10 SIMPLE RULES FOR BUYING AUTHENTIC DESIGNER HANDBAGS : eBay Guides

    There are a few simple rules to keep in mind when purchasing designer merchandise over the internet. These rules apply to most designer merchandise. This guide should be used as reference/ advice and as always, Buy at You Own Risk.

    (In Descending Order)

10. Documentation: Most designer merchandise comes with documentation such as controllato cards, warranty cards, authentication cards ( which numbers should always coincide with a serial number or model number of the bag, usually posted on the backside of the maker's tag or on a sticker located somewhere on the merchandise)

9. Return Policy: Does the seller provide a guarantee of authenticity? Do they offer a money back guarantee? If not, they are:
A. Not confident about their merchandise
B. The merchandise is not authentic
C. They don't want to deal with buyer’s remorse.
Please advise: this does not always mean that the merchandise is not authentic. There are many good sellers who have impeccable merchandise who do not offer money back guarantees; but as a rule, but buy at your own risk because you are stuck with whatever you buy. Also, beware of buyers that offer a money back guarantee based on "authenticity". This policy gets you nowhere because designer boutiques will not authenticate merchandise, so it is impossible to retain the right documentation to receive a refund. The best you could do is have the merchandise appraised by a third party that is not affiliated directly with the designer and this could take several weeks.

8. Materials: What is the piece made of? Does it look like leather, but is listed as faux leather? Does it look cheap in the photos? Designer merchandise is always high end and made of the best materials. Most designers use only the best skins, genuine leather, hardware and fabrics to compose their products.

7. Craftsmanship: Is the craftsmanship shoddy? Are you questioning the look of the merchandise at all? Trust your first instinct. If it looks fake, it probably is. As a rule, designers have an eye for detail and reflect it in their products. For example, a Chanel handbag's quilted diamonds will always be exactly symmetrical and lined up with one another. A Louis Vuitton bags "LV" will always line up, as well. The stitching will also be tight and not be an eyesore and you certainly won't see glue anywhere on the bag.

6. Know your seller: Always check seller feedback and ask as many questions as possible before bidding. A reputable seller will almost always answer your questions within 24 hours. As for feedback; if there is even one feedback regarding dis-authentic merchandise, buy at your own risk. On one hand, it could be an in-experienced buyer offering an in-experienced opinion, but usually the buyer is right. Check the seller's location. Purchasing in the country you live in is usually best because out of country sellers are hard to prosecute. Also, if a seller's eBay account reflects one address and their Paypal account another and the billing checkout, yet another... this is usually a sign that they are trying to be elusive.

5. Pictures: Does the seller provide detailed and adequate photos of the product? Are the photos blurred or look like they have been taken from another online selling venue? It is always best if a seller can prove a photo was taken by them.

4. Origin: Where was the bag purchased from or acquired from? Does the seller have proof of purchase? Why are they selling the merchandise? Sometimes items are purchased through other auction sites or even bought and resold from eBay. What makes the seller confident that they are offering an authentic product? These are important questions to ask.

3. Price: Is the seller offering a $2000 item for $400? Does this sound credible to you? If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If a product can stand on its own little protective feet, it will fetch a good price that is closer to the original price. If the product is questionable, it will probably be listed for a low, blowout price to garner sales.

2. Payment Methods: Never ever purchase anything; designer merchandise included; through Western Union or by bank transfer. These methods of payment offer you absolutely NO PROTECTION and do not look into the identity of the recipient. Submitting payment through a secure merchant account such as Paypal or BidPay is always ideal. If a seller has no Paypal account because they report they are having "trouble" with them, this is usually a bad sign. This could mean any number of things: that they have had questionable transactions, they owe money to a reversed transaction, that they have been reported by an eBay or Paypal member for not sending or providing merchandise that is not as described, that they have not provided the correct identifying information, etc. These are all red flags. Never send cash in the mail, either.

1. Trust Your Instincts: Never dismiss any questions or feelings you have about an item(s). If it doesn’t feel right, don’t take the chance of purchasing the item to find it is not real. Even if it feels right and the transaction proceeds to a sale (and you receive fake merchandise), know your rights and which steps to take. Actively work with cooperative sellers. Sometimes, they are just as much a victim as you are. Many sellers buy online to resell and they could have been a victim of fraud as well. However, it is up to you to recover your losses and then up to them to do the same for themselves. Never allow them to victimize you because they don’t want to get stuck with the short end of the stick. Most sellers are cooperative though, so exercise your best judgment in dealing with these types of situations. Also, cover your bases before buying… know what steps to take in case of emergency. The best and first step to take is to notify the seller and file a claim with either eBay or Paypal . Square Trade is also a wonderful site to use as a mediation tool and sellers that bear the Square Trade seal are usually committed to pro-actively working with buyers. Also, remember that it is up to you to stop fraud before it happens and take an active role in preventing it.

    There are many excellent authentic designer deals to be found on eBay . eBay does it's best to filter out fraudulent activity and provide a safe marketplace for buyers and sellers. However, it is never foolish to arm yourself against fraud and victimization. Make sure you ask questions and buy with confidence. Also, help make the marketplace safe for everyone by reporting suspicious merchandise by using the "report this item" link at the bottom of every auction page. Also, for your convenience, I would be happy to offer an experienced opinion on the authenticity of designer products. Please feel free to email me with any questions, supporting documents and photos. Good luck in your search for designer merchandise and HAPPY BIDDING!

    Sincerely,

    Cybil of Luna Morada Auctions :0)