Updated: How to Spot Fake Ergo's

[Samiam03]

Oh my gosh! Thank you for posting this! I am planning to buyu an ergo and was contemplating going to eBay to save money. I'd rather spend more than risk a fake!

 

[Leids]

Thanks for the replies! I just bought the one I wanted off of the ergo website, babiesrus has a limited selection apparently.

If we don't hear back from the seller within 48 hours we were told to file an internet crime complaint. The website is https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx - we may end up filing a criminal complaint anyway. I really don't want other babies getting hurt, but it sounds like a lot of people have used them. I'm amazed I haven't heard more about potential injuries and whatnot.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Ergo website? There's a fake ergo website out there too.

It's this one: https://www.ergobabyscarrier.eu/

 

[Leids]

I'm from the US, but it was https://store.ergobaby.com/ - it's the only official ergo store that popped up online. There isn't an ergobabycarrier.com either.

I'm about to just order a beco. Too much hassle.

ETA: I checked around, looked on wikipedia and a few other places that listed the official ergo US website and it's the correct one.

 

[_dreamer_]

The site that leids listed is the official site and you can find authorised retailers on there in the eu and UK as well as the US. This link is the list theyve put together of known or suspected counterfeit websites. I was going to buy through amazon as it was a good price but at the time the third party was one of these! i think that's awful of amazon. I used the store locator and found one local to me in the UK, they actually delivered so if you don't have a local one, worth searching anywhere in the UK and seeing if they deliver. Or you can use the official eu link which does show prices in euro and obviously delivery is longer. Definitely check out the website before buying

https://store.ergobaby.com/Content/AboutUs_Counterfeits#Counterfeit_List

 

[rebeccalouise]

wow, that's awful! don't feel bad though hun, you weren't to know. x

 

[swood9]

I contacted the store this am. The woman seemed sympathetic. She is talking to the owner and should be calling me back anytime. I hope they replace it for me!!

 

[Leids]

I contacted the store this am. The woman seemed sympathetic. She is talking to the owner and should be calling me back anytime. I hope they replace it for me!!

I hope so too. I'm surprised they wouldn't know if they deal with a lot of baby carriers. Maybe they just weren't aware of the fakes. It seems like there are really way too many of them around, it's surprising.

Actual ergo's, or beco, or boba carriers are rigorously tested to ensure that they're safe for little one's. Who knows what could happen with a fake? There's no guarantee that they'll carry up to 45lbs like a regular ergo, or that they won't fall apart while you're wearing them. These fakes are touted as being ergo's, and therefore giving false information. I think I'm going to file a complaint today anyway because this could potentially put a lot of babies at risk. This should really be illegal.

 

[swood9]

Thanks, Leids. They called and said they were very sorry about the whole things and they are sending me a replacement today or tomorrow. I just had to help them track to transaction, thankfully I used a credit card to purchase it! I'm really glad they were so cool about it. I'm glad you're getting your real ergo as well! Safe baby wearing!

 

[ashiozz]

It's really good they're replacing yours too!! WOOHOO! Real ergos for all!

I would be so down. I sympathize ladies, but it is so good it's getting sorted out for you both =)


I think it IS illegal, esp since the fakes look so damn close...

That's ok, when I got mine, I almost bought the same one but a different box and i noticed it had been opened, someone stuck a much cheaper infantino carrier in the ergo box (and Im sure then put the ergo in the infantino box) ... I was so pissed off to see that..>< and here I am, spending what little money I DO have on an extremely expensive carrier, and I Almost got stuck with a cheapy. WTF?


People these days ><

 

[Leids]

It's really good they're replacing yours too!! WOOHOO! Real ergos for all!

I would be so down. I sympathize ladies, but it is so good it's getting sorted out for you both =)


I think it IS illegal, esp since the fakes look so damn close...

That's ok, when I got mine, I almost bought the same one but a different box and i noticed it had been opened, someone stuck a much cheaper infantino carrier in the ergo box (and Im sure then put the ergo in the infantino box) ... I was so pissed off to see that..>< and here I am, spending what little money I DO have on an extremely expensive carrier, and I Almost got stuck with a cheapy. WTF?


People these days ><

People are ridiculous. I first bought a bjorn carrier from babiesrus. I took it home, and it was an infantino carrier that was obviously used. So, someone returned it, and the AWESOME staff at babiesrus couldn't even be bothered to open it up to check the product! Really!? I took it in and was like are you serious? I worked at toys r us as seasonal awhile ago too, so I knew general practices.

swood9 I am SO glad you're getting another one! Yay!

I took pictures of my ergo! Sorry if they're not that great.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/nakeli/2012-11-09201144.jpg

This is what stood out to me. The buckle looks nothing like regular ergo buckles and has no stealth logo.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/nakeli/2012-11-09201217.jpg

These are the typical ergo logos, no signs of a fake
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/nakeli/2012-11-09201152.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/nakeli/2012-11-09201228.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/nakeli/2012-11-09201420.jpg

If you're able to see it, there are grammatical and spelling errors on the warning label. "Orgaic" and lack of punctuation. ETA: Sorry it's upside down. I had rotated it in photobucket's editor but apparently it never took affect.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/nakeli/2012-11-09201316.jpg

Weird stitching
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/nakeli/2012-11-09201332.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/nakeli/2012-11-09201341.jpg

Serial code tag. I don't know if this tag is abnormal looking or not. I'll compare it to the other ergo I get when it comes in the mail.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/nakeli/2012-11-09201248.jpg

When looking at websites with guides showing how to spot a fake ergo, my ergo passed all of the tests except for the buckle.

 

[swood9]

Bummer!! That is CUTE!! I should take pictures of mine as well.

 

[swood9]

My buckle is all wrong.

No warning label on the waist.

Label says "ergo baby carrier" instead of "Ergo Baby.:

I would have known if it wasn't the first one I've ever owned!!

 

[ashiozz]

thats so odd, Your serial number looks similar to mine, but my buckles and all that are correct ... and mine came from Target and is def real, from what I found online MOST fakes have no serial numbers? 0.o so odd

 

[ashiozz]

My model number is shorter, but when looking it up, that model number in the serial number is consistent with that model 0.o thats really odd.

 

[My_First]

It's so shitty when stuff like this happens. A piece of advice re fake websites always look at the about us or terms and conditions, normally they ate badly translated ( like the one oz posted). Oh and if it looks too cheap and too good to be true, it normally is!

 

[dgirllamius]

I'm starting to wonder if mine is genuine. I was looking at the serial number tag and mine says made in china and some sites say that's a fake. can anyone verify?

 

[Leids]

I'm starting to wonder if mine is genuine. I was looking at the serial number tag and mine says made in china and some sites say that's a fake. can anyone verify?

Apparently they can be made in China or India.

 

[Leids]

thats so odd, Your serial number looks similar to mine, but my buckles and all that are correct ... and mine came from Target and is def real, from what I found online MOST fakes have no serial numbers? 0.o so odd

It is really weird, but the guy was definitely selling fakes. Apparently fakers are just getting better at it. Mine could EASILY fool anyone!

 

[jessicatunnel]

This is why i bought mine from Target! Glad you're getting a new one.