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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#26,266
Hyacinth said:
It's definitely fake. Here's what an AUTHENTIC serial number font for a D9C- serial number would look like - Coach wasa still using the "original" font they had adopted in 1994 for both the C and D plants, and it's as unique as a fingerprint:
View attachment 3899330

And by the April 1999 date in your serial number I believe that version of the Ergo line had already been discontinued.
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Well based on your opinion I have deactivated the listing. Also, is there reference material that is available showing when Coach discontinued manufacturing a style or a line? That would be very helpful.
 
#26,269
greggibbs said:
Is there reference material that establishes when a Coach style or line has been discontinued. That would be very helpful information.
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No. If you have catalogs, you might notice when you stop seeing a particular style, but that isn't absolute proof. Sometimes we will see counterfeits that have date codes that are earlier than the style was introduced. Those are easier to spot.
 
#26,271
greggibbs said:
I am upload

I just uploaded the blue creed but I will upload it again. As far as the mini satchel goes, I will deactivate that bag but, and please don't take this wrong, I am going to get another opinion. If I get an opinion that contradicts your opinion I will let you know.
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Please remember that this is probably the ONLY place where you'll find FOUR experts who have a library of photos and details of both real and fake Coaches, not just serial number and creed photos but also construction details and a pretty good idea of production dates, as well as several libraries of old catalogs and our individual records of what we've bought and/or sold. The only other no-charge website with the same advantage is at Ebay and only because several of us post there. Even Coach themselves don't have any older files with photos and details, they didn't even have a website until the late 1990s, and almost all their old computer archives were purged about 8 or 10 years ago.
 
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#26,272
greggibbs said:
I think it's very important to get as much training as I can to determine whether a Coach bag is counterfeit. Where can I get that training?
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Hang around here. Ask for authentications on your new items before you list. Read other authentications that are posted here. We also post some information in this thread: https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/answers-to-authenticity-questions.94198/
However, some of the information in the earlier part of the thread may not be accurate. We've learned a lot as we've gone along, and we are still learning.
 
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#26,273
greggibbs said:
Is there reference material that establishes when a Coach style or line has been discontinued. That would be very helpful information.
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The materials and information is that we've collected through years of buying, selling and studying the brand(s) and items. Some of us have photo libraries in the 10s of thousands of images.

Although it might seem as though we're "out to get you," nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, you have some beautiful vintage (and non-vintage) items, most of which are authentic but many of which have been fake.

Those of us who volunteer our time and knowledge do so to help others. We get no compensation and often, not even a "thank you" for trying to protect a reputation. Instead, as you've done, many sellers come here accusing us of having a vendetta, attempting to discredit the "competition," or other allegations.

Not only are we here NOT to do the above but in fact, we also help sellers who've been falsely accused of selling a fake.

Sellers of authentic items do not consider other honest sellers as "competition." However I do take issue with sellers of fakes, whether they knowingly list fakes or whether it's an innocent mistake. The fact is that it's the SELLER'S responsibility to KNOW items are authentic before listing them and you haven't verified that your items are genuine.

ALthough other branded subforums here on TPF require resellers to pay for professional authentications of their items, here on Coach (and a few other brands), we are willing to help you. But you have to be willing to help yourself and not be quite as defensive as you are.
 
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#26,274
greggibbs said:
I think it's very important to get as much training as I can to determine whether a Coach bag is counterfeit. Where can I get that training?
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You can hang around here and read every post on this thread and on the Answers to Authenticity thread, and save notes and photos on every fake being discussed. After about ten or twelve years you may have caught up to us. :biggrin:

Hey, we never said it was easy. It's almost impossible for experts in any field that requires hands-on knowledge to be able to learn everything in a year or two. Look at the Keno Brothers on PBS's Antiques Roadshow. Those (40-something?) guys have been collecting and studying antiques since they were in grade school. That's why they can look at the stringing on an antique card table and know if it's wrong or right.
 
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#26,275
Hi all

You were so nice to help me last week determine that the Coach bag I bought was a fake. I took it back today and got my money back, but WHILE I WAS THERE I saw this one. This is a thrift store so these are not expensive, and I wanted you to check it out because if it's fake AGAIN, I'm going to take it back again and forget about buying designer purses there. This is a small bag, about 6" x 9", does not have a creed, but at least it has a label inside Made in China. There is a pull zipper and a Coach tag. Thanks!
1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg 4.jpg 5.jpg 6.jpg 7.jpg
 
#26,277
AllUserNamesAreTaken said:
Hi all

You were so nice to help me last week determine that the Coach bag I bought was a fake. I took it back today and got my money back, but WHILE I WAS THERE I saw this one. This is a thrift store so these are not expensive, and I wanted you to check it out because if it's fake AGAIN, I'm going to take it back again and forget about buying designer purses there. This is a small bag, about 6" x 9", does not have a creed, but at least it has a label inside Made in China. There is a pull zipper and a Coach tag. Thanks!
View attachment 3899550 View attachment 3899570 View attachment 3899571 View attachment 3899572 View attachment 3899573 View attachment 3899574 View attachment 3899576
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AllUserNamesAreTaken said:
View attachment 3899594 Uh oh, wait a minute, I may have found the fatal flaw. The Cs on the side seams.

Doh!! Don't tell me this is another fake purse. Sheesh.
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A picture of the inside would help but it appears to be an authentic mini signature top handle pouch.

It's rarely possible for the patterns to match on the side seams.
 
#26,278
BeenBurned said:
A picture of the inside would help but it appears to be an authentic mini signature top handle pouch.

It's rarely possible for the patterns to match on the side seams.
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Oh! Wow, that's great news for once. Thanks. :smile:

The inside is plain dark brown with no other markings.

Now that you say that, I see there is one on e-bay just like it: https://www.ebay.com/i/182799316052?rt=nc

I paid around $4 for this today. Looks like they sell for fairly cheap in the sold listings on e-bay.
 
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#26,279
greggibbs said:
As you may or may not know I voluntarily pulled the red Weston bag when its authenticity was questioned and after further investigation we confirmed it was not authentic and it was not relisted. Instead we destroyed the bag to keep it from being resold. And I did just do a search on the 'Hall of Shame' and learned for the first time that there are other bags that have been questioned. I found a post questioning the authenticity of a Coach Abbey bag and that listing has been deactivated while the issues raised are investigated.
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Yes Greg I saw that the Wannabe red bag was removed. But the real problem for me was that bag should have never been listed in the first place.
Now remember, I am speaking here as a buyer and participating tPF member. I am not an authenticator and do not harbor any delusions about the small amount of Coach knowledge I have. I have admired Coach since the ‘90s. Picked up a few bags here and there along the way. Got a little bit of knowledge back around 2004,2005 off eBay discussion boards. And around two years ago, I rekindled my interest in (by now lol)vintage Coach. And here I am.
I flagged the red Wannabe and asked to confirm the obvious. I did not save your listing. According to guides that are easily accessible out there on the internet, and readily posted in this thread, it was clear that to me, the newbie, the hobbyist, that the letters used in the ^alpha numeric alpha - style number^ portion of the creed were all wrong!
Do you get the point I am making here? You sell a ton of Coach and have been for years! Your selling site claims to have multiple processes in place to assure authenticity. And nobody who authenticates for you knows about the lettering code for month production and plants?? It is also possible the font was wonky. The ladies have taught me a big lesson there. And by that I mean I read these posts. As many as I can.
It blew me away that I was able to pick up basic info on this bag, me, a neophyte, that brought into question the authenticity of this bag, that was not picked up on by your processes that assure authenticity.
I do not want you to feel I am unduly picking here. You have a lot of gorgeous Coach that is authentic. All the great info you put out for the authentic bags does not excuse the lack of diligence for the fakes. I have read the intervening posts and appreciate the dialogue here. But do you grasp that these four women here are standing between us buyers and untold sellers that may be only ignorant and uneducated but others that arealso lazy and lying?? And they do this on a totally volunteer basis!!!
 
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