They are the real birkenstocks that sell in stores for $130 and I paid less than $40.  I prefer the soft footbed because the toe ridge bothers me in the original footbed.  The color is a little bright but not too bad.  I ordered a 39N and a 40N because I was not sure about the size.  I decided to keep them both.  I will wear the 40N with socks  as a house shoe during the cooler months and the 39N as house shoes in the warmer months. I normally take a 9 9 1/2 shoe with a generous B width.  The 39N fits perfectly without socks or with very thin socks.