HOW TO SPOT A FAKE D&G BELT

I recently fell into the trap of purchasing a fake DOLCE & GABBANA belt.  Please realize that any belt you purchase where the country of origin is usually Thailand, China, or many other countries shipping from Asia, most of these D&G belts are a fake.  Please also note that the shipping location could be listed as Worldwide, Wordwide shipping, Shipping from Asia, and/or even United States. 

These belts are made of inferior quality leather that is not made in Italy and the belt buckles are very flimsy in comparison to an authentic product.  Also, any genuine D&G belt cannot cost under US$20 which most counterfeit sellers advertise in their auction.  I strongly believe that it's not even worth the US$10-30 that you might end up paying for your item.

The following images are of counterfeit D&G belts by various sellers.  Other similar belts may also be fakes:

In general, the counterfeit belts are characterized as having flashy looking designs rather than the typical understated design of a genuine item. You will notice that sellers are using an increasing variety of manufacturing techniques to make their products look authentic.  However, all you need to ask them is to demonstrate the authenticity hologram and/or the "Made in Italy" label on the back and you will most likely get the runaround or simply not get any answer.

Please be careful what you purchase as it is important for you to be informed prior to your intent to bid on an item that is being passed off as genuine.  Even if the item description does not mention the terms "100% Authentic", "Genuine", "Italian Made", or "Made in Italy", just by using the D&G logo makes the item a counterfeit.  In addition, take note that "100% Brand New" does not necessarily mean "100% Authentic".

Finally, here are some other hints to clue you in that the D&G belt is a fake (I will be updating this list from time to time):

1. "Italy" is etched on the buckle (obvious counterfeit)
2. "Paris" is etched on the buckle (obvious counterfeit)
3. The item is "new" but comes without any tags whatsoever (either authenticity hologram tag and/or barcode tag).  Although in certain cases, the tags may have been removed as the belt is well used.  In which case, I would still put its authenticity in question.
4. Some people/manufacturers sell what are called "seconds", which are products that can be genuine, but contain defects or imperfections.  These can be very difficult to spot unless you actually go on and buy and actually wear the belt.  You might discover that it may not look or fit just right as it might have been put together assymetrically.  Ex:The stitching along the borders might be off, the belt buckle might rest crooked, the metal of the buckle contains dings and/or unusually rough edges in certain spots, etc.  This might be as upsetting as having bought a fake.  You may bring this subject up with the seller.
   
5. If you really want that beautiful looking D&G belt and you think it might be authentic, ask the seller to give you a photo of the backside of the belt.  It should say "Made in Italy" and/or some combination with the D&G logo and some form of "genuine leather" and/or some other writing in Italian.
6. Ask the seller if they have the original box in which the item was stored.
7. If you've already purchased the belt and you find the leather smells "funny" (i.e., many fake belts are stored/manufactured in the same places where groceries or produce (vegetables) are warehoused in certain far-east countries)--this may sound weird, but the belt may contain that lingering smell of gorceries or produce, which is an indication of where it was made.  This is a clue-in (something I've experienced first hand).  
8. If you've already purchased the belt and fear you've got a fake (contrary to the item's listed description), you may file a complaint through the standard procedures on eBay and/or PayPal via their online forms.
9. If you should be so lucky as to have your eye on an item with the bar-code tag still attached or available from the seller, ask the seller to take a pic of it (or simply ask the seller for it) and enter the bar-code numbers in the website:  http://www.madeinitaly.com.

Thanks very much and shop safe,

Shawnyshawny