Well, that pretty much sums it up, but I'll elaborate.

    As I am writing this, almost every Coach key fob or cell phone charm sold here on ebay is counterfeit. Coach does not and has never made Hello Kitty or Disney items. Here are some quick guidelines on how to avoid getting ripped off on eBay. My aim is not to protect the good name of Coach, it is to keep you, my fellow shopper on a tight budget, from throwing your money away on cheap (lead painted?) junk.

• (FYI I do not sell items on eBay and I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COUNTERFEIT LEAD-PAINTED GARBAGE THAT MAY BE SHOWING UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAGE! Then again, you could consider those items examples of fakes...)
  

• Coach multi-charm fobs should have different designs on each charm.

• If it looks like a cute Japanese anime character, it's a counterfeit made in China. End of story.
  

• There are very few fobs with animals on them that have Coach "CC" logos all over them.

• Please use care when buying from Asian countries, though an American location is no guarantee of authenticity.

• If you are unsure abuot an item, it can be easy to see if it is a counterfeit. Run a google search for fake or replica Coach keychains or fobs and exclude the word "ebay" from the results. You will find China-based companies selling huge quantities of counterfeits with detailed pictures of their ill-made wares. You may find the specific item you were considering buying. If you don't see the exact item, consider whether the item in question looks more like one of Coach's current styles or one of the counterfeiter's.

• IMHO, The flood of counterfeit Coach products is partially the fault of Coach for manufacturing their products in China, thus making counterfeiters very familiar with what the products look like.

• Coach does have end-of-season sales through department stores and the items at outlet/factory stores may be in your budget. If possible, check those out before buying something on ebay that you have never seen in a brick-and-mortar store.

• If a seller is offering multiple, identical LEATHER items that seem too good to be true, they may truly be authentic items purchased at outlet/factory stores. A good example of this type of item is single-colored leather ipod cases. They have tons of these at the Factory store near me. Outlet/Factory items are just as nice as the products sold at department stores and Coach boutiques, so you really can get a great deal on these items. If you call Coach, they will tell you, to the best of their knowledge, if an item is indeed from a factory outlet. If you get one of these items, you will not be disappointed. :-) .

Good night and good luck (shopping)! -Arie23

 FYI: if you are ever ripped off by a seller and they are unwilling to correct the problem, do not bother with eBay or Paypal's dispute processes- they are not helpful. Call the 1-800 number on the back of the credit card linked to paypal. The credit card company is on your side and will help you.