What would you do if a loved one gave you a fake bag my mistake?

heather123 · Mar 17th, 2008, 09:46 AM

My dilemma is this: last year my husband have me a Balenciaga City for my birthday. I had never seen one IRL, but liked the look of them from pics. So anyway, DH picked one up from a high-end London store while he was away on a business trip.

By a remarkable coincidence, I was chatting the other day to some ladies on the Balenciaga forum, and decided to post pics of my bag (as I'd been experimenting with different shoulder straps). Having seen the bag, the general consenus was that it was fake! Although nobody's dead, I was horrified by the thought of having been taken in all those months.

It's a Bank Holiday weekend here and we'd like to have a nice angst-free time. So I haven't yet mentioned the bag discovery to DH. But at the same time I felt a sudden horror at the thought of carrying a fake bag around the place! Then again, the bag was a gift from my husband and a very thoughful one. He'll freak if he hears the bag isn't real, although he has kept the receipt, docs, etc.

I used to feel that some women over-reacted about fake bags, but now I'm not so sure. In a weird way I felt sort of violated! Overnight I have gone from loving this bag to almost hating the sight of it. I have heard of similar things happening to other ladies, even those who have purchased from high-end stores. I believe BlueFly was recently implicated in the selling of dubious bags. MY dubious bag can be seen in all its 'glory' on the Bal forum thread, 'My bbag just disappeared into cyberspace!'

My stuff is now in an authentic Prada bowler!

heather123 · Mar 17th, 2008, 09:46 AM

BTW, the first line in thread should read, 'BY mistake, not MY mistake'. Sorry!

annemerrick · Mar 17th, 2008, 10:50 AM

I read your thread in the Balenciaga forum...and that is such a bummer!! If he spent the $$$ to buy an authentic bag...I would definitely broach the subject with him...so you can hopefully get your $$$ back, and get an authentic bag. Just tell him how easy it is to be fooled....how the fakes are so good nowadays, etc...

olivia56 · Mar 17th, 2008, 11:07 AM

If this happened to me, I would definitely let him know, it's his hard working money.
I hope you can get the $$$ back and use the $$$ back for the real bag, I'm pretty sure my DH thinks the same.

aklein · Mar 17th, 2008, 11:31 AM

Your poor DH. I would definitely let him know the bag is fake. It's a shame that he was just trying to do something nice for you and ended up getting scammed. I have read stories from other posters who have gotten fake bags from stores due to people pulling a bait and switch. They buy a real bag and return a fake one. It's possible that this happened. Either way, gently let him know so you can get your money back and get a real one.

heather123 · Mar 17th, 2008, 11:40 AM

That's a very interesting comment about the bait and switch, aklein. DH would be a sucker for that. To be honest I would also be ignorant as bliss if not for the eagle-eyed ladies here! But bait and switch also raises the spectre of incompetent or unscrupulous SA's.

You ladies are right. I should wait for the right moment, then spill. But I think I'll wait till he's got his latest research proposal sorted!

aklein · Mar 17th, 2008, 12:49 PM

There have also been comments made about SAs having a lack of Balenciaga knowledge at some of the larger dept stores. Besides, some of those fakes are really good and tough to distinguish from the real ones (to the untrained eye). There is a wealth of knowledge in the reference library in the Bal forum. Definitely worth the read.

ArmCandyLuvr · Mar 17th, 2008, 01:17 PM

I agree with the other gals. Your husband bought the bag believing it was real. He got ripped off. I would tell him when the opportunity presents itself. I don't know if he has any recourse, but if he paid with a credit card, he might be able to file a chargeback or something.

notblushing · Mar 17th, 2008, 01:20 PM

If it was a gift from my husband, I'd tell him. And I'd return it, since you have everything.
If it was a gift from someone else, I thank them for it, and give the bag to charity.

Minimouse · Mar 17th, 2008, 01:29 PM

I would definitely tell your husband if I were you and try and return the bag to the store. Your husband bought in good faith, I'm sure he'll be horrified, but just as keen to get some recourse from the department store in question. GOOD LUCK!!!

SonOz · Mar 17th, 2008, 01:30 PM

You definitely need to tell your husband...contact your credit card and tell them what has happened and ask what steps you would need to take to get it worked out then you can take that information to your husband so he can freak out but also know how to solve the problem quickly and hassle free.

Mar 17th, 2008, 09:46 AM	#1
heather123 Member Location: IRELAND	What would you do if a loved one gave you a fake bag my mistake? My dilemma is this: last year my husband have me a Balenciaga City for my birthday. I had never seen one IRL, but liked the look of them from pics. So anyway, DH picked one up from a high-end London store while he was away on a business trip. By a remarkable coincidence, I was chatting the other day to some ladies on the Balenciaga forum, and decided to post pics of my bag (as I'd been experimenting with different shoulder straps). Having seen the bag, the general consenus was that it was fake! Although nobody's dead, I was horrified by the thought of having been taken in all those months. It's a Bank Holiday weekend here and we'd like to have a nice angst-free time. So I haven't yet mentioned the bag discovery to DH. But at the same time I felt a sudden horror at the thought of carrying a fake bag around the place! Then again, the bag was a gift from my husband and a very thoughful one. He'll freak if he hears the bag isn't real, although he has kept the receipt, docs, etc. I used to feel that some women over-reacted about fake bags, but now I'm not so sure. In a weird way I felt sort of violated! Overnight I have gone from loving this bag to almost hating the sight of it. I have heard of similar things happening to other ladies, even those who have purchased from high-end stores. I believe BlueFly was recently implicated in the selling of dubious bags. MY dubious bag can be seen in all its 'glory' on the Bal forum thread, 'My bbag just disappeared into cyberspace!' My stuff is now in an authentic Prada bowler!

Mar 17th, 2008, 09:46 AM	#2
heather123 Member Location: IRELAND	Re: What would you do if a loved one gave you a fake bag my mistake? BTW, the first line in thread should read, 'BY mistake, not MY mistake'. Sorry!

Mar 17th, 2008, 10:50 AM	#3
annemerrick Member Location: Back in Dallas	Re: What would you do if a loved one gave you a fake bag my mistake? I read your thread in the Balenciaga forum...and that is such a bummer!! If he spent the $$$ to buy an authentic bag...I would definitely broach the subject with him...so you can hopefully get your $$$ back, and get an authentic bag. Just tell him how easy it is to be fooled....how the fakes are so good nowadays, etc... __________________ WWW.MYBAG.NET

Mar 17th, 2008, 11:07 AM	#4
olivia56 Member Location: New York	Re: What would you do if a loved one gave you a fake bag my mistake? If this happened to me, I would definitely let him know, it's his hard working money. I hope you can get the $$$ back and use the $$$ back for the real bag, I'm pretty sure my DH thinks the same. __________________ ...this time for real Rebecca Minkoff MAM Midnight/Pewter Mulberry Roxanne Red Wishlist: Chloe Medium Saskia

Mar 17th, 2008, 11:31 AM	#5
aklein Member Location: New Orleans	Re: What would you do if a loved one gave you a fake bag my mistake? Your poor DH. I would definitely let him know the bag is fake. It's a shame that he was just trying to do something nice for you and ended up getting scammed. I have read stories from other posters who have gotten fake bags from stores due to people pulling a bait and switch. They buy a real bag and return a fake one. It's possible that this happened. Either way, gently let him know so you can get your money back and get a real one. __________________ Meez are scary, so back to the kitties ....

Mar 17th, 2008, 11:40 AM	#6
heather123 Member Location: IRELAND	Re: What would you do if a loved one gave you a fake bag my mistake? That's a very interesting comment about the bait and switch, aklein. DH would be a sucker for that. To be honest I would also be ignorant as bliss if not for the eagle-eyed ladies here! But bait and switch also raises the spectre of incompetent or unscrupulous SA's. You ladies are right. I should wait for the right moment, then spill. But I think I'll wait till he's got his latest research proposal sorted!

Mar 17th, 2008, 12:49 PM	#7
aklein Member Location: New Orleans	Re: What would you do if a loved one gave you a fake bag my mistake? There have also been comments made about SAs having a lack of Balenciaga knowledge at some of the larger dept stores. Besides, some of those fakes are really good and tough to distinguish from the real ones (to the untrained eye). There is a wealth of knowledge in the reference library in the Bal forum. Definitely worth the read. __________________ Meez are scary, so back to the kitties ....

Mar 17th, 2008, 01:17 PM	#8
ArmCandyLuvr Loves Boys X Boys! Location: WI, USA	Re: What would you do if a loved one gave you a fake bag my mistake? I agree with the other gals. Your husband bought the bag believing it was real. He got ripped off. I would tell him when the opportunity presents itself. I don't know if he has any recourse, but if he paid with a credit card, he might be able to file a chargeback or something. __________________ I reached my goal of losing 225 pounds! Thank you, tPF! Thank you, Richard! My Wishlist: [ ] Dior Holiday 2008 Palette [ ] Chanel Exclusive Nail Color Trio [X] Louis Vuitton Inclusion Ring in Pomme D'Amour-Got it! Thank you, DBF! [X] Coach 3x5 Leather Agenda in Gold-Got it! DBF strikes again! [ ] David Yurman 5 MM Cable Bangle in Blue Topaz [ ] David Yurman 5 MM Cable Bangle in Peridot [ ] MacBook Air Can't seem to stay on my shopping ban!

Mar 17th, 2008, 01:20 PM	#9
notblushing Member	Re: What would you do if a loved one gave you a fake bag my mistake? If it was a gift from my husband, I'd tell him. And I'd return it, since you have everything. If it was a gift from someone else, I thank them for it, and give the bag to charity. __________________ A bag always fits.

Mar 17th, 2008, 01:29 PM	#10
Minimouse Member Location: Work in the Middle East	Re: What would you do if a loved one gave you a fake bag my mistake? I would definitely tell your husband if I were you and try and return the bag to the store. Your husband bought in good faith, I'm sure he'll be horrified, but just as keen to get some recourse from the department store in question. GOOD LUCK!!!

Mar 17th, 2008, 01:30 PM	#11
SonOz Member Location: Chicago	Re: What would you do if a loved one gave you a fake bag my mistake? You definitely need to tell your husband...contact your credit card and tell them what has happened and ask what steps you would need to take to get it worked out then you can take that information to your husband so he can freak out but also know how to solve the problem quickly and hassle free.