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This is a quick guide on how to avoid fake Prada bags. In words and pictures you will be made aware of some of the most spottable offs (faults) in fakes/counterfeits/replicas. Hopefully this will help you to find the real thing; an authentic Prada! It IS possible to find them on eBay, even if rare...
I love Prada bags - as long as they are authentic!!!
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Unfortunately high end items like the PRADA bag are highly counterfeited and sold at eBay as the real thing - when they are not. Great feedback and a statement that says 100% genuine is NOT a guarranty for authenticity. Neither is money back guaranty. You need to know what to look for and what to be aware of. For starters: Be careful when the seller uses stock photos. You need to see the actual bag you are bidding on, not just the model... If the seller cant provide this; RUN! But there are more...:
WRAPPING:
Fake/counterfeit Prada bags sometimes have wrapping on handles and hardware. This plastic or paper wrapping is NEVER seen on an authentic bag. Two examples of plastic/paper wrapping is this: 
Many more like this can easily be found if you do a search on the Internet for Prada + replica or Prada + knockoff. I suggest you do so, as this will also provide you with lots of pics of the most commonly faked bags (yes, some styles are very often faked!).
HANGTAGS:
Hang tags are also a sign to look for. IF a hang tag is attached to an authentic Prada bag/clothing, this should be enclosed in a plastic sleve and attached with a plastic band that is unable to remove without cutting it off. Inside the plastic sleve there shall be an original Prada authenticity card.
An authentic Prada hang tag looks like this: 
But mostly (unless the bag is bought in/directly from Italy), there will generally be no hang tag.
An authentic Prada bag shall NEVER have a white, yellow, green, light blue or whatever paper/plastic tag with the Prada name and logo written on it, attached loosely in a ribbon or similiar. Prada don't do this.
Here is an example of what Prada do NOT do: 
Nor do they attach a fabric or leather swap like this: 
These are FAKE.
There might be a store tag (from Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman, Bergdorf, Barney or similiar) attached to the bag, but this is not the same as the hang tag I am talking about above. A store tag alone is no guaranty that the bag is authentic - but it is a good sign (if everything else is right as well)!
ZIPPERS:
Authentic Prada bags (mainly) have zippers from riri, Lampo and IPI. These are smoot running zippers of best quality. Type of zipper will be embossed on the back side of the zipper head (not on the pull, but on the metal head) - so ask for this, if the seller have not provided any pictures of it.
This zipper is from an authentic Prada bag: 
LOGO:
The logo plates are also a good place to start if you are looking for an authentic bag. They should be firmy attached to the bag with even stiching, and evenly/straight attached to the bag/lining. The letter R on real Prada has a curved leg, not a straight (it may appear straither on older bags). Look closely on pictures of the outer and inner logo plates on bags you know are authentic (go to Internett sites as Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman or similiar). Note that the letters are slightly raised, so you can feel them when you touch the plate. Letters are not supposed to be flat on the plate.
On some (often seen on older bags) the outer plate have rivets with hole, and on the inner plate is says PRADA Milano Made in Italy on three lines. On newer bags the outer plate rivets are full (not like a dounut), and the inner plate only has two lines saying PRADA Made in Italy.
This logo plate is from an auth. bag: 
And soo is this: 
And this (leather lining): 
This logo plate is from FAKE bag - look at the wrong looking letter R, and also the rivets that are wrongly attached with nails: 
NOTE: Since both unregular wrapping and fake tags are easily spotted signs of counterfeited bags, many sellers remove this before they list their item. So be aware! And different models have different looks, so please check for several signs to (try to) determine if the bag is real or not. And PLEASE; ask for clear, close up pics of the bag and details like logos, zipper front and back, and hardware.
MY ADVICE:
There are other ways to determine a real versus a fake, but the offs I have mentioned is a place to start. My best advice is to look at several pictures, and ask for everything that you are unsure of. If the answers you get are not to your satisfaction, look elsewhere. You may also want to know that NO Prada-shop will ever give you a written statement that a bag is authentic or not (beware if the seller asks for this to be able to return). All the same, the Prada-shop may give you an estimate for a clean or a repair, IF the bag is authentic. Read other guides as well. Not all are good, but some are VERY knowledgable. I can provide links to those I have found most helpful - or do my best to answer any question regarding this topic - if you mail me via the My world-page. I am by far no expert, but I am getting better each day - and as I started to say; I love AUTHENTIC Prada (bags, shoes and clothing)! So will you, as long as you get the real thing!!! :-)
Best from Trine My world-page
Bottom line: I very rarely offer Prada bags for sale - but I love to collect and own them! My intension with this guide is NOT to promote any sale - only to help you as best I can, IF you are looking for an authentic Prada. If I can also help stop the offers and sales of fake/counterfeit designer bags on eBay, it will make my day even better! And please, if you found this guide helpful, vote on it - thanks :-)
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