Let's face it, if you like to shop on Ebay you've probably been exposed to all sorts of designer denim labels. Even if what you set out to buy is a DVD, up pops a tempting array of sleek and sexy jeans. If you are at all into dressing like the rich and famous (I know I'm guilty) then you may even have placed a bid on a pair of Antiks, Tavernitis or especially Seven for All Mankinds.

I don't claim to be an expert on jeans. In fact, I've purchased my fair share of fakes. But I do know a few basics and as a sometimes seller of high-end denim, I'd like to pass on a few tips:

#1 If there is a professional photo in the listing--taken by a professional fashion photographer of some amazing model--chances are the jeans are fake. Many honest listers will take photos of themselves or their friends in the jeans, which is fine. Some sellers mix professional photos with ones they have taken themselves. Sometimes this means the jeans are fake, sometimes they are real.

#2 If the seller is selling more than one pair of the same jeans, using the same photo for every listing, the jeans might be fake. Make sure the jeans are in-hand--meaning the seller has the actual pair you are bidding on in their posession--by asking for additional photos.

#3 If the seller doesn't specifically say in the listing that the jeans are "authentic", "real" or "genuine" (or words to that effect), chances are, yet again, you aren't bidding on the real deal. If you thought that's what you were getting and you didn't get it, the seller isn't obligated to make good because technically they didn't lie in the listing. They just conveniently left out the part about the jeans being fake. I usually end up leaving them positive feedback because, hey, what else can I do? It was my mistake.

#4 If the seller won't answer your questions about their jeans, don't bid. Even if there is only one hour left in the listing and your fingers are itching, just don't do it until you hear back. Even if you are certain the jeans are real, it is always best to put sellers to this kind of test just to be sure they are honest.

#5 If the seller responds to your questions but doesn't answer the specific questions you asked, either ask again or look for a different pair. I once asked a seller where a pair of Antiks were made. Their response was, "They are 100% cotton." Hmmm. Very fishy. Maybe there was a language barrier but given the way they answered subsequent questions, I don't think so.

#6 The boutique designer denim craze was popularized by the celebrity crowd in the US, more specifically in LA. Therefore many brands like Antik, Yanuk, Taverniti or Seven are made here now, even if they may have started elsewhere. Sometimes they started here and are now outsourced. Take the time to educate yourself on this point. It should and will say where the jeans are made right on the tags inside the jeans themselves. If a seller is honest about a Made in Mexico tag on a pair of Tavernitis, you just might be bidding on a real pair. Hecho in Hong Kong on Tavernitis? Hmmm...

#7 Get used to disappointment. Sorry, but it's a fact of life. As cautious as I am, I've still been duped. This is particularly upsetting to me because if they don't fit and I want to resell them, well, I just won't. Or I will sell them as the fakes they are and hope someone out there wants them. That being said, there really is no way to tell for sure jeans are real unless you buy them from an authorized "bricks and mortar" store.

#8 Keep in mind, sellers are only human. Even those of us with high feedback scores. Sometimes we simply don't know we have a pair of fake jeans. Unless you see a pattern of trickery, it's always best to give sellers the chance to redeem themselves before you leave negative feedback.

#9 Don't ever let yourself be intimidated by a rude, aggressive or evasive seller. It's your money, and you have every right to ask a ton of questions or ask the same question several times until you get a straight answer.

#10 There is nothing wrong with a good pair of fakes as long as you don't care, and didn't pay too much for them. Paying too much is, of course, subjective. For me, I won't pay more than around $25 for fakes, including shipping. If they fit and make me look great, I figure I still got a good deal.

Naturally, these 10 things can be applied to any designer item in danger of being knocked off. If you would like to ask me questions about this guide or anything in it, feel free. If I know the answer I'll be happy to help. And if I don't, I'll still say "hi." My userid is wendinas.