answers to AUTHENTICITY questions!!!

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#1,156
Zuggy said:
I have 1 general question and 1 more specific one.

I've attached a pic of a creed with an "N" stamped on it? I've seen the bullseye {obviously} and have seen "X" but never an "N". What does that mean....assuming the bag is authentic.

2nd, I'm considering purchasing a bag with a Z as part of the creed. I have a 2008 version of this bag that doesn't have a Z. This Z bag is IDENTICAL in every way to the one I currently have except the production year was 2010, it's got the Z and the style # is different.

Is it possible that Coach made a full price bag in 2008 then made it again in 2010 for a different market?

TIA!!
Click to expand...
1. The N stamp indicates that the bag came from Nordstrom

2. I believe your theory is 100% right. From what I've seen, Coach brought back older styles for the discount department stores and to indicate those items, the styles have a Z in front of them. I've seen Z bags at Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, Marshalls and similar discounters.
 
#1,157
Hi Everyone;

I have a question. Is it safe to purchase an "authentic" purse from a store from Amazon?

I don't mean from an independent person, but a store? Or is it like eBay, buyer beware? I've been reading reviews, however I assume the shop owner could be putting reviews about themselves on their own purchases. :nogood:

How do you know you are getting an authentic purse?

Thank you and I'm sorry if this is a silly question or has been asked before.

Real or Faux
 
#1,158
Real or Faux said:
Hi Everyone;

I have a question. Is it safe to purchase an "authentic" purse from a store from Amazon?

I don't mean from an independent person, but a store? Or is it like eBay, buyer beware? I've been reading reviews, however I assume the shop owner could be putting reviews about themselves on their own purchases. :nogood:

How do you know you are getting an authentic purse?

Thank you and I'm sorry if this is a silly question or has been asked before.

Real or Faux
Click to expand...

On Amazon, you don't buy Coaches FROM Amazon, you buy from 3rd party sellers. Some of them may be selling genuine bags and some of them aren't. Unfortunately in many listings they use stock photos and don't show actual pictures of the bag you'll be receiving. Amazon is NOT an authorized Coach reseller so you have to take your chances that the seller is honest and that you'll be able to get your money back if an item turns out to be fake. And AFAIK they don't require sellers of highly-faked items like handbags to post actual photos of the item for sale either, so trying to authenticate a bag from a photo can be impossible. We regularly remind members to avoid buying from sellers who don't show clear photos of the exact bag especially the creed stamp and serial number.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-struggling-to-keep-counterfeits-off-market-retailer-says/

http://online.wsj.com/articles/on-a...se-opens-door-to-knockoffs-1399852852?tesla=y

I'm sure there are honest sellers there but Amazon has gotten a lot of bad publicity lately for practices that allow counterfeits to be sold from their site, and in a lot more categories than just purses and other fashion items. I would recommend extreme caution when buying from their 3rd party listings - in fact I wouldn't do it myself unless the seller was someone I knew and trusted.

More opinions are welcome..
 
#1,159
Hyacinth said:
On Amazon, you don't buy Coaches FROM Amazon, you buy from 3rd party sellers. Some of them may be selling genuine bags and some of them aren't. Unfortunately in many listings they use stock photos and don't show actual pictures of the bag you'll be receiving. Amazon is NOT an authorized Coach reseller so you have to take your chances that the seller is honest and that you'll be able to get your money back if an item turns out to be fake. And AFAIK they don't require sellers of highly-faked items like handbags to post actual photos of the item for sale either, so trying to authenticate a bag from a photo can be impossible. We regularly remind members to avoid buying from sellers who don't show clear photos of the exact bag especially the creed stamp and serial number.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-struggling-to-keep-counterfeits-off-market-retailer-says/

http://online.wsj.com/articles/on-a...se-opens-door-to-knockoffs-1399852852?tesla=y

I'm sure there are honest sellers there but Amazon has gotten a lot of bad publicity lately for practices that allow counterfeits to be sold from their site, and in a lot more categories than just purses and other fashion items. I would recommend extreme caution when buying from their 3rd party listings - in fact I wouldn't do it myself unless the seller was someone I knew and trusted.

More opinions are welcome..
Click to expand...

Hi Hyacinth:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Your opinion is all that I needed to sway me away from purchasing from Amazon.

Any idea where I can find North South and East West Michael Kors Hamilton totes large in black, vanilla and animal print?

I can't seem to find them except on Amazon, although I can't find the animal print anywhere. ;)

Thanks again,

Real or Faux
 
#1,160
Real or Faux said:
Hi Hyacinth:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Your opinion is all that I needed to sway me away from purchasing from Amazon.

Any idea where I can find North South and East West Michael Kors Hamilton totes large in black, vanilla and animal print?

I can't seem to find them except on Amazon, although I can't find the animal print anywhere. ;)

Thanks again,

Real or Faux
Click to expand...

Did you ask at the Michael Kors forum?
http://forum.purseblog.com/michael-kors/
 
#1,162
BeenBurned said:
1. The N stamp indicates that the bag came from Nordstrom

2. I believe your theory is 100% right. From what I've seen, Coach brought back older styles for the discount department stores and to indicate those items, the styles have a Z in front of them. I've seen Z bags at Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, Marshalls and similar discounters.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info, it's really very helpful!!:ty:

Do you have any experience with Z bags? The bag that I'm considering is absolutely identical to the full price version...or it suuuuure looks exact from the photos. I guess I'm just wondering if the quality will be there like it is on the one I currently own.
 
#1,163
Real or Faux said:
Hi Everyone;

I have a question. Is it safe to purchase an "authentic" purse from a store from Amazon?

I don't mean from an independent person, but a store? Or is it like eBay, buyer beware? I've been reading reviews, however I assume the shop owner could be putting reviews about themselves on their own purchases. :nogood:

How do you know you are getting an authentic purse?

Thank you and I'm sorry if this is a silly question or has been asked before.

Real or Faux
Click to expand...

I've purchased 2 Coach bags from Amazon 3rd party sellers so far this year. I admit that I was a bit skeptical as the first bag I bought was made in 2011 and listed as new with tags. I really flip flopped and then realized that Amazon has a buyer guarantee with their A-Z program. I decided I had nothing to loose so I went for it knowing if was counterfeit I'd get my money back one way or the other. Turns out both were authentic and I was very pleased with the transaction.

Amazon is very customer centric and really does value their customers. I buy a lot on Amazon from 3rd party sellers and, knock wood, no issues to date.
 
#1,164
Zuggy said:
I've purchased 2 Coach bags from Amazon 3rd party sellers so far this year. I admit that I was a bit skeptical as the first bag I bought was made in 2011 and listed as new with tags. I really flip flopped and then realized that Amazon has a buyer guarantee with their A-Z program. I decided I had nothing to loose so I went for it knowing if was counterfeit I'd get my money back one way or the other. Turns out both were authentic and I was very pleased with the transaction.

Amazon is very customer centric and really does value their customers. I buy a lot on Amazon from 3rd party sellers and, knock wood, no issues to date.
Click to expand...

That's REALLY good to know! I may buy from Amazon after all. It's the only place I can find the purse that is older season and no one else has them.

THANK YOU TOO, Zuggy!

Real or Faux
 
#1,166
Hyacinth:

I wondered if your name was in connection with KEEPING UP APPEARANCES, what a terrific show! I have the collection, LOL!

When I posted on the Michael Kors board I was given an infraction for breaking the TOS, accidentally of course (wearing the dunce hat of shame :-( ). I "think" I know what I did, but I "think" I did it here too? Anyhow, I'm afraid to put names on anything now because I could get into trouble and have my membership revoked and I don't want that to happen.

I better stick to shopping in department stores rather than online because I'll be taking chances from buying online, unless it's from a reputable department store.

Real or Faux
 
#1,167
Real or Faux said:


When I posted on the Michael Kors board I was given an infraction for breaking the TOS, accidentally of course (wearing the dunce hat of shame :-( ). I "think" I know what I did, but I "think" I did it here too? Anyhow, I'm afraid to put names on anything now because I could get into trouble and have my membership revoked and I don't want that to happen.

I better stick to shopping in department stores rather than online because I'll be taking chances from buying online, unless it's from a reputable department store.

Real or Faux
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what it was you posted on the MK subforum so without seeing your post, I'm speculating in my advice.

Some brand subforums are stricter than others here in how they'll answer questions or requests.

Some brands won't authenticate (nor do the rules specifically allow) for sellers because the theory is that if a person is selling, she can afford to have it professionally authenticated. However with Coach, Dooney and some others, the authenticators will answer most questions as long as a seller isn't promoting or authenticating her own items on a regular basis. My thinking (and I believe that of the other Coach authenticators) is that in helping a seller avoid listing a fake, we're also protecting a buyer from getting a fake.

If you were looking for an MK item, there's usually a ISO category in more brands but you aren't allowed to post your email address since buying and selling aren't allowed here. If you did that, you may have been warned because those types of posts might be perceived as solicitation.
 
#1,168
BeenBurned said:
I'm not sure what it was you posted on the MK subforum so without seeing your post, I'm speculating in my advice.

Some brand subforums are stricter than others here in how they'll answer questions or requests.

Some brands won't authenticate (nor do the rules specifically allow) for sellers because the theory is that if a person is selling, she can afford to have it professionally authenticated. However with Coach, Dooney and some others, the authenticators will answer most questions as long as a seller isn't promoting or authenticating her own items on a regular basis. My thinking (and I believe that of the other Coach authenticators) is that in helping a seller avoid listing a fake, we're also protecting a buyer from getting a fake.

If you were looking for an MK item, there's usually a ISO category in more brands but you aren't allowed to post your email address since buying and selling aren't allowed here. If you did that, you may have been warned because those types of posts might be perceived as solicitation.
Click to expand...

Hi BeenBurned:

Oh no, I said something along the lines "It was recommended to me by a member not to purchase from "A" due to authentication issues and possible fakes. Since there were third party sellers with stock photos on the site, I will stick to large department store for purchases."

Members of that particular forum were talking about sales and I inquired about a good place to find a particular designer bag. I could have posted on the wrong board, however, no one tagged my post asking where to purchase the purse in question, only the post regarding purchasing from large department stores was tagged.

I still am not sure what I posted that was so wrong, but I'll be more careful next time.

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

Real or Faux
 
#1,169
L04M-1894

I didn't find a reference to this serial number but it's been showing up on a number of fakes in a variety of different styles.

Style 1894 should be a hamptons tote. (There may also be fakes that appear to be the "correct" style, though most are different styles:
 

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#1,170
I have a question about the Penelope Hippie crossbody.

I see the listings on Ebay, and also images on the Web about this bag. In some the strap has like a shoulder piece, in others it doesn't and the bags (to me) look real in both cases, even having some of them the Coach price tags attached.

Did they put the shoulder piece in some and in others (perhaps Factory), they didn't?

Thanks.

Sample of the straps.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-Penel...668?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item58b1383824


http://www.ebay.com/itm/NWT-COACH-P...510?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item27e5028e4e
 
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