If you are thinking about purchasing a handbag from a questionable source, then the smartest thing to do is to go to the Coach website or even go into a reputable store that carries Coach products. But I do understand that not all of us have "Coach" money so we venture faithfully to sites such as Ebay with hopes in snagging a deal. As long as you are armed with the correct knowledge, then you should be able to get an awesome deal on an authentic Coach product on a realistic budget.
Telling The DifferenceThere are some simple ways to train your eye to notice flaws in a fake, and distinguish whether its authentic or not.
The simplest way in determining authenticity would be to examine the layout of the signature C’s.
The C’s should be lined up perfectly to the center. Although it is not uncommon for the mini-signature C collections to be off by a tiny bit only on the sides. So don’t freak out. But I mean a TINY BIT! In most cases, the Cs are aligned perfectly.
Ok, so here are some examples:
Another way to tell a fake wannabe from a real Coach is to take notice of the signature style C placement. For the Coach signature collection the style will always be with two C’s next to each other in doubles, not as the picture shows below, in a single row of C’s
You can tell by not only the style of the bag, but also the pattern. If the pattern is not the famous Coach signature C, but rather a different letter, such as an O or a G or even a Q then it’s an obvious fake.
Dust bags are another way to tell if the seller is offering you aithentic Coach merchandise. Sleeper Bags Or Dust Bags should be dark chocolate brown with a red drawstring. In the bottom right the words in all caps “COACH EST.1941″ written in white. Coach does not use cheap material to make these. There are many replica dust bags floating around on the Internet. So if you see one stay away, chances are that bag is also a fake.
Coach also commonly uses logo tags that are attached by a beaded metal chain. Usually, the tag should match the trim of the bag. The words “COACH” should be raised, not imprinted.
Some styles do have metal tags. Do your research to make sure that the tag goes with the bag you are getting. It is not uncommon for counterfeiters to mass-produce these metal tags; it’s the cheaper more profitable way. Keep in mind that tags are never made out of hard plastic.
Additional Flaws In Fakes To Look Out For
Coach uses ykk zippers. Be sure to check if the markings are on the zippers.
The seams of the bag and interior authenticity tag should not be glued on but rather neatly stitched on. Coach takes pride in experienced craftsmanship on each and every piece. If the stitching is of poor quality, by being raised in some areas, or if you see the string knot then it is a replica.
The bag should look neat and sturdy, not slouching to one side or lopsided. This is caused by either uneven lousy stitching or not quality material that’s to thin. Coach uses leather or suede trim, not pleather or shiny plastic.
It’s easier to tell the difference between leather and plastic in person. You can usually tell by the smell, however, there are handbags out there that are made of plastic and sprayed with leather perfume, which smells more like a new car than a purse. If you are looking at a picture, you can generally tell if it looks too shiny or cheap looking.
You ask your self how they could get away with this? They import them without the fake designer labels. Then upon purchase by an unsuspecting person, the vendor will glue on a cheap label.
There is such thing as a good deal. However, if someone claims to have a handbag for sale that isn’t even in stores yet, you should pass. If purchasing from an unauthorized dealer or from an auction site, the only understandable good deal would be if it were a bag from a past season.
A Helpful Link
This is one of my favorite bookmarks as well as top visited site by me and many Coach lovers to help when I am sometimes doubtful if something is real or not. Click Here For The Coach Drilldown
Its called the drilldown and all you have to do is replace the style number in this link with the style number of a bag you are researching. If no picture comes up, it may be a fake. Often times, the real Coach style numbers inputted will produce a picture of the actual bag on your webpage.
Listen To Your Inner Voice
The main point I want to stress to you is to follow your intuition. If you think something just isnt right with a bag, and you cant find enough info on it by searching the web, then by all means, pass on it. As the old saying goes, "better safe than sorry"!
A BIG RED FLAG WITH SIRENS & THE WHOLE NINE
NO AUTHENTIC Coach Bag I Have Ever Purchased Or Recieved Has Ever Had Plastic On The Handles!! These Are Fleamarket/Cheap Knock Offs! Stay Away Unless You Dont Mind Your Bag Falling Apart In 2 Weeks..Yes I Know They May Only Cost $20-50 Dollars a Pop But You Will Be The Laughing Stock Of Your Friends, Those That Have Read My Blog That Is... lol
I am also available to help you any way that I can at ButtaPecanRicanNY@Gmail.com. Shoot me an email with a picture of your questionable bag and I will give you my opinion
In Closing, I Hope You Are Able To Find An Authentic Coach Bag Of Your Dreams, At A Great Price!
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If you’re unsure if you are purchasing from an authorized Coach dealer, then contact Coach. Just call their 800 number and they should tell you if you are dealing with a certified seller. Read into the website by checking the “about us” or “customer service” section. If anywhere on there sounds suspicious then stay away. Con artists try to hide the fact that they are selling fakes. Commonly when describing their products, they would state they are “designer inspired”, or “grade A replica’s”. They put these words in there to protect themselves from any lawsuits.
How do I report counterfeit Coach merchandise?
Combating counterfeiting of Coach product is an important objective for Coach. Please e-mail your information to lawdepartment@coach.com or use the Coach anti-counterfeiting hotline to report counterfeiters and unauthorized distributors of Coach merchandise at 1-800-396-1807.
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