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Every decent seller of genuine sunglasses is alarmed by the number of eBay members who sell fake sunglasses. many of these replica vendors have a good feedback as well as the ratings. Unfortunately ,not all buyers can tell if the sunglasses are authentic or replica,and make  other buyers believe that the seller is trusted by leaving positive feedback.So I thought to help you in avoiding bidding for replicas on ebay. If you follow my tips you will greatly minimize the chances of buying a fake.

* Most official resellers who sell genuine sunglasses would let you know that what they are selling is authentic. So look for guaranteed authenticity.

*Brand new sunglasses are always packed in a box and supplied with cleaning back and warranty card. Don’t trust any seller who doesn’t provide those items.

*Authentic sunglasses package usually has labels on every item supplied in it. For example chanel has the “Genuine chanel sign ” label sewn on the cleaning box.the same for DG, Dior, Gucci, Prada, Louis vuitton ………..

*Since many fraud sellers are aware of what a buyer is going to look at first, they try to either fake a box supplied or use a box from a different model. Check the barcode to match the sunglasses. the price shouldn’t be far away from the value.

*Make sure that the vendor doesn’t use official photos. Well, in that case you should ask to email you a few real photos. When you get the pictures, look carefully for anything unusual. Avoid any stickers on the glasses or either of the lenses. Fraud vendors build fake authority by doing that. Don’t buy it!

* You can safely skip any item with words like “style” or “compare to” in the title or description. That word is just screaming that it’s a fake item.

*I’ve seen quite a few vendors who list models which don’t actually exist. So check the model against official websites.

*If you’re not sure about authenticity of the sunglasses you’ve bought, get them checked by manufacturer. Most of them provide this service totally free if you mail your glasses to their head office. Also any official dealer would verify the sunglasses for you as well.

*Always Don’t bid or buy if the seller doesn’t reply to request or question,and try to give your self sometime before leaving a positive feedback,fake sellers are willing to negotiate and refund for a positive feedback.

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TIPS FOR BUYING AUTHENTIC DESIGNER BAGS on EBAY(Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, etc.)

Authentic designer handbags have considerable resale value and can be a very good investment if cared for properly.   These tips should help you feel more at ease about buying an authentic bag.

(When you’re ready to sell it, check out my other guide: SELLING YOUR AUTHENTIC DESIGNER BAG on eBay.)

TIPS FOR BUYERS:

If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.  Use your common sense. 

There are no good deals on CHANEL bags.  They are extremely desirable and retain their value.  Obsessed fans will buy real CHANEL bags in almost any condition.  There are tons of people shopping for them all the time, and if no one is bidding, there is a reason.

Research the seller’s feedback and auction history.  Look for experience with other high-end items.  Do not buy from any one who keeps their feedback private.  They obviously have something to hide. 
 
Ask questions.  Where and when did they get the bag?  How much did they pay?  These are things you can research.  If the photos are bad or there aren’t enough, ask for more.  Anyone trying to sell you a $2000 handbag should be gracious enough to send more/better photos and have enough money to either own a good camera or to pay someone who does.

One day Buy-It-Now auctions and any listings from China, Hong Kong, etc. should be questioned.

Anyone selling more than one CHANEL bag, especially “New” or “New With Tags” should be questioned.  There are not that many licensed CHANEL dealers. 

Don’t freak out.  If a seller won’t answer your questions, send you a clear photograph, or if you have any reservations at all, don’t bid!!!  There will always be more bags on eBay (I promise) and trying to get your money back from a con artist may not be as simple as what is promised in the auction.  The guarantees and return policies are likely to be as phony as their bags. 

IS THIS BAG AUTHENTIC?  Your first clues…
-Quality of craftsmanship.  High-end bags should be well-made from quality materials and have no flaws or inconsistencies in the workmanship. 
-Where, when, and for how much was this bag purchased?  What is the back story?  Receipts are helpful to both buyers and sellers.   Authenticity Cards are also good, but can be faked.  
-Do some research.  There is so much information online about luxury handbags: manufacturer and retailer websites, blogs, chat rooms, fashion sites, etc.  Do a quick web search using whatever information you have to find out the style name and go from there.  Compare measurements, hardware, logos, lining fabric, and other specifics.

TIPS FOR SOME POPULAR DESIGNER BAGS
-GUCCI sells lesser quality bags at their outlet stores, but most high-end companies do not compromise their line this way and do not sell “seconds”.  These are almost always fakes.
-There are some specific clues to look for in every line. 
PRADA – The PRADA logo is very distinctive, especially the “R”.  The enameled nameplates should match the backing fabric and the letters will have a raised texture. 

-GUCCI – Serial #s are usually stamped on the back of a leather tag stitched inside the bag.  Observe the distinctive shape of the “G” and pay attention to linings.  GUCCI uses a diagonally textured fabric in their most common “classic” bags.  Higher-end and seasonal bag linings vary.

-LOUIS VUITTON – Look for even stitching, symmetrical placement of the LV logo, and round O’s in the logo are the first clues.  Most LV monogram bags have brown canvas lining and LV logo brass hardware and all bags made since the early 80’s should have a date code stamped in leather somewhere.  LV bags made in the US may vary slightly from LV bags made in France, Spain, or Italy in their quality and materials used. 

-CHANEL – Whether there is a leather tag stitched inside or the leather lining itself is stamped, the CHANEL logo should be clear, straight, and evenly placed.  “C” is diagonally slanted at either end and all CHANEL bags should have a hologram sticker with serial # that can also help you date the bag.  The interlocking “CC” logo should show the right-hand C overlapping at the top and weaving under at the bottom. 

-MARC JACOBS – The back of the zippers should be stamped RiRi or Lampo in most cases.  For some reason, most MJ bags have very impractical lining fabrics, such as cream colored suede, or white canvas.  Recently, Marc Jacobs has introduced some less expensive bags that are made in China and do not use these type of zippers.  These bags are impossible to authenticate without a receipt and are not a good investment if you plan to re-sell the bag at some point.

TIPS FOR SELLING AUTHENTIC DESIGNER BAGS on EBAY (Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, etc.)

TIPS FOR SELLERS:

Do some research.  A quick web search and even searching on eBay can help you find the style name of the bag.  Not only does that help lead buyers to your auction, but once you know that, you can search and find out almost any information that you need about the bag.  It’s always good to at least sound like you know what you’re talking about. 

Authenticity:  If you are not the original owner of the bag or you purchased it from anywhere other than a licensed retailer, you need to make sure the bag is authentic before you list it.  Do some research.  Take it to your local retail store.  Include any and all information that validates its authenticity including photos of logos and hardware, serial #s, date codes, receipts, and extras like dustbags and Authenticity Cards.  Selling fake bags can lead to suspension or restrictions on your eBay account, negative feedback, and bad sales that will eventually cost you more money than you made in the first place.  Buyers that use PayPal are protected and PayPal can issue refunds from your account without your knowledge or consent.  

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR LISTING:

Title:  You only get 55 characters in the title.  Use them wisely. 

Include the name of the designer, the style name, distinctive characteristics (quilted, monogram, etc) and ALWAYS the word “bag”.  The color and words like leather can be more or less important depending on the bag.  Other words like “new”, “nwt”, or the retail price are good if they are appropriate.  Look at completed listings for the same item and take your clues from the auctions that sold for the most. 

Style Name
Retail Price
Date of manufacture &/or purchase
Where it was purchased
What is included (dustbag, receipt, literature, etc)
Materials (if you don’t know the proper terms, describe the them)

MEASUREMENTS: L x H x W + Strap Drop (between the strap and the top of the bag)

PHOTOS: Front, back, side, bottom, plus close-ups of logos, hardware, serial #s and date codes, and any and all damage.
 

CONDITION: Describe all condition issues honestly and in detail.   It is much better to undersell the bag and have a happy customer than to have to deal with returns, partial refunds, negative feedback, etc. 

IS THIS BAG AUTHENTIC?  Your first clues…

-Quality of craftsmanship.  High-end bags should be well-made from quality materials and have no flaws or inconsistencies in the workmanship. 
-Where, when, and for how much was this bag purchased?  What is the backstory?  Receipts are helpful to both buyers and sellers.   Authenticity Cards are also good, but can be faked.  
-Do some research.  There is so much information online about luxury handbags: manufacturer and retailer websites, blogs, chat rooms, fashion sites, etc.  Do a quick web search using whatever information you have to find out the style name and go from there.  Compare measurements, hardware, logos, lining fabric, and other specifics.
-Check out my other guide: QUICK TIPS to AUTHENTICATE that DESIGNER BAG (GUCCI, PRADA, LOUIS VUITTON, CHANEL, MARC JACOBS)

Please see PART ONE of this guide for the entire discussion about the Marc by Marc Jacobs Scarf Stripe Dress.

Ebay is a wonderful place to find authentic designer items at deeply discounted prices, if you know what you are doing.  While I have found most Sellers to be honest people, there are the unscrupulous Sellers out there who are selling counterfeit, knock-offs, and just plain fake items.

Recently, there has been a glut of non-authentic Marc Jacobs’ clothing items, especially dresses, that have come up for sale on Ebay.  Due to the on-going lawsuit between Louis Vuitton (LVMH) and Ebay over counterfeit goods, LV and Marc Jacobs have not done VERO pages on Ebay.  This guide will attempt to help you, the honest Buyer, to spot some marked differences between the real and the fake.

Following are photos of a Marc by Marc Jacobs Scarf Stripe dress.  While both items were bought on Ebay, the differences are many.  Throughout this guide, the authentic item will be on the left, while the knock off is on the right.

The buttonholes are also a good indicator of the quality of the sewing.  The real one, on the left, is beautifully finished with evenly spaced stitching throughout, and no loose threads.

The fake dress on the right speaks for itself.  The stitching is irregular and the tension on the stitches is way off.  The stitches are not all the same size, and the finish work is sadly lacking.

The finish work on the dress is very important, and a hallmark of a well made designer dress.  As you can see, the authentic dress is finished with a hook and eye closure, while the fake dress does not have this type of hand finish work.

Here is another example of the finish work.  As the sleeve is laid down flat, the authentic dress has cuffs that lie flat with buttons on the edge, lining up with the seam.  When the dress is on, the buttons are on the underside of the wrist, where they should be.

The fake dress, again, is obvious.  The fabric does not match up on the cuff.  The gathering of the sleeve edge at the cuff line is unevenly spaced.  The buttons are not even with each other.  And when worn, the buttons lie in an awkward place on the wrist.

These two photos show the dress held up to the light.  The real dress on the left is perfect – the pattern lines match up, the hem is straight and there is an even amount of fabric in the fold.  The fake dress on the right is shocking.  The white “spot” in the corner of the dress is actually fabric that has been cut and is missing between the layers.  A bit of the yellow stripe has been over-printed in the hem, and the fabric has not been folded or printed correctly.  The thinness of the fabric is also again evident.  It is just a mess compared to the real one.

Perhaps the most telling difference between real and fake.  On the left is the label from the authentic dress.  The fake label is on the right.  Note the square corners of the real label and the smaller font of the printing.  The “S” on the real one is much smaller and a different shape than the fake one.  And the color of the white printing is more “harsh” on the fake one.  There is not much point in comparing the RN and Style numbers, as the forgers usually get these right.  The shape of the label is the biggest indicator.

There are some guidelines to follow that can help ensure the item is authentic.  I hope I don’t have to tell anyone to beware of anything shipped from China.  It is usually and often a fake.  In the case of Marc Jacobs, remember that he is an American designer.  His items are not liquidated in bulk, and certainly not out of the country.  When a foreign seller has too many items, and too many of the same items in different sizes, they are most certainly fake.  Please beware of sellers who are shipping from Canada or Australia.  I have seen many, many Sellers from these countries that have items they claim are authentic, that they source from the Original Manufacturer, or OEM.  This is a BIG red flag and most certainly the items are forgeries.

Power Seller status does not seem to indicate anything about authenticity.  Many of these Sellers are Power Sellers, simply due to the high prices of their items, and the ignorance of their Buyers.

I cannot stress enough to RESEARCH, RESEARCH and RESEARCH.  This will include going to the store, if you can, and actually looking at, touching and trying on the designer items you like.  If you have already bought something on Ebay, take it with you.  Most stores are happy to help you identify a fake.

I hope this guide has helped illustrate some of the major differences between an authentic Marc by Marc Jacobs dress and a forgery.  Won’t you please take a moment to click the “Yes” button below the question, “Has this guide been helpful?”  It will encourage me to write more guides!

Ebay is a wonderful place to find authentic designer items at deeply discounted prices, if you know what you are doing.  While I have found most Sellers to be honest people, there are the unscrupulous Sellers out there who are selling counterfeit, knock offs, and just plain fake items.

Recently, there has been a glut of nonauthentic Marc Jacobs’ clothing items, especially dresses, that have come up for sale on Ebay.  Due to the ongoing lawsuit between Louis Vuitton and Ebay over counterfeit goods, LV and Marc Jacobs have not done VERO pages on Ebay.  This guide will attempt to help you, the honest Buyer, to spot some marked differences between the real and the fake.

Following are photos of a Marc by Marc Jacobs Scarf Stripe dress.  While both items were bought on Ebay, the differences are many.  Throughout this guide, the authentic item will be on the left, while the knock off is on the right.

The dress on the left is the authentic dress.  The dress on the right is a fake.  You can clearly see the difference in the way they hang.  The real dress has much more body; the dress keeps its shape even on the hanger.  The dress on the right is flimsy and floppy.  The sleeves stick out to the sides, the cuffs are not sewn on straight and the belt sags.

Let’s take a closer look at the belt:

The real belt, on the left, is stiff with interfacing, and stands up on its own.  The fake belt is just a piece of fabric sewn into a strip with no interfacing or stiffening material of any kind.

The real difference can be seen in the buckle.  Marc’s hardware is his passion;  it is all high quality metal, and almost always embossed with his logo.  See the buckles in the above two photos.  The real buckle, in the top photo and on the left in the two lower photos, is a high quality metal tubular piece with the Marc Jacobs logo embossed into a barrel roll on it.  Be careful about the logo, though.  I have seen belts with the logo stamped into the buckle, not embossed.  The edges of the square stamp are evident around the name.  These are not authentic, either.  The real embossed logo will have NO other marks around it.  The letters will usually be a black Marc and a white Jacobs.

The finishing of the belt is revealing also.  The real belt has top stitching on its carrier.  The fake one is floppy and unfinished.  The studs holding the buckle on are centered and all on the white stripe; on the fake one they are crooked and misplaced.

The body of the dress will reveal many errors, if you know what you are looking for.  Here are a few:

Every one of the authentic Scarf Stripe dresses will have the same collar.  It has a brown edge, one yellow stripe and the rest is dress colored.  The fake dress, on the right, shows the obvious flaw.  And, in my opinion, is not nearly as pretty as the real one.  It is too harsh and stripey.  It is too heavy and ruins the look of the dress.

This is an inside look at the hem of the dress.  Again, the differences are obvious.  The real dress is finished beautifully, with straight sewing and an even stitch length.  The seam binding on the hem is sewn to the edge of the dress, and then sewn to the body of the dress with straight and even sewing.  The fake dress is not finished at all.  The seam binding is not the right color.  It is not sewn to the edge of the dress, and it is not even attached to the body of the dress at all.  There are hanging threads, and the stitching is crooked and uneven.

These photos also illustrate the inherent difference in the quality of the silk fabric being used.  As you can see, the real dress on the left is thicker and more substantial, a real silk twill.  The printing of the logo MJ is less opaque, and cannot be seen through the material very well.  The fake dress, on the right, is a much thinner silk.  It is not a thick woven twill, like the real one.  The ink goes right through it.

This guide will be continued in Part Two, as there is a limit to the number of pictures I can add to this guide.

I hope this guide has helped illustrate some of the major differences between an authentic Marc by Marc Jacobs dress and a forgery.  Won’t you please take a moment to click the “Yes” button below the question, “Has this guide been helpful?”  It will encourage me to write more guides!

While it is true that EBay has a history of being plagued by a reputation for providing a platform for con artists, swindlers and chiselers to bilk the less-than-savvy buyer looking for famous brand name designer items, sellers actually deserve a little bit more benefit of the doubt than is often portrayed by many authors of “how-to-spot-a-fake-xxx” guides on the Internet. (It is interesting to note however that even in Wikipedia’s definition of EBay, an entire section is devoted to the topic of fraud). But yes, there are actually small and reputable EBay sellers that have brand name shoes, handbags, perfume and jewelry for sale, all authentic, fresh, and at seemingly too-good-to-be-true discount prices. And especially today with the sweeping changes EBay has made to its auction platform for ensuring the “buyers’ and sellers’ trust in EBay’s marketplace”, there has never been a better time for buyers to bid with confidence on the items they desire most. EBay has good motivation to maintain that trust. It is the number one ecommerce site on the planet and it intends to hold on to that title. Popular Amazon ranks a distant second place.

My Experience Confronting EBay’s Enhanced Trust and Safety Features

Overnight my positive feedback dropped to 99.7% from 100% when EBay began counting my one “neutral” feedback as negative. At the same time, my listings dropped further down in keyword search results upon EBay’s implementation of its new best match searches because two customers had given me less than perfect ratings on their perceptions of my shipping charges and an item description on their Detailed Seller Rating  scores upon feedback. The bottom line is that buyers today have much more influence in deciding a seller’s online success. Goodbye “buyer beware”. Hello “customer is king”.

To add injury to insult, for the first time this year I experienced the removal of some of my listings by EBay. I was shocked! After all, I’ve always considered myself an excellent EBay seller. I always deal honestly with my customers and apply integrity to all of my dealings. Yet operating in good conscience is suddenly not enough. Overnight, I am responsible for understanding the nuances of international trade law and ever changing restrictions. Now when I list an item using a famous designer label, EBay might remove it until I verify the authenticity of the product and my right to resell something by the designer. Two things are obvious based on these experiences: 1) EBay is holding its seller community much more accountable than ever before to improve its image and to win the trust of the buying public, and 2) unscrupulous sellers, marginal sellers, and maybe even good-but-casual sellers will be weeded out in the wake of tougher standards of performance.

Four Myths About Buying Designer Labels on EBay

EBay has implemented many enhancements to its platform for ensuring trust and safety on EBay. The experiences above describe my encounters when running into only a few of those changes as a seller trying to keep dry while navigating the rapids of a new and more secure environment. Based on this, it seem to me that at least some of our assumptions about selling and buying online have been rendered myths anymore, as I describe below.

• Myth 1 – You are most vulnerable to fraud when you buy online. On the contrary, these tougher standards make a myth out of this once valid assumption, at least with regard to EBay. Instead, you’re really the most vulnerable when purchasing your heart’s desire from the back of a car trunk, New York City curb, alternative auction websites, or at a purse party hosted by a flight attendant just back from China.

• Myth 2 – Any seller with less than 100% feedback is probably guilty of fraudulent selling practices when it comes to designer labels. Not necessarily! Sellers can leave negative feedback for a variety of reasons – late shipping, poor packaging, slow communication from seller, etc. And, with EBay’s recent change to count “neutrals” as negatives, any EBay seller having a neutral feedback comment in its twelve month history experienced a sudden drop in their scores.

•  Myth 3 – You can only obtain authentic brand name labels from the designer’s own stores or authorized dealers. That is not true for all brand name labels. There are actually many sellers on EBay offering wholesale listings of these products. Liquidation.com is an auction site that regularly hosts pallet auctions of department store shelf-pulls and season surpluses. Police auctions are a good source of authentic product. Madisonavenuecloseouts.com is another reputable source of wholesale lots of designer label goods. Small sellers can actually obtain authentic designer labels from a variety of reliable wholesale sources if they’ve done the necessary research and work of establishing relationships with their suppliers. At Venus Shoe, our designer labels come from wholesale suppliers validated by World Wide Brands, the only publisher of wholesale supplier information that is certified by EBay.

•  Myth 4 – If the price is too good to be true, then it probably is a fake. Actually, here are three good reasons why you can find too-good-to-be-true prices on your favorite designer labels. 1) Auctions starting at .99 to $19.99 are used to generate buyer excitement. Starting with a low opening bid is exactly the point, it’s what an auction is supposed to do! 2) Promotions using a loss leader. An item that is a “loss leader”, according to Wikipedia, is one “priced below cost to attract customers who will then presumably purchase other, profitable products.” Venus Shoe, for example, occasionally offers discounted department store NWT designer purses to attract customers in the hopes of also selling to them its main product line – shoes – at regular prices. 3) The seller simply needs to move inventory, even if it means a loss for the seller. Sellers’ situations change. Suddenly the seller needs to liquidate now. This can translate to grossly discounted prices in listings to the benefit of buyers. These are only a few of the legitimate reasons you will see steeply discounted prices on your favorite designer items.

EBay Buyer’s Top Ten List for Buying Authentic Designer Products

1. Use Authenticity Experts and Services if You’re Unsure. There are many reputable resources for these services, typically offering to authenticate the item in question by sending to them links or photos. Typical prices for this service range from $10-$30. See my list of resources at the end of this article for a few of the better sites offering this unique service.
2. Examine Listings Carefully! Read all of the fine print. Look over the return policy carefully. Ask the seller questions if you are unsure or don’t understand something. Does the seller offer a no hassle, no questions asked return policy? Does the seller guarantee the veracity of his product’s label (good)? Does the seller go overboard with flowery adjectives in describing the guarantee (bad)? EBay will back you up by holding the seller accountable to the return policy as written in the auction’s listing, so you should be able to accept it at face value. A trick that used to be common in listings selling designer labels is for the seller to state, for example, “Tiffany” in the title of an item’s description, but further down in the description to explain that it is “Tiffany inspired”, which to the buyer searching for an authentic item actually means “knock off”. The seller is hoping that the buyer won’t notice the word “inspired” (or other synonym) in the description in his/her eagerness to make a bid. Sellers believed that by doing this they are absolving themselves of blame by not technically breaking EBay policy. However, this is still a deceptive selling practice and one for which EBay now monitors routinely. Yet another ploy I’ve witnessed by sellers is to talk about a designer item at great length, to dedicate the majority of the listing describing a wonderful designer product, and to provide many appealing photos of the designer product. Then toward the bottom they save a tiny remainder of the description to the actual item being bid on. The bid ends up being actually for a knock-off or similar looking item, and NOT the designer item to which the majority of the description was devoted! This can really trip up speed-reading buyers in a hurry looking for the real thing. I’ve seen this happen often with MAC cosmetics and make-up brush lots as well as with jewelry.
3. Don’t Buy from Sellers Overseas with Little to No or Poor Feedback. My hairdresser Kheim once bought a lot of Coach purses from a seller in Brazil, only to discover upon arrival that the handbags were obviously fake. When he went to contact the seller, guess what….the seller wasn’t registered with EBay any longer.
4. Be a Smart Electronic Shopper. Be informed about the typical ways in which both sellers and buyers engage in fraud by going to Wikipedia and searching on EBay.
5. Too Good to be True. Maybe, Maybe Not. Yes, there is great wisdom in this old adage. It remains true for the current season’s hottest jewelry, perfume or handbags. But don’t dismiss all outrageous sale prices. For the reasons I stated earlier, EBay sellers can obtain and offer steep discounts on designer items that are just one, two, three or more seasons old (and which are still hot!).
6. DON’T Necessarily Assume all Designer Items on EBay are Fake! EBay has an aggressive Trust and Safety policy, with automated checks and balances in place today. They haven’t always caught all sellers selling fakes, but they probably will very soon! 
7. Know your Product. Spend the time to get to know your hoped for handbag a bit better before you bid on it. This means obtaining catalogs of the designer’s products and studying them so that you are familiar with a designer’s flavor, tolerances, nuances and other attributes. You can order these catalogues from designer’s websites typically. Alternatively, many of the top designers offer these in slick multimedia electronic presentations hosted on their websites. Because of the world class eminence of these designers you can simply put there label name into your browser, followed by “dot com” and hit their websites usually the first time. You could also go to websites like catalogs dot com to find upscale sellers offering catalogs free or for sale. The more familiar you are with a product line, the less your risk for purchasing a fake on EBay.
8. Protect Your Purchase with a Credit Card or PayPal. Paying with PayPal automatically protects your purchase. In a dispute, the burden of proof typically starts with the seller for ensuring correct follow through on the transaction, that the item was actually received by the buyer, and the buyer’s satisfaction. If PayPal rules in your favor, PayPal will itself refund you and take on the hassle of getting the funds owed by the seller so that you don’t have to be involved for any longer than necessary. So, don’t purchase from a seller if they won’t accept Paypal. Of course, credit cards are preferred as well because all major credit cards offer buyer protection policies.
9. Buy Based On Referral. Especially if you are new to buying on EBay, go to a seller’s EBay store on the recommendation and positive experience of a friend. Nothing quite substitutes for a word of mouth endorsement by someone you know. 
10. KNOW THY SELLER. I saved this one for last because it is the most important piece of advice, in my opinion. If you are considering buying something from a buyer for the first time, be sure to click on the links on the seller’s auction. This includes feedback comments, score, Detailed Seller Rating, About Me, and Store. In the seller’s store, check out any custom pages the seller has created about their business. The point is to get to know the seller better, before you buy. Read recent feedback comments with confidence, since buyers should now be leaving more sincere feedback comments about sellers. EBay removed the ability for sellers to leave buyers negative feedback, effectively removing buyers’ fear of retaliation. In general, here are some key things to look for in assessing the credibility of a seller:
• A sellers’ score of at least 100, which indicates the seller has conducted one hundred sales. This assures you the seller has a requisite level of experience in dealing online.
• Negative feedback comments. You’re looking for accusations of a fake item. If you find any, don’t buy from the seller!
• Timeliness of Response to Your Questions. If you don’t get an answer, or you receive only a meager answer, keep shopping.
• Power Seller status. Power sellers are an elite set of sellers having met minimum selling performance standards. This special designation should be factored into your overall assessment of the seller.
• Photos of the actual product you are considering purchasing, as opposed to stock photos. Photos of real product should be considered much more credible. If a seller only shows stock photos, be wary. Don’t be afraid to ask the seller for more photos either. 
• Peruse EBay’s forums by searching on the name of the seller to see what comments others may have left, good or bad.

 Ultimately, your decision to buy from an EBay seller should be based on a combination of informed decision making after finding good sellers who fall within your threshold for risk.

Online Resources

There are many, many guides out there describing the technical art of spotting fakes. Some general, many more specific and by brand. Instead of adding my two cents to the weight of all of these good guides, I list the ones I particularly find useful here. I also list below other resources which you will find helpful in your online shopping quest.

• Mypoupette dot com – Has guides and information for spotting fakes, as well as an online service for verifying the authenticity of individual products found online. Emphasis is on Louis Vuitton, but they can also authenticate other brands for just a bit more cost.
• From Bags to Riches dot com – They offer an optional certification service and will put a seal of authenticity on a listing, as well as offering cleaning and restoration services.
• Knowknockoffs dot com – Excellent consumer advocate website for educating consumers to become better online shoppers.
• How To Spot A Fake Designer Purse or Handbag – A professionally written article by Cathy Feldman, contributing editor of designerhandbags101 dot com
• Designerhandbags101 dot com – Excellent background information on a variety of handbag labels.
• How to spot a fake Coach bag  – nicely written EBay guide on spotting fake Coach hand bags, written by seller to.much.stuf
• Detect Authentic Coach vs Fake Coach – an extensive and excellent resource for spotting fakes written by seller fionaflyby.

Kevin

Here are five (5) major things to look for when buying a designer knock-off and tips for spotting a spoof.

1. STITCHING
Stitching can be a dead giveaway. Inconsistent stitching and sloppy construction in less visible areas, such as the underside of the bag or inside pockets, are details to look for immediately. Authentic designer bags tack on an extra zero on that price tag due to extra, carefully-crafted construction. They cost more because they are built more complexly. Counterfeit products usually do not have the care of construction that the real item has. If the construction looks simplistic, it’s likely to be a phony.

2. MATERIALS
Many fakes are no longer made of PVC but of reasonably good leather, even lambskin; however, they are seldom as good as the materials labels like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Coach would use. Fake purses tend to be stiff and often have some sort of discoloration. When dealing with replica leather handbags, make sure the leather does not have an uneven look that is consistent. Also, people generally assume designer bags should be lined, which is why many replicas are lined. But, on the contrary, real purses are not.

3. THE LABEL
Look for any kind of misspelling – at all -  on labels and tags. In any quality product, the label is stitched in, but in Gucci counterfeits (for example), a cheap hand tag will hang from the handle. Look at authentic purses online, and study the real tags. That way, it will be easier to spot the fake labels. Fake labels are generally cheaply made, unclear in impression, and has a lesser quality of stitching (and the attachment of the label). Two examples: for one, sometimes cheaply replicated Coach bags will include tags with misspelled and run-on words; secondly, Burberry bags will often be stamped “Burberrys” instead of “Burberry – London” in gold or silver on one side.

4. PACKAGING
Typically online bags or used bags do not have the original packaging, so this isn’t much help.  However, if an online seller is advertising new packaging, be sure to check it out.  Luxury retailers put a great deal of care into packaging their products. This includes the works: tissues, wrapping paper, shopping bags, these extra touches are usually part of a real transaction. Look for items that have their original packaging. It’s important that the box or bag the item comes in is neither too big nor too small, and is of the same brand as the purse you are purchasing. Makers of luxury goods seldom cram things into boxes or flimsy dust bags. Most luxury dust bags are made of thicker, soft cotton and flannel. Smaller items, like wristlets or wallets, will usually come in boxes.

5. DETAILS
Everybody knows that details can make or break a dress; well, the same goes for purses. The intricity of threads, leathers, fabrics, metals and stamping make a luxury bag what it is and should be…expensive. Most luxury items don’t just come with authenticity cards; they also come with a product booklet with details on the details. Key things to look for when it comes to details: make sure the handles are of equal length, the logo is straight and firmly fastened, the details of the bag match up, and that the zippers are in full working order.

This can apply to all handbags, but specifically: Coach, DKNY, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, and Armani.

We sell many purses, all authentic.  Please check out Our Store to see what we have.  It changes every day!

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AUTHENTIC HANDBAG AND A FAKE

Please be sure to vote YES below after you read this guide!!!!!

Sellers on eBay are REQUIRED to sell only Authentic Designer handbags!!!! It is a shame that there are so many people selling on eBay that will not only sell counterfeit or fake handbags, but that will go to great lengths to trick you into thinking that they are selling 100% Authentic Designer handbags. In this guide, I will help you tell the difference between an Authentic Designer handbag and a fake handbag.

Let me start by telling you a little bit about myself. I am an Authentic Designer handbag addict and I love carrying all styles and brands of Authentic Designer handbags!!!! I have spent several years and a tremendous amount of time on the Internet, admiring and researching Authentic Designer handbags. After all the time and hard work I have spent on researching Authentic Designer handbags, I have come to recognize many signs of a fake handbag that most people would overlook.

First of all, check the location of the seller, which is posted in the auction. In many, BUT NOT ALL cases sellers from Asia are selling fake handbags. The reason behind this is that countries in this area have very unspecific intellectual property laws, so factories, which manufacture fake handbags are a dime a dozen. Sellers from China, Korea and Singapore are especially dangerous so bid with extreme caution!!!!

It is VERY important to check the wrapping of the handbag in the pictures. Paper around the buckles, plastic over the handles, and square tags of material hanging from the handbag are all telltale signs of a fake handbag. Brand new handbags from the boutiques never have any wrapping on them UNLESS THE HANDBAG WAS A SPECIAL-ORDER. Special-order handbags are typically the newest “It” bags, like the Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 was a few years ago but the Louis Vuitton Cabas Mezzo is hardly ever special ordered because it is such a classic. Get a very clear answer from the seller when it comes to the circumstances of purchasing the handbag.

If the seller says the handbag is from the Internet, ask them which website. Websites usually leave the wrapping on the handbags, however there are very few websites that sell Authentic Designer handbags from High-End Designers. eLuxury is the most popular one; also the websites of department stores (Neiman Marcus, Saks, Macy’s, etc) will sell Authentic Designer handbags. When these websites do have wrapping on their items, the handles are covered in tissue paper or plastic and the buckles are covered with blue plastic adhesive. Also the leather square tags that hang from the straps of the handbag are on fakes!!!!! You can also Google any brand of Authentic Designer handbags and put the word “replica”, “AAAAA” or “mirror image” at the end of it and do a search.  More than likely, something will come up. You will pull up brands of items that you would NEVER expect!!!!

Finally, it is SO important to do research on what the handbag should look like. If there is a boutique or department store in your area that carries the handbag that you want to buy, take a trip down there and look at the ones that they carry. ALWAYS be sure to pay close attention to exact colors, the way seams meet, stamps in the leather and markings on hardware. If you are not able to go to a store where Authentic Designer handbags are sold, try going online to eLuxury or the actual manufacturer’s website. Please take a VERY close look at the pictures provided by the seller and keep a watch on the auction.
An Authentic Designer handbag should ALWAYS have a dust cover, authenticity/care cards, and serial numbers. These things are also counterfeited so don’t rely on them totally to verify that the handbag is 100% Authentic!!!!

The BIGGEST red flag to look out for is sellers who sell large numbers OF THE SAME ITEM. This is different from sellers who sell a lot of the same BRAND of items. For example, a seller who is selling 25 Louis Vuitton speedy 30 handbags is VERY SUSPICIOUS, while a seller who is selling 50 Louis Vuitton handbags that are 30 different styles is much more legitimate. Sellers who sell wholesale are ALWAYS selling fake handbags; wholesale meaning that they have large numbers of the same item that they sell at a large discount (over 50% off the retail price).

The MOST important thing to remember when buying a Authentic Designer handbag is to do as much research as you can on the handbag you want to buy. Find a reputable seller, ask TONS of questions and ask for additional pictures. DO NOT BE SHY!!!!!! You should ALWAYS be 100% CONFIDENT and 100% SATISFIED with your purchase or you will never be 100% HAPPY buying that handbag!!!!  NEVER EVER rush into a sale (don’t quickly read over an auction then bid right before it ends) and ALWAYS ask any and all questions you have before bidding. Impulse buying is VERY BAD when buying Authentic Designer handbags!!!! The world of high fashion is full of excitement and glamour, and do not settle for anything less than what you want or deserve!!!!!

You are spending 100’s maybe even 1000’s of dollars buying an Authentic Designer handbag so you should know exactly what you are buying before you buy it!!!!! Be sure to do all your homework before you bid on a handbag on eBay to ensure that you are truly buying an Authentic Designer handbag and not wasting your money on a fake piece of junk!!!

Now it’s time to start doing your homework and research the handbag that you want to buy, so you can start bidding on those GORGEOUS Authentic Designer Handbags on eBay!!!!

I thank you for taking the time to read my guide, again please vote YES below!!!!

In this guide I hope to give you some tips on how to buy authentic designer bags on Ebay. After many years of buying and selling on Ebay I like to think I have seen almost everything. Here are some simple tips to get you started with your buying experience:

1.) If it looks too good to be true it probably is…..If you see a $1200 Louis Vuitton for $400 chances are it’s fake. There are sellers on Ebay who buy and knowingly sell counterfit items for profit, hoping noone will catch on. Some sellers buy these fakes from the website Ioffer, Ioffer allows the buying and selling of fake merchandise among many other things. So before you buy on Ebay check to see if the same item is being sold on Ioffer and compare.

2.) Pay close attention to a seller’s feedback. I personally never buy from a seller with a feedback of %96 or lower. Look at their feedback and see if it’s primarily from buying or selling. Some sellers may have 800+ feedbacks but all are from their buying and none from selling.

3.) Read any auction listing carefully. Some sellers will post very very fine print at the bottom of the auction disclosing the actual condition of an item. Also see if the seller states the item is 100% authentic. If a seller does not guarentee authenticity of an item in the listing be sure to use the “ask a seller” link located underneath the seller’s ID to see if it is indeed authentic.

4.) Look at the photo of the item. If the seller only provides a stock photo be sure to ask to see more pictures, if they refuse move on. Look to see if the pictures all match. By that I mean see if the pictures are all taken in the same place, if not it’s a big red flag that the seller has decided to copy and past someone else’s pictures. Also take a good look at the bottom right hand corner of the picture, is there an outline of a camera, if so this is a good indication these have been “borrowed” from someone else and are not pictures of the actual item you will be receiving. Also look to see if there is an ID tag written across the picture, does it match the name of the seller or seller’s store? If not again move on.

5.) Always use Paypal to make your payment. If a seller only accepts checks or money orders this could be an indication that they could be fraudulent. For example let’s say you send $250 for a great Coach bag to seller ABC, seller ABC receives the check, cashes it, and you never see or hear from the seller again. Unfortunately when you send funds this way there are no guarentees. If the same situation happened but instead you had used Paypal to make a payment you could actually file an appropriate claim agains that seller and hopefully recupe your funds.

Hopefully these tips will help some of you newer to Ebay make your way around. Just remember if you have second thoughts about something there’s probably a reason. Ebay can be a great place to find deals if you know how and where to look for them. Always remember there are tons of sellers who are always ready and willing to answer any questions others may have. Please be sure to vote on this guide if you found it helpful! Good luck and Happy Bidding.