With the new season approaching, you’re considering taking the advice from your favorite fashion TikTokers who have been bombarding you with the entire “sustainable fashion vs. fast fashion” thing. But, how do you know which one’s which? Or, how do you spot fake Hey Dudes, for example?
OK, you’ve managed to curate a cute capsule wardrobe with your go-to clothing pieces – the perfect pair of pants that flatters your body to a tee, the graphic tee you know you’re going to wear whenever you’re running late, and a structured button-down to make your meetings better.
But, you’re still on the hunt for lightweight sneakers or slip-ons that promise to get you through the day without blisters and bruises.
Now, you’re thinking of getting Hey Dudes because they’ve been on your radar for quite some time. With a lineup of good features, they’ve been making quite a compelling bid. Worry not. We’re here to make sure you don’t make a mistake and spend your money on fake Hey Dudes.
Read on to uncover what to consider before buying Hey Dudes and what to keep an eye on when you’re trying to spot fake Hey Dudes.
What are Hey Dudes?
We’re obsessed with Italian cuisine, but can we say the same thing about Italian footwear? We sure can!
Hey Dude, the company, was started by two Italian footwear experts, Alessandro and Dario. The duo wanted to create lightweight, comfortable, and wearable kicks that weren’t going to break apart after one season.
The two wanted to keep the cost as little as possible to ensure everyone can afford to wear high-quality, hardwearing footwear, too. Therefore, Hey Dudes appeared on the Italian market around 2008 and everyone applauded them.
A few years later, around 2010, Hey Dudes moved onto the US and the rest of the world, too. After selling millions and millions of signature Hey Dude slip-ons, the company was acquired by Crocs.
At the end of the day, though, Hey Dudes kept the quality, comfort, and design that made them popular at the beginning. However, you do need to be cautious when shopping for Hey Dudes… The merge with Crocs made them more popular than ever and manufacturers have been producing cheaper knockoffs left and right.
What to consider before buying Hey Dudes?
Where do we even start? When you’re worried that you might end up spending your money on fake Hey Dudes without batting an eye – you have nothing to worry about.
Fake Hey Dudes are pretty simple to spot right off the bat.
Rather than spending a lot of time on details and designs, most manufacturers rush through the process and come out with a bad case of “what I ordered vs. what I got.” Not to mention that you can take certain precautions to ensure you don’t end up with a counterfeit product.
When you order them from the official Hey Dude website or a reputable website such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, Dillard’s, Zappos, and Nordstrom, you don’t have to worry about getting scammed.
We suggest trying them on beforehand, which means you might need to find a store near you that sells Hey Dudes. By doing that, though, you can ensure you’re getting the real deal, too. Before you start shopping, here’s a checklist of things to keep an eye on to ensure you don’t end up with fake Hey Dudes.
How to spot fake Hey Dudes?
1. Flash sales, unrealistic discounts, and three-for-the-price-of-one offers
When the algorithm presents you with an ad for Hey Dudes that says you can get them for not more than $20 on that particular day or that you can sign up for something to get a huge discount – don’t fall for it. Most scammers rely on the fact that people are going to buy anything that’s on sale.
Moreover, the reputable websites we mentioned beforehand have sales, too, which means you don’t have to risk your credit card information to buy a pair of Hey Dudes for a fraction of the price.
2. Sketchy websites
Naturally, the same goes for sketchy websites, too.
When you click on an ad that offers Hey Dude slip-on sneakers for $10, $15, or even $20, you might notice that the website appears sketchy.
With a myriad of spelling mistakes, poor-quality graphics, and photographs of products that are worth much, much more money (Golden Goose sneakers typically go for more than a mere $100), know that something’s not right.
We wouldn’t even advise you to click on ads that offer Hey Dudes for a fraction of the price because you never know what might happen – you might even crash your phone or computer. Hey Dude footwear comes with a reasonable price tag, anyway.
3. Spelling mistakes
Wow, these sneakers are the cutest! Who wouldn’t want to wear “Hello Dudes?”
You’d be surprised at how many scammers don’t know the difference between “they’re” and “their.” You need to keep your eyes peeled on spelling mistakes, whether you’re shopping online or checking out what your favorite Hey Dude sneakers look like IRL.
You might notice that most sketchy websites feature broken English, phrases and words you don’t understand, and spelling mistakes that would never be approved on the official Hey Dude website. You wouldn’t believe what scammers are capable of when they’re trying to avoid getting sued.
4. Packaging
Once you get your hands on your Hey Dude package, you might want to check for more clues. Now, the OG Hey Dude footwear typically arrives in a sturdy, stiff cardboard box with a logo on top and a few deets about the website on the bottom.
Whether you notice spelling mistakes on the box, get a box that doesn’t even have the Hey Dude logo on top, or get a box that’s falling apart – consider the chance that you might have gotten scammed. Now, the box might get damaged on the way to your place and that’s something to keep an eye on, too.
5. Return policy
When you buy your Hey Dudes from the official website, you can count on a 60-day return policy. What does that mean? You can return or exchange your Hey Dudes within the 60-day window which provides you with a guarantee that you’re buying a high-quality, hard-wearing product.
You can’t, however, count on the same policy when you’re buying Hey Dudes from a sketchy website or a store that doesn’t even know what you’re talking about. You shouldn’t rush to buy the first footwear that pops up on your TikTok ads, we can tell you that much.
6. Price
We brushed over the fact that the price of the product can be a dead giveaway of whether or not you’re getting ripped off.
On one hand, there are websites (Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Craigslist) that offer Hey Dudes for a higher price – whether that’s because they’re rare, upcycled, or signed by someone. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they’re trying to scam you.
On the other hand, there are websites that were made to sell dupes, replicas, and fakes of high-end, designer, and sought-after products.
Some specify that they’re selling a fake for a fraction of the price, but some don’t – and that’s what you need to keep your eyes peeled for.
7. Quality
When you buy Hey Dudes from the official website or a reputable store, you know you’re getting a comfortable, supportive, and protective sneaker or a slip-on that’s going to last you for a long time.
Hey Dudes are the embodiment of Italian craftsmanship, and that’s why they’re wanted and respected around the world. With Hey Dudes, you don’t have to worry about your sneakers falling apart after wearing them once or twice or cleaning them with warm water and soap.
However, with a counterfeit Hey Dude sneaker, you don’t know what you’re getting at all.
8. Fit
Hey Dudes are made to be wide, flexible, and comfortable. They’re perfect for people with wide feet because they’re designed to offer you enough wiggle room around the toes. They’re made with lightweight, breathable fabrics and a flexible upper that allows airflow and keeps your feet sweat-free.
On the chance that you get the fit of your Hey Dudes right, you can even get away with wearing them without socks – they’re that comfy. But make sure you wear socks when you’re sporting the fake Hey Dudes you bought because you didn’t follow our checklist. We’re kidding – sort of.
9. Weight
When you think of the type of footwear you want to wear to work, on a walk around the neighborhood, or a brunch with friends, chances are you think of lightweight sneakers or slip-ons that aren’t going to drag you down.
With the OG Hey Dudes, you don’t have to worry about your feet getting tired, sweaty, or sore. However, with the fake ones, you might need to bring a pair of flip-flops.
More often than not, the fake ones are made with hard, heavy outsoles that beat the purpose of Hey Dudes. Do your research and make sure you know what you’re spending your money on.
Read more: Hey Dude Laces Too Long? Here’s How To Tighten Them
