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Guide to Counterfeit Ugg Boots

The following guide will assist you in identifying both counterfeit UGG Australia boots and counterfeit Whooga boots. Whooga is a registered Australian business with registration number NSW BN98361745
View our details on the Australian Business Registration website

Whooga, UGG Australia and ugg boots

Firstly it is important to understand the difference between an ugg boot an UGG and Whooga. The word 'ugg boot' as defined in the dictionary, refers to a style of sheepskin footwear. An UGG is a brand of ugg boot. Whooga is a brand of ugg boot. Our boots are branded with Whooga labels and utilize thermofleece technology. Whooga are by no means counterfeit ugg boots, we have literally thousands of satisfied customers.

Why doesn't the govt. shut down counterfeit sites?

It's not quite that easy as no central organization polices the Internet. The UK police and Nominet the organization responsible for managing UK websites successfully removed over 1000 sites selling counterfeit ugg boots. Unfortunately this was done once in 2009 and since then thousands of website have appeared in Google search results once again. While we understand the problem must be very difficult for authorities and Google to manage, the best way to protect yourself is with solid knowledge in identifying counterfeit websites.

What happens if I buy from a counterfeit site?

If you've purchased from a counterfeit site there is a good chance you will not receive your ugg boots. International brands like UGG Australia and Whooga are protected by international trademarks. As of 2011 Chinese customs are now thoroughly inspecting and seizing all counterfeit items which is most likely where your ugg boots are being shipped from. Ugg boots are also very closely inspected and often seized by customs in the UK, Europe and the US. Counterfeit websites are setup by individuals in countries which do not have consumer protection laws and/or do not recognise UK law. If you were able to track down an individual responsible for the website there would be no legal requirement for them to provide you with a refund. If you have purchased with a Paypal you can lodge a dispute. If you have purchased using a credit card you may issue a chargeback by contacting your bank (the phone number is typically on the back of the card).

How to spot a counterfeit website

There are a number of clues which indicate a site is selling counterfeit boots:

  • The word 'ugg' forms part of the address
    Outside of UGG Australia not a single website is selling UGG Australia boots with 'ugg' forming part of the url. Take a look at the list of offical ugg Australia online retailers and you will notice not a single store has a website address with 'ugg' in the url. Whooga is of course not on this list because we provide an alternative brand of ugg boots but we'd still like to help you understand how to avoid fakes of any sort, they kill the industry for everyone.


  • You have purchased from a non authorized Whooga reseller
    Currently only www.whooga.co.uk, www.whooga.com , www.whooga.com.au and Barratts are authorized websites for the Whooga brand.


  • The site only accepts credit card payments via PayPal
    The Chinese government closely controls and monitors personal bank accounts. Counterfeit sites are unable to offer proper payment gateways because they must be linked to a bank account. Counterfeiters get around this by hiding transactions in a PayPal account. If you can only pay via paypal you are almost certainly buying from a counterfeit site. We offer PayPal as an option but also have a verified Australian ecommerce payment gateway.


  • The site is not independently verified by a reputable organize such as VeriSign or Geotrust.
    Counterfeiters will not hesitate to use a fake SSL verified logo. To check a VeriSign seal click the logo, now look at the address bar. Does it look like 'https://trustsealinfo.verisign.com/splash...'? If you can't click the logo or it directs you to an address on the website you are attempting to verify, chances are you're looking at a website selling counterfeit ugg boots. The VeriSign website also contains other useful tips. Geotrust works in exactly the same way (and is the authority Whooga utilizes). When you click the Geotrust logo you should see a window popup with an address 'http://smarticon.geotrust.com/smarticonprofile....' Geotrust also provide further information about the Geotrust site seal.

Why are counterfeit boots so cheap?

Very often counterfeiters have no intention of sending your ugg boots. This is why prices often seem too good to be true. Factories manufacturing counterfeit ugg boots do so with either synthetic sheepskin or very low grades which prominent brands refuse to use. These boots rarely make it past customs in the UK) Counterfeit websites use copyright protected images from authentic vendors, these are not the boots being shipped.

How do I check if my ugg boots are counterfeit?

Firstly, if you’ve purchased from one of the Whooga authorized sites listed above you have not received counterfeit items. If you wish to check if your ugg boots are counterfeit and you've purchased another brand there are a number of ways to check.

  • If you've purchased boots from website you've identified as a counterfeit website using the information above, chances are you have counterfeit boots.
  • If you have UGG Australia boots and they say 'Made in Australia' chances are the boots are fakes, UGG Australia manufacture in China.
  • The inner fleece has a shiny cheap appearance and the stitching is of poor quality
  • Labels and logo's are often updated but counterfeiters quickly catch on, check the manufacturers website for the latest logos

Report a fake

There are a number of organisations which may be able to take action against counterfeiters. If you wish to, feel free to contact us for assistance in identifying a counterfeiter, even if you're not interested in purchasing Whooga's we'd be happy to provide assistance. You can also see the trading standards website and Consumer rights website for more information.

Where are Whooga Ugg boots manufactured?

As of 2008 Whooga ugg boots are manufactured in China. We are an Australian owned and operated company but now manufacture and ship our boots from China. We still insist on purchasing Australian merino fleece and using the highest quality glues and stitching methods to produce our boots. Our Australian craftsmen continue to oversee and refine our manufacturing processes. Over the past 2 years we have directly compared and tested thousands of our new boots and we are 100% confident quality has improved.

There are a large number of factors which necessitated the shift. The Australian Government removed financial support for the manufacturing sector some 15+ years ago in the push for free trade. Since then there has been virtually no footwear and clothing manufactured in Australia. As a result of industry moving offshore it is extremely difficult sourcing skilled staff. Ugg boots are only popular for half of the year which means our staff would sit idle for 6 months of year which was simply not something we were able to support. Wikipedia provides an overview of the decline of the Australian manufacturing industry for those interested in understanding the global economic pressures acting on Australian manufacturers:

"Since the 1980s, tariffs have steadily been reduced; in early 2010, the tariffs were reduced from 17.5% to 10% on clothing, and 7.5–10% to 5% for footwear and other textiles.[7] As of 2010, most manufacturing, even by Australian companies, is performed in China."

Are Whooga ugg boots authentic?

Whooga ugg boots are a legitimate and trademarked brand of ugg boots. When deciding upon a pair of ugg boots it is important to understand the distinction between UGG’s and ugg boots. UGG Australia and Whooga are both brands of ugg boots. UGG Australia boots are also commonly referred to as UGG’s. Whooga boots differ from UGG Australia boots in sheepskin quality as well as branding. We proudly display Whooga on the heel and sole of our sheepskin boots (as shown in our product pictures). The term 'Ugg Boots' refers to a style of sheepskin leather boot. It does not refer to a brand or particular manufacturer. Ugg boots have been manufactured in Australia by dozens of diverse brands for well over 100 years and are an Australian icon!

Additional reading on 'Ugg Boots' as a word and not a brand

The following articles touch on the differences between ugg boot brands:
The Independent UK, David vs Goliath
The Age
High Beam Research
Ugg Lovers Fight Back