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

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#47,869
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!
 
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#23,416
ArengoKC said:
Hello! I'm a newbie at collecting vintage coach bags. Would appreciate it if somebody can help me authenticate this bag. Thank you!
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Unfortunately, that bag is fake. The most obvious telltale problem is the serial number. K3H is always an invalid prefix.

Did you buy it online? Is there a link? Can you return it for a refund?

ETA: Sorry. I posted before I finished reading and didn't notice that Hyacinth had already replied.
 
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#23,417
Hyacinth said:
Do you own it, and how long ago did you buy it?

If you read the first post in this very long thread, which you should do before authenticating ANY brand here at tPF, you would have read that we need to know when and where the bag was purchased, and if it was bought online we need a link to the listing. Please use the requested format if you need to have any other Coach item authenticated.

That bag is a complete fake. ALL SERIAL NUMBERS WE'VE EVER FOUND STARTING WITH K3H- INDICATE A FAKE. Coach never used that prefix and definitely not for any bags that say they were made in the US. There's also a big problem with the hardware.

So far, the K4H- prefixes we've seen have also all been fake, but there's an infinitesimal chance that it might have been used by Coach, but NOT in the font style that's been used on every one we've seen so far.
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Thank you so much for replying. And sorry for posting away with out noting the rules first. Will keep it in mind next time. :) This is a learning experience for me. Hope to score a genuine vintage coach next time. But in the the Philippines, where i'm from, real vintage coach bags are a little hard to come by. Thank you so much!
 
#23,418
BeenBurned said:
Unfortunately, that bag is fake. The most obvious telltale problem is the serial number. K3H is always an invalid prefix.

Did you buy it online? Is there a link? Can you return it for a refund?

ETA: Sorry. I posted before I finished reading and didn't notice that Hyacinth had already replied.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. It would have been my first vintage coach bag had it been real but i guess i just have to keep looking for one. It makes me happy to know that there is a forum like this where i can have it authenticated. Thank you so much!
 
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#23,419

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#23,422
Purple Penny said:
Thank you. I did not see the bad leather at first. I was looking from my phone in the sun at the park. I saved 2 pics and now looking at home on my computer yikes! Good to learn about the slits. The plastic part looked wavy to me.
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That's one of the problems, you'd never see something so badly made in a real Coach, especially not any of the pre-China bags. But those slits for credit cards are an absolute proof that a "Coach" wallet or any kind of bag with an Organiser panel that includes them is fake, no exceptions.
 
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#23,424
ArengoKC said:
Thank you so much for replying. And sorry for posting away with out noting the rules first. Will keep it in mind next time. :smile: This is a learning experience for me. Hope to score a genuine vintage coach next time. But in the the Philippines, where i'm from, real vintage coach bags are a little hard to come by. Thank you so much!
Click to expand...

ArengoKC said:
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. It would have been my first vintage coach bag had it been real but i guess i just have to keep looking for one. It makes me happy to know that there is a forum like this where i can have it authenticated. Thank you so much!
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Oh, dear.

Although that bag was an easy "fake" call and while I hate to be "Debby Downer" when it comes to the Philippines, we recommend extreme caution when purchasing from sellers there.(Personally, I'd recommend buying from outside of your country.)

I know we all like to do commerce in our own countries but especially for newer styles (across brands), the fakes we see are extremely close and some, nearly impossible to authenticate.

Please have any items you're considering buying looked at before purchasing.
 
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#23,425
houseof999 said:
Authenticators really appreciate when we request in the format requested on page 1.
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Ilovebutter said:
done
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Not only do we appreciate it, but it helps all of us not just authenticate, but also track shady or careless sellers who "mix" or knowingly sell fakes or who can't be bothered to authenticate, and it also helps us help someone who may have already bought a fake by advising them on the best way to get their money back or even if that's possible.

Since you're a new member, I'll suggest that ANY brand's forum here where you need an item authenticated, always read the first post in that forum's "Authenticate This xxx" for that forum's rules and requirements and follow them exactly. Some forums won't even bother authenticating if the post isn't in the required format or the poster doesn't follow the instructions to the letter.

We're a little looser here with Coach but only for first-time posters who may not have found Post Number One yet. Just a Heads-Up! And welcome to tPF :smile:
 
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#23,426
Hyacinth said:
Some forums won't even bother authenticating if the post isn't in the required format or the poster doesn't follow the instructions to the letter.

We're a little looser here with Coach but only for first-time posters who may not have found Post Number One yet. Just a Heads-Up! And welcome to tPF :smile:
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That's an understatement!

TPF consists of volunteers who donate their own time and expertise and as such, can pick and choose for whom they want to offer assistance.

Although I've never understood why, some of the authenticators won't authenticate for newbies, some won't authenticate for members who don't post on a variety of subjects elsewhere around the forum, some won't help sellers and require them to pay for professional authentications, some won't authenticate listings that have already ended and as Hyacinth pointed out, some won't authenticate unless the format is posted "correctly" and all the required pictures are included.

Please accept my welcome to TPF too.
 
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#23,427
Ilovebutter said:
Item: Coach city bag 9790 vintage

Listing number: Don't understand

Seller: LuLioVintage

Link: https://www.etsy.com/se-en/listing/...h-vintage-leather-city?ref=shop_home_active_2

Comments: I'm very interested in buying this bag. Please authenticate.
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BeenBurned said:
It's an authentic City bag from 1994.
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Hyacinth said:
Not only do we appreciate it, but it helps all of us not just authenticate, but also track shady or careless sellers who "mix" or knowingly sell fakes or who can't be bothered to authenticate,
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Oh, oh!! As Hyacinth mentioned, we like to take note of sellers who "mix" and evidently, knowingly or not, LuLioVintage has a mix of authentic as well as this fake. She doesn't show the creed but there's an obvious problem with the interior zipper pocket and her description states that the bag has a known fake serial number prefix.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/538076379/authentic-rare-vintage-coach-burgundy?ref=shop_home_active_3
 
#23,429
Hi fellow Coach lovers,

I'm new to vintage Coaches (received my first one last year and immediately fell in love). I recently purchased an envelope portfolio bag, but I'm worried that it might be fake because the leather is really stiff and some dry spots show bubbling or cracking (see photos). Not sure if real leather should do this--or if it's just really old or the way the previous owner treated it. I've included more info and photos below.

Many thanks in advance!

Item Name (if you know it): Coach Envelope Portfolio Bag #5109
Link (if available): https://poshmark.com/listing/Authentic-Classic-Coach-Envelope-Portfolio-594c0f7f2599fe24b0010274
Photos: sorry about blurriness of creed, it was hard to photograph. It says "This is a Coach bag. It is made out of a completely natural glove tanned cowhide. The scars, scratches, veins and wrinkles are natural markings characteristic of full-grain leathers. Made in New York City, U.S.A. (in all caps) No 660-9621 (I think, stamp is super light, not deeply engrained)

Measurements: 16 1/2 in. x 11 in

IMG_20170627_191321.jpg IMG_20170627_191328.jpg IMG_20170627_191435.jpg IMG_20170627_191511.jpg IMG_20170627_191524.jpg IMG_20170627_191558.jpg IMG_20170627_191605.jpg
 
#23,430
BeenBurned said:
That's an understatement!

TPF consists of volunteers who donate their own time and expertise and as such, can pick and choose for whom they want to offer assistance.

Although I've never understood why, some of the authenticators won't authenticate for newbies, some won't authenticate for members who don't post on a variety of subjects elsewhere around the forum, some won't help sellers and require them to pay for professional authentications, some won't authenticate listings that have already ended and as Hyacinth pointed out, some won't authenticate unless the format is posted "correctly" and all the required pictures are included.

Please accept my welcome to TPF too.
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Wow. That's harsh.
 
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