Hermes Birkin and Kelly bags are among the most coveted fashion accessories in the world, and for good reason!  Only a handful of lucky ladies receive theirs directly from Hermes each year, and the waiting lists are closed.  These bags are entirely handmade from start to finish by ONE master craftsman, out of the finest materials.  Because of the exclusivity and sheer demand for these amazing handbags, unfortunately eBay has become home to a lot of fraudulent listings selling "authentic" Hermes bags for pennies on the dollar when compared to the value of an authentic Hermes.  As a former Hermes of Paris employee, as well as a longtime eBay PowerSeller, I am writing this brief guide to help potential buyers avoid falling into the fraud trap on eBay.  First and foremost:  You will NEVER get an authentic Birkin on eBay (or anywhere else) for an unreal price.  Most of the authentic ones are selling well into the $10,000 range simply because that is what they are WORTH.  Even a well-used Birkin generally sells for approximately $7,000 and up!!  

A $1,000 fake is $1,000 wasted.

That said, Kelly bags can often be had for relatively low prices if you know what you're looking at, are willing to accept a vintage bag, and bid carefully. 

Some basic hints to help you determine if the listing you are viewing is authentic:

1) Hermes bags NEVER come with a paper hangtag on them.  If you see this in a listing, it's a fake.

2) An authentic Hermes Birkin or Kelly has an engraved lock and key set.  The lock will say "Hermes" on the bottom and the keys will be numbered to match the number of the lock and some sets with vintage bags also say Hermes on the reverse side.

3) Hermes uses a very specific series of embossed markings on their bags.  They will NEVER use a metal nameplate inside the bag.  If you see this, it's a fake.

4) Current Hermes dustbags as of mid-2007 are tan herringbone toile.  Previously, the dustbags were orange heavyweight cotton flannel, however older bags (vintage) may come with a tan velour dustbag of a slightly different design.  There is NO such thing as  a "vintage Birkin" as this style of bag has only been around since 1984. 

5) Buying Safely:  eBay recommends that you fund major purchases with a credit card through PayPal.  This gives you both PayPal "Buyer Protection" and secondarily, a layer of protection through your credit card.  Do NOT use Western Union, MoneyGram, or even BidPay.  If a seller agrees to escrow, eBay recommends that you use escrow.com and no other escrow site.  Escrow services are highly regulated just like banks, and Escrow.com is legitimate.  There are a lot of ILLEGITIMATE escrow sites out there.  Beware!

6) A legitimate seller should be able to send you additional pictures of the bag at various angles, including closeups of the blind stamp, the embossing, the hardware and the feet.  Pay careful attention to the accents over the e in Hermes, as well as the placement of the feet.  Also, be aware of the background shown in the pics; beware of stolen images!!!  If a seller will steal pictures of someone else's item, there's a good chance they are dishonest about other things too.  Image theft is against eBay rules and may in some cases be illegal as well.  In addition, plenty of listings feature images that look authentic, but the seller sends you a horrible knockoff.

7) Take a careful look at all of the stitching, the quality of the leather, and the finishing details.  Remember that Birkins sell for $10,000 and up.  Does the bag you are looking at on eBay look like a ten thousand dollar handbag?  If not, don't bid.  Is there a buy it now price that seems too good to be true?  IT IS. 

8) Report counterfeits to eBay (bookmark this "report" page!!) and help make eBay safer for all of us!

There is much more information I could share, but space is limited, so if you are interested in a 40+-page illustrated guide to purchasing an authentic Hermes bag, please visit my eBay store for the listing entitled "INFORMATIONAL LISTING". 

Thanks, and have a SAFE day on eBay!