answers to AUTHENTICITY questions!!!

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#722
YellowSock said:
My g/f purchased a Coach Field briefcase for me on ebay and it arrived, today. The leather look is of decent quality but it certainly doesn't look like it is 25 years old as the seller has claimed. There are just some inconsistencies that I see that I can't get past. I have tons of pictures and if it was just one thing that I thought was off, I'd let it go but it's a lot. I have located a bullseye on the tag which I know indicates that it is a factory bag but I still can't imagine Coach letting this bag walk out the door, so to speak. I have a black vintage cross body in the same style and it has brass eyelets which are consistent with genuine Coach bags and I've not ever seen such poor stamping on a serial number and although I haven't found evidence to the contrary it seems strange that the seams on the bottom of the bag are so far off from one another. I hope that I am just being paranoid but something just doesn't seem right. I'd rather be wrong and apologize than walk around carrying a Foach. I hope the attachment below will work. Thanks!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4406162270319.2182712.1176526713&type=3
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The is an information-only thread, not for authenticating. Please wait while one of the Mods transfers your question to the Authenticate This Coach thread and hopefully our briefcase expert will be able to give you an answer. Thanks!
 
#725
kallison said:
(note: if there is something i missed, or that needs to be elaborated on, please correct me!)

Alright, I figured we could use a thread to condense our knowledge of how to determine a fake.

First, NO style is exempt from being faked. Please don’t assume that, just because it is a new style, that it cannot be faked.

Second, as a generality, all-leather bags are not faked. They just are not cost efficient for the fakers. And you can usually tell real leather and the fake stuff when it’s on the entire bag (as opposed to trims, etc).


Now the little details…for signature.

The signature c’s are ALWAYS symmetrical. If there is a seam down the middle of the bag, each side is an exact mirror image of the other side. *there is a SMALL exception for the mini signature pieces, but that is only a small difference.
The symmetry is usually the most reliable way to determine a fake signature bag.
authentic:
coach133.jpg


fake:
fake1.jpg


The double c’s should touch, making what looks like a broken infinity sign. (it ends up being, basically, every other set of c’s).
authentic:
coach139.jpg


The c’s have a little “hook” to them. If they’re all completely a curve, it’s fake. (this goes for mini signature as well).

The signature is NEVER crooked or slanting. (I think there was one exception to this, that I know of, where it was at an angle…I think it was a holiday bag?)

If you are looking at a signature stripe piece, the part below the stripe should continue the part that was cut off above. (so if you take away the stripe, the two parts will fit together as a perfect c).
authentic: Coach - SIGNATURE STRIPE REVERSIBLE TOTE


Other stuff…

Check coach.com or the drilldown for pictures of how the bags are supposed to look. Familiarize yourself with authentic bags.

It’s difficult to tell in auctions, but the hardware is NOT cheap and light. It is substantial and has weight to it. The hardware is usually stamped, but that varies with each bag.

When looking at patchwork bags, there is NO variation. If there is supposed to be a pink patch by the handle, it is ALWAYS supposed to be there. They are not individual patchworks.

Hangtags match the leather on the bag (ie, no vachetta and a red hangtag). Just having a hangtag is NOT proof of authenticity. These are very easy to swipe…and you can easily get replacements from coach.
authentic:
coach134.jpg


There are some bags that do not have leather hangtags, but are metal. These are NOT cheap feeling, either. It isn’t enough to determine authenticity by just looking at a hangtag.
authentic:
coach143.jpg


The stitching is even and neat. Coach does NOT make sloppy bags with uneven stitching or send out sloppily made bags.

Dustbags come in two main looks. The outlet bag is white with red lettering, while the full-price one is brown with red lettering. Both say “COACH est. 1941” and have a red drawstring. (It is notable that the outlet bags are much thinner than the ones you get at a full-price store). There are special edition dustbags out there for certain bags, but they do NOT look cheap.
authentic:
coach142.jpg



All BAGS have a serial number. Smaller items, like wristlets, do not. the creed is never crooked and the words are always spaced evenly.
authentic:
coach135.jpg


authentic:
coach137.jpg


Signature bags do NOT have signature linings.

Coach does indeed have outlets (bags purchased there will have factory tags- and, usually, the bullseye stamp on the creed or somewhere else). These are NOT seconds- they are the same quality as full-price stores. If a seller is claiming to sell seconds, or that they were purchased wholesale, it's a 99.9% chance they are fake.

Factory stores do sell bags that are occasionally a bit “beat up” (like floor models), but these are at a greater discount. As a whole, these are not available often.


The auction itself…

If you are looking on ioffer, just assume it's fake. While there ARE authentic bags there, the fakes outnumber them BIG TIME!

Look at the price. Is it a BIN for less than $100 on a brand new bag? Chances are it’s fake (or someone is pretty desperate for money, but that’s doubtful!)

Is it a “one day only” auction? Chances are it’s a fake.

How is the sellers feedback? Do they have negatives for selling fakes?

How are the pictures? If they are blurry, not detailed, or stock pictures, be cautious. Ask the seller for additional, clear pictures- if they do not respond, it’s best to stay away.

Are there large quantities of the bag/wallet/key fob available? Coach (full-price and factory) usually limit quantities- so the chance of a seller having 40 of the same bag is pretty unlikely.

As always, if you are not sure, PLEASE post in our AUTHENTICATE THIS! sticky at the top of the page. Better to be safe than sorry!!!
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Can you please tell me if Coach made a sateen kakhi signature with gold trim in the Ashley collection. It's a satchel I'm looking for.
 
#726
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#728
cheapskate said:
What does a style # ending in E indicate? I'm guessing this is not a new question, but I've searched to no avail.
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Coach has started using various letters to indicate which retailer an item was made for, but Katev's Guide posted at the reference thread doesn't list that letter yet.
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-re...coach-product-grades-and-markings-738785.html

And except for the letter P, only very recent styles should have a letter at the end. If that appears in an older bag you need to post photos at the Authenticate This Coach thread.
 
#729
#730
I am looking at an ad on Craigslist right now where the seller admits that the bag and shoes they are selling are fakes. Price is $60 for each item. Do I report the ad?
 
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#731
iNeedCoffee said:
I am looking at an ad on Craigslist right now where the seller admits that the bag and shoes they are selling are fakes. Price is $60 for each item. Do I report the ad?
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Yes. It's illegal to sell fakes even if the seller says up front that the items are fake. The law is written to protect the original holder of the trademark or copyright, NOT any potential buyers. A fake Coach item violates Coach's legally protected trademarks and that's what the law is made for, not to protect a buyer of the fake from being cheated, so it doesn't matter if the buyer knows it's fake or not as long as the original rights holder does.

It's probably easier for people to understand when copyrights for music or movies are involved. Most people know that the studios and original copyright holders are the ones who push most strongly for their rights to be protected. They're not concerned with the chance of someone ELSE buying an illegal copy of a cd or dvd and being cheated, it's their OWN rights and income that are being damaged and they're actually the ones taking legal action thru the anti-counterfeiting laws.

Please report the fake thru the "Prohibited" link on the Craigslist page.
 
#732
Hyacinth said:
Yes. It's illegal to sell fakes even if the seller says up front that the items are fake. The law is written to protect the original holder of the trademark or copyright, NOT any potential buyers. A fake Coach item violates Coach's legally protected trademarks and that's what the law is made for, not to protect a buyer of the fake from being cheated, so it doesn't matter if the buyer knows it's fake or not as long as the original rights holder does.

It's probably easier for people to understand when copyrights for music or movies are involved. Most people know that the studios and original copyright holders are the ones who push most strongly for their rights to be protected. They're not concerned with the chance of someone ELSE buying an illegal copy of a cd or dvd and being cheated, it's their OWN rights and income that are being damaged and they're actually the ones taking legal action thru the anti-counterfeiting laws.

Please report the fake thru the "Prohibited" link on the Craigslist page.
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Thank you, Hyacinth! Will do.
 
#734
final_escapex said:
i was wondering if this was real or fake

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170918923543

first time buying a branded name online. according to seller it comes with satchet bag summer 2006 patchwork model #10004. please help thanks!
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Please post all questions about specific items to be authenticated in the Authenticate This Coach thread. Thanks!

Use the POST REPLY button right above the text box near the bottom of the most recent page of posts.

BTW, the seller doesn't say it comes with a sachet. She says that she has the matching SATCHEL listed separately. All you're buying is the small wristlet measuring about 7 by 4 inches shown in the photos. You should never bid on any item without a clear description including the actual measurements.
 
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#735
Hyacinth said:
Please post all questions about specific items to be authenticated in the Authenticate This Coach thread. Thanks!

Use the POST REPLY button right above the text box near the bottom of the most recent page of posts.

BTW, the seller doesn't say it comes with a sachet. She says that she has the matching SATCHEL listed separately. All you're buying is the small wristlet measuring about 7 by 4 inches shown in the photos. You should never bid on any item without a clear description including the actual measurements.
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oospies sorry!!~ didn't know there was different threads & thanks for the reply!
But, in response to your reply, I know I was only buying the wristlet. I meant that the wristlet had a matching/came with satchel. My mistake; bad wording. thanks again~
 
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