answers to AUTHENTICITY questions!!!

[Porter4]

The problem with reporting what may be stolen pictures is that only the actual owner of the pictures is allowed to report the theft. At least that's Ebay's rule and I'm sure other sites do the same. It's the same with any trademarked or copyrighted item. Even fake handbags and other items are technically reported to Ebay not by the member who reports the fake, but by the VeRO (Verified Rights Owner) member who represents the company whose trademark or copyright has been violated. Supposedly Coach's VeRO rep has to approve or deny every report of a fake Coach product that's sent to Ebay.

With photos that appear to be stolen you have to carefully study the history of both listings to figure out who the actual owner of the photos is, and then contact the owner and give them the information about the other listing. There are going to be times when a second seller may actually be using those photos with the first seller's permission - that's why only the photo owner can decide whether or not there was photo theft involved and if it should be reported. And of course there's always the possibility that the seller owns both accounts. Some sites allow that and maybe some don't. Frankly, as long as there's no evidence of fraud or illegal activity I don't see a problem although many resellers run at least two separate accounts so their buyers can't find out what the seller actually paid for the items they're reselling.

I think it is the wording from etsy that lead me to believe that I should report it, this is from their Dos and Don'ts:

"Having more than one account ("multiple accounts" or "alternate accounts") is not something Etsy encourages, as it has the potential to cause confusion. Keep in mind that information and accounts cannot be merged in any way, so if you change your mind later, you will not be able to transfer information (for example: listings, feedback, Favorites or purchase history) from one account to another.

All of your usernames must be clearly disclosed in the Public Profile for each account. A statement such as, "I am also on Etsy under these usernames..." would be acceptable. This includes all buying and selling accounts, as well as any collective accounts in which you are involved.
You may not use an alternate account to purchase items from yourself. This is called "shilling."
You may not list the same unique item in more than one shop on Etsy."

If I made a mistake in reporting it, than I stand corrected. I apologize for creating confusion.

 

[Hyacinth]

Originally Posted by Hyacinth
The problem with reporting what may be stolen pictures is that only the actual owner of the pictures is allowed to report the theft. At least that's Ebay's rule and I'm sure other sites do the same. It's the same with any trademarked or copyrighted item. Even fake handbags and other items are technically reported to Ebay not by the member who reports the fake, but by the VeRO (Verified Rights Owner) member who represents the company whose trademark or copyright has been violated. Supposedly Coach's VeRO rep has to approve or deny every report of a fake Coach product that's sent to Ebay.

With photos that appear to be stolen you have to carefully study the history of both listings to figure out who the actual owner of the photos is, and then contact the owner and give them the information about the other listing. There are going to be times when a second seller may actually be using those photos with the first seller's permission - that's why only the photo owner can decide whether or not there was photo theft involved and if it should be reported. And of course there's always the possibility that the seller owns both accounts. Some sites allow that and maybe some don't. Frankly, as long as there's no evidence of fraud or illegal activity I don't see a problem although many resellers run at least two separate accounts so their buyers can't find out what the seller actually paid for the items they're reselling.

I think it is the wording from etsy that lead me to believe that I should report it, this is from their Dos and Don'ts:

"Having more than one account ("multiple accounts" or "alternate accounts") is not something Etsy encourages, as it has the potential to cause confusion. Keep in mind that information and accounts cannot be merged in any way, so if you change your mind later, you will not be able to transfer information (for example: listings, feedback, Favorites or purchase history) from one account to another.

All of your usernames must be clearly disclosed in the Public Profile for each account. A statement such as, "I am also on Etsy under these usernames..." would be acceptable. This includes all buying and selling accounts, as well as any collective accounts in which you are involved.
You may not use an alternate account to purchase items from yourself. This is called "shilling."
You may not list the same unique item in more than one shop on Etsy."

If I made a mistake in reporting it, than I stand corrected. I apologize for creating confusion.

I've never actually read Etsy's rules, although probably considering the sort of items they specialize in it's understandable why they would prefer that a seller only have one account. There's a lot more "buying to resell" on Ebay and that kind of policy would be impossible to enforce there.

I've heard Etsy users complain recently about a big increase in members selling cheaply made, mass-produced trinkets made in mostly SE Asian countries and claiming them to be handmade personally by the sellers, and also that many of those sellers are using multiple IDs, so maybe Etsy is aware of the problem and trying to get it under control. Some of the listings I've looked at have made me wonder how any one person could possibly hand-make all those items! Of course if a seller listed the same item in more than one shop as you say the purse seller may have, that would definitely be a violation of Etsy's rules.

 

[Porter4]

Originally Posted by Hyacinth
The problem with reporting what may be stolen pictures is that only the actual owner of the pictures is allowed to report the theft. At least that's Ebay's rule and I'm sure other sites do the same. It's the same with any trademarked or copyrighted item. Even fake handbags and other items are technically reported to Ebay not by the member who reports the fake, but by the VeRO (Verified Rights Owner) member who represents the company whose trademark or copyright has been violated. Supposedly Coach's VeRO rep has to approve or deny every report of a fake Coach product that's sent to Ebay.

With photos that appear to be stolen you have to carefully study the history of both listings to figure out who the actual owner of the photos is, and then contact the owner and give them the information about the other listing. There are going to be times when a second seller may actually be using those photos with the first seller's permission - that's why only the photo owner can decide whether or not there was photo theft involved and if it should be reported. And of course there's always the possibility that the seller owns both accounts. Some sites allow that and maybe some don't. Frankly, as long as there's no evidence of fraud or illegal activity I don't see a problem although many resellers run at least two separate accounts so their buyers can't find out what the seller actually paid for the items they're reselling.



I've never actually read Etsy's rules, although probably considering the sort of items they specialize in it's understandable why they would prefer that a seller only have one account. There's a lot more "buying to resell" on Ebay and that kind of policy would be impossible to enforce there.

I've heard Etsy users complain recently about a big increase in members selling cheaply made, mass-produced trinkets made in mostly SE Asian countries and claiming them to be handmade personally by the sellers, and also that many of those sellers are using multiple IDs, so maybe Etsy is aware of the problem and trying to get it under control. Some of the listings I've looked at have made me wonder how any one person could possibly hand-make all those items! Of course if a seller listed the same item in more than one shop as you say the purse seller may have, that would definitely be a violation of Etsy's rules.

A little off topic of Coach, but I have noticed this as well on Etsy and it makes me sad, as what attracted me to Etsy was the ability to buy handmade items and the large amount of people on there that love and specialize in reselling vintage items.

 

[Hyacinth]

A little off topic of Coach, but I have noticed this as well on Etsy and it makes me sad, as what attracted me to Etsy was the ability to buy handmade items and the large amount of people on there that love and specialize in reselling vintage items.

But quite a few Etsy handbag sellers are claiming bags are vintage to qualify for Etsy's 20-year minimum age when they're not even close to that age. Claims of bags being "vintage" have to be looked at closely.

 

[Porter4]

But quite a few Etsy handbag sellers are claiming bags are vintage to qualify for Etsy's 20-year minimum age when they're not even close to that age. Claims of bags being "vintage" have to be looked at closely.

Very true

 

[whateve]

I have been looking into when Coach stopped putting the "made in" line at the bottom of the creed and started putting it as the second sentence. The Salearea guide says this happened in 1994 when they started using style numbers, but in looking at my collection, every bag I have that was made prior to 1997 has it on the bottom line. Only beginning in 1997 do my creeds show it as the second sentence of the creed.

The reason I started looking into this was because I saw this fake bag:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-L...698?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item3a77b5514a
Supposedly made in 1997 and it has it as the last line. I was comparing it to my real version of this bag. So besides having an incorrect style number, the counterfeiters made the mistake of putting the made in line at the bottom.

I wonder if there is any confirmation that any bag made 1997 and after wouldn't have it as the last line of the creed.

 

[Lissa623]

Hi everybody. I have a question, and I have no idea where else to post it. Most Coach satchels, like the Ashley and the Sabrina for instance, have two thin strips of leather attached to the bottom like this. My question is... are they supposed to come off? I just bought a Coach from eBay, and I didn't realize until it was too late that one side of one of the pieces looks like it's ripped off... and it's just kind of hanging. Am I going to have to send it away to be fixed?

This is what I bought:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221081197736?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_898

 

[whateve]

Hi everybody. I have a question, and I have no idea where else to post it. Most Coach satchels, like the Ashley and the Sabrina for instance, have two thin strips of leather attached to the bottom like this. My question is... are they supposed to come off? I just bought a Coach from eBay, and I didn't realize until it was too late that one side of one of the pieces looks like it's ripped off... and it's just kind of hanging. Am I going to have to send it away to be fixed?

This is what I bought:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221081197736?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_898

They aren't supposed to come off. You might be able to get it fixed locally or you can send it to Coach for repair.

 

[Hyacinth]

I have been looking into when Coach stopped putting the "made in" line at the bottom of the creed and started putting it as the second sentence. The Salearea guide says this happened in 1994 when they started using style numbers, but in looking at my collection, every bag I have that was made prior to 1997 has it on the bottom line. Only beginning in 1997 do my creeds show it as the second sentence of the creed.

The reason I started looking into this was because I saw this fake bag:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-L...698?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item3a77b5514a
Supposedly made in 1997 and it has it as the last line. I was comparing it to my real version of this bag. So besides having an incorrect style number, the counterfeiters made the mistake of putting the made in line at the bottom.

I wonder if there is any confirmation that any bag made 1997 and after wouldn't have it as the last line of the creed.

Some plants still used the old creed stamps with the location on the bottom line until early in 1996. I haven't been able to narrow it down to an exact month but in general the larger older plants B, C and D should have mostly changed over by early 1995. The Guide was already written when I started finding some older creeds being used into 1995 and even 1996, but since I'm not the owner of the Guides I can't make any corrections.

Remember, all that information is from one individual's personal observations, and there's always a chance that some new information might come along and have to be looked at. And of course, never forget Rule Number One - "the most consistent thing about Coach is their inconsistency".

If you want confirmation, try looking at a few thousand bags and keeping notes.

 

[whateve]

Some plants still used the old creed stamps with the location on the bottom line until early in 1996. I haven't been able to narrow it down to an exact month but in general the larger older plants B, C and D should have mostly changed over by early 1995. The Guide was already written when I started finding some older creeds being used into 1995 and even 1996, but since I'm not the owner of the Guides I can't make any corrections.

Remember, all that information is from one individual's personal observations, and there's always a chance that some new information might come along and have to be looked at. And of course, never forget Rule Number One - "the most consistent thing about Coach is their inconsistency".

Thank you! That seems consistent with the bags I own.

 

[m3rma1d]

Hi everybody. I have a question, and I have no idea where else to post it. Most Coach satchels, like the Ashley and the Sabrina for instance, have two thin strips of leather attached to the bottom like this. My question is... are they supposed to come off? I just bought a Coach from eBay, and I didn't realize until it was too late that one side of one of the pieces looks like it's ripped off... and it's just kind of hanging. Am I going to have to send it away to be fixed?
]

They're there to slip the long strap thru when you're carrying it satchel-style (so that it's not dangling down/flopping back & forth).... Yeah you should prolly get it fixed.

 

[Hyacinth]

Hi everybody. I have a question, and I have no idea where else to post it. Most Coach satchels, like the Ashley and the Sabrina for instance, have two thin strips of leather attached to the bottom like this. My question is... are they supposed to come off? I just bought a Coach from eBay, and I didn't realize until it was too late that one side of one of the pieces looks like it's ripped off... and it's just kind of hanging. Am I going to have to send it away to be fixed?

This is what I bought:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221081197736?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_898

This place can be confusing for new posters. General questions like yours should be posted in the main Coach forum. This particular thread is for questions about what does or doesn't indicate that a Coach item is authentic. Thanks!

 

[Hyacinth]

Not a fake number, but fakes are showing up with phony price tags showing a variety of different style numbers but with the abbreviated description "EMB OP PAT LEAH" short for Embossed Op Art Patent Leah.

A genuine bag with that description should look something like the one below which is style number 13178 although there are several sizes with different numbers. Anything that doesn't or that isn't made of embossed (stamped) patent leather needs to be authenticated at the Authenticate This Coach thread needs to be looked at carefully, and should NEVER be bought or bid on until it's been authenticated.

 

[Catshandbags767]

I have a coach Kristen hobo in the teal color. I was wondering if on coach handbags all the c's had to be aligned across the seams. On my bag they are aligned across the seams on the front but on the back they are off. Is this something to be concerned about?
Thank you

 

[Hyacinth]

I have a coach Kristen hobo in the teal color. I was wondering if on coach handbags all the c's had to be aligned across the seams. On my bag they are aligned across the seams on the front but on the back they are off. Is this something to be concerned about?
Thank you

I'm not familiar with the fabric Kristins, but you may want to check Ebay for other bags with the same style number. Coach sometimes doesn't center the patterns on the backs of some bags.

If you need the bag authenticated you can post photos at the Authenticate This Coach thread but we don't have a full-time expert in recent bags at the moment.