So you can imagine how excited I was when I found a ‘real’ Patricia Nash bag! It had the classic look, the feel – everything. I was convinced I had found my dream bag – it was the perfect size for my laptop, had plenty of pockets, and was roomy enough for every essential I needed on my daily commute.
Boy was I wrong! When I researched online for reviews and authentications, I found out it was a fake one. Turns out, Patricia Nash bags are all the rage now, and that means more and more fakes have been popping up online. I’d been scammed – and I felt like an idiot.
Thankfully, I had plenty of warning signs. Although the deal was too good to be true, the reviews were really positive, and the shipping was fast and reliable, there were little things that I should’ve paid more attention to. For example, the hardware on the bag was a slightly different shade from the official ones, and it was noticeably thinner in places.
I was livid – and then suddenly the bag became the least of my problems. I’d been duped for more than fifty dollars, and I needed to figure out a way to get my money back. I was completely flummoxed, and didn’t know if I hadn’t been careful enough, or if I was just a fool for trusting a stranger.
I decided to reach out to Patricia Nash’ customer service team first. I was sure I was a lost cause, but I figured there was nothing left to do anyway. But luckily for me, the team was really helpful in educating me about the signs of a counterfeit Patricia Nash bag.
They told me that having an informative look at their unique product codes, zippers, hardware and hangtags would have allowed me to spot the difference between a ‘real’ and a ‘fake’ Patricia Nash bag. I learnt that each Patricia Nash bag is issued with a unique code, and it’s virtually impossible for a fake bag to have the exact same code.
I also realised that their signature hardware was always made of brass or bronze. It was heavier than what I had received, and the finish was different too. Finally, I was informed that their bags usually came with a hangtag with extra details about the bag, and it was never in a plastic bag.
By now, I realised it was far too late for my money to be refunded, but the information I had learnt was invaluable. I educated myself more on the topic, and soon I realised just how many signs of a fake Patricia Nash Bag there were. From unevenly spaced seams to metallic faux-leather stitching and distorted logo tags – I was determined to never be fooled by a fake Patricia Nash bag ever again!
It was a hard lesson, but it taught me an important lesson in a real-life situation. Now, I take the time to assess a bag’s hardware, zippers, tags, and logo before making any purchase. I also make sure to double-check the product codes just to be sure. I’m careful to purchase from authorized Patricia Nash retailers and distributors in my attempt to avoid falling for a false bag and getting duped.
I’ve also taken to reading reviews before purchasing, because that has been incredibly helpful in the past. Even if the reviews are positive, I always make sure to read reviews from previous buyers, and even search for pictures of the bag from actual shoppers. I do whatever it takes to make sure that I’m purchasing a genuine Patricia Nash bag!