Botkier @ BJ's Wholesale Club

[palmbeachdiva]

I stopped in at Bj's Wholesale Club tonight for some groceries and was suprised to find they had the Botkier James Hobo in the purse case for $368.

All I've ever seen there before is Dooney & Burke, Coach and LeSport Sac.

[MONICABOTKIER]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention palmbeachdiva!

PLEASE do not buy anything potentially Botkier at such a store. This includes BJ's, Costco, Sam's etc.

These are NOT AUTHORIZED retailers and it is very possible you might be buying a fake or gray market good. Occassionally we have seen Costco get a style or two in and were unable to stop such a massive company from carrying a supposed 'Botkier' that we could not authenticate.

A few years back Fendi sued Sam's for this exact type of infringement and won.

Please support the real deal. We work so hard to create our original designs and distribute them properly. The fake handbag industry is truly awful and promotes child labor, unregulated work conditions and a host of other issues.

Thanks for the support! Monica

Originally Posted by palmbeachdiva

I stopped in at Bj's Wholesale Club tonight for some groceries and was suprised to find they had the Botkier James Hobo in the purse case for $368. All I've ever seen there before is Dooney & Burke, Coach and LeSport Sac.

[tonij2000]

Thanks for clarifying this Monica!

[palmbeachdiva]

Sorry but the bag is 100% authentic. I buy bags of all different brands including Botkier and I know alot about them. They also had Michael Kors, Coach and other bags that were definately 100% authentic. You can buy 100% authentic bags like Coach and Micheal Kors at all sorts of cheap places like Marshall's and TJ Maxx. That doesn't make them fake.

I would NEVER support buying a fake bag. I don't appreciate you accusing me of doing that. Unless you go to the store yourself and look at the same bag I did then you can not sit here and say without a doubt it is a fake.

I will be glad to take a photo of it the next time I am there so you can see for yourself.


I think it is really unfair for you to just assume it is not authentic and slander a major corporation like BJ's.

[starkfan]

palmbeachdiva, MONICABOTKIER is Monica Botkier the designer herself. (You may or may not have noticed some user names now appearing in blue, as is the case here; tPF has recently been assigning these user names with this colour to identify them as official reps of designer brands, whether they're the designers themselves, or reps who post information about the brand on tPF. This is the case in some other forums like Belen Echandia, Rebecca Minkoff and Treesje.)

Also, I don't think her post was accusing you of buying fakes or supporting the buying of fakes at all. It read more to me like a warning that the bags there may be fake, since they're not an authorised retailer, and to stay away just in case the bags they're selling are indeed fake or somehow obtained through a non-legitimate manner (again, since they're not an authorised retailer).

[palmbeachdiva]

I understand that she is the designer. That doesn't mean the bag is fake.

And let's be honest Botkier is not a highly faked brand. If there was a fake James bag they would be all over ioffer and ebay, counterfeiters aren't going to just make a couple to sell through BJ's.

If she is saying BJ's is not allowed/authorized to sell them and that no one should buy from them then why are they not suing BJ's for carrying them?
BJ's got them from someone. If they got them from a legitimate source and they are authentic then I feel it is wrong to damage the stores reputation by publically stating to people not to purchase from them and speculating that they are fake.

[starkfan]

Your initial, pre-edit post didn't seem to reflect that understanding, which is why I pointed out that she's the designer and therefore ought to know what stores are authorised retailers of her company's bags. At no point did I try to connect that fact with whether or not the bags at BJ's are fakes.

We don't know what else Monica or her company are doing now that you've brought this to her attention. It doesn't seem like they knew about this before you posted this info here, so whatever action the company needs to take, they're (possibly) doing so only now. Whatever action that may be, I doubt we would be privy to it anyway, so I think you may be jumping the gun a little in questioning why no lawsuit is taking place.

As far as "legitimate sources" go, I don't think there's any more legitimate source than the company itself, and clearly BJ's did not get the bags from them. However BJ's got the bags, that's probably for Botkier to investigate and sort out now, but I don't think Monica's original post in any way damages the reputation of the store.

[palmbeachdiva]

You are correct, I did edit my post because when I first responded I did not initially realize the post was from the designer herself. I then re-read everything and immediately removed the part of my original post related to if the poster worked for Botkier when I realized that obviously she does.

I don't come on this board to argue with people. I come here to enjoy something I love, which is buying bags and shoes. I enjoy posting deals for others just as I enjoy finding them for myself. I don't appreciate being made out to be a person who promotes buying fake bags just for posting a deal. It's even more degrading to be admonished by the designer.

I feel very offended by the way Monica responded to my post especially saying "please support the real deal". I have NEVER supported, purchased or advised any one to buy fake bags. Period. Not now. Not ever....

I just drove all the way over to BJ's again. I went back again to look at the bag and have them take it out of the case so I could fully examine it and again know it is 100% authentic just as I said. I considered buying the bag so I could post photos to show it is authentic but I really don't feel like wasting around $400 (with tax) on a bag I don't want.

I have emailed both Botkier and BJ's with the information so they can sort it out.

I will not be buying Botkier ever again.

[starkfan]

Again, I honestly don't think that at any point in Monica's post was she accusing you of supporting fakes or admonishing you for doing so.

[Sassy]

I didn't think Monica's post was accusatory, but at the very least it was a little self-righteous and self-supporting. Yes, the fake handbag industry is "truly awful and promotes child labor, unregulated work conditions and a host of other issues," but so are the factories of some companies that outsource and produce their goods in developing nations (nike, donna karen, insert the dozen or so other retailers embroiled in such scandals). I believe botkier bags are made in indonesia, and i'm sure there are guidelines, policies and other measures in place but one never knows once products go offshore for manufacturing. Just my 2 cents, and in no way am I accusing Botkier of using child labor, etc. I just thought botkier's response to OP was a little too focused on its own interests. How about lowering your retail prices to be in line with your cost savings of having bags produced offshore so that those savings are passed down to the consumer? Then maybe people wouldn't have to go to BJ's or costco to buy your bags at a discount.

[MONICABOTKIER]

Thank you both Starkfan and Palmbeachdiva - your thoughts are appreciated.

Botkier does not sell to BJ's and we do not know where the bags came from. Thus I would feel uncomfortable authenticating any Botkier product at a store that we do not distribute to. No accusations were intended, there are many scenarios like grey market and of course we investigate all issues of this nature. We have seen several fake Botkier bags over the years, our offices are right around the corner from Canal St in NYC where many brands large and small are knocked off.

BJ's is a mystery to us, keep you posted and I apologize if anyone was offended.

Best, Monica

Originally Posted by starkfan

Again, I honestly don't think that at any point in Monica's post was she accusing you of supporting fakes or admonishing you for doing so.

[nanette0269]

Most companies do not allow returns/replacements/repairs for bags that were not sold at authorized resellers. I don't know if this is true in Botkier's case, but its standard practice for most companies. So, even if there is something wrong with it (e.g. a strap breaks) you wouldnt necessarily be able to get it fixed for free as it doesnt come with a standard warranty, like those sold via authorized resellers. Just something to consider.

[Gimmethebag]

Originally Posted by nanette0269

Most companies do not allow returns/replacements/repairs for bags that were not sold at authorized resellers. I don't know if this is true in Botkier's case, but its standard practice for most companies. So, even if there is something wrong with it (e.g. a strap breaks) you wouldnt necessarily be able to get it fixed for free as it doesnt come with a standard warranty, like those sold via authorized resellers. Just something to consider.

This is true. Monica said the bag could be fake OR a grey market good... Grey market goods are not protected by QC.

It also devalues the brand.