Authenticity & Sourcing
Authenticity & Sourcing
Buying sneakers online means trusting someone you cannot see. This page explains where our stock comes from and what we check before it reaches you, so that trust is based on something concrete.
We are an independent retailer. We are not a manufacturer, and unless a product page says otherwise, we are not an authorised dealer for the labels we carry. What we can tell you is exactly how each pair reached us, and we keep the documentation to back it up.
Every pair is inspected in hand
Nothing ships from a sealed carton on trust. Each pair is opened and checked against a fixed list before it is listed and again before it is dispatched.
The box
Label alignment, print quality, and the match between the label details and the shoes inside — model code, colourway code, size. A mismatch between box and shoe is the most common warning sign there is.
Construction
Stitch density and straightness, glue lines along the midsole, the bond between upper and sole, and symmetry between the left and right shoe.
Materials
Weight in hand, the smell of the adhesive, the texture and grain of leather or suede, and the density of the foam. These are the things that photographs do not carry and that experienced hands notice immediately.
Internal detail
Insole print and adhesion, size label placement, lining stitching, and the finish inside the heel counter.
Accessories
Spare laces, cards, dust bags and inserts present and correct, packed the way the manufacturer packs them.
Anything that fails inspection is rejected and returned to the supplier. It does not go into stock at a discount.
What arrives with your order
- The original box, undamaged, with the correct label. We never ship a shoe box on its own — it travels inside an outer shipping box.
- All original accessories, exactly as the manufacturer packed them.
- A full invoice, itemised with VAT shown. This is your proof of purchase for the 2-year legal guarantee.
If you have any doubt
Contact us within 14 days of delivery with photographs of the shoes, the box label and the insole. We will review them against our own inspection record for that pair.
If we cannot resolve your concern to your satisfaction, you get a full refund including return postage. We would rather lose a sale than have you keep a pair you do not trust.
Reporting a problem
If you believe you have received a pair that is not genuine, do not wear it. Contact us straight away through our contact page with your order number. Every report is investigated at the supplier level, not just the individual order.
Trademarks and affiliation
Ambersole is an independent retailer. All brand names, logos, model names and trademarks that appear on this website are the property of their respective owners.
Ambersole is not affiliated with, authorised by, endorsed by, or sponsored by the owners of those trademarks unless explicitly stated. Trademarks are referenced solely to describe the products we offer for sale and to help customers identify them.
Product images and descriptions are provided for identification purposes. Colours may vary slightly between screens and the physical product.