Beware of the super fakes

[Mnjenness]

Don't worry about the tag! I've also purchased from European & Canadian boutiques and they don't give the tag I also have friends purchase from Saks and they didn't get the tag either. I think it's based on company & country policy. But yes - NM has always given me the tags (which is nice )

But I would love to learn more about these super fakes at department stores, because I've always purchased at NM in the US & it's making me worried too. Someone mentioned in this thread that they bought a fake Chanel off NM, which is crazy to me especially because Neiman gives the tags (which should match the serial number sticker inside the bag). I can't imagine the fakes replicating the serial number as well, but maybe I'm too naive

Thank you for calming my crazy side down . I have only ever purchased from the boutique and NM and the tag is an extra layer of security for me so I was disappointed when it wasn't include.
I am super paranoid about super fake because I unknowingly purchased one from tradesy. It was a wallet that I passed on back in 2012 but I couldn't stop thinking about it. My gf finally found it on tradesy. It was sold at retail price and jumped on it. It arrived with a dust bag, tag, authenticity card and nothing else. The bag look AMAZING. As pretty as I remember it. I was over the moon. Then I started noticed some details that was off. I compared it to my Chanel wallet and my gut feeling that this is a super fake. I brought it to my friend for a second opinion and at first she couldn't see anything (she is own a couple of Chanel but she is more of a Fendi gal) until I pointed them out to her. I contacted Tradesy and they were very nice. They paid for me to ship it to their office in Nyc to get authenticated. It was indeed a fake. They refunded me and ban the seller but I was traumatized. Honestly if this was my first Chanel purchase I wouldn't be able to tell. From then I only purchase directly from boutique and big dept store.
I trust my ability to tell the super fake because of chanel quality in craftsmanship. But with my most recent bag purchase the lack of quality control is out of hand. To be honest if I didn't purchase it directly from the dept store I would think it's a super fake because of all the flaws. Chanel really need to step up the quality controls.

 

[Mori_K]

Thank you for calming my crazy side down . I have only ever purchased from the boutique and NM and the tag is an extra layer of security for me so I was disappointed when it wasn't include.
I am super paranoid about super fake because I unknowingly purchased one from tradesy. It was a wallet that I passed on back in 2012 but I couldn't stop thinking about it. My gf finally found it on tradesy. It was sold at retail price and jumped on it. It arrived with a dust bag, tag, authenticity card and nothing else. The bag look AMAZING. As pretty as I remember it. I was over the moon. Then I started noticed some details that was off. I compared it to my Chanel wallet and my gut feeling that this is a super fake. I brought it to my friend for a second opinion and at first she couldn't see anything (she is own a couple of Chanel but she is more of a Fendi gal) until I pointed them out to her. I contacted Tradesy and they were very nice. They paid for me to ship it to their office in Nyc to get authenticated. It was indeed a fake. They refunded me and ban the seller but I was traumatized. Honestly if this was my first Chanel purchase I wouldn't be able to tell. From then I only purchase directly from boutique and big dept store.
I trust my ability to tell the super fake because of chanel quality in craftsmanship. But with my most recent bag purchase the lack of quality control is out of hand. To be honest if I didn't purchase it directly from the dept store I would think it's a super fake because of all the flaws. Chanel really need to step up the quality controls.

Totally agree! Chanel's quality has really deteriorated... some of the caviar bags honestly look like fakes to me! It's scary to think that we can't even totally trust the big department stores anymore I'm in the SF Bay Area - and I shop at the NM Chanel, but I might have to move over to the stand alone store now...

 

[Mnjenness]

Totally agree! Chanel's quality has really deteriorated... some of the caviar bags honestly look like fakes to me! It's scary to think that we can't even totally trust the big department stores anymore I'm in the SF Bay Area - and I shop at the NM Chanel, but I might have to move over to the stand alone store now...

So agreeing with the quality. I always tell myself this is the last thing I purchase then Chanel sucks me back in with the cuteness **sigh**. It's hard to stay with boutique alone because NM get stuffs that the freestanding boutique doesn't get.

 

[PandaBunny]

Totally agree! Chanel's quality has really deteriorated... some of the caviar bags honestly look like fakes to me! It's scary to think that we can't even totally trust the big department stores anymore I'm in the SF Bay Area - and I shop at the NM Chanel, but I might have to move over to the stand alone store now...

That's so sad to hear! I was saving up for a Chanel but have been debating to go new or vintage. I've hear so many suggesting vintage (1990s) because the quality is better?It seems like the vintage Chanel pricing is increasing also

 

[contributor]

Don't worry about the tag! I've also purchased from European & Canadian boutiques and they don't give the tag I also have friends purchase from Saks and they didn't get the tag either. I think it's based on company & country policy. But yes - NM has always given me the tags (which is nice )

But I would love to learn more about these super fakes at department stores, because I've always purchased at NM in the US & it's making me worried too. Someone mentioned in this thread that they bought a fake Chanel off NM, which is crazy to me especially because Neiman gives the tags (which should match the serial number sticker inside the bag). I can't imagine the fakes replicating the serial number as well, but maybe I'm too naive

matching serial numbers is the easiest thing to fake. Consider:

1. the counterfeiters buy real bags then dismantle them. The pieces are used to make templates for the fakes. Also used to match materials - ANYONE ANYWHERE can walk into a boutique including a counterfeiter and buy a bag. Or they can give a woman $200 to walk into the boutique and purchase on their behalf.
2. The counterfeiters know what shoppers are looking for thanks in part to all of us in the forum alerting the public “how to spot a fake”. Counterfeiters take our advice and refine their fakes. Yes we are all complicit
3. they know the card and sticker should match so if your making both of them how hard is it to make matching numbers? It’s not. even an amateur graphic designer can do this
4. lastly do you assume ever counterfeit bag has a unique serial number?? Not necessarily! there could be 1000 bags all with the same serial number. And why not? Who will check?

 

[Mori_K]

matching serial numbers is the easiest thing to fake. Consider:

1. the counterfeiters buy real bags then dismantle them. The pieces are used to make templates for the fakes. Also used to match materials - ANYONE ANYWHERE can walk into a boutique including a counterfeiter and buy a bag. Or they can give a woman $200 to walk into the boutique and purchase on their behalf.
2. The counterfeiters know what shoppers are looking for thanks in part to all of us in the forum alerting the public “how to spot a fake”. Counterfeiters take our advice and refine their fakes. Yes we are all complicit
3. they know the card and sticker should match so if your making both of them how hard is it to make matching numbers? It’s not. even an amateur graphic designer can do this
4. lastly do you assume ever counterfeit bag has a unique serial number?? Not necessarily! there could be 1000 bags all with the same serial number. And why not? Who will check?

I totally agree that serial numbers (hologram sticker and authenticity card) is very easy to match. However, I was referring more so in reference to buying & returning a counterfeit. In that case, the counterfeiters would need to replicate the exact unique serial number from the tag within the refund/exchange timeframe. Maybe I'm too naive, but I would assume counterfeiters would target the secondhand market more than bait & switching with boutiques/Saks/NM.

I do agree with your point about how we're all complicit in improving fakes, so maybe this isn't the best forum to chat through how bait & switches work.

 

[contributor]

I totally agree that serial numbers (hologram sticker and authenticity card) is very easy to match. However, I was referring more so in reference to buying & returning a counterfeit. In that case, the counterfeiters would need to replicate the exact unique serial number from the tag within the refund/exchange timeframe. Maybe I'm too naive, but I would assume counterfeiters would target the secondhand market more than bait & switching with boutiques/Saks/NM.

I do agree with your point about how we're all complicit in improving fakes, so maybe this isn't the best forum to chat through how bait & switches work.

Yes the serial numbers for a bait and switch on an original product is a different matter. If the original was purchased from the store with the intention of switching it, maybe the criminal can print up the supporting documentation with the original’s number. I’m spending too much time thinking about this!!

I read in a thread that a woman asked her SA about bait and switch. Her SA said even if the store knows the bag has been swapped they have to accept it as the return. But that begs the question: why not pull the fake altogether?

 

[alyssamay_xx]

I was a victim of one of these superfakes, I purchased a Chanel bag off from ebay and i didn’t think about authenticating it because I thought it was authentic compared to my normal Chanel bags purchased from Nordstrom and the Chanel boutique!
but 2 years later when I got it authenticated to sell it.. it turned out to be a superfake! I felt so duped
Now it’s sitting in a box somewhere in my garage

 

[Mnjenness]

I was a victim of one of these superfakes, I purchased a Chanel bag off from ebay and i didn’t think about authenticating it because I thought it was authentic compared to my normal Chanel bags purchased from Nordstrom and the Chanel boutique!
but 2 years later when I got it authenticated to sell it.. it turned out to be a superfake! I felt so duped
Now it’s sitting in a box somewhere in my garage

Oh gosh I am so sorry!! It's awful. Honestly with these super fake, they make me doubt myself. I'm glad I went with my instincts and have it authenticated. The other day I saw on one of the forum someone posted super fake boy bag WITH A FAKE RECEIPT from an actual store. The store is real but the receipt was fake. I will only purchase directly from the boutique from now on tho.

 

[ne7]

I was the victim of a fake this past month so I did a little digging to see how this could happen. I own 6 Chanel bags all purchased directly from Chanel by me or my mother so I thought it would be somewhat easy to tell real from fake. I was wrong. I bought two pre-loved bags (my first used Chanels ever) and one turned out to be fake. A really good super fake. I thought I was knock-off proof when it came to Chanel. Now I know how I was fooled. I wanted to share the two links below so others would be more vigilant.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...ect-super-knockoffs-expensive-real-thing.html



Be careful out there.

Could you please tell us where did you buy the pre-loved bags so that we can be careful as well with those preloved stores?

 

[contributor]

I was a victim of one of these superfakes, I purchased a Chanel bag off from ebay and i didn’t think about authenticating it because I thought it was authentic compared to my normal Chanel bags purchased from Nordstrom and the Chanel boutique!
but 2 years later when I got it authenticated to sell it.. it turned out to be a superfake! I felt so duped
Now it’s sitting in a box somewhere in my garage

So you carried it for 2 years without noticing it’s a fake? Must be one hell of a good copy. Can you post pics?

 

[joymen888]

any recommendation for a good authenticator? My friend has a friend who has a friend (whew) selling a pre-loved Medium Classic Double Flap in Caviar to me. I am very much interested but I am not an expert to tell if its real or not. Can someone help me pls..

 

[azure5]

So I found a Chanel on eBay that was just perfect for me and the price was right. So I posted it here to have it authenticated and it cleared (trying to avoid the super fakes). Unfortunately, by the time I could get back to the posting on eBay, someone else had bought it. I suspect someone saw my authentication request here and grabbed it for herself. What's a person to do?

Same happened to me! Not Chanel but still. Very annoying!

 

[azure5]

Do the fakes even smell like real?
I only bought from boutiques and the smell of new bags is divine.

Hard to smell over the internet? This is why it's so tricky plus many photos are (deliberately?) foggy or misleading.

 

[azure5]

Some fakes can be so good that I am suspicious of anyone claiming they can authenticate using only photos. That rules out most of the online sites that claim they can authenticate for a fee if you email them some pictures.

If you go for a truly vintage bag, the wear on the bag will show up the fakes. For instance the so called authenticating sites from Japan have a lot of fakes, which show degeneration of the leather, and 'fluffing'. No truly robust leather should ever have fluff. It's just impossible. That's why I go for older bags. I want to see how it's wearing.