Every day people come onto eBay and buy cheap fake designer goods at designer prices. 

Here is a great example.

Look at the Seller

Item number 190177749062 offered by  ccoolstuff(1664*) member in the US since 09 Aug 99.  Their feedback score is not perfect but at 99.3% is not a significant worry.  What you should look at though is what they have sold and what they are currently selling...hundreds of textile items and ONE "Hermes" scarf.  This is an obvious warning that they are NOT Hermes Specialists. They may be upstanding and honest, but are ignorant of their product.  They believe that everything that says Hermes on it is really Hermes, and the Buyer is evidently as naive....

The Scarf

Here is their beautifiul and accurate sounding description:....

....."We are pleased to offer a guaranteed authentic HERMES Silk scarf. Measures 34.5" x 35". Excellent condition. Has the Hermes Paris signature on the body of the scarf as well as a label attached that reads,"100% Silk, 100% Seta, 100% Soie-Seide, Dry Clean Only".  On the other side of the tag are the care instructions.  The colours are magnificant, deep gold, ivory, red, navy, deep forest green and black. Beautiful design features coats of arms, military men, hats and flags. There are equipage designs around the borders, crests and shield.  The border is a deep gold with a black background, and an ivory background.  The Military figures are in navy blue, red gold, beige and ivory.  The hats are in red and blue. There are golden tassles and flags interspersed throughout the scarf.  The condition is very good having been only used a few times.".....

There are many warning signs here:

Guaranteed authentic......ALWAYS IGNORE THIS....Ebay instruct Sellers to use these in the Title when listing, to get more interest in the Item.  THESE WORDS HAVE NO MEANING!

100% Seta....................on the label ALWAYS MEANS ITALIAN FAKE. (Seta is Italian for silk.  Hermes NEVER EVER have Italian labels.... see Care Label Guide.)

It has only been worn a few times........ These guys are dealers, how do they know it has only been worn a few times?

They have given a beautiful description of this scarf but not mentioned its title or artist.  There are exceptions but most Hermes scarves ARE SIGNED and HAVE A TITLE.

The Pictures.................The Hermes Paris is nearly always integrated into the design...not just stuck in the corner like this one.  Have a look at these Hermes Paris examples

The symmetry...............Hermes designs NEVER show this diagonal symmetry and repeated pattern with each side being exactly the same.

The Bidders

There is no exact rule here, but most good or rare vintage scarves will have at least one Bidder with a feedback in the low 100's and they will have previously bought Hermes scarves.  FOUR Bidders whose total combined feedback score is LESS THAN 100...should be another warning.

Sorry...it is hard to see here that the person who beat the other bidders and paid over 200USD for this cheap Italian fake, is NEW to eBay with ZERO feedback!  And none of the other bidders has feedback over 20.  When you look at what they have bought, this is the first Hermes scarf ANY of them has EVER BID ON!!

Point of the Story

Does the seller know what they are selling?  Words used in eBay listings have virtually no meaning.  Do you really know what you are bidding for here?

If you don't know, then you may be like this new eBayer, and pay 200USD for a 10USD fake.  (Unfortunately the Buyer actually contacted me several months after her purchase.)

Please click the YES button below if you found this Guide useful as it will help more people to see it.

Check out some of my other Guides  by following this hyperlink:  How to avoid fakes    These cover some of the most common "Hermes" fakes found on eBay.  GET WISE!!

Your constructive feedback is always welcome via the Ebay email system, or you may leave your comments in my Guest Book.