I recently had the misfortune of going through customs with a fake bag. It was an embarrassing and nerve-racking experience. I was going on a business trip to a foreign country, and I’d bought a stylish and fashionable-looking bag on the spur of the moment in a hurry. Little did I know that the bag was not the genuine article.
When I got to customs, the officer nearly launched into a diatribe about me carrying a fake bag, but thankfully, I was able to explain to him the unfortunate circumstances of how I’d come to be in possession of it. While he was sympathetic, he explained that these things happen and he released me with nothing more than a stern warning to be more careful in the future.
The officer’s warning resounded loudly in my mind and I felt an interminable sense of guilt after I passed through customs. To try to make things right, I decided to research more carefully before buying extravagant items in the future. I no longer simply trust the salesperson at face value and I take steps to confirm that the item I’m considering is the genuine article.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a great deal of insight available online about how to tell a genuine bag from a fake. Sometimes, it’s easy to spot a knock-off copy, but other times, frauds are far more sophisticated than you could imagine. Through trial and error, I’ve picked up some tips that I’d like to share with others in the hopes that no one else has to go through what I did.
First of all, don’t trust price as an indicator of authenticity. Knock-offs can be priced at strange points that don’t fit into a genuine item’s brand’s price structure. Second, only buy from trusted sources. It’s always better to pay a bit more and be certain than to risk buying a copy. Third, review the product’s packaging and make sure that all authentication seals are present and intact. Finally, research materials so that you can gauge the item’s physical quality.
Being vigilant about authenticity is the only way to ensure that you don’t end up with a fake item. I always use my smartphone to do some quick checks before making a purchase. If the item somehow enters my home without being examined, I always carefully inspect it with the online resources I have at my disposal.
My most recent purchase passed inspection with flying colors and I’ve been using the item with peace of mind ever since. I am now able to clearly distinguish between a genuine product and a fake one, and I can confidently walk through customs with pride. This experience, while unpleasant, certainly made me a smarter shopper.