets since 2021.
Logo:
Just like Tags, the logo has also changed over the years.
The current circular logo is one of the more used counterfeit logos due to the popularity of the new jackets. Watch for spelling mistakes in the logo and any website address. Older jackets had a different logo featuring a goose outline on a black background. If the counterfeiter didn’t do their homework, they may still be using this logo.
Also, look at the stitching of the logo. Real logos are crisp and clear. The 5 maple leaves on each side are pointed and clear. Logos will have Canada Goose (R) not TM, Co, or anything else.
Cuffs:
Early models of the jackets had elastic cuffs that match the color of the jackets. A blue jacket will have a matching blue elastic cuff. Canada Goose changed their design about 2005 so that all jackets, regardless of color, have a black elastic cuff. NO new jackets will have colored cuffs.
Hologram:
As of Fall 2017, a new hologram label has been sewn into every Canada Goose product as proof of authenticity. The hologram has been created exclusively for Canada Goose and no one else. It features a Polar Bear image and elements that can be seen from different angles. If the jacket you are looking at does not have a hologram, or a different image, walk away.
Fake Ads
If your craigslist ad is pointing you to a Canada Goose Outlet storefront, here are some things to look for:
- A legit store is listed on the Canada Goose official retailers section.
- A storefront or website full of spelling mistakes is a dead giveaway that it is not legit.
- A legitimate store is hacked? Yes, this does happen from time to time. The easiest way to determine if you are following a legit sale is to look at the domain name. If links on an official store link to another domain (eg Canadagoosecheapwear.io) you know it’s not legit.
Where to legitimately buy a Canada Goose Jacket
It is reasonable to assume that people love to keep up with new trends and will eventually sell off their old beloved Canada Goose Jacket to buy a new one. That said, second-hand stores, eBay, and classified ad sites will have multiple listings. To find one on Craigslist you can Search all of Craigslist by state to find a legit jacket near you.
With the increasing popularity of Canada Goose, more and more sporting goods and fashion retailers are stocking the product. Online retailers such as Amazon also sell authentic jackets from the official Canada Goose storefront. As mentioned above, a legitimate store will be listed on the Canada Goose official retailers section.
Of course, if you see any deceptive practices or counterfiet products being sold, report it at the Canada Goose Counterfeit Site: https://www.canadagoose.com/ca/en/counterfeit/counterfeit.html
Conclusion
Craigslist is full of real Canada Goose items, but also an easy target for people selling fakes. Now that you know the facts, you can avoid Craigslist scams and find your perfect Canada Goose Jacket!
