AUTHENTICATE this COACH

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#10,171
Hyacinth said:
It's a genuine Chester Bag style 9901 from the early 1990s.
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Thank you very much, Hyacinth, that's a big relief - I was so hoping it was authentic, but what alerted me was the auction stated the creed number was ending in #6201, and I've seen similar bags on eBay going under #9901, just like you said. What puzzled me even more I found this bag's twin (also red, but all others were either black, brown or off white), still listed by other seller, and it's creed number is ending in #332. On top of everything, when I did search for "coach vintage 6201", it came back with a bunch of listings for vintage neoprene tote. Isn't this confusing? Could you please explain it to me? Thanks again!
 
#10,172
noshoepolish said:
I do not see a problem with it.
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Hyacinth said:
There's NOTHING wrong with that bag. It's an Embassy Brief made in 1994 and the bag, the creed stamp and the serial number all look exactly like they should. It's completely genuine and that style was made by Coach for at least 10 years, from 1986 to 1996 according to their catalogs.

Here's Coach's own catalog pages, the first from Summer 1986 showing it as a "NEW" style, and the second from the Holiday 1993 book. Please send your buyer a link to this post, and also send it to Ebay.
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Thank you both so much .. if I accept a return of an authentic bag when the buyer is saying "it is fake" does that in any way infer that they are right with their wacky claim?

I've posted the info y'all have provided and even a screenshot of the post with full info (just in case the external links don't work on eBay) - & have also said I would accept the return, as I do not wish this obviously frivolous case to escalate any further.

Fake is a pretty strong word in my world.. I don't mind taking a return (as clearly stated in my listing etc etc) but I do take issue with people bagging on my reputation by calling items fake for no apparent reason.:nono:
 
#10,173
christinag said:
Thank you so much, Hyacinth.
I'm still reeling from the buyer's venom.. cripes. I did my best last night to calmly answer her accusations.. one was "the hardware appears to be cheap brass.."
(!?)
Also I had priced it relatively low (IMO :) which always seems to be a bad idea. Reason was *only* that the bag had a monogram & appeared to have been professionally touched up with dye - both mentioned in the listing &/condition. Otherwise, was in great shape, good looking bag & a bargain.

Punchline: Buyer said " this doesn't even LOOK or FEEL like a $122.50 briefcase.."
(Note: that included beautiful packing & insured 2 day shipping to CA from Chiberia ;-)

I need to get into another line of work. Maybe a pot dispensary ...
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christinag said:
Thank you both so much .. if I accept a return of an authentic bag when the buyer is saying "it is fake" does that in any way infer that they are right with their wacky claim?

I've posted the info y'all have provided and even a screenshot of the post with full info (just in case the external links don't work on eBay) - & have also said I would accept the return, as I do not wish this obviously frivolous case to escalate any further.

Fake is a pretty strong word in my world.. I don't mind taking a return (as clearly stated in my listing etc etc) but I do take issue with people bagging on my reputation by calling items fake for no apparent reason.:nono:
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I'm so sorry you're dealing with this.

I'm curious whether you have a "no refund" policy. Sometimes buyers who just don't like an item "manufacture" a counterfeit claim in order to be able to return it. They think that if they're honest and admit that it's not what they were hoping for, they'll be denied a return. Most sellers, even those who prefer not to take returns, would prefer their buyers be honest with them.

I'd send something along the lines of the following:

Dear buyer,

I'm sorry you aren't pleased with the bag even though it's absolutely authentic. I certainly don't want you to feel obligated to keep a bag that won't work for you so as a goodwill gesture, I'll accept the return as long as the condition is as I sent it.

If it's truly authenticity you're concerned with, you are welcome to visit the purse forum's Coach section, the ebay community discussion boards purse board or even to have it professionally authenticated. I don't know who else does Coach but authenticate4u.com professionally authenticates Coach and their findings are accepted by ebay, paypal and credit card companies.

Again, I'm sorry you aren't happy with the authentic Coach bag. Let me know what you decide to do.

Sincerely,
Seller
 
#10,174
#10,175
Hyacinth said:
It could be just the opposite. It seems like when a bunch of the same styles hit Ebay at the same time, those styles have just been at the outlets. It's the same thing with handbags.

I wish more people who buy outlet remakes of older keychain styles would post them here in the main Coach forum along with any price tags and style numbers. It would be a big help to see and compare the differences between the originals and the outlet remakes.
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THAT is an excellent idea!
 
#10,176
BeenBurned said:
What I'm seeing here is one of the reasons why I (personally) find it helpful to see links to listings and the seller's other items.

Although I know that any seller can make a mistake, although I don't know the seller, I've watched the listings from the seller of the questionable purple girlie mix (61895) and although she seems to have a large quantity of keychains, I've never seen anything that jumps out as an "obvious fake."

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Womens-Acce..._nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=&_ssn=fanofthefind

As for the padlock (93079), the picture definitely looks too brassy and my image search for that picture didn't turn up anything on any site I'm familiar with.
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I've done business with that seller and I don't think she would knowingly be selling a fake.....I just used the photo and was NOT trying to point out any seller. She buys keychains from other ebayers when the price is low enough and she relists them at a higher price and I think this how she got this one. I just grabbed the first photo I came across of this keychain and didn't even realize it was her auction.......and I have NOT reported any for being fakes either.

That being said, even if both of those styles are real, I wouldn't want one just because they don't look right to me.
 
#10,177
catthecurious said:
Thank you very much, Hyacinth, that's a big relief - I was so hoping it was authentic, but what alerted me was the auction stated the creed number was ending in #6201, and I've seen similar bags on eBay going under #9901, just like you said. What puzzled me even more I found this bag's twin (also red, but all others were either black, brown or off white), still listed by other seller, and it's creed number is ending in #332. On top of everything, when I did search for "coach vintage 6201", it came back with a bunch of listings for vintage neoprene tote. Isn't this confusing? Could you please explain it to me? Thanks again!
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Any bag made before 1994 has a unique serial number so the style number won't be part of it. You won't find it on a search unless you use the correct style number, 9901.

http://www.ebay.com/gds/Coach-Serial-Numbers-the-Basic-Facts-/10000000034886433/g.html
 
#10,178
Suzanne B. said:
I've done business with that seller and I don't think she would knowingly be selling a fake.....I just used the photo and was NOT trying to point out any seller. She buys keychains from other ebayers when the price is low enough and she relists them at a higher price and I think this how she got this one. I just grabbed the first photo I came across of this keychain and didn't even realize it was her auction.......and I have NOT reported any for being fakes either.

That being said, even if both of those styles are real, I wouldn't want one just because they don't look right to me.
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If you inferred that my post was rude and that the seller shouldn't be accused, that certainly wasn't my intention. I was simply saying that I was familiar with the seller's listings and hadn't seen fakes.

I also know you were just posting a couple of pictures to compare known authentic fobs to others that appeared different.

There certainly have been instances where honest sellers have received fakes and not recognized them as such. So even trusted sellers can mistakenly list a fake.

I'm glad no one reported any listings as we always stress that no listing should be reported unless it's positively determined to be fake.

As for the possible "outlet versions" of those keychains, I agree with you that I'd try to avoid them too.
 
#10,179
BeenBurned said:
If you inferred that my post was rude and that the seller shouldn't be accused, that certainly wasn't my intention. I was simply saying that I was familiar with the seller's listings and hadn't seen fakes.

I also know you were just posting a couple of pictures to compare known authentic fobs to others that appeared different.

There certainly have been instances where honest sellers have received fakes and not recognized them as such. So even trusted sellers can mistakenly list a fake.

I'm glad no one reported any listings as we always stress that no listing should be reported unless it's positively determined to be fake.

As for the possible "outlet versions" of those keychains, I agree with you that I'd try to avoid them too.
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Oh no! I didn't think you were being rude. I just wanted it to be out there that I didn't think that particular seller would knowingly sell a fake and that I wasn't even aware that the auction I took the picture from was her auction. I don't want to hurt her business because I was trying to find out if there were new fakes floating around.

So no, no problems.....you and Hyacinth have always been great to me when I've asked questions.
 
#10,181
catthecurious said:
Thank you very much, Hyacinth, that's a big relief - I was so hoping it was authentic, but what alerted me was the auction stated the creed number was ending in #6201, and I've seen similar bags on eBay going under #9901, just like you said. What puzzled me even more I found this bag's twin (also red, but all others were either black, brown or off white), still listed by other seller, and it's creed number is ending in #332. On top of everything, when I did search for "coach vintage 6201", it came back with a bunch of listings for vintage neoprene tote. Isn't this confusing? Could you please explain it to me? Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Items made before 1994 use a different serial number system. Read the Salearea Guides on both Creeds and Serial Numbers for an explanation. In fact it's a good idea to read and Bookmark all six of them:
http://search.reviews.ebay.com/members/salearea?uqt=g
 
#10,184
Hyacinth said:
What a pile of horse poop! There are NO Rules about the serial number spacing or even the number of dashes in vintage and classic (made before 2000) bags and briefcases. Every plant had different stamps and almost every serial number stamp was different INCLUDING the spacing. Whatever "Guide" she read that nonsense in is completely wrong.

The Salearea Guide (posted at Ebay) on so-called "Authenticity Guides" and the hundreds of mistakes found in almost all of them clearly states
"Having gaps in the serial number doesn't prove it's fake. Newer plants and older items where the numbers were hand-stamped would often have gaps and other glitches in the numbers."
http://www.ebay.com/gds/Coach-Authenticity-Guides-Facts-and-Myths-/10000000062607882/g.html

And the reason it's not in Coach's computer system is because it was made in 1994 and Coach didn't fully computerize their inventory until 1999. Styles that were discontinued before that date WON'T be on their computers. And even if it was, there is NO way any Coach can be authenticated over the phone. In fact, Coach employees, whether by phone or in person, are forbidden to "authenticate" ANY Coach product. Coach's website clearly states "Coach DOES NOT authenticate merchandise or determine whether serial numbers match actual Coach items."
 http://www.coach.com/online/handbag...orRelations/ReportingCoachCounterfeits?LOC=BN

There's NOTHING wrong with that bag. It's an Embassy Brief made in 1994 and the bag, the creed stamp and the serial number all look exactly like they should. It's completely genuine and that style was made by Coach for at least 10 years, from 1986 to 1996 according to their catalogs.

Here's Coach's own catalog pages, the first from Summer 1986 showing it as a "NEW" style, and the second from the Holiday 1993 book. Please send your buyer a link to this post, and also send it to Ebay.
Click to expand...

christinag said:
Thank you so much, Hyacinth.
I'm still reeling from the buyer's venom.. cripes. I did my best last night to calmly answer her accusations.. one was "the hardware appears to be cheap brass.."
(!?)
Also I had priced it relatively low (IMO :) which always seems to be a bad idea. Reason was *only* that the bag had a monogram & appeared to have been professionally touched up with dye - both mentioned in the listing &/condition. Otherwise, was in great shape, good looking bag & a bargain.

Punchline: Buyer said " this doesn't even LOOK or FEEL like a $122.50 briefcase.."
(Note: that included beautiful packing & insured 2 day shipping to CA from Chiberia ;-)

I need to get into another line of work. Maybe a pot dispensary ...
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what the buyer means by "cheap brass". How do you tell the difference between cheap brass and expensive brass?

You might inform the "brass expert" that Coach's "brass" hardware has been brass-PLATED since around the end of the 1980s, with the exception of a few buckles for the Italian-made Sheridan and Dakota handbag line. Did your listing claim that the hardware was solid brass? If not, then your buyer needs to do a little research since she obviously hasn't a clue about how Coaches were made. BTW, the change in hardware content was NEVER disclosed by Coach officially AFAIK, so she should blame THEM and not the seller if she doesn't like the look of the hardware on a 20-year old briefcase. The case will STILL last a helluva lot longer than almost anything she could buy in a store today for 4 times the price.

As for what she thinks the briefcase is worth, that's her opinion, which seems to be seriously flawed, as well as based on wishful thinking. She seems to be suffering a case of Buyers Remorse, which DOESN'T make the briefcase she bought a fake! As for what it's "worth", maybe she should buy a new one right from Coach for between 500-700 dollars.

Sorry you have to deal with such an idiot.

(BTW, I'll be right behind you with that job application!)
 
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