GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – While the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl run may be over, fans might kick off their team gear bargain hunting early this offseason.
But it’s important to know exactly where those jerseys, shirts, and cheeseheads are coming from. Susan Bach of the Better Business Bureau says it’s important to use reputable retailers with recognizable names. Fake websites and spin-off sites could spell trouble.
“Avoid fake websites that are advertising those too good to be true prices. That is really the biggest red flag,” Bach told WTAQ News. “The products either never arrive at all or they’re made of very poor quality. Cheap fabric, colors that are just off, we’ve even had complaints that the numbers were stitched on crooked or even that the players names were misspelled.”
Bach recommends sticking to reputable retailers like the Packers Pro Shop or other well known companies.
Now, those reputable companies might have prices you’re not too fond of, and you’re shopping for the lowest prices. If that’s the case, shoppers should look closely at the company’s website.
“If you are shopping by price and maybe shopping at a site that you’re not familiar with, do your research on that website…Google the company name and then the word scam or review and see what other customers are saying about that website,” Bach said. “Are there grammatical and spelling errors? That’s a red flag that it’s probably not an official website or that maybe it’s coming from China or another and non-English speaking country… look for a physical address, contact information like a phone number or an email address, and then verify that those are all working numbers or legitimate address. If it’s not, that is also a red flag.”
Poor quality or the lack of communication might be a major consumer issue, but Bach says ripping off consumers isn’t the only concern surrounding counterfeit sites.
“It takes business away from honest retailers it reduces tax revenue in some cases counterfeit goods have been known to finance illegal activities and even exploit child labor,” Bach explained. “The best way to support the team and American businesses is to not purchase known counterfeit materials.”
For more information on finding authentic sports apparel, head to BBB.org.
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