Buying Authentic

Did you recently see the Trya Banks show about spotting fakes?  They actually cut an $1,100 handbag in half to prove a point.  However, I found that even though Constance White, Ebay Style Director, appeared on the show, that the advice given was more for in store shoppers, rather than on line adventure hunters!

I have been in the retail field for over 20 years.  I am now a stay at home consignment seller for some very wealthy, well known Southeast Michigan clients.  My business is completely word of mouth and my products are all designer and guarenteed authentic.  Have I been passed a fake to sell before - ABSOLUTELY! - Did I know it right away - ABSOLUTELY!

In a nut shell, I wanted to review the show highlights and add my own insight for buying on Ebay.  Maybe Ms. White will even see this and add her insight as I don't think I would want her job in this high end ebay fraud selling market.  I sympathize for the ebay fraud department who has to determine on a daily basis if the millions of postings are authentic!  How can you really tell?  Well, here are some pointers:

1.  LV Logo Handbags - The logos on these bags should never be cut off on authentic bags.  Therefore, make sure if you are bidding on an "authentic" listed LV that you look to see if there are up close photos of the seams.  If not, request them immediately!

2.  Coach Handbags - Did you know they were Made In China?  Bet you questioned if they were authentic if a label appeared on an auction showing this.  Maybe you even bought a Coach bag because there was a Made In The US label in the bag - Not Real!

3.  Know Your Bag - If you are buying a bag on ebay, it is probably a couple of years old.  Possibly you may have first hand knowledge of exactly how the style should look, possibly little details can be missed.  For example, certain Chanel logo bags have Pink interior lining, not black.  This is hard to always track as you can't find the same style elsewhere if it is an older bag.  Well, I know that because of my business, I subscribe to magazines such as Harper Bazaar, W and Town & Country.  I study them, mark up pages and refer to them often.  Do your research - READ, READ, READ!

4.  Gucci bags - Gucci bags only produce soft leather handbags.  Note that pleather or cheap leather bags may have an oilily feeling, as note Susan from the couture feit chic website.  They are not coarse and I have found that most Gucci bags are very understated with their name stamping and insignia plates.

5.  Seven Jeans - Lately I have gotten a lot of questions regarding the authenticity of clothing.  It is amazing to me that now some of the best designers of our day are being copied.  Did you know that authentic 7 Jeans logos are somewhat transparent and faded looking?  How about that the style information on the jeans should be stamped in, not stitched?  I even learned something new there.

In any event, I think that ebay is the most fantastic way to shop in the world!!!  I know come to ebay before any large purchase to see what I can find.  I too have been burned and knew it right away when I purchased a really good copy of a Kooba bag.  By the time I got the bag, it was too late, the seller had closed down and moved on to another ebay id and address.  It happens to the best of us! 

Be smart!  Check feedback and read through the lines.  Most ligate great ebayers have some negative feedback.  Lets face it, we can't please everyone and if you hit us on a bad day, well it can be ugly!!  Authentic high end items should show plenty of photographs.  Close up, far away, detail photos, logo photos, etc.  Don't see it, ask!  If you don't get an answer, don't buy it!!!  Look at stitching, is it straight and even?  Is it clean?  Look at logos.  Are they clear, centered on the fabric?  Look at close ups of material.  Does it look uniform in color, in great condition, as you would expect an authentic item to look?  Never EVER EVER will an authentic leather handbag be wrapped in plastic!!!!!  I can not say that enough times!  Just because it is made in China - it doesn't mean it is fake.  ie. Even Juicy Couture - Made in the Glamorous USA is outsourcing to China.

Finally, if you get a fake bag - Report it to Ebay immediately.  I met many fraud representatives at Ebay Live, I heard their speeches and listened to Meg Whitmans promises.  We are all human, we are all stretched to the limit, and we ALL make mistakes.  We can not expect Ebay to do it alone if we too do not stand up and get these Fake Dealers off Ebay!