Internet - A viral TikTok video fronted by an alleged former employee has shared a Nike warranty hack that apparently guarantees free shoe replacements for customers of the popular fashion brand.

TikTok user Hayley Darcangelis says she worked at a Nike store for five years, where she learned some tricks. These tricks include a shoe replacement hack that sees customers getting free shoes, but is it true?

In a TikTok video, she shared her hack and explained how to return old Nike shoes and get a gift card for new ones at the store. The video went viral and now has more than a million views.

Darcangelis claims that it's a really easy Nike hack relating to their warranty policies. All you need to do is grab your Nike shoes and, as long as they are less than a year old, you can head over to the nearest store.

There, you need to show that the shoes are "defective."

Customers' "defective shoes" will be returned, and they will be offered a gift card: "And then you can get a new pair of shoes." Sounds great, right?

Once you are at the store, all you need to say is then show that the shoes are "defective" and present your evidence. Hayley explains that a defective shoe is any Nike that shows normal signs of wear and tear. According to her, this includes: a peeling logo, a popped air bubble, or a loose sole.

Customers' "defective shoes" will be returned, and they will be offered a gift card for a new pair of shoes. Sounds great, right?

This news seems almost too good to be true, and according to the brand's website, returns due to normal wear and tear aren't that easy.

Nike outlines its return policy: "We stand behind all of our shoes and gear. If your item is defective or flawed, and it’s been less than 60 days since your purchase, simply choose one of the options above to return the item."

The company urges customers who want to return defective or flawed shoes after 60 days to contact customer service and check the warranty information that came with the individual product, as the conditions may vary.

Some Nike products may even be returned up to two years after their manufacture date: "If your Nike shoes or apparel develop a material or workmanship flaw within two years of the manufacture date, we want to get you back in the game." The manufacture date is clear from the SUK label and style number, which is found inside the shoe, as Hayley explains in a second TikTok video outlining whether customers can return shoes without a receipt.

In one respect, Hayley is correct that customers can return their Nike shoes up to two years after the manufacture date, but the catch is that the shoes need to "develop a material or workmanship flaw," meaning that normal wear and tear won't cut it.

If they give it a shot, customers might get lucky, but it's unlikely that a faded or scratched logo is going to get them new shoes each year. As some commenters pointed out, retail workers can refuse to accept returns if customers make it a habit, and Nike does keep records of returns.