Authenticate this COACH
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Hi everyone! I hope I'm doing this right and not replying to someone else's post..
Item: COACH SOHO SIGNATURE C BLUE HANDBAG
Listing/Item number: 220687454940
Seller: taurusfromtexas13
Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220687454940
I came across this bag last night and spur of the moment this morning decided to bid on it, without researching it first(silly me). AFTERWARDS, I googled the "supposed serial number ITEM# 00138 CREED PATCH" and an ebay forum popped up saying this number is commonly being used in fakes. BooThere is no clear picture of the inside patch or noticable hang tag..(I contacted the seller and asked for pictures of both.) Any ideas? I'm thinking fake....but I really hope not. Now I'm off to work, this will be on my mind allll day. Thank you!!
Isn't in ironic when you try to do a good deed for someone and they don't appreciate it? Maybe now that ebay has pulled the listing and dinged her account, taurusfromtexas13 might have her bags authenticated before she lists a designer bag again.Thanks, me too!!!I was really polite-even somewhat apologetic-in the email..She said thanks for the info and that she would look into it herself. Also, like I already said, she said she would send detailed pics to my email of the creed patch and hang tag-which she never did. THEN today I get a message saying: "Just wanted to let you know I talked with my girlfriend who I got the bag from and she said she bought the bag from coach so it is in no way a fake. Just thought I would let you know. She said that fakes do not have the coach logo stamped on the hardware and this one has the stamp. Also the cred patch is embossed not printed." I tried to view the bag again but the listing had ended although it wasn't supposed to til the 29th(hopefully ebay pulled it)...Is it true fakes don't have the logo on the hardware? I would believe some of them do..At any rate, I did find a REAL cute black buckle flap bag that I'm currently bidding on!
She might also find it interesting to know that 99.9% of fakes have creed patches, most of them embossed. And as for the hardware being engraved with the Coach name, although some authentic bags have engraved hardware, generally, the more "Coach" is engraved on it, the more likely it is to be fake.
In any case, I'm glad you came here before buying and receiving a fake.
Thanks, me too!!!
The problem with a lot of fakes is that they have TOO MANY logos on the hardware. And fake creed patches are embossed too. It sounds like she read a few of those ridiculous "authenticity guides" and thinks the nonsense they write proves her bag is real. And all too many fakes sellers blame a ficticious 3rd party to make themselves sound innocent - thousands of fakes seem to be "gifts" from friends, relatives, employers, ex-boyfriends or ex-husbands (never the current husband or BF for some reason), rich neighbors, blah blah blah. Strange how none of these wonderful generous gift-givers ever give GENUINE bags.
The word "gift" in a listing (or when used by a seller under ANY circumstances) is always a red flag and should have you hitting the Back button. Always remember the Rules To Bid By:
Sellers can LIE.
Photos can be STOLEN.
Feedback can be FAKED.
"Buying Guides" can be WRONG.
If something looks too good to be true - IT IS.
Hyacinth already confirmed that all these listings are fake.
I just want to add that hannasmomjo sneaky, mixing authentic and fake. She uses "authentic" to describe those that are genuine so she knows the difference.
She also sold another similar fake Coach wristlet:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Coach-Black-leather-and-fabric-wristlet-/160496108072
And this POS was in her feedback:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=160489109672
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=160479812555
Do not buy from hannasmomjo
Ugh. I posted a link to an ebay auction to an older brown tote a few days ago. Hyacinth was the only one to respond and she said that it "seemed genuine" but that she did not recognize it and I should wait for other opinions. I didn't get any other responses and the auction was ending, so I took a chance and bid on it and won. I received it today and I suspect it is a fake. It is much lighter-weight than I expected it to be for a classic piece, and there are some things about it that bother me. I thought I would post my own pics and hope that someone here can help me!
First off, the logo on the hangag is slightly crooked, and the backside is just suede (which I have seen before when tags split, but as this is a used bag I don't know if it split or just came this way)
I will split this up into several posts as I have a lot of pics, sorry!
First off, the logo on the hangag is slightly crooked, and the backside is just suede (which I have seen before when tags split, but as this is a used bag I don't know if it split or just came this way)
I will split this up into several posts as I have a lot of pics, sorry!
Last set. The silver zipper pull on the inside pocket does not match the brass hardware, as well as the silver magnetic snap (seems off to me somehow). Also note how the zipper on the pocket does not actually go all the way to the end. Most of all, it just doesn't "feel" like any of my other Coaches. I really appreciate your help, thanks so much for your expertise and guidance!
If you can get that picture clearer, I'd appreciate it.
yes, they did mark IRREGULAR items and were offered for sale to employees if I understand it correctly.
^I think i've seen before where the zipper didn't go all the way (again, it's marked irregular, that's not something I've seen used on a lot of fakes to get more money, I'd almost think it makes some think it's worth less actually!) across. I'll check the patent stamp on the snap if you can get it clearer.
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If you can get that picture clearer, I'd appreciate it.
yes, they did mark IRREGULAR items and were offered for sale to employees if I understand it correctly.
I really tried to get this clear, I will try again...BRB
I've used Macro mode, macro mode no flash (use it under light, be steady of hand) and Macro w/ LED light if that helps (mostly found on Olympus cameras that are below DSLR grade).I really tried to get this clear, I will try again...BRB
Ok, think I have it. Is this better?
I really *hope* it's authentic because I really do like the bag! It has an interesting shape and it can hold tons of stuff
I compared the manuf stamp and Pat # with my older clutch with original patent stamp info and it IS correct (though different brand than mine, mine does not say TOWANNY) so it's not a fake repo of the clasp, but yes it probably gold/brass previously.
The rest, I'd think it's more likely it's real, but the older they are sometimes it's harder to authenticate unless someone's had it or seen it themselves before.
If you can get that picture clearer, I'd appreciate it.
yes, they did mark IRREGULAR items and were offered for sale to employees if I understand it correctly.
^I think i've seen before where the zipper didn't go all the way (again, it's marked irregular, that's not something I've seen used on a lot of fakes to get more money, I'd almost think it makes some think it's worth less actually!) across. I'll check the patent stamp on the snap if you can get it clearer.
Bunny, I'm thinking this might be one of the early Lightweights. There's no pic of this bag but my Fall Preview 1989 book shows a zipped Light Tote #4065 with the same squared O-rings on the strap handles and mentions using an industrial zipper. It also has the same kind of strap "extensions" going from the handles to the base of the bag. There's also a Travel Tote 4085 with the same features. And maybe the Lightweights used a lighter metal on the zipper pulls and just brass-plated them?
YokelMel, the Lightweights (which later became the Sohos) were a line of bags in which Coach DID use lighter and thinner leather and also lighter-weight hardware to keep the weight of the bags lower. A lighter-than-usual bag often is from this line which I think came out somewhere around 1987-1989 which would also fit in with your bag's serial number.
Bunny, just guessing that maybe the problem with the zipper could be one reason it's stamped as Irregular? Or maybe the zipper or pull might have been broken and replaced at one time. The industrial zipper on the inside is exactly what Coach would have used though.
I only have one Lightweight and it's a zip closure, not magnetic, but give me a little while to dig through the closet and move a few things out of the way - there might be something on it that will help.
EDITED TO ADD - Mine isn't a lot of help, but the details and stitching are very similar. Mine's a 4017 Light Hobo and just a bit newer since it has the 4-plus-3 serial format. The creed stamp is identical but the zipper pull on mine is brass-colored - it's barely been used so the coloring, which is a rather unnatural BRIGHT brass, may not have had a chance to wear off yet.
Oh, and BTW, it has one of the oddball zippers too. The inside pocket pull is a YKK but the main zipper just has the number "5" stamped into the nose of the slider mechanism. Another one for the Zipper List!
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I compared the manuf stamp and Pat # with my older clutch with original patent stamp info and it IS correct (though different brand than mine, mine does not say TOWANNY) so it's not a fake repo of the clasp, but yes it probably gold/brass previously.
The rest, I'd think it's more likely it's real, but the older they are sometimes it's harder to authenticate unless someone's had it or seen it themselves before.
Thanks Bunny
I really appreciate your input! I know it's harder with the older bags...it's a shame cuz those are the ones that I really seem to love the most! They just don't make 'em like they used to 
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