I received an email from a reader who had a question about a hockey jersey that was up for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Before we get into the jersey and why I wouldn't spend ten cents on it - let alone $110 - Facebook Marketplace is a place that just seems perfect for taking advantage of buyers. One should know what one is seeking, and one should know how to spot fakes when looking through any online auction or marketplace website, but Facebook Marketplace just seems a little more sketchy than eBay when it comes to certain items being sold. With the proliferation of all sorts of fakes and poorly-made jerseys already on the hockey merchandise scene, this leads me to often shaking my head at the crap being sold on Facebook Marketplace. Get your boots on, folks, because we're jumping into a lot of crap today as I'll point out why Facebook Marketplace is a cesspool for poor hockey jersey finds.
We'll start with this
beauty of a Jets jersey that has been customized with Pierre-Luc Dubois' name and number. Immediately, it seems like there's a lot of gray on this jersey where there shouldn't be gray, but the two different shades of gray should already be throwing up red flags for you consider that the Jets
don't wear two different shades of gray. The lace holes for the lace-up collar should be white as opposed to silver, and the image of the rear of the jersey shows no Adidas logo anywhere. While it is a replica, it's not a very good one, so the $60 price tag is quite literally $60 too much.
I'll admit I'm neither a Canucks fan nor a Messier fan, but this
Vancouver Canucks jersey listing gets started on the right foot with proper lettering and numbering. Based on the jersey itself, it's a replica KOHO which was the manufacturer of NHL jerseys at the time, so that checks out too. Based on the tag inside the neckline, it's a XXL and it was made in Canada, so this jersey passes the smell test in terms of it being a legitimate NHL replica jersey. If you're willing to shell out $140 for a 2001-06 alternate Canucks replica jersey, this one would be it!
Maybe you're an Oilers fan and you've been impressed with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins play this season, so you
find this jersey listed on Facebook Marketplace. It's a size 48 so it's suited for a smaller fan, but those hem stripes are causing me some serious grief. The stripes are placed way too high on this jersey
based on this image of RNH, so that's an automatic problem for me. Based on the Reebok design, the font for RNH's name is also wrong. While the $50 price tag is low enough that you might be able to overlook the font, those stripes are just ridiculous in their placement on this clearly fake jersey. Don't spend the money.
As always, caveat emptor for anyone browsing these sites, but Facebook Marketplace needs an extra fine-toothed comb to sift through all the poor listings and poor-quality jerseys being sold on that site. For example, how on earth does this seller think that
Jamie Macoun wore a Calgary Flames jersey that was introduced in 2003 when he last played for the Flames in 1991-92, and then try and get $650 for a Jamie Macoun autographed, framed jersey? If Macoun never wore the jersey, why would anyone ask Macoun to autograph it? Jamie Macoun retired in 1999, so he wasn't even close to wearing this Flames jersey!
What this all boils down to is knowing the details of the item you're wanting to purchase if you're going to head to Facebook Marketplace. Personally, I'd avoid 99% of the jerseys on Facebook Marketplace based on the examples I've shown above, but maybe you'll find a needle in the massive haystack that Mark Zuckerberg has assembled. If you do, spend more time examining that jersey and inspecting all the small details to ensure you're getting the exact jersey you want.
I know Zuckerberg is big on the "metaverse", but Facebook Marketplace is more like a thrift shop. You can find what you need if you spend enough time looking, but most of it is just stuff nobody wanted in the first place.
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
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