Tips to avoid counterfeit Canada Goose jackets

With extreme cold temperatures overwhelming even the toughest people in the province, many in Saskatchewan are looking to upgrade to a better winter jacket this month.

One of the most popular and warm choices is the Canada Goose parka. The company's jackets are top quality, made with genuine goose down and trimmed with coyote fur.

James Briens, co-owner of Ebs Source for Adventure in Saskatoon, said the demand is very strong even with a retail price of approximately $800-900.

"Currently, if a store doesn't have it, we are taking orders for next year," Briens said. "People are giving us the colours and styles and we are adding it to our order, which has already been placed for next season."

Briens said he expects current orders to arrive in about May.

However, cheap knockoffs are becoming far more common, costing the company money and confusing some customers. Briens said he's already encountered counterfeit Canada Goose jackets this winter.

"We're actually assisting a customer right now , hoping for them to get that resolved with their credit card company," Briens said.

Finding a fake

Briens said it's important for consumers to check a few things when buying a Canada Goose jacket. He said the first place to start is the fur on the hood.

"With a fake, you'll notice that the fur isn't as full. It looks almost mangy," Briens said. "Its not as full."

The Canada Goose jacket also features their signature badge.

"(The counterfeit) badge looks like it's bleeding around the outside," he said. "It's not as distinctive on the flags itself and even just the outline of the island."

Briens said there are also a number of things to look for when trying to determine a fake from the real thing. Counterfeit jackets will be a lot thinner, the colours aren't as rich, and stitching isn't as detailed.

The most important indicator, Briens said, isa hologram tag the company implemented a couple of years ago.

"The tags make the parka look identical, but it's the hologram that will tell you you have an authentic Canada Goose," he said. "If you don't have this hologram, then unfortunately you have a counterfeit."

While people can still wear a counterfeit jacket, Briens said providing enough warmth is one major issue. He said there are also some potential health concerns.

"The problem with the fake (jackets) is you're not really sure what kind of feathers are inside," he said. "It's been known that the fill that has come from overseas is very, very poor quality. So the sanitation of the down is very poor. You don't know what is mixed into it."

Canada Goose does not sell direct to customers. So for people buying online, Briens suggests they putthe online store's name into the Canada Goose website to authenticate whether it is an online retailer.