Hey girls!  We've all seen them on ebay or at a party, maybe even  heard a news story on them, and I'm not bashing anyone that owns them.  What I'm talking about are inappropriate counterfeit purses and handbags, such as those that look like Coach, Louis Vuitton or Kate Spade.  Now I know everyone can't afford the real thing, and that's fine.  But what is bothersome is when sellers on ebay attempt to pass off a fake as the real thing and dupe the buyer.  Not only is this unfair to the buyer, but it is also against ebay policies.  Here is a list of things you can look for to assist you.  Several of these tips are based on my own personal research and experiences.  This list is by no means complete, but provides a decent guide.

1. Always compare the item in the auction to others on ebay or to those listed on official websites.  Look for minute details and slight differences.
2. Plastic on the handles - big clue that the item is not authentic.
3. A Coach creed or serial number does not mean the item is authentic (same with other distinctive features on other purses) - however, all authentic purses have them (some fakes do, others do not)
4. Most fake purses use faux leather or suede.
5. Several times a faux purse is sold in a color combination that was never made by the authentic company
6. If the purse is available in person, check the quality of the zipper - faux purses use cheaper zippers that have noticeable problems
7. Look closely at the quality of the stitching or any details on the purse - authentic items are PERFECT - absolutely perfect with not even a single stitch out of place
8. Purses at purse parties, street vendors and even small boutique shops are not authentic as they are not authorized dealers.
9. Look at how the name brand appears on the item - is it the right size?  It is straight?  Is it in the right spot on the purse?  For example, when people were selling the fake Coach Ocelot purses, the animal print pattern just wasn't right, and was clearly noticeable to me, as I was familiar with that line of purses.  Often the brand name is stamped crooked or just looks funny.
10. Look at the seller's feedback to see what others have purchased from them and if there are any comments that could give you a clue.  A lot of fake purses are sold through sellers in China and have low buy it now prices.  These are scams and the sellers actually copy other ebayers' listings and use them as their own (it happened to me).  If this happens to you, report them to ebay security and the listing will be removed within hours.
11. Look at the seller's other items - do all their purses or items look fake?
12. If you ask the seller about an item's authenticity and get the response that the purse was a gift so they can't guarantee it is real, first, they are lying, this is a cop-out to sell a fake purse, and secondly, disclaiming authenticity is against ebay policies - please report them.
13. If you are interested in a particular item, check out other auctions or look at the purse itself in a department store to familiarize yourself with it.

Don't feel bad if you've been duped - it happens.  Contact the seller to resolve the problem and/or report it to ebay if necessary.  If someone has copied your listing, ebay will remove it within hours.  Also, if you notice a fake purse being sold and it is listed as a real or authentic purse, please report it to ebay security so that others are not fooled.  I have seen people pay upwards of $400 for fake Coach purses because they had no idea what they were getting was fake.  If you have a seller that you trust and know they seller authentic items (or a friend), as them for their opinion on a certain listing.

Good luck!