Well, I don't know about all 3rd party retailers, but it is likely there are many SAs that can't tell the difference. I have never ever seen a Macys SA type in the creed, just scans the tag. I had a manager do my return (no SA at Coach counter at the time) of my Bleecker patchwork tote (because I kept the duffle instead) and I am not sure he would have known if it was a fake. The receipt had all my info [used Macys CC] so if they discovered it was fake they could always call me, but what if I had paid with cash and returned a fake?
Yes, Coachfreak is right...this is EXACTLY the problem...many SAs can't tell the difference!! Many individuals can't either, and this is why you hear people complain about Coach quality being sleazy and not worth the prices...it's because they have bought fakes and don't know the diff. This is not only a shame for them but also Coach! Switcheroos have been happening a while in stores like Tjs and Marshalls, but now the scammers seem to be hitting the higher end dept stores more than they used to. It's even worse when the particular style sells out of the store, so there's no longer anything to even compare it to when someone returns a bag. TJs and places like Filenes and Marshalls are the WORST because they have the biggest number of clueless SAs, and the biggest turnover of bags, including older styles. Most of the time they don't check with a manager either for a return, but look in a book (maybe) to verify the item with the tag is the proper description. This doesn't always happen..and even if it does, the fake usually mimics the original well enough to get by.
THe big problem is tags can be removed from the original and put on the fake item. Then with a receipt, and the fake that has the original tags, the crook takes it to the store and gets a refund. The Dooney I saw had the original TJ tag on a completely fake bag, including fake Dooney tag, and it was priced for a real bag. But the Chloe was priced at fake prices, and I don't ever recall Marshalls selling something high end like Chloe...so my guess is Marshalls either purchased a palette of cheap bags, or someone switched the fake with another brand bag.
If the person is "caught" when returning a fake, the scammer claims "oh, I didn't know I bought a fake from you in the first place"...there's always an excuse. Now my guess is they will NOT allow the return at that point if they know it's a fake, but rather issue a report about it to the authorities and let the buyer deal directly with the police. I think sometimes the fake is actually turned in to the police, so you can also go there as well and have a report filed before you contact Bealls. I would probably do this first, to be honest...or at least inquire what you should do first. Not sure if they will have you contact and send the bags to Coach NY for confirmation (and you probably won't get the fakes back), or if they will take them from you themselves, etc. I would also write a letter to Bealls and contact anyone you can. I don't know if it's possible to recover your money...I think sometimes people have, but it's not so likely, especially since this was purchased so long ago. I'm really sorry...I'm sure you paid a lot for these bags! Also check out knowknockoffs.com, and there might be additional info and help there. I report scammers on this site occasionally because they seem to be able to at least get fake Ebay sellers removed, whereas I don't see that happening here too much even when multiple people report the listings. That site has some mods that are members of a pilot program for trust and safey.
I think about this switcheroo scam ALL THE TIME because I frequently sell on Ebay. I think you said you tried to list on Ebay too initially. Unfortunately it's a huge risk to sell any trademark item. Switcheroo scams are quite high on Ebay, and now with the upcoming feedback changes, the sellers are left even more high and dry than before with Ebay. Paypal does not always side for the seller when this happens, but it's best to photo your bags with certain "tags"...that is, something specific about your bag that can't be found on other bags of the same style, and keep more photos than you post in your listing. And of course never reveal the "tags" to the buyer...sometimes the intimdation alone will work because the scammer doesn't want to deal with someone who will fight tooth and nail. They like easy targets.
Sorry again that this happened to you! I hate to see people victimized, and I've been there in the past too! I purchased a bag off Ebay that wasn't even a real listing but a hijacked account, and the photos were stolen. It took me 2 months to get my money back from paypal, and they originally sided with the Chinese scammer because he tried to use further scams to show paypal he shipped me the bag. My DH didn't know any better and signed for a package that turned out to be the fake bag, so paypal cancelled the claim on me. I kept fighting it, and in the end I won. You definitely have to pursue the issue, which is time consuming...and the scammers know that too!
Best of luck!!
