COACH Hall of Shame - Post Coach fakes here!

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#4,308
Leena.coach said:
May I ask how you identified it as fake? I am just curious. It does look a little plastic on close examination.
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Cocoabean said:
I know TPF doesn't want to help counterfeiters to make better bags, but I would love to learn more about identifying them as well.
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Every single fake has different red flags - there's no single mistake we look for. If you want to know more, spend time at the Authenticate This Coach thread and start reading, keeping notes and saving photos.

Not only do we NOT want to make the counterfeiters' job easier, we also don't want to make it easier for dishonest sellers to remove any photos that show the details of why something's fake. There are enough crooks and sneaks doing that already.

Since the listing has already been removed you wouldn't be able to see the details that marked it as a fake anyway.
 
#4,309
Hyacinth said:
Every single fake has different red flags - there's no single mistake we look for. If you want to know more, spend time at the Authenticate This Coach thread and start reading, keeping notes and saving photos.

Not only do we NOT want to make the counterfeiters' job easier, we also don't want to make it easier for dishonest sellers to remove any photos that show the details of why something's fake. There are enough crooks and sneaks doing that already.

Since the listing has already been removed you wouldn't be able to see the details that marked it as a fake anyway.
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That all makes sense and thank you. I saw the photo before it came down and just noticed a "plastic" look about it. I will study up at authentication!
 
#4,310
Hyacinth said:
Every single fake has different red flags - there's no single mistake we look for. If you want to know more, spend time at the Authenticate This Coach thread and start reading, keeping notes and saving photos.

Not only do we NOT want to make the counterfeiters' job easier, we also don't want to make it easier for dishonest sellers to remove any photos that show the details of why something's fake. There are enough crooks and sneaks doing that already.

Since the listing has already been removed you wouldn't be able to see the details that marked it as a fake anyway.
Click to expand...

Leena.coach said:
That all makes sense and thank you. I saw the photo before it came down and just noticed a "plastic" look about it. I will study up at authentication!
Click to expand...

Even if you don't need an authentication, it's still a really good idea to read the new posts in that Authenticate This Coach (ATC) thread every day. It will give you an idea of the kinds of things to look for, and how complicated authentication can sometimes be.

There's good information at the Answers to Authenticity Questions thread too, along with a list and updates of the current Coach Fake Serial Numbers List. That thread is a mixed blessing though, the older posts can be outdated and have either wrong information that was eventually corrected, or since the earliest post are 10 years old it will have a LOT of information and details that have changed over the years - see Post 1072 on Page 72 for an example of a post from 2007 that has incorrect or outdated information. The same Page 72 includes the first version of the current Fake Numbers List, which is updated in later posts throughout that thread.
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-sh...nticity-questions-94198-72.html#post26447774#


With Coach, nothing is static. What was true 2 or 3 years ago can be completely UNtrue today, the on-again off-again stuation with stamped serial numbers in new styles is a good example. That's why we don't believe in "rules" except for maybe 4 or 5 basics like "Patchwork bags always have patches on both sides", "Bags that are predominantly Sig C, Op Art or Coach Logo pattern on the outside will NEVER have a Sig C, Op Art C or Logo lining", and most importantly "COACH NEVER MADE HANDBAGS, BRIEFCASES OR WALLETS IN KOREA". There are a few styles that either stretch or are actual exceptions to the first 2 "rules", but never to the third one. (Coach DID make a very small number of clothing items in Korea but there are also fakes from there too, which complicates the issue). Even the classic "rule" that says "The right and left halves of the Sig C pattern should always be mirror images" has a TON of exceptions.

There is absolutely NO one or two or even three details that prove a Coach is genuine, regardless of all the BS found in most online "Authenticity Guides" - read the Signature under all my posts for my opinions on that subject. The only thing that proves a Coach is genuine is that none of the important details for that style, made in that plant, month and year, are wrong. And even there you have to allow for a plant making the occasional mistake. Every single style has its own set of details - for example many common mistakes found in fake Willises won't be found in fake Patricia's Legacys.

Good example - the fake style you asked about, if I'm remembering it correctly, was a multi blue and white stripe leather bag. That fake and similar ones ripped off a very small set of styles from the Ergo Pieced line like the one shown below. What proved it fake was not just that the leather looked plastic-y (not something that can be relied on) but that the creed patch was wrong and most importantly it had a a bogus "COACH NEW YORK" stamp on the front that not only wasn't in the right position on the front of the bag, but that was never used on this style line in the first place. So unfortunately knowing that the stamp is wrong on that particular fake is only going to help you if you find another fake of a bag from that same line with the same fake stamp.

9298_ErgoPieced Zip-blue-1.JPG

It's a much more complicated subject than most people realize, which is why, except for things like known fake serial numbers, actual authentication and reporting fakes should be left to the experts.
 
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#4,311
Hyacinth said:
Even if you don't need an authentication, it's still a really good idea to read the new posts in that Authenticate This Coach (ATC) thread every day. It will give you an idea of the kinds of things to look for, and how complicated authentication can sometimes be.

There's good information at the Answers to Authenticity Questions thread too, along with a list and updates of the current Coach Fake Serial Numbers List. That thread is a mixed blessing though, the older posts can be outdated and have either wrong information that was eventually corrected, or since the earliest post are 10 years old it will have a LOT of information and details that have changed over the years - see Post 1072 on Page 72 for an example of a post from 2007 that has incorrect or outdated information. The same Page 72 includes the first version of the current Fake Numbers List, which is updated in later posts throughout that thread.
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-sh...nticity-questions-94198-72.html#post26447774#


With Coach, nothing is static. What was true 2 or 3 years ago can be completely UNtrue today, the on-again off-again stuation with stamped serial numbers in new styles is a good example. That's why we don't believe in "rules" except for maybe 4 or 5 basics like "Patchwork bags always have patches on both sides", "Bags that are predominantly Sig C, Op Art or Coach Logo pattern on the outside will NEVER have a Sig C, Op Art C or Logo lining", and most importantly "COACH NEVER MADE HANDBAGS, BRIEFCASES OR WALLETS IN KOREA". There are a few styles that either stretch or are actual exceptions to the first 2 "rules", but never to the third one. (Coach DID make a very small number of clothing items in Korea but there are also fakes from there too, which complicates the issue). Even the classic "rule" that says "The right and left halves of the Sig C pattern should always be mirror images" has a TON of exceptions.

There is absolutely NO one or two or even three details that prove a Coach is genuine, regardless of all the BS found in most online "Authenticity Guides" - read the Signature under all my posts for my opinions on that subject. The only thing that proves a Coach is genuine is that none of the important details for that style, made in that plant, month and year, are wrong. And even there you have to allow for a plant making the occasional mistake. Every single style has its own set of details - for example many common mistakes found in fake Willises won't be found in fake Patricia's Legacys.

Good example - the fake style you asked about, if I'm remembering it correctly, was a multi blue and white stripe leather bag. That fake and similar ones ripped off a very small set of styles from the Ergo Pieced line like the one shown below. What proved it fake was not just that the leather looked plastic-y (not something that can be relied on) but that the creed patch was wrong and most importantly it had a a bogus "COACH NEW YORK" stamp on the front that not only wasn't in the right position on the front of the bag, but that was never used on this style line in the first place. So unfortunately knowing that the stamp is wrong on that particular fake is only going to help you if you find another fake of a bag from that same line with the same fake stamp.

View attachment 3753867

It's a much more complicated subject than most people realize, which is why, except for things like known fake serial numbers, actual authentication and reporting fakes should be left to the experts.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this, Hyacinth. I do know authentication is quite complicated. At the moment (as things always change!), my interest is in vintage, or vintage-like, all leather bags. I do read the Authenticate This thread, and so appreciate your time in helping us make good choices!
 
#4,313
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#4,314
BeenBurned said:
Seller coach*karma*creations

Not only does this seller has a fake (not) Coach bikini but her terms made me giggle. Yeah, sell me a fake and I'll "make trouble!"

"IF YOU ARE THE TYPE OF OF BUYER WHO LIKES TO CAUSE ISSUES. ..PLEASE TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSE WHERE I DEFIANTLY NOT YOUR SELLER"

Defiantly? LOL!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-COACH-S...326417?hash=item58f98468d1:g:rUUAAOSwwvZZU~KU
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Yep, it's that time of year again, isn't it? I'm almost afraid to say it, but at least there are a lot fewer of these rags than there were ten or twelve years ago.

Coach New Pink String Bikini Bathing Suit in Bag Size M
seller - drjustice
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-New-P...023364?hash=item51fb090544:g:hAQAAOSwyWZZVW7x
and
COACH~junior's~BLACK/w/COLORS/TINY/STRING/BIKINI!(L) BRAND/NEW! CUTE! Free/Ship!
seller - vicki$vault
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COACH-junio...284606?hash=item41c94f313e:g:UMoAAOSwFqNZVh7Y

Both - fake styles, wrong details. Coach did make a few bikinis, bot not these cheapo string tie adjust-a-size versions.
For anyone who wasn't around back then, this is what genuine Coach bikinis actually looked like, styles 1843, 3228 and the infamous 3273:

1843-168MSRP_d2.jpg 3228_d1.jpg 3273_d1.jpg
 
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#4,315
Hyacinth said:
Even if you don't need an authentication, it's still a really good idea to read the new posts in that Authenticate This Coach (ATC) thread every day. It will give you an idea of the kinds of things to look for, and how complicated authentication can sometimes be.

There's good information at the Answers to Authenticity Questions thread too, along with a list and updates of the current Coach Fake Serial Numbers List. That thread is a mixed blessing though, the older posts can be outdated and have either wrong information that was eventually corrected, or since the earliest post are 10 years old it will have a LOT of information and details that have changed over the years - see Post 1072 on Page 72 for an example of a post from 2007 that has incorrect or outdated information. The same Page 72 includes the first version of the current Fake Numbers List, which is updated in later posts throughout that thread.
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-sh...nticity-questions-94198-72.html#post26447774#


With Coach, nothing is static. What was true 2 or 3 years ago can be completely UNtrue today, the on-again off-again stuation with stamped serial numbers in new styles is a good example. That's why we don't believe in "rules" except for maybe 4 or 5 basics like "Patchwork bags always have patches on both sides", "Bags that are predominantly Sig C, Op Art or Coach Logo pattern on the outside will NEVER have a Sig C, Op Art C or Logo lining", and most importantly "COACH NEVER MADE HANDBAGS, BRIEFCASES OR WALLETS IN KOREA". There are a few styles that either stretch or are actual exceptions to the first 2 "rules", but never to the third one. (Coach DID make a very small number of clothing items in Korea but there are also fakes from there too, which complicates the issue). Even the classic "rule" that says "The right and left halves of the Sig C pattern should always be mirror images" has a TON of exceptions.

There is absolutely NO one or two or even three details that prove a Coach is genuine, regardless of all the BS found in most online "Authenticity Guides" - read the Signature under all my posts for my opinions on that subject. The only thing that proves a Coach is genuine is that none of the important details for that style, made in that plant, month and year, are wrong. And even there you have to allow for a plant making the occasional mistake. Every single style has its own set of details - for example many common mistakes found in fake Willises won't be found in fake Patricia's Legacys.

Good example - the fake style you asked about, if I'm remembering it correctly, was a multi blue and white stripe leather bag. That fake and similar ones ripped off a very small set of styles from the Ergo Pieced line like the one shown below. What proved it fake was not just that the leather looked plastic-y (not something that can be relied on) but that the creed patch was wrong and most importantly it had a a bogus "COACH NEW YORK" stamp on the front that not only wasn't in the right position on the front of the bag, but that was never used on this style line in the first place. So unfortunately knowing that the stamp is wrong on that particular fake is only going to help you if you find another fake of a bag from that same line with the same fake stamp.

View attachment 3753867

It's a much more complicated subject than most people realize, which is why, except for things like known fake serial numbers, actual authentication and reporting fakes should be left to the experts.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this wealth of information! Much appreciated!
 
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#4,316
BeenBurned said:
Even without the creed, the listing shows a window ID pocket on the front of the bag, something you wouldn't see on a genuine Coach:
s-l1600.jpg
Click to expand...
There is a Vintage Grammercy on eBay now with this same type of ID Window. Maybe I should send the pic to authentication of the bag? It's so old and beat up it would be odd I suppose to knowingly pass off as fake but unknowingly happens too.
 
#4,318
Leena.coach said:
There is a Vintage Grammercy on eBay now with this same type of ID Window. Maybe I should send the pic to authentication of the bag? It's so old and beat up it would be odd I suppose to knowingly pass off as fake but unknowingly happens too.
Click to expand...

Please post a link at the Authenticate This Coach thread any time you mention a questionable listing.

I just searched Ebay for Gramercy and Grammercy and couldn't find anything like you described.
 
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