As we all know, Ebay can be a haven for fakes of all sorts. It can be hard to determine whether or not you are actually getting the real deal, and it seems to be getting harder. However, those wonderful brands that we desire to own, but just can't afford, have some unique qualities that even the best replicas cannot duplicate. I am not against replicas, sometimes they can be good quality, however when someone claims them to be authentic, and it's a fake,  it really ticks me off, and I don't want people to be taken for a fool as I have been. I have learned a lot since then, so I am sharing what I have learned with you.

Here are some helpful (hopefully) tips that you can look for to determine whether or not you are getting a real Coach purse, as there seems to be so many out there trying to take our hard earned money for something equivalent to a $10 purse at Wal-Mart. I am currently working on a few other items that seem to be passed as "authentic" here on Ebay way too often. Until then, I hope you find these tips useful.

• PICTURES: Make sure that the seller has pictures of the actual item they are selling. This can't be stressed enough. Stock photos can only be used legally if they are authorized sellers for that company, and as far as I have learned, Coach does not approve of individual sellers or independent contractors. There are those who buy Coaches new from sources and sell them as if they had their own store, they can be legit, however stock photos as the primary photos are a pretty good indication that it's not legit. This applies to all items, not just Coaches. It's just a simple cut and paste. Ask for pictures of the actual item. If they can't give them to you, move on. The pictures should not be blurry or appear like the purse is far away. Make sure there are multiple pictures of the purse, so you can see inside etc. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If they are unwilling to answer your questions, then they are probably selling fakes. Don't go on good feedback alone, you can be fooled by the best sellers. It happened to me on a few occasions. Sometimes they buy fakes and don't even know. It can happen to the best of us. Additionally, if the seller has a lot of Coaches, especially the newer lines, then they are more than likely selling fakes, even if they are different styles. The replicas can look real from a distance, but they are sloppy on close inspection. The only way to determine this is if the seller has good pictures. If you do not see a lot of pictures of the purse, it doesn't always mean it's a fake, however, you need to ask for more pics if you really like it. On the other hand, the people selling replicas know what not to take a picture of, and will try and hide certain details very cleverly as to not give away the fact it is indeed a fake. They may not take a close up of the Creed, but give you an overhead shot of the inside so you can see that it is there. Usually, the good sellers know what you are looking for, and they will provide close ups of the zipper logo, the creed patch, and the corners at the bottom of the purse. 

• REFUNDS: Make sure that they offer a refund. If they say, "sorry, no refunds on this item" etc, that usually means they are making sure to cover themselves if you indeed find out the item is not authentic or in the condition that is stated. You can take it up with Paypal if that is the method of payment you use, however, that statement can give them more rights than you in some cases. Be cautious. A lot of sellers can be very convincing and give good stories as to why they cannot provide simple information. Just move on if you have trouble contacting them, or getting information. It is your money, don't be afraid to make someone upset, you have a right to know what you are spending your money on.
  

• ZIPPERS and GRIPS/PULLS: Coach uses unique zippers on their items. These zippers are the YKK brand, and are the best quality zippers out there. The YKK is printed on both sides of the slider. Another big indicator of an authentic Coach purse, apart from the zipper, is the leather grip (loop, tab, or tassel) attached to the slider. The replicas usually have a very similar grip, however, the zippers are not the YKK brand. Inside most coach purses is a smaller zipper pocket. These pocket zippers will have a small leather grip handle, or a small metal hoop chain like grip. The smaller zipper will also have YKK printed very small on each side of it. If you see a regular zipper (like the one on your jeans), then it's a fake. Or if it does not say YKK, then it's a fake. 
  
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• Fake Creed and fake zipper. Notice it looks like a normal zipper.
  

• LINING: In most Coach purses, there will be a satin or silky lining that is somewhat shiny. There is one general rule I learned a while back, and that is if you purchase a Coach signature purse (one with the Cs on it), then the lining will always be a solid color. And the lining will have the signature pattern on it if it's the other way around. Some series have a solid color or striped pattern even if it's not the signature series, but it is something to watch for as this is usually not the case, and the general rule applies. A lot of the vintage Coaches actually have leather or suede inside versus lining, so that would be an exception. The other linings out there are the striped pattern as I have mentioned, which are in the Legacy series. Make sure the color patterns in the lining of the Legacy series purse are consistent with the real Coach Legacy pattern. If its real it will be in the color order of pink-white-green-orange-ivory-brown-blue-dark green, and the lines won't seem off or dull. If the material looks dull inside or like it will rip easily, chances are it's a fake. It should fit perfectly around the inside of the purse with no abnormalities, and the stitching should not be coming out. Inside the small zipper pocket on the inside of the purse should not have fabric sticking out or the seam inside out, it should be flush and even. Coaches will sometimes have a tag showing where it was made. Coach purses are made mostly made in China. They are also made in Turkey and India, but not Korea. There are a couple of other countries Coach is made also, but I can't remember right off hand.
  

• SIGNATURE Cs: The Coach signature purses are usually the most desired because it shows off the brand. This one is beginning to be duplicated well, until you actually feel it for yourself. On the signature purses the Cs should be down the middle of the purse. The Cs themselves should not look as though they are Gs, nor should they lap over each other, ever, with exception to the optic series. They always start from the middle and then out, always.. The Cs should never be cut off by the seam down the middle, however it can be a partial C elsewhere on the bag. Some guides will say that the stitching should go through the middle of the Cs, however, it isn't exactly in the middle on authentic purses either. If the stitching is on the end of the C or way off from the middle, then it is a fake. Look as closely as you can to the pictures the seller provides. Revert back to the other tips if it is unclear to you or hard to tell, the pics though should be good enough to determine this. There is a new C in the Leah and Madison series purses called the "opt" or "op art". The new signature C looks like an incomplete block circle. Check out the Coach website, they are listed on there and you can familiarize yourself with what it looks like. But, there is nothing better than seeing them for yourself by going to a retailer and inspecting them first hand. That is the best way. 
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•   Notice on this fake coach how the pattern does not line up correctly in the middle. 
•   Notice again the Cs do not line up in the middle, this also came with care cards and a receipt.
                                                             
  
• FABRIC: Coach is known to have the best materials in their fabric purses. This is almost impossible to determine by a picture unfortunately. If the color does not seem right, then the possibility of it being a fake is pretty good. However, you can't really determine this when taking into consideration the person's camera, or the light available etc. If the fabric pattern seems really different from anything you have ever seen, or it seems oddly matched, do some research on the Coach website, and get a feel for how they match their colors. The fake purses will have bizarre patterns sometimes, and it won't match anything in the Coach lines. The fabric on fake purses is cheap and usually thin. Coach fabric is thick and sturdy. The color is not dull or faded either on real Coaches. Coach treats all their fabrics, leathers, and suedes for stain and water resistance. Fake purses with suede on the bottom can actually bleed when wet, and stain whatever they touch in some cases. Suede on real Coach purses does not do this. Fake purses can also stain very easily. In some cases when you buy an older purse from a seller, the protection that it was treated with may have worn off if the person did not keep up with it, and they can stain more easily. Just be mindful of the description, and again, don't be afraid to ask questions. 
  
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•   It is hard to tell sometimes by pictures if the fabric is authentic. This particular purse from the picture seems to be good fabric, but you can see this is a fake because it does  not follow the color pattern in the Legacy series, which I highlighted in the lining category above. Also, it has a metal tag that is similar to the one pictured below. This one came with tags and the whole shebang, but it is in fact a replica. 
  

• LEATHER/SUEDE: This is what Coach is about; quality leather. Originally they made doctor's bags and messenger bags, not purses, that had to hold up to a lot of use. The leather is the best around. This is one of the reasons Coach became known for its quality. You can easily determine a fake from the real thing, if you have ever owned the real thing that is. From a picture, again, unfortunately it is hard to tell. But, if it is indeed real, then it should not tear easily and it should have the feel of real leather or suede. The leather handles on a Coach purse are durable and sturdy. The design on the fake handles are different from the real thing, it can be hard to tell at first, but once you are aware, you can usually notice it right away. You should look at other straps in that series on the Coach website to compare, make yourself familiar with Coach purses by looking at their website, I can't say that enough.  The vintage Coaches actually are good examples of how long quality leather can last.  In fake coach purses, the leather or suede will either be fake or very thin. It is easy to tell for me, but for someone not familiar with it, you need to inspect it closely and ask questions. I would go to the mall, go to Macy's or an actual Coach store. Feel the purses, look at them closely inside and out, then proceed to look online.  Leather and suede absorb the odors around it, so if it belonged to a smoker it will probably smell like smoke, be mindful of that as well.    
  

• STITCHING: Coach bags are very sturdy, and one of the reasons for that is the stitching. The stitching should be perfect, with no abnormalities such as overlapping or loose threads and no uneven lines. You will need to look closely at the pictures provided to determine this for yourself. Coach has high quality stitching, and that should be obvious when looking at it.  They DO NOT have sloppy stitching, ever. Not even on their Creed patches. Also, they will never have seams inside out, ever. I find the fakes do not duplicate the stitching very well. They also will use glue in some cases to attach certain parts of the purse. Look to see if you find anything noticeable sticking out or appearing anywhere around the components. This would be a dead giveaway it's a fake. Coach is very meticulous about their products, and they don't sell faulty items unless it is indicated. Read below on how to determine if the item is a defect.
  
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• Notice the threads are sticking out on this fake bag.
  

• PLASTIC WRAPPING ON HANDLES: I have yet to see plastic wrapping on the handles of a real Coach purse. I have shopped at the actual Coach store, and there is no such thing. They have tissue inside the purses, but no plastic on the handles. If you see that, then it's a fake.
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• A fake Coach Legacy with plastic on the handles, and the color pattern doesn't match the Legacy.
  

• COACH HARDWARE: The Coach hardware comes in brass or nickel colors, and usually unpolished. It is easily duplicated on the fakes. So, don't let that fool you. If the Coach logo on the hardware looks really deep, and has black inside it, then it is a fake. Usually, their logos on their hardware is somewhat subtle compared to the fakes, and never black, so keep that in mind.  Coach's hardware is not made of stainless steel and will never be stamped with its material, only the logo, if anything. Their hardware is made of brass, nickel, or gunmetal.  Obviously, if the material on the hardware seems to be chipping off, or if it's plastic and light, then it is a fake. Even the fakes have hardware that is really heavy. Some of the round hardware, or turn-locks, are being duplicated very well. An indication of it being fake is if any of the hardware on the purse is real shiny, with exception to the silver color on some series. Make sure they have pictures of the hardware so you can see whether or not it is fake.  Some fakes for example will have polished, shiny looking hardware, when in fact that model does not contain a polished look. You need to do some homework if you are in doubt or  you see inconsistencies with other listings. Go to the Coach store and look for yourself, this is the best thing.
  
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• Fake turn-lock hardware
  

• COACH TAGS/RECEIPTS: As far as the hang tags are concerned, this is not an indication of anything, and fakes or the real ones will not always be included in the sale. So, if you don't see it in the pic, just ask if it's not in the description. Hang tags should match the purse, and the stitching around them should not be coming out or sloppy. There are leather and metal hang tags, and it can be hard to determine if it is real or not by this. I do know that many of the replicas have the metal tags, as pictured below, and they are different from the authentic ones. Notice in the picture below how the ball chain holding the hang tag is darker metal, and inside the indention where the Coach imprint is, it is darkened..this is obviously a fake. The replica's hang tags are usually thinner, and up close you will notice the Coach logo is imprinted a little differently..from the depth of the cut to the size. Just familiarize yourself with the authentic tags. It may contain one when the authentic model has a leather one. Now to receipts; this can be very deceiving to people, even experienced ones. Fakes can have what appears to be a Coach store tag and or receipt. These are fairly easily duplicated, even down to the bar codes.  Just because it has a Coach tag, does not mean it is authentic, even if it has what appears to be a price tag. You see price tags all over the place now.  Many will offer a receipt, but once you receive the receipt you may notice it being from a different state than where it was shipped from, or it may not contain clerk numbers etc. The one thing I can say, is don't be fooled by tags. Also, I want to mention that actual Coach hang tags can be purchased from the Coach store or website, and here on Ebay.  Pictures of this along with all the other stuff means nothing really. It might to the seller, however, the real proof is in the purse itself. They can provide a ton of pictures of everything they have to go along with the purse, but very few pictures of the purse itself. This sometimes is done for the purpose to distract you from the actual details of the purse. You can buy all that stuff here on Ebay, just do a search and you will see for yourself. You can get authentic Coach boxes, tissue paper, dust bags, key fobes, key chains, hang tags, Coach care cards, etc. All these things are very easy to obtain as I have mentioned. Just use common sense in most cases. For instance, there are many people who have receipts, but the reality is that when we buy a purse that we intend on using, the receipt will get thrown away at some point, the tags come off almost immediately, and if we don't use it anymore, then we will try and sell if for some money. So, if someone has bought a purse, has a receipt that shows they bought it for the full amount, but is selling it for cheaper, and has never used it...what is the point of buying it in the first place, and why wouldn't they just take it back..??? So, the point is, just use common sense. 
  
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• Fake metal tag       
  

• SELLERS: Obviously the seller's history is a big indication if you can trust them or not. However, I have been given a fake by a power seller with a 100% feedback score, and over 1,000 transactions. This, unfortunately, is not always an indication of whether or not you are going to receive a fake or the real thing. Sometimes, they do not receive bad feedback because their fakes are really good, or there is something else going on. Pictures are the best, and making sure they offer your money back if it is a fake is a really good thing. They know that sometimes they can be deceived if they have bought outside of the Coach store, and they don't have time to take it to a retailer, so they will give you your money back if you find out it isn't authentic. Also, if the seller has multiple Coach purses that are the same, then chances are good they are purchasing from a replica dealer in China. I have ver few people thus far who sell multiple Coach purses at a time that are authentic, however, they are from the factory and they buy them for much cheaper. Be cautious, and see their history and what they are selling.
  

• COACH CREED/SERIAL NUMBER: Every real Coach purse, with exception to some small wristlets, swings, minis, and coin purses, will have the Coach creed patch and serial number.  The serial number itself needs to match the description of the purse, and you can determine that by taking it to a retailer or using the url I listed below this guide. The last part of the number on the creed is the model number, the first part (numerical) being the date when it was made in most cases. Some styles only have one number in the first series, such as H2K- XXXX. Also, in the Legacy series, the Coach creed will be in gold cursive lettering. The serial number changes if it has been reissued through a factory store. If it is from a Coach factory store, that is fine, but don't let them charge you close to full price. They probably paid half of the usual cost, if not less. Additionally, if the stitching around the coach creed is white, with exception to the Legacy series, then more than likely it is a fake. Especially if the stitching is sloppy. Some do have white stitching, however, most do not. The font is bigger on fakes as well. The writing on the Creed patch should not go all the way to the end of the side. There should be about half an inch from the side to the last letter of each line  Now, with vintage purses this does not apply. Ones made in the 80s did not have the Creed patch, rather it was etched in the leather itself.  And the really old ones from the 60s and 70s contain only a serial number, if anything. The Creed patch began in the 90s actually. If the first series begins with the letters F, meaning factory, or FS, which stands for final sale (meaning some sort of defect), then you know it was purchased at a much cheaper price. If the purse has FS, then it has an abnormality, sometimes it is noticeable, sometimes it's not, but the warranty will not cover these particular Coach items because of the defect. These items are usually only solde at the Coach store. Warranties last 7 years from the date it was made, this includes factory purses, but not final sale items as I have mentioned. This is a good way to tell if you are being charged a good price, not to mention the bullseye circle or X that is stamped into the patch itself if it is indeed from one of the factory or secondary stores. And I have noticed that rarely the person mentions they purchased it from the factory or secondary store, but now you know.  All factory purses will have the stamp if they have been sent there because of age, discontinuation, or overstocks. The stamp is also put on purses that are purchased at secondary retailers, you can check with Ebay user fionaflyby to see the secondary retailers, and more information on how to spot fake Coach purses, she has a great guide as well.  If the Creed number begins with F, then it won't have the stamp 100% of the time because it was actually made specifically for the factory outlet stores, and a retailer can tell by the serial number alone. The stamp is put on the Creed so they are not taken back by a buyer who wants to get a refund for the full price. This stamp allows the retailer to see that the buyer did not purchase this purse for full price. So, basically if the purse shows it to have a factory tag, but the creed does not start with an F, then it will have the stamp. If this is not the case, then the tag does not belong to that purse, and more than likely it is a fake since the seller is lying about where it is from to begin with, if that makes any sense. The replicas are getting good at attaching authentic creeds to their purses, so the creed may indeed be authentic, but it doesn't actually belong to that purse. Btw, the only time I have seen an authentic Coach have two letters in the beginning of the first set of numbers is if it was a final sale item ex: FS0673 - XXXXX. A lot of the fakes are coming out with Creed numbers that begin with HD or K, these are for sure fakes and are more than likely coming from Korea. Korea is one of the places where the replicas are being made, but it is not a place where the real Coach is made like China for instance, where the big replica retailers are located. So, to recap, if you see two letters in the first series,  it is a fake, unless it's FS.  If it seems to be a real Creed, then check other things.  I am being very redundant here, but I just want to make sure you understand, because it can be confusing at first.
  

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.            Fake Creed           Real Creed      
 Notice the fake creeds have raised areas, almost puffy. I have never seen an authentic Creed have this feature (not that dramatically anyway).  The Creed lettering should be deep, not real faint like in some fakes. The older styles that have the Creed etched into the leather itself are somewhat faint because of age. The patches however, should not be like that. They seem to have caught on to leave space on the sides, but it is still puffy looking between the words. The stitching is usually sloppy on fakes however.

• A good site to visit where you can check if the Creed number matches the purse is by pasting this link in the url bar:
  http://www.coach.com/assets/product_images/drilldown1/****_d1.jpg  (replace the astrix with the numbers after the hyphen in the Creed, for instance if the Creed number was like the above right picture,10620, that is what you would put in place of the astrix, and the picture of the purse should come up (that particular purse is a Carly).  Not all styles are in the data base from this site, so if it doesn't come up, then it doesn't necessarily mean it's a fake. It is a very useful tool however, especially for the popular styles.) Thank you to Ebay user fionaflyby for providing the information for the url. Apparently she was the initial person who provided that information.
  

I want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way, especially Ebay users dixonlane200 and fionaflyby who I used for the hardware portion of this guide, along with my own experience. They both have a wonderful guide as well, and worth checking out. I have listed all the sources I used, mostly from Google, and some additional urls for pics are listed that I didn't post. However, I am huge Coach fan and learned from my experience. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. If I don't know the answer, you can send me the item # and I will try to find out for you.  Don't get screwed out of your money, do your homework, and you should be fine. They can be persuasive on here, don't let that make your decision. You would be surprised how easily people lie to make a quick buck. I have found that at least 60% of the purses listed most of the time are fakes, so be careful and good luck!

Sources:
http://reviews.ebay.com/DETECT-AUTHENTIC-COACH-vs-FAKE-COACH-YOUR-EBAY-GUIDE_W0QQugidZ10000000003643909
http://www.my-perfect-designer-handbag.com/fake-coach-purses.html
http://reviews.ebay.com/How-to-spot-a-FAKE-COACH-by-CREED-and-HARDWARE-Part-1_W0QQugidZ10000000004624243
http://i3.iofferphoto.com/img/item/479/383/51/o_C30125small.jpg
http://i2.iofferphoto.com/img/item/657/316/91/o_ZoYNbnOQktSOXZM.jpg
http://i14.ebayimg.com/01/s/000/77/48/1912_2.JPG
http://www.cnreplica.com/upload/products/other/Mia-Satchel---Khaki-61-5.jpg
http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/527657/5600381/0/1207661099/Newest_Coach_handbags_www_nicewholesale_com.jpg
http://i15.ebayimg.com/02/s/000/77/47/7ae0_2.JPG
http://i11.ebayimg.com/01/s/000/77/4a/4c5e_2.JPG
http://i15.ebayimg.com/03/s/000/77/4e/62e7_2.JPG
http://i21.ebayimg.com/02/s/000/77/55/8480_2.JPG
http://www.discounthandbags.biz/blog/wp-content/themes/civilized-10/images/fake-coach-handbag.jpg