Buying H accessories from a reseller-- advice please!

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A

ABlovesH

O.G.
Feb 16, 2011
538
8
#1
Hello-
I have been looking to buy some belts from resellers since they have been nearly impossible to find in H boutiques. I just learned today that TPF no longer authenticates belts/ buckles!! How do all of you feel about buying things that can no longer be authenticated here-- do you just avoid buying things like belts & enamel bracelets from resellers? I really want some new belts & I'm getting impatient with the lack of stock in boutiques-- but I don't know if buying from a reseller without authentication is a risk I'm willing to take. Any advice?
Thanks so much for your input.
 
#3
My only suggestion is to learn to authenticate a belt yourself. Go take a look at the fake sites and compare them to photos from here that you know are the real thing, find the differences and the things the fakes are lacking, then shop accordingly.
 
#4
angelaira said:
My only suggestion is to learn to authenticate a belt yourself. Go take a look at the fake sites and compare them to photos from here that you know are the real thing, find the differences and the things the fakes are lacking, then shop accordingly.
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I have several authentic H belts so its pretty easy for me to spot the obvious fakes. My concern is that if even the pros here don't feel comfortable authenticating H belts, can I really trust myself to do so?? I can only assume that there are copies out there that are very hard to discern from the real thing-- if even someone who is highly trained isn't comfortable authenticating it, how can I trust myself to? It's so frustrating because I have come across many belts that I feel are authentic, but I'm just so nervous about it now! Even more so than the lost money, I don't want to be inadvertently walking around with a fake!
 
#5
where are you located? in europe or USA it should not be too difficult to find belt kits in stores? i know in asia it's almost none-existent.
 
#6
Jadeite said:
where are you located? in europe or USA it should not be too difficult to find belt kits in stores? i know in asia it's almost none-existent.
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I'm in the US-- it is very difficult to find belt kits these days. The selection is extremely limited & there isn't much new stock. If you know of any H boutiques in the US that have a good stock please let me know!! That would make me so happy.
 
#8
I avoid resellers unless they are VERY REPUTABLE and the item is no longer sold EVER in a boutique.

Belt kits have been posted very frequently on H.com over the past month or 2. In fact, there were a gazillion listed yesterday and so many buckles it was like Christmas (including the CDC buckle)! I bought a black/gold kit about a month ago. I check back frequently everyday (if I want something in particular) and eventually they update stock. Also, if you look at the web finds thread here, we post frequently when stock is updated on H.com. I posted about the belt kits.... sorry you missed it.

As far as stores, my store has stock frequently but it seems that you need to have a good relationship with a SA in order to score the limited colors/skins. Often the unique colors are wait-listed. GL!
 
#9
I totally agree - I've seen them regularly lately - both in Palm Beach and in Miami. They are certainly out there and in stores - and at ecommerce - you just have to be patient and keep checking!
 
#10
Israeli_Flava said:
I avoid resellers unless they are VERY REPUTABLE and the item is no longer sold EVER in a boutique.

Belt kits have been posted very frequently on H.com over the past month or 2. In fact, there were a gazillion listed yesterday and so many buckles it was like Christmas (including the CDC buckle)! I bought a black/gold kit about a month ago. I check back frequently everyday (if I want something in particular) and eventually they update stock. Also, if you look at the web finds thread here, we post frequently when stock is updated on H.com. I posted about the belt kits.... sorry you missed it.

As far as stores, my store has stock frequently but it seems that you need to have a good relationship with a SA in order to score the limited colors/skins. Often the unique colors are wait-listed. GL!
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Yesterday?!??! There are none there today. :( I will check H.com daily now. My local store is a franchise store and their inventory is very limited & they cannot check inventory at other H stores. Good to know that the website has inventory from time to time! Thanks for the info.
 
#11
ABlovesH said:
I have several authentic H belts so its pretty easy for me to spot the obvious fakes. My concern is that if even the pros here don't feel comfortable authenticating H belts, can I really trust myself to do so?? I can only assume that there are copies out there that are very hard to discern from the real thing-- if even someone who is highly trained isn't comfortable authenticating it, how can I trust myself to? It's so frustrating because I have come across many belts that I feel are authentic, but I'm just so nervous about it now! Even more so than the lost money, I don't want to be inadvertently walking around with a fake!
Click to expand...

Just my opinion, but a thief cannot usually copy the smell and feel of the item, the authenticators here rely on photos only, where especially with Hermes, there is a distinctive smell that distinguishes it from both its competition and its imitators. Authenticating from a photo is limiting, we rely on it a lot, but in the end, when we actually hold the item in our hands, that is the true acid test. I had my Colorado MM authenticated here to be safe, but what convinced me that it is the real thing was the smell... it smells like an Hermes store, rich leather with an undertone of honey. I have been to Hermes stores enough times to remember that smell, and when I open my purse, I can close my eyes and picture it. A fake would not have the same effect on my senses. I find a lot of people on here tend to trust the online authenticators more than their own knowledge, and in the end, the authenticators that autheticate from photos are pretty awesome, but they are not infallible, just the nature of the medium. You can always take the item to an Hermes store and get a second opinion from the SA there, and once you have done it a few times, you will gain the knowledge to be able to tell the difference yourself. The rule while you are learning is to never spend more on the item than you can afford to lose, but that is the rule for online shopping anyway. People lie, they can steal photos, and you never really know what you are getting until you have it in your hands.
 
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