Purchasing a knockoff from eBay doesn't just leave the buyer with a bad deal.  It also mocks the designer who's worked hard to produce quality merchandise, besmirches eBay and the reputations of its reliable sellers and corroborates the shady intentions that lie behind mass counterfeit production.  But what's a buyer to do?  Fakes run rampant in today's online market and are becoming more and more difficult to distinguish.

Bubbadah's Buys, an eBay designer clothing boutique, wants to help with their "Buy it Real" buyer empowerment series that points out what to look for before you bid on that item that seems "too cheap to be true."

Coach Handbags

The Bottom Line:  Coach built its foundation on quality.  They select from the top ten percent of leathers for their bags, not pleather or shiny plastic, and they ensure their longetivity by making them stain and water-resistant.  Stiches are even, perfectly straight and doubled when needed.  A heavy thread is used so they don't fray.  Nothing is glued.  Lining is of high quality silk, satin or cotton and is tight and secure with no puckering.  Their hardware is solid metal, not plated, therefore it won't chip or peel.  Coach doesn't sell factory seconds or irregulars, and they certainly don't misspell any words on their labels!

The Seller:  The eBay golden rule is to check feedback - if it's hidden, less than 98% positive, or shows few buyers, you need to dig up some dirt.  Find out if the seller is shipping from overseas and research their other items.  If they are selling large quantities of limited styles, a reg flag should pop up.  One-day auctions are also questionable.  Don't be afraid to insist the seller confirm the handbag's authenticity in writing and to demand agreeable terms of service.  Paypal or a credit card should be used as forms of payment, and a return guarantee would be a nice reassurance.  Second chance offers should never be accepted if they appear in your personal e-mail.

The Photo:  The ideal would a clear, discernable photo that also shows the inside label.  Stock photos are a no-no.  If you still want to make it a go, demand that you see an actual picture of the item for sale.  Be aware that some scams involve photo-switching, where the photo portrays an authentic bag, but the seller sends a fake!

The Breakdown:  If everything looks agreeable to this point, look for the following details.

1)  The layout of the C's in Signature bags should be lined up perfectly to the center and facing each other in pairs.  They should be evenly spaced and straight.  For the smaller handbags and wallets in the C collection, sometimes the C's are off by a tiny bit on the sides.  Signature bags DO NOT have Signature lining.  Coach Classics are the only bag with no lining.

2)  Coach uses YKK zippers on most of their handbags.  If they are not YKK zippers, there should be no letters at all.

3)  The inside label or Creed Patch should be centered, easy to read and embossed with Coach's commitment to quality, the origin of the bag and the serial and/or registration number.  A serial number should start with "No." and have 4 or 5 numbers after the dash.  A registration number, which is NOT exclusive to each individual item, has a set of letters/numbers before a hyphen, then a set of 3, 4 or 5 Style numbers immediately after the hyphen.  There are no spaces between the digits.  Don't fret over the bag's origin.  Up until 2002 about 75% of Coach handbags were manufactured in the U.S.  Now, most are assembled in China.  You'll also see Turkey, Hungary, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic, but definitely NOT Thailand or Korea.  The patch may be embossed with a bullseye, X or FS, which just represents a Coach factory.

4)  To hangtag or not to hangtag.  If the bag comes with a tag, terrific, but don't count on the authenticity.  Tags can be switched, manufactured or even retrieved directly from Coach quite easily.  Leather hangtags should match the leather used on the bag and have the words "COACH" raised, not imprinted.  Other hangtags can be metal, enamel or animal skin and vary per the season.  Paper tags are even sketchier.  And an American Classic booklet should NEVER be attached to a bag.

5)  Dust Bags should be dark chocolate brown with a vermilion red drawstring.  In the bottom right corner, it will say "COACH EST. 1941" in white, all capital letters.  Coach Belt Bags should be 8" X 8" white muslin with red drawstring and lettering.  Patchwork Bags and Applique Bags should be completely identical to their counterparts.

6)  Beware the plastic wrap.  Coach does not wrap ANYTHING in plastic.

The Experts:  If you really want to do your homework, check out Coach's "Drilldown Page" on their website, contact a Coach representative at 888-262-6224 to compare style numbers or send your bag to Coach's headquarters in Jacksonville, FL to have it authenticated and to receive a letter of authentication.

With a little know-how, shopping for an authentic Coach handbag should not only be stress-free, it should be FUN.  Happy bidding!