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Not often at full price retailers, because Birkenstock controls its pricing tightly, but Labor Day is one of the better moments to look. Sandals are seasonal, and once summer ends retailers start clearing them rather than carrying them through winter. The genuine discounts show up in three places: end of season markdowns on sandals right now, discontinued colors and last season’s styles, and off price retailers like Nordstrom Rack. What you shouldn’t do is chase a suspiciously cheap pair on a marketplace, because this is one of the most counterfeited shoe brands there’s.
Two things decide whether you end up happy here: buying from somewhere authorized, and getting the size and footbed width right. Birkenstock uses European sizing and sells two footbed widths, and more returns come from that than from anything else. Below you’ll find where the real discounts are, how to size yourself correctly, and how to spot a fake.
Where to Buy Birkenstocks
All five are authorized sellers, so authenticity isn’t a question. They differ on price, selection and how often they discount.
One Pair From Each Authorized Retailer
All three are authentic and all three are authorized sellers. Two are genuinely discounted right now, and the third is at full price for a reason worth knowing.
Getting the Size and Width Right
More Birkenstock returns come from sizing than from anything else, and most of it traces back to two things people don’t know to check.
| What to Know | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| They’re sized in EU, not US | Birkenstock uses European sizing, and the US conversion printed on the box is approximate. Measure your foot in centimeters and use the brand’s own size chart rather than guessing from your usual US size. |
| Regular versus narrow footbed | Two widths, marked by the footprint icon on the sole: a filled in foot means narrow, an outline means regular. Choosing wrong is the single biggest cause of returns. |
| Your toes shouldn’t reach the end | There should be a small gap at the front, and your heel should sit inside the heel cup rather than at its edge. A pair that feels snug new won’t stretch to fit. |
| The footbed breaks in, the size doesn’t | Cork molds to your foot over a few weeks, which changes comfort but not length. Don’t buy a size down expecting it to loosen. |
| Half sizes barely exist | Most styles come in whole EU sizes only. If you fall between, the usual advice is to size up rather than down, because the footbed needs room to form under your arch. |
How to Spot a Fake Pair
Birkenstock is among the most counterfeited footwear brands in the world, and the copies have got noticeably better. These are the checks worth doing.
- Check the footbed stamp: Genuine pairs have the Birkenstock name and size molded crisply into the footbed, not printed or shallowly pressed. Blurred or uneven lettering is the clearest tell.
- Look at the cork edge: Real cork latex is dense and finely textured. Fakes often use a coarse, crumbly looking cork or a printed cork effect that’s uniform in a way real cork never is.
- Count the rivets and check the buckles: Hardware on genuine pairs is solid, evenly finished and stamped. Lightweight, shiny or unmarked buckles are a common giveaway.
- Be suspicious of deep discounts on current styles: Real markdowns cluster on last season’s colors. A current season Arizona at half price from an unfamiliar seller is the classic counterfeit setup.
- Buy authorized if you want certainty: Every retailer in the section above is an authorized seller. That’s the only way to remove the question entirely.
Cork Footbed Sandals and Clogs, the Affordable Alternative
To be clear, these aren’t Birkenstocks. They’re other brands making cork footbed sandals in a similar shape, and they cost a fraction as much. If you want the look and the feel without the price, this is the honest route.
Cork Footbed Clogs On Sale
The closed toe version of the same idea, which works year round rather than just in summer. Again, alternatives rather than the real thing.
Which Route Suits You
You want genuine Birkenstocks at the best price: Nordstrom Rack, and be flexible on color. Off price stock is last season and discontinued shades, which is exactly where the real savings live.
You’re not sure of your size: Zappos. Free shipping and returns both ways means you can order two widths, keep the one that fits, and send the other back at no cost.
You want a specific current color: Urban Outfitters or Macy’s. Expect to pay close to full price, because current season stock rarely moves.
You mainly want the look: A cork footbed alternative from the section above. They’re genuinely comfortable, they cost far less, and nobody is checking.
You’re buying your first pair: The Arizona in regular width unless you know your feet are narrow, and buy from somewhere with free returns.
Birkenstock Sale FAQ
The Bottom Line
End of summer is a real window for Birkenstock sandals, but the discounts sit in specific places rather than across the range. Nordstrom Rack is where authentic pairs are genuinely cheaper if you can be flexible on color, and Zappos is where to go if you’re unsure of your size, because free returns both ways let you try both footbed widths. Buy from an authorized seller and authenticity stops being a question. And if what you actually want is the look and the cork underfoot rather than the name, the alternatives on this page will save you a great deal of money.
