answers to AUTHENTICITY questions!!!

[Hyacinth]

And in our continuing battle for Truth, Justice and The American Way...

J8H- Serial Number Prefixes -

So far it seems like every one we've seen and examined in the last few years has been fake. There's a very small chance that there may be a few genuine ones but I seriously doubt it, unless we can examine them VERY carefully and they pass muster. If there actually are genuine ones, they would seem to be vastly outnumbered by the fakes.

So along with J8P- and J8Y- prefixes, I'm adding J8H- to the Always Fake List if it's not there already. Please post in the separate Authenticate This Coach thread if anyone has a Coach with this prefix that they believe to be genuine:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-sh...oach-read-1st-page-before-posting-889527.html

 

[Profmom1]

Can anyone tell me if the serial number G0769-11479 is a legitimate one? I believe it is but want to be sure. If i understand the system correctly, does this number mean the bag is from 2007? Obviously I am a Coach newbie. Thank you!

 

[BeenBurned]

Can anyone tell me if the serial number G0769-11479 is a legitimate one? I believe it is but want to be sure. If i understand the system correctly, does this number mean the bag is from 2007? Obviously I am a Coach newbie. Thank you!

Fake bags can have "legitimate" serial numbers so even if a bag has what seems to be a genuine number (and even if the number matches the style of the bag it's on), the bag can be fake.

If you have a bag, you'll need to post an authenticity request here. Refer to the first post for the format and info/pictures we need.
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-sh...-page-before-posting-889527.html#post27792584

 

[Hyacinth]

About turnlock "indentations"

We'll often talk about "indentations" on the back of a turnlock as being a red flag. What we mean is the back part of the 2-piece oval plate assembly that clamps with small v-shaped prongs to the flap of the bag and that the "male" part of the turnlock goes through. The indentations where the prongs are designed to fit into are the potential red flags. Coach has NEVER used rear plates with indentations for the prongs as original hardware on any of their handbags.

BE CAREFUL, though. Some aftermarket replacement non-Coach turnlocks DO have indentations, so indents by themselves should never be used as the only proof that a purse is real or fake.

Also, starting in 1996 Coach changed the shape of the turnlocks on their Briefcases and other business bag to make them almost rectangular, and genuine briefcase turnlocks from that year or newer WILL have indentations on the back. Please don't report those.

Here are a few photos, in the top set of 2 examples the top one shows what we mean by indentations or indents and the second example is from a genuine Coach. The bottom photo is from a genuine Coach briefcase with the squared turnlock.

Hope this helps.

 

[BeenBurned]

I've come across my second very close fake today, one of a style that although I've seen it faked, I'd not seen it this close.

Beware that some fakes of style 12215 are close. Please be sure to have bags of this style authenticated.

(Credit the pictures of the authentic bag to an ebay seller's listing.)

The following pictures show side by side comparisons. The pictures on the left is fake and the comps are on the right.

 

[Hyacinth]

Thanks, BB - great comparison.

 

[carou]

Hi can someone help me to authenticate this Coach poppy daisy crossbody?

 

[Hyacinth]

Hi can someone help me to authenticate this Coach poppy daisy crossbody?

This isn't an authentication request thread. Please use the Authenticate This Coach thread and supply the photos and information requested in Post number One of that thread, just like it says in the thread title.

 

[BeenBurned]

I searched and can't find a post with this invalid serial number. Over the years, there have been quite a few fakes and in the last 2 days, there were 2 more.

S5B-9525

Here are a couple of pictures of creeds from the listings for the fakes:

From seller collectable777 :

From seller ltc_988 AKAdesignerforless988

 

[Real or Faux]

I purchased a fake Coach bag on eBay. I sort of knew it was a fake. The straps looked short and the label WAS definitely off, but I really wanted the bag badly.

When it arrived it was well made, but the label inside was definitely a fake and it was missing the key fob. So, I purchased a replacement key fob. I thought it was a real key fob, but now I think I bought a fake key fob.

Now, my entire purse is a sham! LOL! At least it matches. Fake all the way. It's a nice fake though. I must say, I'm a little ashamed that I bought it, but I still like it. It's "vintage" and not manufactured any longer.

A while ago I purchased a Coach satchel which I am sure is real. On that one I did quite a bit of homework and I researched everything about it. I had more time on my side back then, but for the purse/bag, I was in a hurry, plus there weren't a lot to chose from and the ones that were available were crappy and I needed a nice bag/purse in a hurry.

The available bags in the design I wanted were in really beat up condition because I think they were heavily used, so I settled for one that didn't have holes, creaping on it (I think that's what it's called when the leather cracks), scratches, stains, warping and the straps were in good shape and the bottom wasn't worn out. I'm happy with it, but still a little ashamed about purchasing a fake.

Included with this post are two photos of the key fob and two photos of the bag, one of the obviously fake label, which was a dead give away and one of the entire bag. In the photo of the bag, it might be obvious that the straps are not as long as the other bags of the same design. I noticed that right away and thought there was something odd about that bag.

Real or FAUX

 

[Catbird9]

I purchased a fake Coach bag on eBay. I sort of knew it was a fake. The straps looked short and the label WAS definitely off, but I really wanted the bag badly.

When it arrived it was well made, but the label inside was definitely a fake and it was missing the key fob. So, I purchased a replacement key fob. I thought it was a real key fob, but now I think I bought a fake key fob.

Now, my entire purse is a sham! LOL! At least it matches. Fake all the way. It's a nice fake though. I must say, I'm a little ashamed that I bought it, but I still like it. It's "vintage" and not manufactured any longer.

A while ago I purchased a Coach satchel which I am sure is real. On that one I did quite a bit of homework and I researched everything about it. I had more time on my side back then, but for the purse/bag, I was in a hurry, plus there weren't a lot to chose from and the ones that were available were crappy and I needed a nice bag/purse in a hurry.

The available bags in the design I wanted were in really beat up condition because I think they were heavily used, so I settled for one that didn't have holes, creaping on it (I think that's what it's called when the leather cracks), scratches, stains, warping and the straps were in good shape and the bottom wasn't worn out. I'm happy with it, but still a little ashamed about purchasing a fake.

Included with this post are two photos of the key fob and two photos of the bag, one of the obviously fake label, which was a dead give away and one of the entire bag. In the photo of the bag, it might be obvious that the straps are not as long as the other bags of the same design. I noticed that right away and thought there was something odd about that bag.

Real or FAUX

It doesn't look obviously fake to me but for a valid opinion, please post your question on

http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-sh...oach-read-1st-page-before-posting-889527.html

They'll need measurements of the bag.

 

[BeenBurned]

I purchased a fake Coach bag on eBay. I sort of knew it was a fake. The straps looked short and the label WAS definitely off, but I really wanted the bag badly.

When it arrived it was well made, but the label inside was definitely a fake and it was missing the key fob. So, I purchased a replacement key fob. I thought it was a real key fob, but now I think I bought a fake key fob.

Now, my entire purse is a sham! LOL! At least it matches. Fake all the way. It's a nice fake though. I must say, I'm a little ashamed that I bought it, but I still like it. It's "vintage" and not manufactured any longer.

A while ago I purchased a Coach satchel which I am sure is real. On that one I did quite a bit of homework and I researched everything about it. I had more time on my side back then, but for the purse/bag, I was in a hurry, plus there weren't a lot to chose from and the ones that were available were crappy and I needed a nice bag/purse in a hurry.

The available bags in the design I wanted were in really beat up condition because I think they were heavily used, so I settled for one that didn't have holes, creaping on it (I think that's what it's called when the leather cracks), scratches, stains, warping and the straps were in good shape and the bottom wasn't worn out. I'm happy with it, but still a little ashamed about purchasing a fake.

Included with this post are two photos of the key fob and two photos of the bag, one of the obviously fake label, which was a dead give away and one of the entire bag. In the photo of the bag, it might be obvious that the straps are not as long as the other bags of the same design. I noticed that right away and thought there was something odd about that bag.

Real or FAUX

It doesn't look obviously fake to me but for a valid opinion, please post your question on

http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-sh...oach-read-1st-page-before-posting-889527.html

They'll need measurements of the bag.

I hope you haven't accused the seller(s) yet of breaking the law!

The bag is authentic, the creed is correct for the time and factory and although hang tags are a little hard to authenticate, I don't see any problems with that either. I assume you're concern is with the slight misalignment of the characters in the serial number and the oversized "H" plant code. In this case, that's one of the indications that the bag is AUTHENTIC.

Since you goofed about this one, just to be sure about your other bag, you might want to post on the authentication thread. The bag you think is authentic might not be.

Even if you already received a bag, it's always a good idea to have bags looked at if you have questions.

 

[Hyacinth]

I purchased a fake Coach bag on eBay. I sort of knew it was a fake. The straps looked short and the label WAS definitely off, but I really wanted the bag badly.

When it arrived it was well made, but the label inside was definitely a fake and it was missing the key fob. So, I purchased a replacement key fob. I thought it was a real key fob, but now I think I bought a fake key fob.

Now, my entire purse is a sham! LOL! At least it matches. Fake all the way. It's a nice fake though. I must say, I'm a little ashamed that I bought it, but I still like it. It's "vintage" and not manufactured any longer.

A while ago I purchased a Coach satchel which I am sure is real. On that one I did quite a bit of homework and I researched everything about it. I had more time on my side back then, but for the purse/bag, I was in a hurry, plus there weren't a lot to chose from and the ones that were available were crappy and I needed a nice bag/purse in a hurry.

The available bags in the design I wanted were in really beat up condition because I think they were heavily used, so I settled for one that didn't have holes, creaping on it (I think that's what it's called when the leather cracks), scratches, stains, warping and the straps were in good shape and the bottom wasn't worn out. I'm happy with it, but still a little ashamed about purchasing a fake.

Included with this post are two photos of the key fob and two photos of the bag, one of the obviously fake label, which was a dead give away and one of the entire bag. In the photo of the bag, it might be obvious that the straps are not as long as the other bags of the same design. I noticed that right away and thought there was something odd about that bag.

Real or FAUX

As others have already said, please requests for authentication in the correct thread.

You say you've "researched" the two bags, but apparently you're doing your research in all the wrong places. If you're finding information from most of the so-called "authenticity guides" on the internet, you're getting garbage instead of information. WHY do you think the inside "label" - by which I'm guessing that you mean the creed stamp or the serial number - is wrong???

Your statement that the straps are too short confuses me. "Other bags of the same design" may NOT be the same as "other bags with the same STYLE NUMBER" and that's the ONLY thing you can compare any bag to - the EXACT SAME STYLE. I don't know what other styles you're comparing it to but unless they're style number 4082 you're once again using incorrect data and getting the wrong answer.

Below are pictures of the actual style 4082 Soho Bag showing the straps - please tell us why you think the strap length on yours is wrong.

And as BeenBurned has suggested, I hope you're NOT accusing anyone of selling you a fake before you've even had it authenticated! Anyone who's NOT a Coach expert and who tries to self-authenticate is just asking for problems and is going to make expensive mistakes.

 

[Real or Faux]

As others have already said, please requests for authentication in the correct thread.

You say you've "researched" the two bags, but apparently you're doing your research in all the wrong places. If you're finding information from most of the so-called "authenticity guides" on the internet, you're getting garbage instead of information. WHY do you think the inside "label" - by which I'm guessing that you mean the creed stamp or the serial number - is wrong???

Your statement that the straps are too short confuses me. "Other bags of the same design" may NOT be the same as "other bags with the same STYLE NUMBER" and that's the ONLY thing you can compare any bag to - the EXACT SAME STYLE. I don't know what other styles you're comparing it to but unless they're style number 4082 you're once again using incorrect data and getting the wrong answer.

Below are pictures of the actual style 4082 Soho Bag showing the straps - please tell us why you think the strap length on yours is wrong.

And as BeenBurned has suggested, I hope you're NOT accusing anyone of selling you a fake before you've even had it authenticated! Anyone who's NOT a Coach expert and who tries to self-authenticate is just asking for problems and is going to make expensive mistakes.

So, I got the real deal? Even though you can't read the "Coach" emblem and the authenticity code reads like rubbish? I'm thrilled. The straps may be fine. I must have been comparing it to the bags that were drooping which made the straps appear longer. Hey, I'm thrilled! THANKS EVERYONE! I GOT THE REAL DEAL! Oh, I didn't mention anyone's name, so no, I didn't tarnish anyone's reputation, but my own, apparently. The research I did came from THIS website. It's the BEST. Why is everyone attacking me? Aren't we supposed to help each other and not attack each other? I don't get it.

 

[Hyacinth]

So, I got the real deal? Even though you can't read the "Coach" emblem and the authenticity code reads like rubbish? I'm thrilled. The straps may be fine. I must have been comparing it to the bags that were drooping which made the straps appear longer. Hey, I'm thrilled! THANKS EVERYONE! I GOT THE REAL DEAL! Oh, I didn't mention anyone's name, so no, I didn't tarnish anyone's reputation, but my own, apparently. The research I did came from THIS website. It's the BEST. Why is everyone attacking me? Aren't we supposed to help each other and not attack each other? I don't get it.

There's one bad bit of information you can get from reading rubbish guides, because no one calls it an "authenticity code" except some clueless guide writers. A stamp or a few numbers can never prove anything's authentic. There's nothing wrong with either part of the stamp FOR THAT STYLE, MONTH, YEAR AND PRODUCTION PLANT. You can never compare one stamp with another unless all those details are the same between both bags.

Are you reading the very early posts in this thread? That could be one of the problems. Some of the early info posted here is almost 10 years old and either out of date or was wrong when it was posted. The Salearea Guides posted at Ebay are the best source of accurate information, you can find them at the following link. And no one's attacking you, we're trying to keep you from making mistakes. It's called Tough Love and we want to make sure you use the right information and sources if you're going to try and figure out if something's fake or not, before you think a genuine bag is actually fake and return it to the seller or throw it in the trash.

Start here:

SALEAREA GUIDES
http://search.reviews.ebay.com/members/salearea_W0QQcpnameZmembersQQprZsaleareaQQuqtZg

There are six of them and the information in them is correct except for a recent change Coach made regarding creed patches and serial numbers. If you have any questions, ask.

And you should still post photos of the second bag you bought so at least you'll know either way.