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Designer Purses for Cheap – The Price is Nice, but is it Authentic?

flickr: Moto@Club4AG
Before you pull out your wallet to pay for that cheap Designer Handbag ask yourself the following questions. Is that bag really Authentic or could it be a replica? How can I tell the difference?

With today’s shaky economy there are more people than ever (online and offline) trying to scam uneducated shoppers into buying cheap replicas! I’ve specifically written this article for eBay shoppers, however, please keep in mind that several of these steps can be used to protect you during offline transactions too.

As most of you already know, eBay provides us with a unique platform which allows us to buy Designer Handbags for cheap at extremely discounted prices. Simply put, eBay can save you more money on premier brands than anywhere else! Over the years I’ve saved thousands on designer bags, accessories, and clothing using the power of eBay. Unfortunately, there are still a few crooked sellers on eBay portraying their products as authentic when in fact they are nothing but fakes.

Please keep in mind that eBay has a zero tolerance policy against these types of sellers, but every so often one of these sellers may slip through the cracks taking advantage of an unsuspecting buyer. Within this article I’m going to layout the steps you can take to avoid these types of eBay sellers and ensure that the purse you are buying is really legit.

Step 1: DO YOUR HOMEWORK: Get to know the designer brand and the exact model you are considering buying. I suggest you physically visit a department store or boutique that is carrying the exact handbag and study all of its different characteristics. Alternatively, you can visit a website which carries the bag you want to buy. Most online retailers like Nordstrom will provide several pictures of the bags they carry. If you are unable to find the exact bag then study a model that closely resembles yours. Once you find a bag you are considering buying it's time to do your due diligence by comparing the following characteristics to the designer handbag you previously researched.

Color: Note the color of the item displayed within the auction. Is it the same color as the bag you know to be authentic? For instance, look on the manufacturer’s website to make sure they even offer that color for that specific style.

Seams: Study the stitching and seams of the purse being auctioned. Do the seams meet in the same manner as the known authentic? Is the stitching proportioned evenly across the bag? If not, chances are it’s a fake.

Exterior Material: Almost all Designers use leather accents, NOT plastic.

Markings/Logo: All designers mark their handbags with their brand name or logo on the hardware or leather. You need to verify that the letters/logo is displayed in exactly the same manner as it is shown on the bag that you know is authentic. If the manufacturer’s mark is on the leather then it should be engraved. If it is printed on the leather instead of engraved then you are looking at a replica. Also, you’ll notice that almost all designer’s include their brand name/logo somewhere on the inside lining.

Hardware: Make sure you take a good look at the handbag’s hardware and verify that it all matches in color. If the logo is printed or embossed on the hardware instead of being engraved than it’s probably a replica.

Step 2: FIND A TRUSTWORTHY SELLER:

Location: Please be cautious of sellers that are located in Asia. There are a lot of factories that produce replicas in that region of the world.

Large volume of Same Item: Be on the look out for sellers that have several listings selling the same exact bag. Someone selling several different types of Juicy Couture handbags is OK. However, be cautious of a seller with 20 listings of the exact same type of Juicy Couture purse, especially if the “Buy it Now” price seems too good to be true.

Seller Feedback: The seller’s feedback rating is one of the most important indicators of who can be trusted as selling authentic products. I wouldn’t suggest purchasing a high ticket item from anyone that has less than 15 – 20 reviews and a positive feedback score less than 98%. Most reputable sellers wouldn’t risk having their feedback score damaged by selling someone a replica.

Step 3: REVIEW PICTURES:

Verify Authenticity: Make sure that the seller included at least one picture of the Designer’s Brand Name/Logo engraved on the bag. If the seller didn’t include a picture or the picture is fuzzy then ask the seller to post a better picture.

Request Additional Pictures: The seller should include several photos of the bag from different angles so you can verify authenticity by checking the various characteristics as previously described in this article. If you feel that he did not include enough pictures then simply ask him to post some more, just be sure to be specific in your request. If you want to see the bottom of a purse, then don’t hesitate to ask for a close-up photo of it.

Hopefully I haven’t discouraged any of you from shopping at eBay. Honestly, odds are you will never run into a problem, but it never hurts to take a few precautionary steps to avoid any potential pitfalls…especially if you plan on spending a significant amount of money.

Just to recap, before you buy any designer purses for cheap; make sure you take the following actions to help verify authenticity: Do your homework; Find a trustworthy seller; and carefully review the seller’s pictures. By taking all these steps you can be confident in knowing that your new bag is truly a designer handbag and not some cheap knock-off.

psst...Want to get a second opinion on weather a designer bag is really authentic?