EBay is the greatest place to shop for clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories!  Why do I state the obvious?  Do you know how long it would take you to browse through a plethora of stores to find the things you want to buy?  You can literally scan thousands of items in a matter of minutes and then "watch" the items, compare the items, and bid!  I prefer this "arm-chair shopping" to driving in traffic and going through all those stores!  And... it's a great place to find real bargains.

But what happens when someone claims to have a designer item, when it's actually a fake?  You can ask the seller questions about authenticity.  It's a good idea to be on the lookout for the words:  "100% Authentic, Guaranteed!"  If a seller doesn't guarantee this, you're taking your chances.  It helps to know the brand you're shopping for, so that you can compare the photos and verify the fabric/cut/design/style.  Manufacturing and selling fakes is a serious business and it can sometimes be quite difficult to spot-- they are good at cheating the buyer.  You should know that a design house is going to protect their investments by supplying only their own (licensed) store chains and outlet stores, and department stores; not to individuals.  A brand, such as Coach, takes this very seriously and even has a toll-free hotline to report fakes (Coach handbags have serial numbers embossed on the inside of their bags).  It pays to know the brand and their style.

Many people don't have a problem buying a fake that looks almost identical to the designer item, but you need to get those items at a much lower price, and it should be stated as such.  Let's face it, if you can get a great look at an affordable price, you win.  But trouble ensues when you are duped:  buying a fake at designer prices.  You must look at the ad and the details very carefully, and weigh the price.

You can get real designer items at real discounted prices, but expect them to be last season.  That's a great fact to know, considering this:  It has been said that it costs $300,000/per season for a celebrity to maintain a couture wardrobe.  Whoa!  You know, my mama always told me to "stick to the classics and you'll never go wrong!"  That's great advice, especially when it comes to investing in a great handbag or cocktail dress or fabulous pair of shoes; it won't go out of style any time soon!  Remember:  Anything your little heart desires is only a "click" away.  Happy bidding!