Social media users who religiously shop at Studio 88 have been winded by allegations that the urban retail store sells fake sneakers.
Studio 88 accused of selling fake sneakers
This isn’t the first time such an allegation has been levelled against a South African retailer. First, it was Sportscene.
The TFG brand came under fire after Twitter users randomly included it in a list of retailers that were accused of selling redistributing fake sneakers.
These allegations, however, were unfounded and we were able to fact-check the fake news.
Studio 88 is the latest retailer to face such accusations. This time, though, the claims come from a Twitter user who recognised himself as a former employee of the retailer.
In a series of since-deleted tweets, the user revealed that he had just been fired from a store branch, where he worked as an assistant manager.
He warned:
“Don’t nobody ever buy Nike products that are being sold at the store… they are all fake!”
The damning accusation shocked many, spurring the brand to the top of the trends list.
The Studio 88 guy waited until they fired him to tell us this
— Kgotlello (@Bafanapersever2) November 25, 2020
Any Funeral Parlour employee that also wants to confess that they fetch the caskets they give out to customers at night after the funeral? pic.twitter.com/IkFnHA2fxo
Nithi Studio 88 puts the volume on high so we dont hear the machine they use to sew the shoes??
— Mpume (@MprueDie) November 25, 2020
Studio 88 employees distracting you while they make your shoes in the back pic.twitter.com/vULyCChu1Q
— Nolwazi (@melinated_jae) November 25, 2020
The scorned ex-worker continued:
“They get one real product from Nike company and duplicate it themselves then sell it to you!”
Skipper Bar, Side Step also included in the mess
The former assistant manager, whose identity has not been revealed, added Skipper Bar and Side Step in the mix, claiming that they too sell fake Nike sneakers.
In case you missed it.
— Buhle. (@n_buhle) November 25, 2020
Studio 88 pic.twitter.com/CX83Le2yxD
At the time of publishing this article, neither of the retailers mentioned above had issued a statement addressing the accusations.