• UPDATED: July 20, 2009

• Interesting experience today 7/20/09 - a seller of a gucci bag, authentic not even in the title, tells me she has no proof of purchase but it's "been authenticated" by someone, not affiliated with Gucci, in the Purse Forums.  Clearly the bag was fake, counterfeit, not authentic, had a serial id# that began with 001 (another dead giveaway of non-authenticity) and she still wanted me to 'take her word for it' that it was authentic.  Come on, sellers, we are NOT stupid even though you hope to hook those few buyers who don't ask questions.

• If you are thinking about bidding on, or have already bid on a NEW Gucci on eBay..it is 98% possible that you will purchase a counterfeit bag.  PERIOD - END OF STORY. 

• IF YOU WANT TO PURCHASE AN AUTHENTIC, NEW GUCCI BAG - FIRST OF ALL, YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. BUT...YOU'LL KNOW IT'S AUTHENTIC WITHOUT QUESTION!

• Go to the websites for Bloomingdales and/or Saks Fifth Avenue and go to the handbag section, click on designer, then click on Gucci.  You can trust that any designer handbag on those sites are authentic, WITHOUT A DOUBT! (I'd give you the actual links but eBay doesn't allow that - heaven forbid a potential buyer should go somewhere else where they KNOW the merchandise is 100% authentic!)

• The last 50 emails sent to me by prospective buyers, just like you, asking me to look at, verify authenticity and give my opinion on NEW Gucci bags has stunned even me.  Every single last one of them have been counterfeit with the exception of one that had a receipt from Gucci - but even with that, I wasn't convinced.  Something was just not right.  Why would a seller knowingly take a huge loss on a NEW Gucci authentic bag that they paid far more then what they are selling it for?  Common sense has to kick in here sooner or later.  People don't pay $1000.00 for an authentic designer bag and then sell it on eBay for $150.  If it sounds too good to be true, common sense tells you it's not the REAL DEAL whether you're looking at Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi or others.

• Yes, I know you REALLY want a Gucci.  Well, you might as well start saving your money and PAY for it because there are 'no deals' here on eBay for supposedly new "authentic" designer bags.  PERIOD!!  Trust me on this.  Out of those 35 people who emailed me - most all of them had already bid on and/or won those fake Gucci's.  That's too late to ask me whether they're authentic or not.  You have to assume they are.  You simply can not get something for nothing or practically nothing.  What they all got was a poor quality, counterfeit bag that was worth about $5 instead of the $100's they had spent.

• As you can tell, I'm very annoyed that after over 8 years of reporting fakes, complaining to eBay and getting nowhere, the incredible number of counterfeit designer bags continues to grow on eBay.  It absolutely breaks my heart that each and everyday more of you are getting ripped off by unscrupulous sellers who list a bunch, sell them quick, deplete their Paypal accounts and they're gone!  I got ripped off in my first 6 months on eBay purchasing what I thought and was told was authentic Louis Vuitton - it wasn't.  I ended up only getting a portion of my money back.  But I learned a very good lesson and it's one I wanted to share with each of you.  Also - eBay DOES NOT remove suspect listings from any international eBay sites - only on the U.S. site and that is sporadic, hit and miss at best.  I hate that good people like you and me are subject to these counterfeits and for almost a decade now there have been and apparently will continue to be counterfeit designer items listed for sale on eBay. Twenty-something eBay clerks haven't a clue to actual authenticity.

• Before you bid-check your Seller's feedback.  It needs to be well over 250 and at least 99% positive feedback. Read the entire ad and look at the pictures - all of them! If they have more than 5 Gucci's listed - move on because they are most likely counterfeits.

• REMEMBER TO VOTE FOR THIS AD AFTER YOU HAVE READ IT PLEASE-HIGH RATINGS=MORE INFORMED EBAY BUYERS LIKE YOURSELF-thanks!

• NEW HIGH END DESIGNER BAGS: I've received a ton of questions about buying from discounted websites. Yes they have the 100% guaranteed authentic verbage, big banners that say guaranteed money back, etc - and quite frankly, the same principle still applies-HIGH END PURSE/ACCESSORY DESIGNERS DO NOT wholesale to tiny e-tailers or individuals.  Everyone wants a designer bag cheap - NOT HAPPENING! You'll get a fake one -  and then you're out several hundred dollars.  High end department stores are online - check there, they have Gucci, Chloe, Dior, Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and many others and there is no question about authenticity - they're all authentic.  To name a few - Neiman-Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, eluxury.com. 

• The purchase of counterfeit designer bags funds terrorists and that is a documented fact.  Here in Las Vegas they busted a shop with over $50,000 in fake bags and he got them from Korea and China. It is against the law to buy or sell any type of counterfeit bag. And the fakes look terrible, are horrible quality, smell funny and are a rip-off!  

• COUNTERFEIT VINTAGE GUCCI'S:  Some have thick square tags that say Gucci with a crest on it; OR they have no tags (Seller will say "oh these were made BEFORE Gucci did serial id#'s OR they'll say-this was a gift so I'm not sure if it's authentic!) AND THE BIGGEST CLUE is if the word AUTHENTIC  is missing entirely from the ad! 

• Gucci always signed their bags -even if it's only in script..Gucci Made in Italy embossed in gold on some part of the purse or strap...it is there.  It could also say Gucci Parfums.  Those are authentic, Gucci Accessory Collection are also authentic EXCEPT...in some cases, usually wallets, and in that case the stripes MUST BE red and blue on a blue 'GG' wallet NOT red and green and the type must be readable and straight not run together or crooked. An authentic vintage Gucci could also have a brass plaque inside the purse that says Gucci Made in Italy - it will be on a leather tag with the serial number embossed underneath.  IF the vintage Gucci you are thinking of buying has no tag, no serial id#, no mention of being authentic,  no nothing, DON'T BID ON IT! It's most probably not authentic and the seller won't guarantee authenticity. The ONLY exception to this COULD possibly be a pre-1950's purse by Gucci that perhaps the markings have worn off - which could also be true in very rare instances of other later made Gucci's.
• Another dead giveaway of a bag that is fake, is if the seller says it was a gift, OR you can look at the size of the interlocking 'GG's.  On a vintage bag, counterfeits in particular,  the "GG's" are too big and are a little too far apart.  Sometimes the logo vinyl on a counterfeit feels like rubbery plastic, where an authentic Gucci Accessory Collection logo vinyl bag is heavier and has a thicker feel to it.  And that is a problem since WE, as buyers, can't reach out and touch what we'd like to bid on.  So, that's a judgment call for you - but those type bags also have the fake tags so you're relatively safe there. Also, you can also notice a difference in the handles being a lot thinner and longer in some counterfeits.  AND there are also some Gucci counterfeits that are lined in felt - DEFINITELY COUNTERFEITS! The satchel bags which are very prevalent on eBay come in brown and blue logo vinyl trimmed with matching leather.  THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE A GUCCI twill racing stripe somewhere on the bag. Either down the middle and up the back, as ribbons on each end of the handle - red and green stripe on the brown Gucci Accessory Collection bags and red and blue stripe on the navy blue doctor bags in the G.A. Collection.  This line was produced throughout the 70's and 80's.
• You can also apply most of this to vintage Louis Vuitton bags as well - if there is no date stamp code - 3 numbers in older bags on an inside tab, a paper tag inside that reads Made by the French Co. For Louis Vuitton, or 2 letters and 4 numbers well hidden in the vintage bags.  NEVER do date codes start with M or R and then have 5 or 6 numbers on Louis Vuitton - those are bad fakes out of Korea/China. You can spot those easily because the handles on the bags - the leather looks pink - since it's not real leather to begin with. And they have a horrible, chemical-like smell to them as well.
• If you're looking for a new, authentic Gucci - probably best not to purchase it on ebay UNLESS the ad you are looking at has the original receipt pictured.  Gucci does NOT wholesale bags to individuals, and about 99% of all new Gucci bags on eBay are fakes..period!  Ask the seller for their proof of purchase from Gucci, Saks, Neiman-Marcus or high-end boutique and if the seller has listed a lot of the same style bag, definitely do not bid on those bags, they are fakes. Average cost of a new Gucci bag is $600. A dead giveaway that the bag is fake is if the seller has several of the same style.
• ON NEWER GUCCI'S, IF THE TAG IS TOTALLY SQUARE - IT IS A FAKE! GUCCI ROUNDS OFF THE BOTTOM 2 CORNERS JUST SLIGHTLY.
• FACT: I went to Gucci at The Bellagio on 09/20/08 and looked at most of the new bags in this year's collection.  NONE of the serial numbers start with a "0", "1" or "2"- I note that 99.9% of all counterfeit NEWER Gucci bags start with these numbers. NONE of the handbags at Gucci were priced BELOW $600.00.  WHICH MEANS...that unless the seller can provide you with true and accurate proof of purchase, DON'T BUY NEW GUCCI ON EBAY!! THEY ARE FAKE-FAKE-FAKE!
• Now - armed with that information, THAT should answer 99% of your questions about making a purchase on eBay of a new or vintage Gucci bag.  When I sell a new Gucci bag, I put the receipt/proof of purchase picture right into my auction ads.  Any new Gucci you may be considering, MUST HAVE a proof of purchase - otherwise the likelihood is it's a fake and you'll be wasting your hard earned money and probably won't get it back.
• USE YOUR CREDIT CARD ON PAYPAL PURCHASES-THEN WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, YOU CAN DISPUTE THE CHARGE AND MOST LIKELY GET YOUR MONEY RETURNED.  (This is a last resort if you can't work anything out with a seller you've purchased a fake designer bag from.)
• SUNGLASSES
• NOTE: If it's designer sunglasses you're looking at - MOST designer sunglasses sell for upwards of $300+.  THEREFORE - if you think you're getting an authentic pair for under $100 - think again!
• I  purchased a new pair of Gucci sunglasses on 2/21/08-at a cost just shy of $400.00 in brown with the large gold Gucci horsebit on either side of the frame.  The case was a beautiful brown leather with Gucci embossed in gold on the front!  What that means to you is that 99% of all Gucci sunglasses on eBay are FAKE FAKE FAKE!  AND Gucci is NOT using black bags, they are using shiny brown bags that are very jazzy looking.
• I purchased a pair of Chanel sunglasses from Chanel at a cost just under $400.00. This indicates that MOST of the Chanel sunglasses on eBay are fakes. YOU CAN'T BUY A PAIR OF AUTHENTIC CHANEL SUNGLASSES FOR $99.00!  All the documentation, fabric eyeglass holder, hardside eyeglass holder, huge Chanel box were included as well as a sales receipt.  So, again, IF IT LOOKS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, AND IT'S CHEAP, IT'S NOT AUTHENTIC! Hopefully that will give you an idea about purchasing FAKE CHANEL sunglasses on eBay.  99% of the listings on eBay for these items are FAKE FAKE FAKE!
• Sunglass Hut and few other upscale boutiques and sunglasses shops sell authentic Versace, Dior, Gucci, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana - just to name a few.
• ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU ARE NOT SURE OF AUTHENTICITY.  It is your right as a buyer to ask all the questions you want before making a bid or purchase.  Most sellers are honest, but there are a handful who are not and should you make a purchase from them you will lose your money and neither Paypal nor eBay will be able to help you. 
• Make an educated purchase when buying designer bags - my advice goes for all high end designer bags.  If the price is too cheap to be true, it's probably a counterfeit. 
• WANT TO CHECK OUT THAT GUCCI BEFORE YOU BUY TO SEE IF IT'S AUTHENTIC? GO TO EBAY ID AEGIALE AND CLICK ON HER 'ME' PAGE - she has pictures of almost every fake Gucci tag there ever was (new or vintage Gucci).  To get there, click the link ...
• LOOK AT  FAKE GUCCI TAGS & AUTHENTIC GUCCI TAGS HERE! USER ID AEGIALE!
•  She and I both have been collecting and selling new and vintage authentic Gucci's for over the past 7 years.  You'll find her 'me' page very informative!
• Enjoy your time on eBay by protecting yourself, asking questions, and making an educated purchase. 
• CONGRATULATIONS! You are now equipped to make an educated purchase on an authentic, vintage or new Gucci bag, wallet, tote on eBay.  Feel free to refer to this guide and email me if you EVER NEED a second opinion before you bid.  Simply email me the auction number and your question and I'll be glad to help you as best I can.

I hope you found this info helpful, please VOTE that it was.  I'd appreciate it. Guides like this help to keep eBay a safer place for you and me.  You can also check out my guide on what to do if you see a FAKE Designer bag on eBay.  It's informative, to the point and something we all should be doing whenever we can.  It'll definitely help make eBay's buying atmosphere more pleasant and hopefully safer.  Thanks again!  Happy bidding!