I remember when I was younger and wanted to get a fancy bag but was scared to get ripped off, so I did my research. When looking at the bag for authenticity, I learned that the quality of the material was a dead giveaway in determining if it was a fake or not. Genuine handbags usually have superior leather stitching and fabric that is soft and flexible. Fake bags, on the other hand, would usually have an uncomfortable, plastic-like feel. In addition to that, finer details such as the fabric pattern, the handle, or any embellishments are usually the first places to spot a knockoff.
It’s also important to check the authenticity of a bag by looking at the logo. Fake bags usually have a logo that looks too thin and overly refined. On top of that, they often have a hazy or blurry font, or mismatched colours in comparison to the original logo. On the contrary, real bags are known to have a clean, well-defined logo, with the font and colours closely resembling the original.
Another thing to look for is the hardware. It’s usually easy to spot the difference – real hardware will give off a distinct shine that will never be matched by a fake. Additionally, the hardware of genuine bags is known to be quite durable and last for years. Fake hardware on the other hand is known to chip in various areas and difficult to repair.
Some people also say that if a bag seems to be too cheap, it’s most likely a fake. After all, it stands to reason that companies don’t even make a profit on the lowest grade imitation bags. However, more sophisticated counterfeiters have figured out how to make fakes at low prices, so you could still end up being scammed even if you pay next to nothing.
When it comes to the actual buying process, the most important thing to keep in mind is to only buy from authorized retailers. As it turns out, authentic dealers are the last line of defense against fake bags. And if you find a suspicious looking website, don’t buy from it. Moreover, it’s advisable to always compare the bag you want to buy to its pictures online, just to make sure you don’t get tricked.
Then there is the packaging. It’s quite convenient that real bags come with their own dust bags, care booklets, and authentication cards. Fake bags, on the other hand, usually don’t have a serial number, making it almost impossible to authenticate them.
I was lucky enough to have averted a scam when I had to buy a bag a few years ago. When I saw it in the store, I knew it was too good to be true. I asked the shopkeeper if it was real and he brought in a representive from the company. Sure enough, the bag was real and I was grateful that I hadn’t been fooled. But the incident taught me a valuable lesson – regardless of the price or circumstance, always make sure you are getting the real thing.