Many people email me asking for help verifying the authenticity of handbags & shoes.

I've never understood why. If you have any doubts about buying something on Ebay don't bid, don't go emailing sellers about the authenticity of their products especially after they state that they are real. If a handbag is a current style, selling for a $100 on Ebay and you know it retails for much more... Chances are, it is fake!

People search the internet wondering why designers don't publish information on authenticating handbags and apparel. Its very simple, it's not their business to educate counterfeiters on being better at copying their items by clearly telling them what to do and what not to do. Also, Designers don't want to encourage you to buy their merchandise outside of their Designer Stores and Major department Stores. Because they lose money.

Some Sellers return policies require you to take your handbag to the designer store and have a letter stating that it is a fake for a refund. You'll never get this letter! Please keep in mind that it's common knowledge that when people take a Designer handbag to a Designer store to authenticate. The store will automatically say it is a fake, because it was not purchased there and they lost your business. They will not put anything in writing nor will they give you their personal information. The only way the store will tell you that it is authentic is if you have a receipt from one of their stores.

If you plan on going to a Designer store for authentication... I can save you the trip! To prove this, I took a handbag that I purchased from a Designer store into one of their own Stores and told them I got it on Ebay. I asked them if they could tell me if it was real. They immediately gave me a dirty look and said it was a fake. All the while the handbag really came from them! They say this to people all the time. You have to realize that they didn't make the sale, they lost money and you as a customer. The fact that you got it for much less somewhere else is highly insulting to them and now you're going back to them for verification. Lets face it, its a slap in the face for them. If you were them how would you feel? Would you encourage people to buy the same products you sell elsewhere for less? Do you think that the saleperson that didn't make a commission on the sale wants to help you out and is really happy for you?? They want to win you back as a customer so they have to say it is fake and put doubt in your mind so you'll get mad, feel like you were taken advantage of and return the handbag from where you got it. Then you'll go back and spend hundreds of dollars more and buy it from them. Note, If you mention Ebay... forget it! Designer stores tend to hate Ebay Sellers because people can buy their products from them for so much less. Think about it, If you were selling handbags for $1,000 and making all that money. Then you found out someone else was selling them for $500 wouldn't you try to protect your business? Of course you would and that what happens here everyday.

Another thing that I want to mention, is that I had a customer take a pair of my Dolce & Gabbana shoes to Nordstrom's and Nieman Marcus to authenticate the shoes. Of course, they said that they were fake. I purchased them at the Mandalay Bay Hotel Boutique Warehouse Sale. I know that they do not sell fakes.

Many designers create handbags for different markets, such as United States, Asia, and other countries. These styles may slightly vary market to market. Many styles are only made for a certain market. Therefore, items may not be listed on a companies website or in their store. All handbags pass U.S. customs.

How do you know if what you are buying is real?

First and foremost, you must be able to trust the person who is selling you the merchandise. You can get information on Sellers by clicking on their feedback & reading it. Make sure the feedback is legitimate. There are computer programs that generate feedback. When you click on the feedback and see what the Seller bought or sold it is usually a lot of characters such as several question marks. Many Sellers are ethical and honest.

Several problems be avoided by knowing where something is made. I must say that I don't know of a high fashion designer that has their lines produced in China, India, or Taiwan. Plus, look at the Sellers photos. I can't tell you how many times my photos have shown up on other peoples auctions. Some people have the nerve to use the photos of me in them. Sellers can avoid this by water marking their photos. I don't watermark my photos because I personally don't like the way it looks.

If you have any doubts or question the auction... save yourself from all the headaches... pay full price and go to the designer store and purchase it.