AUTHENTICATE this COACH

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

Status
Not open for further replies.
#1,351
#1,353
whateve said:
The first one is fake. I see more fake carousel bags than authentic ones.

The second one is a skinny tote 9456, probably from the late 70's. The third one is a Shelton bag 9917 from the early 90's.

The last one is a Monterey Flap. I'm not that familiar with this style but I don't see any problems. More opinions are welcome.
Click to expand...


Thanks Whateve. Can anyone else provide more feedback on the other two? thanks.
 
#1,358
Hyacinth said:
I'm not comfortable with that one. Unfortunately I don't have any photos of what I'm 100 percent sure are pics of a genuine bag with that J8D- prefix, and there have been a ton of fakes with prefix combinations starting with J. What bothers me is that there's at least one thing that's different between the serial number on this one and several apparently genuine bags from the same plant but in 1997. I can't authenticate it but can't say for sure that it's fake either.
Click to expand...

Wow, you have such an eye! As usual, I'll just keep on with my search- really rather not risk it on a bag that you guys can't be sure of. I appreciate it as I had no idea there were so many suspicious vintage leather bags, in my mind it was mostly patchwork and signature.

Name: Vintage coach black leather court willis satchel
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Coa...157?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item232c1b071d
Seller: topspincouple
151063824157

Comments: This one was freshly listed. It seems to me like the creed is from an earlier time than when they suggested the bag was bought (though that may not mean a thing) and it looks awfully...clean, haha! But I want to get a professional opinion :)


EDIT: Though I'm looking at this seller's feedback and it's positive. I started wading through his other listings- most of the handbags sold are under the pretext of his wife selling her 'large' collection, okay fine. But he has what looks like a court with the wrong number here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Coa...922?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item257f1d1f3a
And I'm not sure what to make of this listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Coa...167?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item232c1b0727 because it also is not a 9870?

I feel so confused now >_< The first one looked okay, but the other two seem weird.

Sometimes I feel like it might be better to just get a new one, but I love the idea of vintage leather...
 
Last edited:
#1,359
firefly22 said:
Wow, you have such an eye! As usual, I'll just keep on with my search- really rather not risk it on a bag that you guys can't be sure of. I appreciate it as I had no idea there were so many suspicious vintage leather bags, in my mind it was mostly patchwork and signature.

Name: Vintage coach black leather court willis satchel
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Coa...157?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item232c1b071d
Seller: topspincouple
151063824157

Comments: This one was freshly listed. It seems to me like the creed is from an earlier time than when they suggested the bag was bought (though that may not mean a thing) and it looks awfully...clean, haha! But I want to get a professional opinion :)


EDIT: Though I'm looking at this seller's feedback and it's positive. I started wading through his other listings- most of the handbags sold are under the pretext of his wife selling her 'large' collection, okay fine. But he has what looks like a court with the wrong number here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Coa...922?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item257f1d1f3a
And I'm not sure what to make of this listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Coa...167?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item232c1b0727 because it also is not a 9870?

I feel so confused now >_< The first one looked okay, but the other two seem weird.

Sometimes I feel like it might be better to just get a new one, but I love the idea of vintage leather...
Click to expand...

The seller also recommends a "Coach Authenticity Guide" that doesn't seem to exist, at least not under the name they posted, so there's no way of telling what kind of information they're basing their authenticity opinions on, although all their Coaches look genuine. My feelings about authenticity guides are well-known (except for a very small number including the ones I wrote for Salearea) so I won't go into the danger of online "guides" especially any that claim to tell readers how to prove a Coach is genuine.

The first bag has a year code that's completely consistent with the time period when the seller says the bag was bought. You may be going by some incorrect information on how to date Coach creeds.

The second one you mentioned has a serial number that's NOT wrong, it's just a pre-1994 number. I'm getting a sense that you haven't read the Salearea Guides on creeds and serial numbers, so I'm going to recommend reading at least those 2, they should clear up the confusion about the time periods these numbers are from. I'd suggest reading all six, they may save you from some dangerous mistakes in the future.
http://search.reviews.ebay.com/members/salearea

You're having the same problem with the third one as the second one. Again, read the Salearea Guides, and ignore any other place where you're getting "information" on Coaches because it sounds like the info is either incomplete or wrong.

There's nothing wrong with any of the Court Bags.
 
Last edited:
#1,360
swhynacht said:
Here's another picture
Click to expand...

It seems to be a genuine Companion Flap although I'm a bit worried about the way the bottom of the flap looks in the photo. It may just be the way it was stuffed for the photo but it looks crooked and the turnlock seems off-center. If you're thinking of buying it, you may want to wait for another listing.

BTW, please read the first post in this thread for a list of what information we need when authenticating.
 
Last edited:
#1,362
Hyacinth said:
The seller also recommends a "Coach Authenticity Guide" that doesn't seem to exist, at least not under the name they posted, so there's no way of telling what kind of information they're basing their authenticity opinions on, although all their Coaches look genuine. My feelings about authenticity guides are well-known (except for a very small number including the ones I wrote for Salearea) so I won't go into the danger of online "guides" especially any that claim to tell readers how to prove a Coach is genuine.

The first bag has a year code that's completely consistent with the time period when the seller says the bag was bought. You may be going by some incorrect information on how to date Coach creeds.

The second one you mentioned has a serial number that's NOT wrong, it's just a pre-1994 number. I'm getting a sense that you haven't read the Salearea Guides on creeds and serial numbers, so I'm going to recommend reading at least those 2, they should clear up the confusion about the time periods these numbers are from. I'd suggest reading all six, they may save you from some dangerous mistakes in the future.
http://search.reviews.ebay.com/members/salearea

You're having the same problem with the third one as the second one. Again, read the Salearea Guides, and ignore any other place where you're getting "information" on Coaches because it sounds like the info is either incomplete or wrong.

There's nothing wrong with any of the Court Bags.
Click to expand...

Wow thank you! And no I haven't read that guide. I was going off another ebay guide- it seems like finding the right information is just as hard as finding the bag itself. So, as you say it must be incorrect. I'm definitely just learning about vintage coach, so I'm sure my knowledge in this area is highly diluted with fiction. Thank you for recommending that page to me again!
 
#1,363
Hyacinth said:
The seller also recommends a "Coach Authenticity Guide" that doesn't seem to exist, at least not under the name they posted, so there's no way of telling what kind of information they're basing their authenticity opinions on, although all their Coaches look genuine. My feelings about authenticity guides are well-known (except for a very small number including the ones I wrote for Salearea) so I won't go into the danger of online "guides" especially any that claim to tell readers how to prove a Coach is genuine.
Click to expand...
Although I recommend the Salearea guides that Hyacinth wrote, I did find the guide recommended by the seller.

This is the guide that the seller recommends. While it's not as bad as some, it does contain some information that's only partially correct:
http://www.ebay.com/gds/Authentic-COACH-Purse-Myths-Facts-amp-Fiction/10000000005259376/g.html

A couple of corrections I'll comment on are:

Guide states:

1.

  • FICTION: Coach never uses signature lining.
    • FACT: Sometimes Coach uses lining with the entire name on the lining.
CORRECTION: Although Coach uses lozenge lining as described in the guide, it also DOES use signature lining on some bags.

2.

  • FICTION: Fake Coach handbags do not have authenticity numbers.
    • FACT: Replica bags have serial numbers, but have a different number sequence. In fact, fake Coach bags often come with tags! The outside of the tags looks like a typical Coach tag, but the inside does not have the following: a barcode, style numbers inside, description, color or the price.
CORRECTION: Although fakes often have invalid serial numbers, they also can have legitimate numbers, sometimes even a valid serial number for the style that it's trying to copy.


3.


  • FICTION: Serial numbers confirm authenticity.
    • FACT: The numbers inside Coach handbags are actually used to inform Coach what is being sold and how often, in other words, it counts inventory and/or handbag popularity.
CORRECTION: Although serial numbers do NOT confirm authenticity, correctly described as "fiction," the author's "fact" is total nonsense!




4.


  • FACT: Many Coach handbags are made in china, as are many other high-end designer items, but Coach is NEVER manufactured in Korea.
CORRECTION: Although no Coach bags are made in Korea, some wearables are made there.



5.

  • FACT: Coach will attempt to repair all of their handbags, including handbags that have been discontinued. If you purchase a new or pre-owned bag that does not have the registration, you can go to Coach.com and obtain a registration form from the website. You can even switch ownership of a bag with the registration card.
CORRECTION: Coach has not had a repair service nor registration cards for years.

6.

  • FACT: Retail department stores are employees of that particular department store and not Coach employees; therefore, are unable to confirm or deny authenticity of a handbag. They can compare the handbags to what they have in stock, but they are not trained Coach employees.
CORRECTION: Coach store employees are not trained to authenticate nor will they confirm authenticity either. In fact, when told that items are online/reseller purchases, they've been known to knowingly lie and tell customers that an item is fake, when in fact, it's genuine.

7.

  • FACT: As long as you have your Coach receipt, you can return items up to 1 year after purchase as long as it's been unused, undamaged, and still in the condition in which it was purchased.
CORRECTION: Coach actually has a more generous return policy than stated above as "fact." Coach doesn't have any expiration date for returns with receipts.





MY EDITORIAL COMMENT:



The problem with many "authenticity guides" floating around the internet is that they can contain partially correct information, outdated and obsolete information or they can have totally inaccurate "facts" that cause people to believe that fakes are authentic and/or that authentic items are fake.


The accuracy and trustworthiness of any guide is only as good as the diligence of its author.
 
Last edited:
#1,364
BeenBurned said:
The problem with many "authenticity guides" floating around the internet is that they can contain partially correct information, outdated and obsolete information or they can have totally inaccurate "facts" that cause people to believe that fakes are authentic and/or that authentic items are fake.


The accuracy and trustworthiness of any guide is only as good as the diligence of its author.
Click to expand...

This is very good information-- thank you as always.
Also, your avatar is so cute! I love that dog.
 
#1,365
BeenBurned said:
Although I recommend the Salearea guides that Hyacinth wrote, I did find the guide recommended by the seller.

This is the guide that the seller recommends. While it's not as bad as some, it does contain some information that's only partially correct:
http://www.ebay.com/gds/Authentic-COACH-Purse-Myths-Facts-amp-Fiction/10000000005259376/g.html

A couple of corrections I'll comment on are:

Guide states:

1.

  • FICTION: Coach never uses signature lining.
    • FACT: Sometimes Coach uses lining with the entire name on the lining.
CORRECTION: Although Coach uses lozenge lining as described in the guide, it also DOES use signature lining on some bags.

2.

  • FICTION: Fake Coach handbags do not have authenticity numbers.
    • FACT: Replica bags have serial numbers, but have a different number sequence. In fact, fake Coach bags often come with tags! The outside of the tags looks like a typical Coach tag, but the inside does not have the following: a barcode, style numbers inside, description, color or the price.
CORRECTION: Although fakes often have invalid serial numbers, they also can have legitimate numbers, sometimes even a valid serial number for the style that it's trying to copy.


3.


  • FICTION: Serial numbers confirm authenticity.
    • FACT: The numbers inside Coach handbags are actually used to inform Coach what is being sold and how often, in other words, it counts inventory and/or handbag popularity.
CORRECTION: Although serial numbers do NOT confirm authenticity, correctly described as "fiction," the author's "fact" is total nonsense!




4.


  • FACT: Many Coach handbags are made in china, as are many other high-end designer items, but Coach is NEVER manufactured in Korea.
CORRECTION: Although no Coach bags are made in Korea, some wearables are made there.



5.

  • FACT: Coach will attempt to repair all of their handbags, including handbags that have been discontinued. If you purchase a new or pre-owned bag that does not have the registration, you can go to Coach.com and obtain a registration form from the website. You can even switch ownership of a bag with the registration card.
CORRECTION: Coach has not had a repair service nor registration cards for years.

6.

  • FACT: Retail department stores are employees of that particular department store and not Coach employees; therefore, are unable to confirm or deny authenticity of a handbag. They can compare the handbags to what they have in stock, but they are not trained Coach employees.
CORRECTION: Coach store employees are not trained to authenticate nor will they confirm authenticity either. In fact, when told that items are online/reseller purchases, they've been known to knowingly lie and tell customers that an item is fake, when in fact, it's genuine.

7.

  • FACT: As long as you have your Coach receipt, you can return items up to 1 year after purchase as long as it's been unused, undamaged, and still in the condition in which it was purchased.
CORRECTION: Coach actually has a more generous return policy than stated above as "fact." Coach doesn't have any expiration date for returns with receipts.





MY EDITORIAL COMMENT:



The problem with many "authenticity guides" floating around the internet is that they can contain partially correct information, outdated and obsolete information or they can have totally inaccurate "facts" that cause people to believe that fakes are authentic and/or that authentic items are fake.


The accuracy and trustworthiness of any guide is only as good as the diligence of its author.
Click to expand...

Thanks for finding that, BB!

What a pile of horse manure! And the real shame is that gullible people who read these bogus "guides" suddenly think they have accurate information and they turn into instant experts and start reporting "fakes" to Ebay, or they accuse honest sellers of selling them a fake, because some of the bags "break the Rules" that aren't rules at all but just misinformation, out-of-date generalities and just outright lies.

I wish there was a way of reporting fake Buying Guides like there is for fake bags. Of course Ebay probably wouldn't remove the cwap-filled guides any faster than they remove the fake Coach items. :pout:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top