They're some of the best selling items that the NFL Shop has to offer. Fans from Boston to San Diego and around the world will payout anywhere from $80 to $250 to don football jerseys resembling the ones worn by the likes of Tom Brady and Troy Polamalu every Sunday. While the millions of dollars consumers spend on sports jerseys annually is real, far too often the product they're receiving is anything but. Below, let's take a quick look at some of the ways consumers can protect themselves and ensure they're wearing authentic NFL merchandise every Sunday.
Beware the Seller
As I wrote in a previous column about how to spot a fake autograph, only deal with trusted retailers such as the NFL shop, your favorite team's retail or in-stadium store, a trusted major retailer such as Modell's, or directly from Reebok, which manufacturers all of the NFL's authentic, premier and replica jerseys. You don't believe the Rolex you purchased on Canal Street last summer is real, do you? The same could be said for Tony Romo jersey you purchased from anyone that fits the description of "the guy down the street".
As I mentioned in my consumer's guide to purchasing sports memorabilia, beware of sellers offering NFL jerseys on internet auction sites such as eBay. Often times sellers that are offering fake jerseys can simply lift a picture of an authentic jersey and use it as the item photograph on the auction. Often times, despite being protected by the website's usage terms or your credit card billing agreement, you still might have to jump through proverbial hoops to get your money back.
The fact is, with regards to quality, material and attention to detail, a large number of consumers don't know what to look for when buying a jersey.
Use your head. No, really. According to the NFL Shop website, a replica NFL jersey retails starting at $80. The person at the yard sale, flea market or on eBay offering a new authentic Aaron Rodgers jersey for $50 is either totally full of it, or was naive when making their initial purchase.
For starters, let's talk prices about new NFL jerseys. There are three different series of jerseys that are sold by the NFL, with replica jerseys being the least expensive, premier jerseys being a less-expensive interpretation of the highest-priced authentic jersey, which is produced to the same specification it is to NFL players for each game.
Replica jerseys start around $80, premier jerseys at around $110 and authentic jerseys at $190.
As with anything, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Spotting a Fake NFL Jersey
For starters, the official merchandiser of the NFL is Reebok, and every authentic NFL jersey that is currently produced for fans and players alike is manufactured by Reebok. On every jersey, be it replica, premier or authentic, the Reebok insignia should be on both sleeves. The logo is sewn into authentic jerseys and is screen printed onto replica and premier models.
In my experiences, the most evident giveaway of a fake football jersey is the placement of the NFL logo at the jersey's neckline. The NFL logo should sit exactly at the center of the front neckline and the body fabric should begin exactly at the logo's bottom. Often times with counterfeit jerseys, there will be a space between the bottom of the league logo and the beginning of the body fabric.
Next, compare the consistency of jerseys. This works especially if you're thinking of purchasing from an individual or an independent sports shop. Hold up two jerseys next to each other and compare the fabric, the quality of the stitching and the placement of the athlete's name and number. If there is a noticeable inconsistency, it's likely at least one of the jerseys is a fake.
As I stated, if you truly want an authentic jersey, give yourself the piece of mind and purchase from a major retailer or directly from your favorite team. This goes double if you're considering giving a jersey as a gift, as the last thing you'd want to do is have the recipient think is that you're giving them a ripoff.
Sean J. O'Rourke - I'm Sean, a 25-year old marketing professional, photographer and sports and music journalist currently living in northeastern New Jersey. ...
Join the Conversation