Consigning/buying with The Real Real TRR

[s.tighe]

No tag = no Buy for me. That being said, I have not bought from them, but have heard that some fakes were sold. No bueno!

Funny you should comment today, I was just about to post to the "Fakes" and "authenticate" threads. I requested additional photos of a black work last week. They finally sent me photos yesterday and I think it's a superfake. At a glance the bag itself is a dead ringer for black 05, but the finer points are off. I submitted to the authenticate thread thinking maybe there was some anomaly in 05 that someone knew something about (like "H-gate" with the varying H fonts on the s/s 2014 bags).

I sent them an email with detailed reasons why I think it's fake, and was told it had been removed from the site for further investigation by their "authenticity director" or whatever. But as far as I can tell, the bag was never taken down and it's still there now. IDK who they have authenticating this stuff, but anyone who bought it and then questioned the authenticity would probably have to override their "in house expert" with a paid authenticator at their own expense, and wait a hundred years while the whole thing gets vetted, with an uncertain outcome.

 

[CeeJay]

Funny you should comment today, I was just about to post to the "Fakes" and "authenticate" threads. I requested additional photos of a black work last week. They finally sent me photos yesterday and I think it's a superfake. At a glance the bag itself is a dead ringer for black 05, but the finer points are off. I submitted to the authenticate thread thinking maybe there was some anomaly in 05 that someone knew something about (like "H-gate" with the varying H fonts on the s/s 2014 bags).

I sent them an email with detailed reasons why I think it's fake, and was told it had been removed from the site for further investigation by their "authenticity director" or whatever. But as far as I can tell, the bag was never taken down and it's still there now. IDK who they have authenticating this stuff, but anyone who bought it and then questioned the authenticity would probably have to override their "in house expert" with a paid authenticator at their own expense, and wait a hundred years while the whole thing gets vetted, with an uncertain outcome.

It's still up there and yes .. if the Silver tag doesn't have the .925 for a 2005, it's a fake. By law, they had to stamp them because at that time, they were - in fact - Sterling Silver (.925 is the designation for Sterling Silver).

Also - the "made in Italy" would not be all upper case. That's it for me; I've heard too many stories of fake bags on the RealReal (and not just Balenciaga).

 

[s.tighe]

Such a bummer. I really thought they had cleaned up their act.

 

[atlantis1982]

Such a bummer. I really thought they had cleaned up their act.

I understand that no reseller can be 100% perfect, but when you don't have 100% transparency, buyers lose trust and thus shop elsewhere. Obviously their "in-house" authenticator isn't doing too great a job if people that love the brand as a hobby are pointing out the fakes for them. The fact that they essentially said "thanks, we'll look into in" and then left it up for sale leads me to believe they would have no problem selling it right now to a buyer who takes them at their word that it's authentic. I would have a lot more respect/trust if they actually *did* something about it.
(As an aside, looking at some of the pics they posted I noticed another red-flag dealing with the rivet. I had to enlarge it, and while it *could* be the way the light plays off it, given the other "issues" I think it's safe to say it's another sign this is a fake.)

 

[s.tighe]

I agree with you on every count. I noticed the same about the rivet and pointed it out to them too, but the pictures are so far away that I couldn't get a good zoom on it to be positive. I sent them yet ANOTHER email yesterday... They have not responded and the bag is STILL up for sale. I agree that no reseller can be totally perfect, but when a viable (and OBVIOUS) suspicion is raised about authenticity, and your whole reputation hinges on authenticity, the policy should be fast-acting and zero tolerance.

 

[Indiana]

This is all really terrible to read. I seem to recall that Cory from the Real Deal used to post on here, and even authenticate sometimes. Is she not still involved/in charge?

 

[RealDealCollection]

This is all really terrible to read. I seem to recall that Cory from the Real Deal used to post on here, and even authenticate sometimes. Is she not still involved/in charge?

Hi, this is Corey and Real Deal Collection is NOT The Real Real! It's really frustrating that they chose a business name way too similar to my company and it has caused endless confusion. Real Deal Collection has been selling pre-owned Balenciaga bags for 10 years now and we have never sold a fake bag. Please help spread the word that we have nothing to do with The Real Real. Thank you so much!

 

[s.tighe]

Yet ANOTHER FAKE posted on the Real Real today. This time they did clearly show the tag, and it's clearly fake.
https://www.therealreal.com/product...els/balenciaga-motocross-classic-first-bag-62

 

[atlantis1982]

Yet ANOTHER FAKE posted on the Real Real today. This time they did clearly show the tag, and it's clearly fake.
https://www.therealreal.com/product...els/balenciaga-motocross-classic-first-bag-62

Wow...I'm thinking maybe their "authenticator" (using that term lightly) has the week off? And took the copywriter with them? Because that bag looks black to me. This https://www.therealreal.com/products/women/handbags/satchels/balenciaga-motocross-classic-first-bag-61 is brown.
(Just like this https://www.therealreal.com/products/women/handbags/satchels/balenciaga-motocross-classic-work-bag-9 is clearly gray, not brown!)

 

[s.tighe]

Wow...I'm thinking maybe their "authenticator" (using that term lightly) has the week off? And took the copywriter with them? Because that bag looks black to me. This https://www.therealreal.com/products/women/handbags/satchels/balenciaga-motocross-classic-first-bag-61 is brown.
(Just like this https://www.therealreal.com/products/women/handbags/satchels/balenciaga-motocross-classic-work-bag-9 is clearly gray, not brown!)

I thought the same thing! *Somebody's* sleeping on the job, that's for darn sure.

 

[Indiana]

Hi, this is Corey and Real Deal Collection is NOT The Real Real! It's really frustrating that they chose a business name way too similar to my company and it has caused endless confusion. Real Deal Collection has been selling pre-owned Balenciaga bags for 10 years now and we have never sold a fake bag. Please help spread the word that we have nothing to do with The Real Real. Thank you so much!

Crikey, I'm so glad you've posted here, Corey. This really needs to be high-lighted !!

 

[s.tighe]

It's still up there and yes .. if the Silver tag doesn't have the .925 for a 2005, it's a fake. By law, they had to stamp them because at that time, they were - in fact - Sterling Silver (.925 is the designation for Sterling Silver).

Also - the "made in Italy" would not be all upper case. That's it for me; I've heard too many stories of fake bags on the RealReal (and not just Balenciaga).

So the saga continues. After sending them umpteen emails asking why the work is still for sale, they responded with a closer picture of the silver tag that actually shows the .925. Knock me over with a feather, 'cuz that thing was nowhere near visible in the original photo. But with regard to the MADE IN ITALY *above* the style number on the back of the tag, she says (direct quote) "It's well documented that Bubble Gum from 2005 had Made in Italy in all caps, so it fits that this black from 2005 could have the same." Hmmm.... her use of the word "could" isn't quite satisfactory for me, nor is the "well documented" issue of 05 BG (IS IT well documented??) having all caps necessarily convincing that it's a well documented issue for 05 black. What about the fact that bubblegum was s/s and this bag claims to be a f/w? Their insistence that they've nailed it when there is a "could" anywhere in the equation is still off-putting.

 

[muchstuff]

So the saga continues. After sending them umpteen emails asking why the work is still for sale, they responded with a closer picture of the silver tag that actually shows the .925. Knock me over with a feather, 'cuz that thing was nowhere near visible in the original photo. But with regard to the MADE IN ITALY *above* the style number on the back of the tag, she says (direct quote) "It's well documented that Bubble Gum from 2005 had Made in Italy in all caps, so it fits that this black from 2005 could have the same." Hmmm.... her use of the word "could" isn't quite satisfactory for me, nor is the "well documented" issue of 05 BG (IS IT well documented??) having all caps necessarily convincing that it's a well documented issue for 05 black. What about the fact that bubblegum was s/s and this bag claims to be a f/w? Their insistence that they've nailed it when there is a "could" anywhere in the equation is still off-putting.

Found a post from 2014 in the reference library ("Label-Capital Letters?" post #3) from RDC, so I'm assuming Corey? It states that in 2005 F/W there were work bags with all uppercase made in Italy tags, and that there were also some other styles, such as the city, that had stamps the same. So the plot thickens...

 

[atlantis1982]

So the saga continues. After sending them umpteen emails asking why the work is still for sale, they responded with a closer picture of the silver tag that actually shows the .925. Knock me over with a feather, 'cuz that thing was nowhere near visible in the original photo. But with regard to the MADE IN ITALY *above* the style number on the back of the tag, she says (direct quote) "It's well documented that Bubble Gum from 2005 had Made in Italy in all caps, so it fits that this black from 2005 could have the same." Hmmm.... her use of the word "could" isn't quite satisfactory for me, nor is the "well documented" issue of 05 BG (IS IT well documented??) having all caps necessarily convincing that it's a well documented issue for 05 black. What about the fact that bubblegum was s/s and this bag claims to be a f/w? Their insistence that they've nailed it when there is a "could" anywhere in the equation is still off-putting.

Yeah, if that's the logic they normally use, that's concerning. So if I came across, for example, a metal edge rose azalea, could I try to justify its authenticity by claiming "well, they made a metal edge in black, so Bal *could* have done it in this color, too?"

 

[RealDealCollection]

Yet ANOTHER FAKE posted on the Real Real today. This time they did clearly show the tag, and it's clearly fake.
https://www.therealreal.com/product...els/balenciaga-motocross-classic-first-bag-62

http://forum.purseblog.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3254491&stc=1&d=1453950080

Agree, it's FAKE. Authentication is an art not a science. There are so many little things to take into account and inconsistencies that don't necessarily mean anything.

However, when something totally wrong, like this metal plaque, it makes for a quick an easy "tell" that the bag in the photograph is definitely counterfeit Balenciaga.