If you plan to buy a designer purse online and want to make sure you’re getting the real deal, here are a few tips:
Take stock images with a grain of salt. Product images can be easily taken off of other websites, and you may be surprised after placing an order to receive a purse that looks completely different.
If you’re buying second-hand on a marketplace like eBay, request additional pictures of the purse. If you’re buying off of a website that purports to sell Chanel purses, do your research by searching for the business’s online reputation.
If you can find your desired brand’s website, authorized resellers are often listed. And stores that have been featured on large media outlets (like Oprah, ABC) are probably legit. One site that provides a secure shopping experience with a wide selection of authentic pre-owned handbags is LuxeDH. Featured on CBS and Fox, LuxeDH ensures that the bags on their site have been verified for authenticity.
Check the smaller details. The chain and strap of a genuine Chanel double chain lambskin flap leather handbag should be substantial; the leather should lie fairly flat. The quilted crisscross stitching on a real Chanel purse should line up throughout the purse. Seams should not be prominent, but delicate and subtle. Basically, the bag should look like the thousand or so dollars that it retails at a Chanel store.
Check your tags. When you buy a real Chanel bag, you’ll receive an authenticity card with a serial number. This serial number will match one on a sticker found somewhere in the interior lining of the bag. Be aware that this can be faked too. Also know that the sticker or authenticity card can be lost over time, so a Chanel bag without one is not necessarily a counterfeit.
eBay posts numerous guides on authenticating Coach purses, Fossil bags, Lacoste products and more. Online forums like PurseForum or The Fashion Spot have brand-savvy users. They may be able to offer insight on products you’ve bought or are considering buying, and can also alert you to sellers that are known counterfeit purveyors.
Hopefully these tips will give you more confidence to buy the purse you really desire!