Coach Gals, Would You Go Through with the Purchase?

[QueenLouis]

I had a couple bags authenticated on here earlier today. They were authentic. I went ahead and decided to purchase one of them. It wasn't immediate pay, but a commitment to purchase. Shortly after, one of the expert authenticators provided some additional info that while these bags were authentic, the seller has one fake listed, and has been called out on a handful of fakes on the forum before... although they deal in a large volume of Coach bags, apparently the vast majority being authentic.


Now I'm at a loss what to do.


Go through with the purchase since this bag is authentic and I already committed to it?


Or ask the seller to cancel/don't pay in order to not do business with someone who has sold fakes in the past and currently has one listed?


And additionally, should I provide the seller with the info discussed on this forum about her, in the hopes that these were honest mistakes and she might find it useful?


UGH! What would you do?

 

[whateve]

That's a tough one! What really bothers me is this seller has had fakes removed in the past so she should have learned then the importance of authenticating. Yet, it seems nothing changed.

She has a long history and a large selection of very rare bags so the perception to most buyers would be that she knows her products and can be trusted. By contrast, if you had found a bag from a minor seller, you would have been on alert, and would have taken more care to make sure there wasn't anything to worry about. I know you got the bags authenticated, but I bet you probably felt like it was an almost unnecessary step based on the impression the seller gives. That is what worries me the most - the perception she has created that she is as trustworthy as Nordstrom.

If there are no consequences to her, is she going to make sure her items are authentic in the future?

On the other hand, the bag you committed to buy is authentic.

 

[TNgypsy]

I would ask her to cancel the order. Your positive feedback (because your bag is authentic & presuming all goes well) will only increase her credibility in eBay. BUT that's easy for me to say since I'm not in your position. AND it would be great to tell her why you want to cancel....There is really no right or wrong decision since the bag you would purchase is authentic.

 

[QueenLouis]

Thanks for offering your opinions.


Anyone else want to chime in?

 

[stardustgirl]

How badly do you want the bag? If it's not a holy grail and you won't regret passing on it, and you're certain the seller is *knowingly* currently selling a fake, then I would cancel. I would also be very clear as to why I was canceling.

Is it possible they have no idea? While the fakes have been pointed out here on the forum, has anyone informed the seller? If so, what is their response? Do they care? Do they deny it? The answers you get may help you decide what you want to do.

 

[Hobbsy]

If it was a bag I really wanted I would buy it. If this person is knowingly selling fakes I don't feel like your purchase or non purchase will stop them. So, again, if it was a bag I really wanted and you already know it's authentic, I would buy it. You don't have to leave any feedback for the seller if you don't feel like it.

 

[QueenLouis]

I have no idea if the seller knows. Opinion of some forum experts was that seller should have known because they had a genuine of the same bag listed. But one of the comments was also that the fakes they've had have been "scary good". So it's quite possible the seller is just not careful as opposed to intentionally passing off fakes.

I had a message drafted to request cancellation, and direct the seller to the current fake, and discussions about her/him/them previously on the forum.

In the end I went ahead and paid because I had committed to it, and nothing appears off about the item I'm buying. I felt I'd be not living up to an obligation I committed to by not completing the purchase.

 

[whateve]

How badly do you want the bag? If it's not a holy grail and you won't regret passing on it, and you're certain the seller is *knowingly* currently selling a fake, then I would cancel. I would also be very clear as to why I was canceling.

Is it possible they have no idea? While the fakes have been pointed out here on the forum, has anyone informed the seller? If so, what is their response? Do they care? Do they deny it? The answers you get may help you decide what you want to do.

In my opinion, ignorance is no excuse. The seller had some fakes removed by ebay in the past, so it wasn't like she didn't know it could happen. It is my opinion that at the time those other fakes were removed, she should have educated herself or attempted to have her merchandise authenticated before listing. As I mentioned earlier, the way her listings are polished and at the prices she charges, she gives the impression that she really knows her products.

While everyone can make a mistake, the problem is that she doesn't appear to have done anything to prevent it from happening again. And as I also mentioned, the fake she listed recently wasn't difficult to identify, so it appears she hasn't tried to familiarize herself with the basics of authenticating.

 

[whateve]

I have no idea if the seller knows. Opinion of some forum experts was that seller should have known because they had a genuine of the same bag listed. But one of the comments was also that the fakes they've had have been "scary good". So it's quite possible the seller is just not careful as opposed to intentionally passing off fakes.

I had a message drafted to request cancellation, and direct the seller to the current fake, and discussions about her/him/them previously on the forum.

In the end I went ahead and paid because I had committed to it, and nothing appears off about the item I'm buying. I felt I'd be not living up to an obligation I committed to by not completing the purchase.

The bag you bought is gorgeous! I think, regardless of the seller, you'll love it.

 

[Hobbsy]

Enjoy it!!

 

[QueenLouis]

That's a tough one! What really bothers me is this seller has had fakes removed in the past so she should have learned then the importance of authenticating. Yet, it seems nothing changed.

She has a long history and a large selection of very rare bags so the perception to most buyers would be that she knows her products and can be trusted. By contrast, if you had found a bag from a minor seller, you would have been on alert, and would have taken more care to make sure there wasn't anything to worry about. I know you got the bags authenticated, but I bet you probably felt like it was an almost unnecessary step based on the impression the seller gives. That is what worries me the most - the perception she has created that she is as trustworthy as Nordstrom.

If there are no consequences to her, is she going to make sure her items are authentic in the future?

On the other hand, the bag you committed to buy is authentic.

More questionable behavior from the seller. Did you see the discussion in the Authenticate thread? What kind of feedback would you leave?

 

[whateve]

More questionable behavior from the seller. Did you see the discussion in the Authenticate thread? What kind of feedback would you leave?

I did see that discussion. I'd be inclined to leave neutral. If you leave positive, even if you ding her stars, no one is going to see it. I don't think she deserves a negative on this transaction because you did get an authentic bag and it was in the condition that was described (it was, wasn't it?) If you leave a neutral, other potential buyers are more likely to see it. Whenever I'm considering a purchase, I'll check the seller's negatives and neutrals.

 

[QueenLouis]

I did see that discussion. I'd be inclined to leave neutral. If you leave positive, even if you ding her stars, no one is going to see it. I don't think she deserves a negative on this transaction because you did get an authentic bag and it was in the condition that was described (it was, wasn't it?) If you leave a neutral, other potential buyers are more likely to see it. Whenever I'm considering a purchase, I'll check the seller's negatives and neutrals.

It was a comparable condition, yes.

I was leaning towards neutral as well.

I'm a little nervous still though. Since the seller blatantly lied when I pointed out it wasn't the bag from the listing, it makes me question everything about it. Like could it possibly be a SUPERfake? Although great care would have to have gone into it, and I wouldn't think this style would warrant mass production of fakes.

 

[whateve]

It was a comparable condition, yes.

I was leaning towards neutral as well.

I'm a little nervous still though. Since the seller blatantly lied when I pointed out it wasn't the bag from the listing, it makes me question everything about it. Like could it possibly be a SUPERfake? Although great care would have to have gone into it, and I wouldn't think this style would warrant mass production of fakes.

There is so much workmanship involved in making that bag that I can't imagine counterfeiters would take the time. I doubt it is a Superfake but I wonder where the seller finds all these incredibly rare bags. She might be a collector. It seems sad to keep all those gorgeous bags in new condition. I'd want to use them.

 

[Hyacinth]

It was a comparable condition, yes.

I was leaning towards neutral as well.

I'm a little nervous still though. Since the seller blatantly lied when I pointed out it wasn't the bag from the listing, it makes me question everything about it. Like could it possibly be a SUPERfake? Although great care would have to have gone into it, and I wouldn't think this style would warrant mass production of fakes.

There is so much workmanship involved in making that bag that I can't imagine counterfeiters would take the time. I doubt it is a Superfake but I wonder where the seller finds all these incredibly rare bags. She might be a collector. It seems sad to keep all those gorgeous bags in new condition. I'd want to use them.

I agree with Whateve, there's NO way a counterfeiter is going to bother making such a detailed fake. Why should they, when the style is more than 5 years old and they can make 5 cheaper fakes for the same cost in materials and labor as just that one duffle?

We KNOW how to recognise fakes in that style, and that ain't no fake.

Maybe you didn't get the EXACT bag that's in the photos, but you got one in the same condition. If your only problem other than her lying about the photos is that a few small appliques are in a slightly different position my a centimeter or two, do you really think that's a valid reason for questioning the bag's authenticity? You paid a LOT but you also got a bag that you apparently felt was worth the price whan you bought it (and that many of us would still give our eyeteeth for!), and now you're having second thoughts and putting yourself into a state of mind where you won't even enjoy using it. And that doesn't make sense to me.

If it bothers you that much, leave Neutral Feedback and put the bag up for sale.