DISCUSS the Hermes AT Thread

[ShockingPink]

Many excellent points. It seems to be that no authenticity comments are made UNTIL the seller is known. That could leave much room for a seller who has been trusted and on the list to slip in a fake every now and then.
It happens in the trading world; there have been many cases of rogue traders.
This is not really any different.
I would be more likely to trust an authenticator who does not NEED to know who the seller is, basing their opinion without emotion, friendship, or history.
I mean if you can tell a fake from a picture, why should you need to know who is selling it ?

 

[merika]

It seems to be that no authenticity comments are made UNTIL the seller is known.

What gave you that impression? There have been many instances where the authenticators helped out in authenticating bags from private sales when they don't know the seller.

I would be more likely to trust an authenticator who does not NEED to know who the seller is, basing their opinion without emotion, friendship, or history.
I mean if you can tell a fake from a picture, why should you need to know who is selling it ?

Sure. But if you look at who the seller is, you might figure out that they stole the pictures from another auction that was run by a reputable seller three months ago, for example. That happens a lot.

As for your other concerns, most reputable sellers would not find it worth their while to 'slip in a fake now and then'. Considering the volume of their businesses, their reputation is worth more.

 

[CobaltBlu]

Your point is valid, ShockingPink, but not quite correct in what we are looking for when we ask to know the seller.

Rather, we take the authenticity question to the next level when asking for the seller. Many, many cases of stolen photos have been posted here. We may see an authentic bag we recognize as being photographed by a well known reseller, but if the bag is from JoeBlow, we know that we are looking at stolen photos, even if the bag is authentic.

Recently an authentic bag was pictured, a vintage kelly, and was recognized as a bag for sale by a reseller some time ago, and purchased by one of us!!! So if we had just said, yes, the bag is authentic, who knows what slab of heiniosity the buyer would have found when they opened the box...

In the case of unknown seller, we will often check feedback, to see if they have a track record of selling, or even buying luxury goods.

We do not assume a bag is authentic just because it is from a particular seller, except in very very rare cases.

Even then, as you said, a superfake can slip in, so no matter what is said on this board, it is all still our opinions, and it is always buyer beware...

We try to catch dishonest sellers as well as fake bags.

 

[CobaltBlu]

M, we posted at the same time.... ((((waving and blowing kisses)))

 

[dressage queen]

Many excellent points. It seems to be that no authenticity comments are made UNTIL the seller is known. That could leave much room for a seller who has been trusted and on the list to slip in a fake every now and then.
It happens in the trading world; there have been many cases of rogue traders.
This is not really any different.
I would be more likely to trust an authenticator who does not NEED to know who the seller is, basing their opinion without emotion, friendship, or history.
I mean if you can tell a fake from a picture, why should you need to know who is selling it ?

if that's what makes you comfortable, then you can always use the mypoupette service - but they charge $165 for a photo evaluation of an hermes bag with a 24-48 hr turn around. if you can wait three days it's $125 and a mere $95 for an answer in 5-7 days.

free authenticators' services should be taken as generously proffered, don't you think? and if an authenticator is not comfortable with an anonymous authentication, then it seems a bit much to expect her to do it anyway.

 

[hermeshunter]

Something that has bothered me for a very long time is the notion that we must keep the details of authentic bags etc out of threads and away from "the counterfeiters".

I think Jag said it best in one of her posts in the AT thread.

The fakes existed long before The Purse Forum and unfortunately, will continue whether we post details of authentic bags or not.

With regard to the "burn out question" , IMO, there is no excuse for rudeness...whether burned out or not.

JMHO

ITA on all counts!!!!

BTW - I greatly appreciate what the authenticators do - when I first joined TPF, Pepper and Cobalt both saved me from making an expensive (and stupid) purchase. But the AT thread has been a real turnoff lately. I am sure many fear posting anything, or just don't look at that thread anymore because it has become clogged with ill will and is no longer helpful.

Meg/Vlad,
The rules should be very simple:

whether it is the authenticators or the people needing help:
1) Common courtesy must prevail
2) If someone asks for authentication - say please and thank you -- and stick to the required format.
3) If someone is authenticating, stick to what you volunteered to do - just say whether it is real or whether it is fake. This would work - or

Beyond that, everyone should keep their comments to themselves!

 

[Perigord]

ah, but you see, in the G-verse, if you get more than 1 "!", then you are on equal footing with all other preferred G-verse inhabitants. There's no Orwellian "all are equal, but some are more equal than others" in the G-verse. Oh no. I adore P equally with M. And with DQ. And some other initials too.

ETA: Just reread this and am realizing that the cold meds I'm taking are fuzzing my brain.

You sweetie.

 

[CobaltBlu]

ITA on all counts!!!!


Meg/Vlad,
The rules should be very simple:

whether it is the authenticators or the people needing help:
1) Common courtesy must prevail
2) If someone asks for authentication - say please and thank you -- and stick to the required format.
3) If someone is authenticating, stick to what you volunteered to do - just say whether it is real or whether it is fake. This would work - or

Beyond that, everyone should keep their comments to themselves!

We do need to sometimes ask for more pictures. Or sometimes point out something that is not mentioned in the auction---rubbed corners, cracking, missing accessories, etc. I think that is important as well...we often see authentic bags that are not quite as described---sometimes merely oversights on the part of the seller. Its often more than a simple thumbs up or down.....

and of course I hope a little amusing banter can remain.:okay:

 

[merika]

ITA on all counts!!!!

BTW - I greatly appreciate what the authenticators do - when I first joined TPF, Pepper and Cobalt both saved me from making an expensive (and stupid) purchase. But the AT thread has been a real turnoff lately. I am sure many fear posting anything, or just don't look at that thread anymore because it has become clogged with ill will and is no longer helpful.

Meg/Vlad,
The rules should be very simple:

whether it is the authenticators or the people needing help:
1) Common courtesy must prevail
2) If someone asks for authentication - say please and thank you -- and stick to the required format.
3) If someone is authenticating, stick to what you volunteered to do - just say whether it is real or whether it is fake. This would work - or

Beyond that, everyone should keep their comments to themselves!

That sounds pretty fascist!

 

[lilpicotin]

ITA on all counts!!!!

BTW - I greatly appreciate what the authenticators do - when I first joined TPF, Pepper and Cobalt both saved me from making an expensive (and stupid) purchase. But the AT thread has been a real turnoff lately. I am sure many fear posting anything, or just don't look at that thread anymore because it has become clogged with ill will and is no longer helpful.

I've gotten several very nice pms, actually, from people who said they felt exactly that - fear of posting lest they be ganged up on by the "senior members"... but then at least a couple of those members did pm jag and other moderators, too, so the mods know how people feel about the subforum.

 

[ShockingPink]

Merika, Dressage Queen, and Cobalt Blue I think most members are very grateful for the authenicators and I was not trying to besmirch them.
Some peoples financial positions are very desperate now, and if someone such as Madoff was trusted by friends and family; it is not a huge stretch to imagine many shenanigans within the Ebay Luxury purse world.
Just my opinion. Who knows what drives someone to slip into the abyss?

 

[Perigord]

ITA on all counts!!!!

BTW - I greatly appreciate what the authenticators do - when I first joined TPF, Pepper and Cobalt both saved me from making an expensive (and stupid) purchase. But the AT thread has been a real turnoff lately. I am sure many fear posting anything, or just don't look at that thread anymore because it has become clogged with ill will and is no longer helpful.

Meg/Vlad,
The rules should be very simple:

whether it is the authenticators or the people needing help:
1) Common courtesy must prevail
2) If someone asks for authentication - say please and thank you -- and stick to the required format.
3) If someone is authenticating, stick to what you volunteered to do - just say whether it is real or whether it is fake. This would work - or

Beyond that, everyone should keep their comments to themselves!

I am so glad to hear the thread saved you from a $$$ mistake! I really do feel it is full of good will--with an occasional little dose of drama! The humor and camaraderie and generosity are evident on every page.

 

[CobaltBlu]

I am so glad to hear the thread saved you from a $$$ mistake! I really do feel it is full of good will--with an occasional little dose of drama! The humor and camaraderie and generosity are evident on every page.

and lets not forget your mighty sword cutting down spurious auctions, P!

 

[dressage queen]

Merika, Dressage Queen, and Cobalt Blue I think most members are very grateful for the authenicators and I was not trying to besmirch them.

i don't think it came accross that way, SP - we were just pointing out a few things that might not be evident to those who hadn't spend some time on the other side of the authentication fence. a lot of what goes on is not necessarily apparent until you get involved in the process. and my point was just that if you were wanting a particular type of service it was in fact available, though at a price. i can see how it might have sounded snippy, but that's not how i intended it.

 

[hermeshunter]

We do need to sometimes ask for more pictures. Or sometimes point out something that is not mentioned in the auction---rubbed corners, cracking, missing accessories, etc. I think that is important as well...we often see authentic bags that are not quite as described---sometimes merely oversights on the part of the seller. Its often more than a simple thumbs up or down.....

and of course I hope a little amusing banter can remain.:okay:

Cobaltblu - asking questions/clarification is absolutely necessary -- humor is too! It's the attitude of the poster that has become problematic. I got really angry one day when someone looking for help posted the ebay listing number and a note that said "authenticate this." I voiced my opinion in big bold letters. But when I saw authenticators showing similarly rude behavior, I just stopped looking at the thread. They should know better...

That is why I suggested the simple "yay" or "nay" scenario - once the authenticator has what they need to authenticate, of course. It just seems as if it would prevent bad behavior on both ends.

BTW - thanks again for helping me!!