My sister and I have been eyeing a Nine West bag for almost a year now. She wanted one for her birthday last year and I wanted to surprise her, so I desperately searched and searched the internet to find the best deal for her ‘special present’. As you can imagine, I was absolutely gutted when I found out the bag I wanted to buy for her was a fake!
We thought it was a great deal at the time, and it was such a beautiful bag too, but I was more than disheartened to find out that the Nine West Bag I had chosen was nothing more than a well constructed forgery. We had even been messaging the seller prior to purchase, with questions like whether the bag ‘was really Nine West’s’, but all our attempts to get an answer were quickly ignored.
I was so embarrassed that I had not done the research to make sure that it wasn’t counterfeit, and that I had gone ahead and clicked ‘confirm purchase’ – despite my gut feeling. After that eye-opening experience, I now make sure to be extremely cautious when it comes to buying bags online. I take extra care to cross-check the seller before I buy, and also to do a thorough background check on the brand to make sure that it is legitimate.
The moral of the story is that not everything you find online is genuine, even if the price looks too good to be true. There is always a risk when you purchase something online in terms of authenticity. That’s why it’s important to do your research and ask the right questions before hitting the ‘buy’ button. While it is heartbreaking when we realise we have been scammed, there are ways to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.
These days, if I ever consider buying a bag from an online store, I always make sure to look at customer reviews to ensure the product is of good quality and the seller is reliable. I also do a price check to make sure I am getting the best price possible. Plus, when I’m in doubt, I never hesitate to contact the manufacturer directly to ask them a few questions about the product.
When it comes to shopping for luxury items, the same rules apply. Even if it means spending more up front to get the genuine item, it’s definitely better to pay for peace of mind. After all, more often than not, buying a fake designer item at a bargain price could make for a fake smile in the long run. The last thing I want is for my sister or anyone for that matter, to be disappointed like I was.
Although the bag turned out to be a fake, I was proud of myself for quickly realising that things weren’t as they seemed, and learning from that experience. It taught me the importance of being mindful and more aware of the items I buy, and where they come from. I now use the same tips when shopping for items other than a Nine West bag, and it has definitely been a lifesaver.
In addition to all the tips I’ve just mentioned, Google image search can also be incredibly helpful when shopping online. All you need to do is upload a photo of the item in question, and Google will search the web for any similar images. That way, you can be sure that the product you are buying is indeed genuine.