AUTHENTICATE This COACH

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#1,951
DorothyParker said:
Hi All!

I was just wondering anyone has heard of or dealt with an ebay seller called lvkate?
Any info would be fantastic....thank-you ;-D
Click to expand...
I've never done business but she had a reputation for mixing authentic and fake.

You might also want to check her feedback as a seller:
http://toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs?User=lvkate&Dirn=Received+by&ref=home

If I were a seller, I wouldn't want her as a buyer either:
http://toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs?User=lvkate&Dirn=Left+by

Edited to add:

Here's an authenticity question about one of her listings: http://forum.purseblog.com/prada/au...r-posting-please-617124-442.html#post19312236

And the response: http://forum.purseblog.com/prada/au...r-posting-please-617124-443.html#post19312853

Here's another post where another Prada was questionable: http://forum.purseblog.com/prada/au...r-posting-please-617124-383.html#post18910904
 
#1,952
Oops my apologies! I will not throw around the term "fake" so loosely...I just joined yesterday ;-)
I had read this post and thought there was a difference btwn the 2 #'s in format and era.
As I'm a Coach newbie I don't know whether the info is completely accurate but it certainly seemed like it was written by someone who's very knowledgeable ;-))

Here's the post:


Authentic vs fake: A history of the Coach creed and serial #'s.
Hi there, There is some misinformation in the ebelle guide "How to spot a fake Coach bag" about some of the creeds and serial numbers. I have emailed Jennifer to let her know and I am posting the history of Coach creeds and serial #'s, for any person who is interested in older Coach bags and vintage Coach bags manufactured before the 1990s.

HISTORY OF COACH CREEDS & SERIAL NUMBERS.

The second and third photo of the creeds/serial #’s in the ebelle Coach guide which are labeled as fake are genuine pre-90s creeds/serial #’s.

In the 1960's Coach bags had either a metal identifier tag, or simple impression of the Coach logo, no creed no serial #'s.

Coach introduced the creed without any serial # sometime in the late 60's/early70s. The word "leatherwear" is under the word Coach and the wording of the creed at this time was all caps "THIS IS A COACH BAG. IT IS MADE OUT OF A COMPLETELY NATURAL GLOVE TANNED COWHIDE. THE SCARS, SCRATCHES, VEINS AND WRINKLES ARE NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FULL GRAIN LEATHERS". Under the creed is in all caps, "MADE IN NEW YORK CITY, U.S.A." ALL Coach bags made after the introduction of the creed and before serial #'s were introduced were made in NYC. Note that there are gaps in the creed in the lines describing the "scars, scratches, veins and wrinkles"

When Coach added serial numbers to the creed in the 1970's they were "all numbers" in the format "xxx-xxxx" as shown in the second photo in the ebelle list. The last four digits do not correspond to the style number, each bag had a unique number. The particular bag shown in photo 2 on the list was made in New York City. Coach ceased making bags in NYC in the mid 70's before there was such a thing as fakes or knock offs. NYC bags are vintage and rare.

This serial number format (all numbers, xxx-xxxx) is also on bags made in the United states, after Coach began manufacturing bags in multiple locations in the USA rather than NYC (sometime in the mid to late 70s). The wording of the creed is the same, except on the bottom it will say 'MADE IN THE UNITED STATES" OR "MADE IN U.S.A." Again the last four digits are not the style number, and the serial #’s were unique to each bag. There are a few styles with "MADE IN U.S.A" that have 8 in the serial number - all numbers, no dash, just a continuous string.

In the 1980's Coach changed the serial numbers to "all numbers" in the format xxxx-xxx. An example of this in the third photo in the ebelle guide. The last three numbers do not relate to the style number, again the serial #’s were apparently unique to each bag.

It was not until the 1990's that Coach introduced the modern registration format of letters and numbers, with the last four digits being the style number (or in the case of some of the newer bags after 2000, the last five digits). These registration numbers are not unique to each bag. The wording of the creed was also changed to all caps "THIS IS A COACH BAG. IT WAS HANDCRAFTED IN (country of origin) OF COMPLETELY NATURAL GLOVE-TANNED COWHIDE. THE VARIATIONS IN THE GRAIN ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF NATURAL FULL GRAIN LEATHER." There are no longer gaps between any of the words.

At the present time any one who reads the ebelle review here will think any bag for sale on an online auction site which was made pre 1990s and has the old serial number format, is fake, even the rare, vintage, made in New York City Bonnie Cashin designs. Hopefully Jennifer will get a chance to update the review soon.

If you would like photos of the 60's metal tag or impressed logo, or any of the pre-90s creeds and serial #'s please contact me. I would also be happy to share photos of knock-offs of Coach leather bags, including the classics, which are based on the bags from this pre-90s era, including photos of fake creeds and serial #’s.

I this post helps Coach classics and vintage bag collectors.
 
#1,953
Hyacinth said:
Again, please be sure to use the requested format when asking for authenticity. We ask that so we can easily track chronic sellers of fake bags and can check if a reported fake has been relisted.

Also, if you've been reading most of the online "authenticity Guides" on the internet and Ebay, a LOT of that accumulated information is outdated or just plain wrong. Please don't depend on any of it when trying to determine authenticity. There are no simple "rules" that prove any Coach is genuine, and dozens of details to check to see if it's fake. Please post the requested information about the individual bags you need to know about - don't depend on anyone's Guides, even mine. There are always exceptions to every accepted Rule.
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Sage words ;-) Yes I will use the requested format....will look that up now. Definitely want to support a way to identify and weed out dishonest sellers.
 
#1,954
BeenBurned said:
I've never done business but she had a reputation for mixing authentic and fake.

You might also want to check her feedback as a seller:
http://toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs?User=lvkate&Dirn=Received+by&ref=home

If I were a seller, I wouldn't want her as a buyer either:
http://toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs?User=lvkate&Dirn=Left+by

Edited to add:

Here's an authenticity question about one of her listings: http://forum.purseblog.com/prada/au...r-posting-please-617124-442.html#post19312236

And the response: http://forum.purseblog.com/prada/au...r-posting-please-617124-443.html#post19312853

Here's another post where another Prada was questionable: http://forum.purseblog.com/prada/au...r-posting-please-617124-383.html#post18910904
Click to expand...

Thank-you so much BB!! You are too kind to take the time out to provide all that info.......will definitely go through it :-D
 
#1,955
walk-unafraid said:
Item: Auth COACH Vintage British Tan Leather Flap Push Lock Hand/Shoulder Bag
Listing number: 270813992476
Seller: findithere810
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Auth-COACH-...476?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item3f0dc5961c
Comments: OMG! This is just the cutest bag I've ever seen! I'm also interested in the name of the bag if anyone knows it. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Wait for Hyacinth and DemRam for authenticity but before doing business, you need to check her feedback. It's a little scary.

http://toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs?User=findithere810&Dirn=Received+by&ref=home
 
#1,957
DorothyParker said:
Thank-you so much for your help Hyacinth!

Holy Cow......here I thought I had found a really reputable seller. I read a whole whack of the comments left for her and they were so glowing. She also had a my poupette stamp of approval and went so far as to add them and caroldiva under the bag listing which is how I even came across websites to authenticate. I was just about to make her an offer on the Coach bag but now I'm a little nervous......drat I really wanted that bag! If you have the time, could you take a look at the listing?
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/190574859338...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_3687wt_1141

And this was the other bag that I was going to bid on.....if you can share any info on this seller that would be much appreciated ;-)) Her name is cmgsalang

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/180720888417?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_4205wt_907

I'm really not very ebay savvy and I thank you so much for including all the links. I had no idea that all of these tools were available ;-))
Click to expand...

I can't recommend either seller. The first one's total Feedback shows that she not only uses high-pressure tactics and possibly worse with sellers she's bought from, but she apparently can't be trusted to describe her items accurately. Her Toolhaus feedback is full of warnings when someone knows how to read it.

The second seller has listed at least one obvious fake - the item looks like it may have been removed by Ebay. Sellers are required to verify their items are authentic before listing them.
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/authenticate-this-coach-577470-1133.html#post19409341

If I feel a seller is untrustworthy, I won't authenticate any of their bags. There's not enough history about the second seller, and I hope she's learned by now to authenticate her items. The plant code in her listing is problematic and has appeared for 2 different plants so I'm not 100 percent certain that one's genuine.

I will NOT authenticate anything from the first seller, sorry.
 
#1,960
#1,961
DorothyParker said:
Oops my apologies! I will not throw around the term "fake" so loosely...I just joined yesterday ;-)
I had read this post and thought there was a difference btwn the 2 #'s in format and era.
As I'm a Coach newbie I don't know whether the info is completely accurate but it certainly seemed like it was written by someone who's very knowledgeable ;-))

Here's the post:


Authentic vs fake: A history of the Coach creed and serial #'s.
Hi there, There is some misinformation in the ebelle guide "How to spot a fake Coach bag" about some of the creeds and serial numbers. I have emailed Jennifer to let her know and I am posting the history of Coach creeds and serial #'s, for any person who is interested in older Coach bags and vintage Coach bags manufactured before the 1990s.

HISTORY OF COACH CREEDS & SERIAL NUMBERS.

The second and third photo of the creeds/serial #’s in the ebelle Coach guide which are labeled as fake are genuine pre-90s creeds/serial #’s.

In the 1960's Coach bags had either a metal identifier tag, or simple impression of the Coach logo, no creed no serial #'s.

Coach introduced the creed without any serial # sometime in the late 60's/early70s. The word "leatherwear" is under the word Coach and the wording of the creed at this time was all caps "THIS IS A COACH BAG. IT IS MADE OUT OF A COMPLETELY NATURAL GLOVE TANNED COWHIDE. THE SCARS, SCRATCHES, VEINS AND WRINKLES ARE NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FULL GRAIN LEATHERS". Under the creed is in all caps, "MADE IN NEW YORK CITY, U.S.A." ALL Coach bags made after the introduction of the creed and before serial #'s were introduced were made in NYC. Note that there are gaps in the creed in the lines describing the "scars, scratches, veins and wrinkles"

When Coach added serial numbers to the creed in the 1970's they were "all numbers" in the format "xxx-xxxx" as shown in the second photo in the ebelle list. The last four digits do not correspond to the style number, each bag had a unique number. The particular bag shown in photo 2 on the list was made in New York City. Coach ceased making bags in NYC in the mid 70's before there was such a thing as fakes or knock offs. NYC bags are vintage and rare.

This serial number format (all numbers, xxx-xxxx) is also on bags made in the United states, after Coach began manufacturing bags in multiple locations in the USA rather than NYC (sometime in the mid to late 70s). The wording of the creed is the same, except on the bottom it will say 'MADE IN THE UNITED STATES" OR "MADE IN U.S.A." Again the last four digits are not the style number, and the serial #’s were unique to each bag. There are a few styles with "MADE IN U.S.A" that have 8 in the serial number - all numbers, no dash, just a continuous string.

In the 1980's Coach changed the serial numbers to "all numbers" in the format xxxx-xxx. An example of this in the third photo in the ebelle guide. The last three numbers do not relate to the style number, again the serial #’s were apparently unique to each bag.

It was not until the 1990's that Coach introduced the modern registration format of letters and numbers, with the last four digits being the style number (or in the case of some of the newer bags after 2000, the last five digits). These registration numbers are not unique to each bag. The wording of the creed was also changed to all caps "THIS IS A COACH BAG. IT WAS HANDCRAFTED IN (country of origin) OF COMPLETELY NATURAL GLOVE-TANNED COWHIDE. THE VARIATIONS IN THE GRAIN ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF NATURAL FULL GRAIN LEATHER." There are no longer gaps between any of the words.

At the present time any one who reads the ebelle review here will think any bag for sale on an online auction site which was made pre 1990s and has the old serial number format, is fake, even the rare, vintage, made in New York City Bonnie Cashin designs. Hopefully Jennifer will get a chance to update the review soon.

If you would like photos of the 60's metal tag or impressed logo, or any of the pre-90s creeds and serial #'s please contact me. I would also be happy to share photos of knock-offs of Coach leather bags, including the classics, which are based on the bags from this pre-90s era, including photos of fake creeds and serial #’s.

I this post helps Coach classics and vintage bag collectors.
Click to expand...


Sorry, I'm familiar with that Guide, and although it sounds like the writer knows what s/he's talking about and I even thought it was accurate when I first read it, once I started comparing creeds, dates and catalogs I realized that it wasn't dependable. There is plenty of misinformation there especially regarding the timelines

For example:
"Coach ceased making bags in NYC in the mid 70's before there was such a thing as fakes or knock offs. NYC bags are vintage and rare."
Sorry, incorrect. According to Coach's histories, bags were still being made in New York City and still being stamped with the Made In NYC stamp until 1987 or 1988. A few years after Coach's 1985 purchase by Sara Lee the stamp was changed to Made in the United States when Coach opened its second plant in Miami in 1988, but until Coach was sold, its owners refused to move the plant out of New York City. I've confirmed this by checking and comparing production dates and when a bag was first shown in Coach's catalogs with the stampings on the creed, and from this company history:

http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Coach-Inc-Company-History.html
"To keep up with growing demand for Coach products, the company doubled its workforce, leased additional space for factory operations, and expanded the work week to six days. Despite these measures, however, by the fall of 1987, Coach was again unable to meet all orders for its goods, and the company began to seek additional room for expansion... Coach solved its production problem by opening a plant near Miami, Florida, where its Lightweights collection was manufactured, in 1988..."

Coach also specifically states in its 1985 catalog that all its items are made in its factory (singular) in New York City. By 1989 all mention of the New York factory had been removed from the catalogs.


Another example:
"In the 1980's Coach changed the serial numbers to "all numbers" in the format xxxx-xxx. An example of this in the third photo in the ebelle guide. The last three numbers do not relate to the style number, again the serial #’s were apparently unique to each bag."

Again, I've compared Coach catalogs to determine when styles were originally introduced to those styles with the 4+3 serial number format compared to the original 3+4, and I've recently found bags with the earlier 3+4 numbers on bags from as late as 1991, confirmed by catalog dates.


Another:
"It was not until the 1990's that Coach introduced the modern registration format of letters and numbers, with the last four digits being the style number (or in the case of some of the newer bags after 2000, the last five digits). These registration numbers are not unique to each bag. The wording of the creed was also changed to all caps "THIS IS A COACH BAG. IT WAS HANDCRAFTED IN (country of origin) OF COMPLETELY NATURAL GLOVE-TANNED COWHIDE. THE VARIATIONS IN THE GRAIN ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF NATURAL FULL GRAIN LEATHER."

The change took place specifically in 1994, which is very easy to confirm - there are no bags with 1993 year codes. And although MOST plant creed stamps were changed to show the country of manufacture in the second line of the creed, that's a process that took place through 1994 and INTO 1995. There should be no creeds dated 1996 or later with any "Made in ..." statement at the very bottom of the creed stamp.


While I'm sure the writer tried to do his or her best, there are too many problems with the dates not matching up. I wish it were possible to recommend that Guide, but I can't, sorry. But as inaccurate as the dates are, the Guide is still better than 90 percent of the rest of the Ebay and Internet Guides.
 
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