Beware of the super fakes

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#31
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? :confused1:
 
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#32
I have unknowingly received two fakes in my life--one Chanel mini and another Proenza Schouler PS11.

I know real authenticity cards and dust bags are paired with replica bags, but I still pay really really close attention to these. Same goes for heat stampings or ANY lettering on the bag.

These days the fakes have gotten so good with their leather and hardware that I can't rely on basic techniques like number of stitches or alignment.

Letters and fonts are harder to copy exactly right (if you have a very strict eye). Everything a designer uses, from the dustbag to the care booklet is written with their proprietary fonts (called logotype). Replica factories try to find the most similar font they can find, but it is never the same. The fonts are owned by the designers and are not for public use so replicas will study the tags and settle for something like SF New Republic or Couture (to copy CHANEL) because they look "close enough". For example on the fake Chanel, the "a" glyph on the serial cards had a slightly different tail than the letters on the real cards when you compare them side by side.

Other mistakes are caught when you look at smaller typography details. On the authenticity card, words like "Symbolise" and "Marque" were capitalized on the fake, but only "Marque" should be capitalized. I caught the fake Proenza Schouler because the paper tag had missed an accent over a french word, but was perfect in every other way (weight, color, embossing, etc)

Assuming the tags and bags have not been stolen from a real bag (this is a big assumption though), I can definitely spot an error on the fakes when I compare it to a real item. Handmade bags will have small imperfections and leather dyes / texture can have slight variances as we know. But tags, paper books, etc should be identical with no room for error!
 
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#33
Wow - this is scary. I was contemplating purchases from Barneys, Malleries or net-a-porter. Is there a thread that informs us what stores sell authentic items or not? No info is needed for e-bay. I am absolutely terrified to purchase big ticket item from e-bay. The Murphy's Law would zap me so fast! LOL
 
#34
Smooth Jaz Luvr said:
Wow - this is scary. I was contemplating purchases from Barneys, Malleries or net-a-porter. Is there a thread that informs us what stores sell authentic items or not? No info is needed for e-bay. I am absolutely terrified to purchase big ticket item from e-bay. The Murphy's Law would zap me so fast! LOL
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There is a thread that discusses "Trusted Chanel Sellers" somewhere around here. A lot of ebay discussion is on it though.

My rule of thumb--be trusting, but still vigilant for quality and errors, when purchasing from Chanel / Barneys / Bergdorfs / Neimans etc. that sell current season Chanel, new in box. Always 3rd party authenticate and assume the worst when buying from any reseller be it full fledged companies like Fashionphile or personal sellers on ebay. I'm wary of the mistakes and 'benefits of doubt' that come into play when the same group/person is authenticating and selling the bag. Would rather get the bag checked out by a 3rd party authenticator that does not profit by letting false negatives slip though.
 
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#35
Lightmint said:
There is a thread that discusses "Trusted Chanel Sellers" somewhere around here. A lot of ebay discussion is on it though.

My rule of thumb--be trusting, but still vigilant for quality and errors, when purchasing from Chanel / Barneys / Bergdorfs / Neimans etc. that sell current season Chanel, new in box. Always 3rd party authenticate and assume the worst when buying from any reseller be it full fledged companies like Fashionphile or personal sellers on ebay. I'm wary of the mistakes and 'benefits of doubt' that come into play when the same group/person is authenticating and selling the bag. Would rather get the bag checked out by a 3rd party authenticator that does not profit by letting false negatives slip though.
Click to expand...

Whoa, I never thought of that. That is definitely a problem. :nogood:
 
#37
Canneiv said:
Always get authenticate before purchase and never do bank wire. Use Paypal to pay. You may use the 3rd party authentication after you receive the bag.
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Do you have a favorite pay per service for authentication? I've been using caroldiva.com, but I'm wondering if I should use her for LV and maybe Etinceler Authentications for Chanel? Any thoughts? TIA. :smile1:
 
#38
Tulip2 said:
Do you have a favorite pay per service for authentication? I've been using caroldiva.com, but I'm wondering if I should use her for LV and maybe Etinceler Authentications for Chanel? Any thoughts? TIA. :smile1:
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Recently I nearly purchased a super fake. The online authenticator confirmed it is authentic. Only the on-site authenticator explained it is actually a fake. A super fake.

LV is a lot easier to tell IMO.
 
#41
Tulip2 said:
Do you have a favorite pay per service for authentication? I've been using caroldiva.com, but I'm wondering if I should use her for LV and maybe Etinceler Authentications for Chanel? Any thoughts? TIA. :smile1:
Click to expand...

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.
 
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#42
Lightmint said:
I have unknowingly received two fakes in my life--one Chanel mini and another Proenza Schouler PS11.



I know real authenticity cards and dust bags are paired with replica bags, but I still pay really really close attention to these. Same goes for heat stampings or ANY lettering on the bag.



These days the fakes have gotten so good with their leather and hardware that I can't rely on basic techniques like number of stitches or alignment.



Letters and fonts are harder to copy exactly right (if you have a very strict eye). Everything a designer uses, from the dustbag to the care booklet is written with their proprietary fonts (called logotype). Replica factories try to find the most similar font they can find, but it is never the same. The fonts are owned by the designers and are not for public use so replicas will study the tags and settle for something like SF New Republic or Couture (to copy CHANEL) because they look "close enough". For example on the fake Chanel, the "a" glyph on the serial cards had a slightly different tail than the letters on the real cards when you compare them side by side.



Other mistakes are caught when you look at smaller typography details. On the authenticity card, words like "Symbolise" and "Marque" were capitalized on the fake, but only "Marque" should be capitalized. I caught the fake Proenza Schouler because the paper tag had missed an accent over a french word, but was perfect in every other way (weight, color, embossing, etc)



Assuming the tags and bags have not been stolen from a real bag (this is a big assumption though), I can definitely spot an error on the fakes when I compare it to a real item. Handmade bags will have small imperfections and leather dyes / texture can have slight variances as we know. But tags, paper books, etc should be identical with no room for error!
Click to expand...


Wow that was very insightful! I was wondering if you would be able to share your experience with the fake chanel mini as I have just bought one used and now am questioning if it could be a super fake. Tia!
 
#44
In Russia are lots and lots of fakes! I went to Moscow for a trip last summer, and saw fakes of all types: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès, Michael Kors, Céline. And all types of accessories: belts, keychains, wallets, bracelets. And they were 1:1! The Chanel flaps were really superfakes!
However, when it comes to seasonal colours it is easier to find out that a bag is fake. For example from their hermès bags there was no bag that had a concrete hermès colour such as blue jean or etoupe. They were something in between. And if you intend to buy the classic chanel flap in black or a black birkin, you will get trapped. Their fakes cost around 400$ and are made in China. I honestly was shocked for the look of the fakes! And we have to be very very careful when buying online or vintage.
 
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