Authenticate This COACH - **see first post for format**

[Vlad]

IMPORTANT READ-ME

Please post authenticity questions related to COACH in this thread. No PMs please.
For further information, please refer to the first post on page 1 of this thread.

Please follow the following requests:

• Before you submit a request for authentication, please search this thread to make sure that the item has not previously been authenticated by searching the seller ID and/or item number. This is not a thread to ask general questions about COACH, please refer to our main Coach forum for such information.
• Note that authenticators have the right to refuse any requests. This is a free service, but it is imperative that you help our authenticators by using the following format:
• FOR ITEMS LISTED ONLINE:
  Item:
  Listing number:
  Seller and site where listed
  Link:
  Comments:
  
  
• FOR ITEMS NOT LISTED ONLINE:
  Item:
  Where purchased or how obtained
  Comments:

BASIC PICTURES REQUIRED (but more may be requested): If necessary pictures are in the listing, it's not necessary to upload and duplicate them.

• Front of item
• Back of item
• Full clear and legible creed text and serial number
• Made in tags (when available)
• Measurements
• For bags with turnlock closures, show pictures of back of female side of turnlock
• For bags with magnetic snaps, show pictures of the male part of the snap so that the numbers and letters on it can be read
• If applicable, search interior of bag and/or pockets for small white tag with production information and include a picture of that.

Thank you and be safe!

 

[houseof999]

I'm REALLY uncomfortable with the creed and serial number. The regular stamps from the C plant are noticeably different in the fonts used and the quality of the stamping. This creed stamp looks like it was made by someone in their garage. The creed letters are different sizes, the widths of the letters are different - some are very round while others look like they've been squeezed from both sides. We've seem identical problems with other creed stamps and they've been inside fake bags, including one with a 1998 year code and very fake magnetic snap. I don't feel that this one is genuine.

For instance, the black #9062 below has a genuine creed and serial number stamping from the same plant and month that's shown in the red bag you're asking about. But compare the differences especially in the quality of the creed stamp itself, not to mention the difference in fonts of both the creed stamp and serial number.

Wow the difference is night and day! Thank you so much! I was like what a deal! Um hmm, I see why.

 

[BeenBurned]

I'm REALLY uncomfortable with the creed and serial number. The regular stamps from the C plant are noticeably different in the fonts used and the quality of the stamping. This creed stamp looks like it was made by someone in their garage. The creed letters are different sizes, the widths of the letters are different - some are very round while others look like they've been squeezed from both sides. We've seem identical problems with other creed stamps and they've been inside fake bags, including one with a 1998 year code and very fake magnetic snap. I don't feel that this one is genuine.

For instance, the black #9062 below has a genuine creed and serial number stamping from the same plant and month that's shown in the red bag you're asking about. But compare the differences especially in the quality of the creed stamp itself, not to mention the difference in fonts of both the creed stamp and serial number.

Wow the difference is night and day! Thank you so much! I was like what a deal! Um hmm, I see why.

LOL! I was going to be a lot more definitive in my opinion than Hyacinth's polite and conservative one!

And as further proof that the bag from Klith on Mercari is fake are a couple more creeds to compare, different months but same year and plant:

This is from a month earlier than Klith's bag would have been:

And from 2 months earlier than the Mercari bag would have been:

It looks like Coach might have changed the stamping mechanism after May of 1999/beginning in June, 1999. The following two creeds, also authentic have slightly different stamps than those above, but correct as compared to each other. (They're from prior to June, 1999.)

February, 1999:

May 1999:

 

[RL Bernstein]

LOL! I was going to be a lot more definitive in my opinion than Hyacinth's polite and conservative one!

Don't you just love it when sellers, upon being told that what they have is fake, respond by lowering the price and removing the photo(s) of evidence (in this case, the offending creed tag). I guess that's behavior one can expect in the wild-west marketplaces where there seems to be no adult supervision (or scruples either for that matter).

 

[BeenBurned]

Don't you just love it when sellers, upon being told that what they have is fake, respond by lowering the price and removing the photo(s) of evidence (in this case, the offending creed tag). I guess that's behavior one can expect in the wild-west marketplaces where there seems to be no adult supervision (or scruples either for that matter).

In this case, Klith hasn't removed the picture of the creed. it's still there as well as the post informing her that the bag is fake:
https://item.mercari.com/gl/m709480426/

 

[RL Bernstein]

In this case, Klith hasn't removed the picture of the creed. it's still there as well as the post informing her that the bag is fake:
https://item.mercari.com/gl/m709480426/
View attachment 3471716

Interesting. When I launched the listing a half hour ago, it was showing as $10 + $6 shipping, no creed tag photo, and I noticed the recent message from Ben Burned. Wonder why the revision was so shortlived?

And are we having a run on dubious red #9086 bags?
Item: VTG Coach Purse Red Leather Hobo Bag Bucket Adj. Strap As-Is
Seller: samgr07 (7808 )
Listing: 381780728047
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-Coach-P...728047?hash=item58e3e798ef:g:ppEAAOSwYIxX4YWQ

 

[JOODLZ]

Could someone please authenticate this Coach bag?
From GW...been on my holy grail list for years!
Approx. 9"w x 10.5"h x 5.25"d. Handle drops 3.5". Straps drop 21" to base of bag.
Should be a 2001 Daypack #9791, right? Oh, and I've already fixed it!!!
Thanks in advance, as always

 

[BeenBurned]

Interesting. When I launched the listing a half hour ago, it was showing as $10 + $6 shipping, no creed tag photo, and I noticed the recent message from Ben Burned. Wonder why the revision was so shortlived?

And are we having a run on dubious red #9086 bags?
Item: VTG Coach Purse Red Leather Hobo Bag Bucket Adj. Strap As-Is
Seller: samgr07 (7808 )
Listing: 381780728047
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-Coach-P...728047?hash=item58e3e798ef:g:ppEAAOSwYIxX4YWQ

Weird. Your link doesn't work because somehow, a smiley broke it.

Here's samgr07 's listing for the fake J8Y bag:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Handbags-Purses/63852/m.html?_ssn=samgr07

(For the record, I reported 2 fake Coach bags from the seller on February 6, both removed. I wonder if this is one of them.)

 

[BeenBurned]

Could someone please authenticate this Coach bag?
From GW...been on my holy grail list for years!
Approx. 9"w x 10.5"h x 5.25"d. Handle drops 3.5". Straps drop 21" to base of bag.
Should be a 2001 Daypack #9791, right? View attachment 3471751 View attachment 3471752 View attachment 3471753 View attachment 3471754 View attachment 3471755 View attachment 3471756 Oh, and I've already fixed it!!!
Thanks in advance, as always

Authentic.

 

[houseofcoach999]

Oh dear God.. Who wants the poshmark fiasco update? (I have a new ID cuz my phone is lost as of 11:30 am and haven't found it anywhere and can't log in with my tapatalk ID here for some reason)
Anywho, good news is they finally cancelled my order and decided to refund me as a "one time courtesy". Bad news? They still believe the trail case is authentic coach. Can we all do an eyeroll together now? I am not going to paraphrase because it takes all the fun out of it..

Elana replied:
Hi **********,

We are following up with you regarding order #57c08257***********. We have received this item at our offices and it has been carefully reviewed by our qualified Coach authenticators. Please note that although some of the characteristics are not typical of a contemporary Coach bag, the item is consistent with an authentic Vintage Coach Trail Bag 9955. With regard to the serial number prefix, please also note that in 1994 Coach serial numbers were only supposed to include only A through M, however a few mistakes were made and other letters were printed as well.

As a one-time courtesy, we have gone ahead and cancelled this order for a full refund to be issued back to your original payment method. A separate email with the refund details will be sent to the email address associated with your Poshmark account.

We hope this helps clear things up. Happy Poshing!
Best,
Elana

So they still refuse to acknowledge it was a counterfeit item and blames it on Coach for making a "few mistakes".

I am done with them! I was giving them a chance to admit they were wrong but they are just too...whatever.. you get the rest.

TPF Authenticators, what "few mistakes" are they referring to? I am not aware of any except some plants that didn't follow the rules about using the letter I.

 

[BeenBurned]

Oh dear God.. Who wants the poshmark fiasco update? (I have a new ID cuz my phone is lost as of 11:30 am and haven't found it anywhere and can't log in with my tapatalk ID here for some reason)
Anywho, good news is they finally cancelled my order and decided to refund me as a "one time courtesy". Bad news? They still believe the trail case is authentic coach. Can we all do an eyeroll together now? I am not going to paraphrase because it takes all the fun out of it..

Elana replied:
Hi **********,

We are following up with you regarding order #57c08257***********. We have received this item at our offices and it has been carefully reviewed by our qualified Coach authenticators. Please note that although some of the characteristics are not typical of a contemporary Coach bag, the item is consistent with an authentic Vintage Coach Trail Bag 9955. With regard to the serial number prefix, please also note that in 1994 Coach serial numbers were only supposed to include only A through M, however a few mistakes were made and other letters were printed as well.

As a one-time courtesy, we have gone ahead and cancelled this order for a full refund to be issued back to your original payment method. A separate email with the refund details will be sent to the email address associated with your Poshmark account.

We hope this helps clear things up. Happy Poshing!
Best,
Elana

So they still refuse to acknowledge it was a counterfeit item and blames it on Coach for making a "few mistakes".

I am done with them! I was giving them a chance to admit they were wrong but they are just too...whatever.. you get the rest.

TPF Authenticators, what "few mistakes" are they referring to? I am not aware of any except some plants that didn't follow the rules about using the letter I.

Elana and her "qualified Coach authenticators" are despicable, stubborn and most of all, WRONG!!

I don't know (nor do I want to know) who they use for their authentications but clearly, they aren't qualified and I doubt this is their first mistake nor will it be their last.

Between all the fakes on Poshmark that they don't remove and this obvious fake that was disputed and incorrectly and repeatedly deemed as genuine, I will not help this site (and by extension its members) in authenticating items listed there.

While I understand that some of you have had good experiences there but for those who aren't happy that I refused to authenticate a previous listing, what if I had done so and you found yourself in the same position as @houseof999 ? You would buy, receive and dispute and VERY obvious fake and lose a dispute because of Poshmarks team of non-experts?

Again, after reading the above letter from Elana and her insistence that the bag is authentic, I'll repeat my stance of not helping on that site and in fact, will recommend against Poshmark. Of course as a member, you have the right to spend your money anywhere and anyhow you please. But if they mess up as they did with House0f999, they'll do it again and it might happen to you!

 

[Hyacinth]

Oh dear God.. Who wants the poshmark fiasco update? (I have a new ID cuz my phone is lost as of 11:30 am and haven't found it anywhere and can't log in with my tapatalk ID here for some reason)
Anywho, good news is they finally cancelled my order and decided to refund me as a "one time courtesy". Bad news? They still believe the trail case is authentic coach. Can we all do an eyeroll together now? I am not going to paraphrase because it takes all the fun out of it..

Elana replied:
Hi **********,

We are following up with you regarding order #57c08257***********. We have received this item at our offices and it has been carefully reviewed by our qualified Coach authenticators. Please note that although some of the characteristics are not typical of a contemporary Coach bag, the item is consistent with an authentic Vintage Coach Trail Bag 9955. With regard to the serial number prefix, please also note that in 1994 Coach serial numbers were only supposed to include only A through M, however a few mistakes were made and other letters were printed as well.

As a one-time courtesy, we have gone ahead and cancelled this order for a full refund to be issued back to your original payment method. A separate email with the refund details will be sent to the email address associated with your Poshmark account.

We hope this helps clear things up. Happy Poshing!
Best,
Elana

So they still refuse to acknowledge it was a counterfeit item and blames it on Coach for making a "few mistakes".

I am done with them! I was giving them a chance to admit they were wrong but they are just too...whatever.. you get the rest.

TPF Authenticators, what "few mistakes" are they referring to? I am not aware of any except some plants that didn't follow the rules about using the letter I.

Along with the "i" mistake, some plants also scrambled the prefix digits of some bags for a while after the change to an alpha-numeric serial number format in 1994. For instance a bag that should have had an A5M- prefix might end up with 5AM- instead. Most of those showed up in Sonoma styles but could happen with others too. One or two plants also "didn't get the memo" about starting the New Year with an "A" month code instead of using "N", the next letter in the sequence. Those sometimes show up and should be posted here to be sure they're ok.

A very small scattering of newer bags even had the wrong creed descriptions, but 99.9 percent of that kind of mistake usually indicates a fake. Sometimes they'd stamp the wrong style number, and of course there's the famous Bean Bag creed of 1990. But AFAIK Coach hasn't made any spelling or punctuation mistakes that I can remember. Aside from those, the creed and serial number are just about the most dependable way to authenticate a Coach, once you figure out all the details and which ones were carved in stone (like E for the Italy plant) and which ones weren't, like plant code "M' and several others. That's why a large photo library of real and fake examples is so important.

As for the Poshmark situation, it's always up to the individual authenticator. I'll authenticate their listings but can't recommend them. As you found out, buying from them without authenticating first can be dangerous. And NONE of the mistakes I just mentioned are on the fake you bought from PM, so their rep is blowing smoke out of her bum.

 

[BeenBurned]

With regard to the serial number prefix, please also note that in 1994 Coach serial numbers were only supposed to include only A through M, however a few mistakes were made and other letters were printed as well.
Best,
Elana

So they still refuse to acknowledge it was a counterfeit item and blames it on Coach for making a "few mistakes".

I am done with them! I was giving them a chance to admit they were wrong but they are just too...whatever.. you get the rest.

TPF Authenticators, what "few mistakes" are they referring to? I am not aware of any except some plants that didn't follow the rules about using the letter I.

BTW, I'm glad you're done with them.

Some of the "mistakes" they might be referring to have been:

• Using "I" and "N" as month codes -- Month codes are alpha characters and because "I" was too easily confused with "1" they generally skipped "I" and jumped to "J" for September. And there have been a few cases where "N" was mistakenly used for a December bag. It's rare but in few cases, often with a new plant, mistakes happened. But P, R, S, T were NEVER used, mistakes or not.
  
• Some authentic bags have "bean bag" creeds, creeds that were put on bean bag paperweights. There was a short time where the wrong text was used. But most bags with "bean bag" creeds are fake. All bags with bean bag creeds should be looked at and authenticated.
• Transposition of the month and year codes on some Sonoma bags. So instead of Letter-number the prefix of the creed was Number-Letter.
  
• This list of Coach mistakes isn't all-inclusive

Buyers should be aware that counterfeiters also make some of the same and different mistakes so any questionable item should be checked.

But the mistake of the P month code is NOT a legitimate mistake that Coach made. That's a mistake that the counterfeiters made.


ETA: Hyacinth has faster fingers than I!

 

[Hyacinth]

BTW, I'm glad you're done with them.

Some of the "mistakes" they might be referring to have been:

• Using "I" and "N" as month codes -- Month codes are alpha characters and because "I" was too easily confused with "1" they generally skipped "I" and jumped to "J" for September. And there have been a few cases where "N" was mistakenly used for a December bag. It's rare but in few cases, often with a new plant, mistakes happened. But P, R, S, T were NEVER used, mistakes or not.
  
• Some authentic bags have "bean bag" creeds, creeds that were put on bean bag paperweights. There was a short time where the wrong text was used. But most bags with "bean bag" creeds are fake. All bags with bean bag creeds should be looked at and authenticated.
• Transposition of the month and year codes on some Sonoma bags. So instead of Letter-number the prefix of the creed was Number-Letter.
  
• This list of Coach mistakes isn't all-inclusive

Buyers should be aware that counterfeiters also make some of the same and different mistakes so any questionable item should be checked.

But the mistake of the P month code is NOT a legitimate mistake that Coach made. That's a mistake that the counterfeiters made.


ETA: Hyacinth has faster fingers than I!

Yep, I've been exercising them!

 

[Catbird9]

Oh dear God.. Who wants the poshmark fiasco update? (I have a new ID cuz my phone is lost as of 11:30 am and haven't found it anywhere and can't log in with my tapatalk ID here for some reason)
Anywho, good news is they finally cancelled my order and decided to refund me as a "one time courtesy". Bad news? They still believe the trail case is authentic coach. Can we all do an eyeroll together now? I am not going to paraphrase because it takes all the fun out of it..

Elana replied:
Hi **********,

We are following up with you regarding order #57c08257***********. We have received this item at our offices and it has been carefully reviewed by our qualified Coach authenticators. Please note that although some of the characteristics are not typical of a contemporary Coach bag, the item is consistent with an authentic Vintage Coach Trail Bag 9955. With regard to the serial number prefix, please also note that in 1994 Coach serial numbers were only supposed to include only A through M, however a few mistakes were made and other letters were printed as well.

As a one-time courtesy, we have gone ahead and cancelled this order for a full refund to be issued back to your original payment method. A separate email with the refund details will be sent to the email address associated with your Poshmark account.

We hope this helps clear things up. Happy Poshing!
Best,
Elana

So they still refuse to acknowledge it was a counterfeit item and blames it on Coach for making a "few mistakes".

I am done with them! I was giving them a chance to admit they were wrong but they are just too...whatever.. you get the rest.

TPF Authenticators, what "few mistakes" are they referring to? I am not aware of any except some plants that didn't follow the rules about using the letter I.

Thanks for posting the follow-up.

That bag had other problems in addition to the P month code. The factory code was P but the creed said Made in the United States. The ring on the zipper pull had the little crosspiece on one side of the ring. The bag wouldn't hang right side up. Plenty of red flags that Poshmark's "authenticator" chose to dismiss.

Anyway, I'm glad you got refunded and are done with that ordeal!

 

[BeenBurned]

In this case, Klith hasn't removed the picture of the creed. it's still there as well as the post informing her that the bag is fake:
https://item.mercari.com/gl/m709480426/
View attachment 3471716

View attachment 3471717

Interesting. When I launched the listing a half hour ago, it was showing as $10 + $6 shipping, no creed tag photo, and I noticed the recent message from Ben Burned. Wonder why the revision was so shortlived?

Mercari isn't much better than Poshmark! I can't even find a "report" button there! Does anyone know how to report on Mercari?

@RL Bernstein - You must be psychic! Although I missed the reduced price and removed creed picture, the seller Klith has proven her lack of integrity and ethics.

She removed the comment from Ben Burned telling her that the bag isn't authentic. IMO, an honest seller would have ended the listing.




She also removed "Coach" as the brand in her item specifics: