Authenticate this COACH

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#5,837
#5,839
happybag said:
Item: Vintage briefcase
Listing: n/a. Purchased at a garage sale for $15
Photos: http://forum.purseblog.com/album.php?albumid=6865

This bag "feels" authentic to me, but I'm no expert on vintage Coach. I googled the serial number and nothing came up. The serial number is 083-3801. I did however find a completed 'bay listing for a bag that looks exactly like mine, only this one is brown and the serial number is way different. Its serial number has the format XXXX-XXX (four digits before dash, three digits after) and mine has the format XXX-XXXX (three digits before dash, four digits after). NMA: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330459557496

My bag is in overall sturdy shape. The "spinny part" of the left-pocket turnlock is loose, probably broken but it still "fastens" if you KWIM. Amazingly, no musty odors in this bag! Each of my previous garage sale finds has had varying degrees of musty basement odor or perfume, and if I stuck my nose inside and took a deeeeeeep whiff, I'd start sneezing (sign of mold IMO). No sneezing at all with this bag!

Another fun detail: The brass buckle is stamped "solid brass USA" on the underside. Both buckles have this stamping, but the stamping is worn to the point of being almost illegible on one of the buckles.

There is some loose stitching on one side where the buckle connects to the longer strap, but I can take this to a cobbler to be repaired. I've already started cleaning her up since I took these photos and she's looking MUCH better already.

I really hope she's authentic!

Photos are here: http://forum.purseblog.com/album.php?albumid=6865

TIA!
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First of all, never depend on Google. The only time an all-number serial number identical to yours shows up in a different bag will be when one or probably both bags are fake. You may want to look through the Answers to Authenticity Questions thread for more information about serial numbers.

Measurements would help, especially for the height & depth of the bag. I'm guessing that it's 16 inches wide but I need the other dimensions (top to bottom and front to back). Right now my guess would be a Musette Bag or a Carrier Bag but I need to know the size. It sems genuine, at least I'm not seeing any red flags.
 
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#5,840
#5,841
Hyacinth said:
First of all, never depend on Google. The only time an all-number serial number identical to yours shows up in a different bag will be when one or probably both bags are fake. You may want to look through the Answers to Authenticity Questions thread for more information about serial numbers.

Measurements would help, especially for the height & depth of the bag. I'm guessing that it's 16 inches wide but I need the other dimensions (top to bottom and front to back). Right now my guess would be a Musette Bag or a Carrier Bag but I need to know the size. It sems genuine, at least I'm not seeing any red flags.
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Thanks Hyacinth! Point taken :smile1: I usually google the numbers after the dash to see if there are others and see if the style number pops up on "known fakes" lists, but since this one didn't have a letter in the part before the dash, I wondered if it's from the time when each bag had true, unique serial numbers. As a vintage Coach newbie, I'm often concerned I'll google a style number for, say, a shoulder bag and I'll find pics for that style number only to find the # actually belongs to a wallet, or something.

The bag is indeed 16" wide left-to-right, 5" deep front-to-back, and approximately 10.5 or 11" tall. The leather in the back curls upward right now perhaps from being stored without stuffing, so I think this is the measurement. The long strap is approximately 48" long tip-to-tip, but this may be due to stretching over years of use.
 
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#5,842
starrymaz said:
Originally Posted by coda Item:COACH MADISON OP ART SABRINA HANDBAG 12947 EUC AUTHENTIC
Listing number:
Seller:BigBaer2
Link:http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/BigBa..._EUC_AUTHENTIC
Comments:Sorry I do not see the listing #

Originally Posted by BeenBurned Is this the bag you're looking at? (It has sold.)
http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/BigBaer2/items/18383316

I think it's okay.
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My concern about this seller is whether the pictures in the listing are the seller's own pictures. Several of her listings had different photography styles and backgrounds. She sold a Tattoo Tote that had very different pictures and background than the ones in this listing and the background in her two other listings were different from these two. Unfortunately, the seller appears to have set her booth to private so we can no longer view her other listings.

Coda - If you're the buyer, please post pictures of the bag here once you receive it.
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BeenBurned said:
I don't think the seller set the booth to private. I think the seller may be naru'ed from Bonz.

A private profile would still allow buyers to view the listings.
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coda said:
Sorry what is "naru'ed". Does that mean they got banned? Am I screwed?
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NARU in ebay parlance means "Not A Registered User." A user can either be NARU'ed on ebay if she cancels her account voluntarily or if ebay suspends the member.

I'm not sure if the Bonanzle member has been suspended or if she has set her privacy settings to private. I've seen members who had public booths who later set their profiles to private and the booth was no longer viewable. I would think that if the seller had been suspended that Bonanzle would have notified the buyer in some way.

Coda, you may want to contact the seller and/or Bonanzle to find out if she's still an active member.
 
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#5,843
happybag said:
Thanks Hyacinth! Point taken :smile1: I usually google the numbers after the dash to see if there are others and see if the style number pops up on "known fakes" lists, but since this one didn't have a letter in the part before the dash, I wondered if it's from the time when each bag had true, unique serial numbers. As a vintage Coach newbie, I'm often concerned I'll google a style number for, say, a shoulder bag and I'll find pics for that style number only to find the # actually belongs to a wallet, or something.

The bag is indeed 16" wide left-to-right, 5" deep front-to-back, and approximately 10.5 or 11" tall. The leather in the back curls upward right now perhaps from being stored without stuffing, so I think this is the measurement. The long strap is approximately 48" long tip-to-tip, but this may be due to stretching over years of use.
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You're correct about the serial number, if it doesn't include any letters then it's one of the old-style numbers when a different one was used in every bag.

I think yours was called a Carrier Bag but I can't say for sure since all I have to go on are old catalogs with small photos and even smaller descriptions. Maybe someone else can be more definite.
 
#5,845
I'm looking for a smaller coach for our trip to Vegas. I hate carrying around a huge purse places like that, so something smaller would be great. I found this but does it look real to you girls? Also, it has that stain on it, is that washable and is the price worth it? Here is a link..

http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/ruffa...Scribble_Pouch

If I posted this in the wrong spot feel free to move, I wasn't sure where to go!
 
#5,846
KimMelton said:
I'm looking for a smaller coach for our trip to Vegas. I hate carrying around a huge purse places like that, so something smaller would be great. I found this but does it look real to you girls? Also, it has that stain on it, is that washable and is the price worth it? Here is a link..

http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/ruffalino/items/Coach_Black_Scribble_Pouch

If I posted this in the wrong spot feel free to move, I wasn't sure where to go!
Click to expand...

I fixed your link.

Coach Black Scribble Pouch
Seller: ruffalino
Bonanzle listing: 15992869
http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/ruffalino/items/Coach_Black_Scribble_Pouch

I don't see any obvious red flags but a picture of the inside would be helpful.

Also, the seller doesn't have the measurements in the listing. You might want to ask the dimensions and draw it out on paper to make sure the size is okay for you.
 
#5,847
BeenBurned said:
I fixed your link.

Coach Black Scribble Pouch
Seller: ruffalino
Bonanzle listing: 15992869
http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/ruffalino/items/Coach_Black_Scribble_Pouch

I don't see any obvious red flags but a picture of the inside would be helpful.

Also, the seller doesn't have the measurements in the listing. You might want to ask the dimensions and draw it out on paper to make sure the size is okay for you.
Click to expand...

Oh thanks, it would probably help if I learned to read LOL...Sorry about that. :)

I messaged the seller and asked how big it was, hopefully a good size. I just need to be able to fit my cell, keys, and a small wallet or coin purse inside :)
 
#5,848
Hyacinth said:
You're correct about the serial number, if it doesn't include any letters then it's one of the old-style numbers when a different one was used in every bag.

I think yours was called a Carrier Bag but I can't say for sure since all I have to go on are old catalogs with small photos and even smaller descriptions. Maybe someone else can be more definite.
Click to expand...

:ty: :flowers:
 
#5,849
#5,850
Just 1 More said:
Item: Coach keychain (s)
Listing number: 250687897373
Seller: jrl72buickgs
Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/Coach-Keychain-/250687897373?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5e29bf1d

Comments: This seller has 11 keychains & I think they are all fake. Just looking for your opinions so that I can report them.

Here's a link to all 11 of them

http://clothing.shop.ebay.com/Women..._ipg=&_ssn=jrl72buickgs&_trksid=p3911.c0.m282
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All cheap fakes - fake boxes, wrong colors and fake styles. The black Breast Cancer Awareness keychain is a dead giveaway. Please report.
 
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