AUTHENTICATE this COACH!

[Two.time.bags]

I actually got eBay to support me in my case. I asked the seller to refund me all of the money, she refused. I then escalated the case to eBay and told them I would not ship back the fake bag because it is illegal to traffic counterfeits. I ended up getting all of my money refunded and did not ship the item back.

Just remember this: Ebay will ALWAYS side with the buyer on a SNAD case!! The reps have literally told me this verbatim.
Maybe they should have a special return policy regarding counterfeit goods?

I think the point made by fallinwoman is most significant. Surely, neither the seller, ebay or PayPal can demand a counterfeit item be returned because they are then knowingly supporting the trafficking of counterfeit goods. I think this would be a pertinent point to make to all of these parties. The buyer should tell the seller they refuse to break the law and return the item however they are willing to provide evidence of the destruction of the offending item. If they seller doesn't agree, call ebay immediately as suggested by thecollector629.

Thecollector is right, ebay needs a specific policy for counterfeit goods.

 

[BeenBurned]

I've read all of the conversations regarding the return of SNAD items - but the FACT is that ebay cannot and does not force the seller to pay return shipping.

HOWEVER, there is a way around this if you get a seller who does not agree to do the right thing and pay for the return.
1. ESCALATE THE CASE (after the appropriate waiting period) BY PHONE!!!
Talk to an ebay rep in person about why you are escalating the case and tell them how it is so unfair that you are having to pay return shipping and you did nothing wrong, etc etc.
They will immediately offer you a return shipping label (at ebay's expense).

The part in red is what I'm talking about when I say that we all pay for ebay's "generosity" and I have a problem with it.

Ebay doesn't "give away" shipping labels. While it's true that neither the buyer nor the seller pays for that label at the time of the dispute, we all pay for it in the end in the form of higher fees (for sellers) and higher prices (for buyers who are paying those higher fees built into selling prices).

Again, I don't disagree that buyers have a right to expect what is described, sellers have an obligation to be honest and accurate in their listings and we all have an obligation to know ebay's and paypal's policies regarding who pays what in the event a sale or purchase goes south.

It's all there in black and white buried in the pages of rules and regulations and if you don't like it, no one is forcing anyone to use ebay. I'm sure there are sites (and even on ebay there's the managed returns program) where returns are reimbursed in full, including return shipping.

But sellers are NOT obligated to do it and to demand it can result in a policy violation ding on your own ebay record. (Ebay considers it feedback extortion to demand something that's not offered or required .)

 

[loosestockings]

Is this authentic? The leather on the back of the purse seems odd/damaged?

 

[Two.time.bags]

Is this authentic? The leather on the back of the purse seems odd/damaged?

I'm not going to comment on authenticity, but I'd say the back of the purse has most likely been dis-coloured from rubbing against clothing. It could be a mixture of patina, dirt and dye transfer. It would probably clean up quite well. If its deemed authentic, head over to the Rehab thread for tips on cleaning it up.

http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-clubhouse/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club-833400-259.html

 

[loosestockings]

I'm not going to comment on authenticity, but I'd say the back of the purse has most likely been dis-coloured from rubbing against clothing. It could be a mixture of patina, dirt and dye transfer. It would probably clean up quite well. If its deemed authentic, head over to the Rehab thread for tips on cleaning it up.

http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-clubhouse/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club-833400-259.html

Thanks for the link! I hope it's worth cleaning up!

 

[Hyacinth]

I've read all of the conversations regarding the return of SNAD items - but the FACT is that ebay cannot and does not force the seller to pay return shipping.

HOWEVER, there is a way around this if you get a seller who does not agree to do the right thing and pay for the return.
1. ESCALATE THE CASE (after the appropriate waiting period) BY PHONE!!!
Talk to an ebay rep in person about why you are escalating the case and tell them how it is so unfair that you are having to pay return shipping and you did nothing wrong, etc etc.
They will immediately offer you a return shipping label (at ebay's expense).

The reason that ebay does not force sellers to pay return shipping is probably because 90% of the SNAD cases are not really "SNAD" they are more like "well you said it was aqua and the purse is turquoise'" OR the notorious " It looked bigger in the pictures" . Especially because the items being bought and returned are used, there is sometimes a difference of opinion on condition/size/color, etc.

Just remember this: Ebay will ALWAYS side with the buyer on a SNAD case!! The reps have literally told me this verbatim.
Maybe they should have a special return policy regarding counterfeit goods?

From a buyer's point of view a return policy for counterfeits that required the seller to refund return shipping fees sounds good. But from a seller's point of view it would be a nightmare. Can you IMAGINE how many sellers would be falsely accused of selling a fake just so the buyer could scream "FAKE" and return an item without having to pay return shipping because she didn't like it, or had been too stupid or lazy to read the description and the measurements?

We see enough of that kind of thing already. If Ebay forces sellers to pay that cost too it will be a nightmare, especially since Ebay has a long record of siding with the buyers when they claim an item is counterfeit. The numbers of honest sellers accused of selling fakes would probably skyrocket, and so would the number of long-time sellers leaving Ebay.

 

[thecollector629]

The part in red is what I'm talking about when I say that we all pay for ebay's "generosity" and I have a problem with it.

Ebay doesn't "give away" shipping labels. While it's true that neither the buyer nor the seller pays for that label at the time of the dispute, we all pay for it in the end in the form of higher fees (for sellers) and higher prices (for buyers who are paying those higher fees built into selling prices).

Again, I don't disagree that buyers have a right to expect what is described, sellers have an obligation to be honest and accurate in their listings and we all have an obligation to know ebay's and paypal's policies regarding who pays what in the event a sale or purchase goes south.

It's all there in black and white buried in the pages of rules and regulations and if you don't like it, no one is forcing anyone to use ebay. I'm sure there are sites (and even on ebay there's the managed returns program) where returns are reimbursed in full, including return shipping.

But sellers are NOT obligated to do it and to demand it can result in a policy violation ding on your own ebay record. (Ebay considers it feedback extortion to demand something that's not offered or required .)

ALL true!! Now stop beating that poor dead horse..lol!!
I am such a sucker for the "smileys"

 

[fallinwoman]

I saw this one at Goodwill and have a question. Does the serial number look ok? The "o" in No. seems to be not all stamped. Then the spacing in the first 3 letters/numbers is uneven. Thank you!

 

[oldbaglover]

I don't see any problems with it. More opinions are welcome.

when did Coach start making bags in the Philippines?

 

[whateve]

The part in red is what I'm talking about when I say that we all pay for ebay's "generosity" and I have a problem with it.

Ebay doesn't "give away" shipping labels. While it's true that neither the buyer nor the seller pays for that label at the time of the dispute, we all pay for it in the end in the form of higher fees (for sellers) and higher prices (for buyers who are paying those higher fees built into selling prices).

Again, I don't disagree that buyers have a right to expect what is described, sellers have an obligation to be honest and accurate in their listings and we all have an obligation to know ebay's and paypal's policies regarding who pays what in the event a sale or purchase goes south.

It's all there in black and white buried in the pages of rules and regulations and if you don't like it, no one is forcing anyone to use ebay. I'm sure there are sites (and even on ebay there's the managed returns program) where returns are reimbursed in full, including return shipping.

But sellers are NOT obligated to do it and to demand it can result in a policy violation ding on your own ebay record. (Ebay considers it feedback extortion to demand something that's not offered or required .)

From a buyer's point of view a return policy for counterfeits that required the seller to refund return shipping fees sounds good. But from a seller's point of view it would be a nightmare. Can you IMAGINE how many sellers would be falsely accused of selling a fake just so the buyer could scream "FAKE" and return an item without having to pay return shipping because she didn't like it, or had been too stupid or lazy to read the description and the measurements?

We see enough of that kind of thing already. If Ebay forces sellers to pay that cost too it will be a nightmare, especially since Ebay has a long record of siding with the buyers when they claim an item is counterfeit. The numbers of honest sellers accused of selling fakes would probably skyrocket, and so would the number of long-time sellers leaving Ebay.

It is already happening.

Buyers already claim Fake in order to get a seller who doesn't take returns to take one, or to get a seller who charges a restocking fee to waive the fee, or to get the seller to pay for return shipping.

In the Managed Returns program, the buyer doesn't have to provide any proof that the item is not as described, and if they claim that, they don't have to pay the restocking fee or the shipping to send it back. It's a no-brainer for dishonest buyers, of which there are more than a few. Ebay has an informal policy of refunding the return shipping costs to the seller if the seller complains.

However, accepting returns or opting into Managed Returns, allows a lot of sellers to sell fakes without being reported. If the buyer ends up with a fake, there is no reason for them to open a case since the seller already accepts returns.

 

[whateve]

I saw this one at Goodwill and have a question. Does the serial number look ok? The "o" in No. seems to be not all stamped. Then the spacing in the first 3 letters/numbers is uneven. Thank you!

It looks good. On older bags, uneven spacing is usually a good thing. Some of the fakes are too perfect to have been done by hand.

 

[whateve]

Is this authentic? The leather on the back of the purse seems odd/damaged?

It looks authentic. It's a Rambler's Legacy. It does look scratched on the back of the purse. I don't know if it should look a lighter color underneath, like that. I would worry that it might have been treated with polish. Coach color goes all the way through the leather so a scratch is usually colorless or darker.

 

[thecollector629]

From a buyer's point of view a return policy for counterfeits that required the seller to refund return shipping fees sounds good. But from a seller's point of view it would be a nightmare. Can you IMAGINE how many sellers would be falsely accused of selling a fake just so the buyer could scream "FAKE" and return an item without having to pay return shipping because she didn't like it, or had been too stupid or lazy to read the description and the measurements?

We see enough of that kind of thing already. If Ebay forces sellers to pay that cost too it will be a nightmare, especially since Ebay has a long record of siding with the buyers when they claim an item is counterfeit. The numbers of honest sellers accused of selling fakes would probably skyrocket, and so would the number of long-time sellers leaving Ebay.

Good point Hyacinth!
I was not suggesting that all the buyer had to do was check off reason for return: Fake!

I think that in order to be eligible to be reimbursed for return shipping the item would
have to be DEEMED fake ((by a fair preponderance of the evidence and all that jazz) - not just CLAIMED fake...at least by a site like this one.
Both parties could agree to a mediator who would oversee the process.
But it all gets too complicated so it will never happen.

Just more reasons why buyers have to take some responsibility for looking into a sellers reputation and investigating the item BEFORE purchasing. If you find a great deal and you want to spring on it
without due diligence then do so knowing that you might end up having to pay some of the costs for that impatience.

There is no other site like ebay where you can get these great deals and still be covered by a very decent buyer protection policy.
Whenever ebay sends me a mini questionnaire and asks if I would recommend ebay to buyers on a scale of 1-10 I heartily respond with a 10.
Would I recommend ebay to sellers? That usually falls around a 5.
They are very biased towards their buyers in terms of protection, and need to put a lot more time and effort into ways to protect sellers as well IMHO.

 

[thecollector629]

It is already happening.

Buyers already claim Fake in order to get a seller who doesn't take returns to take one, or to get a seller who charges a restocking fee to waive the fee, or to get the seller to pay for return shipping.

In the Managed Returns program, the buyer doesn't have to provide any proof that the item is not as described, and if they claim that, they don't have to pay the restocking fee or the shipping to send it back. It's a no-brainer for dishonest buyers, of which there are more than a few. Ebay has an informal policy of refunding the return shipping costs to the seller if the seller complains.

However, accepting returns or opting into Managed Returns, allows a lot of sellers to sell fakes without being reported. If the buyer ends up with a fake, there is no reason for them to open a case since the seller already accepts returns.

This is all true too , however there are new policies taking effect in August that rates a seller according to "defects". ONE of the many ways to receive a "defect" is when a seller who is opted into the managed returns program gets a return of an item, and the reason for the return is "not as described" or "broken/damaged" or "counterfeit".
A second way to get a defect is to have a case opened up against them (even if it is resolved amicably, OR opened accidentally, AND never escalated!)
A third way to get a defect is to get a negative OR neutral feedback (and revisions mean NOTHING, it still counts as a defect).
There are more, but this is not the time or place.

However, only ONE defect counts for any one single transaction...so if a seller opens a case, files for a refund, and leaves neutral/negative feedback...the seller still gets ONE defect point.

My point is that the seller who is in the managed returns process who sells a fake and gets it returned to him without a case being opened STILL has that "defect" point, he is not immune.

 

[Hyacinth]

when did Coach start making bags in the Philippines?

Probably about a year ago.

But be extremely cautious about BUYING bags from Philippines sellers. The country has become a major source of fakes, in handbags and other items. It's always a very good idea to have them authenticated, and we don't recommend buying from sellers located in the P.I. even if a buyer lives there.