Why did the item as of yesterday show as sold then, after speaking with your representative? And why the lack of honesty via chat regarding the affiliation with Bella Bags. This is very disturbing. I'm not sure how safe, and how much "careful due dilligence" is going on when dealing with vendors like Bella Bags and counterfeit items. When I checked this listing yesterday, it showed as "Sold," and not removed. Clearly, the company either sold it or wanted to make it look as if it was sold. Now that there is an outcry, the item is now "removed."
Either way, it's suspect. I'm not sure how much "price matching," will help customers if the items are counterfeit. And I imagine the people who realize the items are counterfeit may be far less than those who don't, so it's not very comforting that a company riding on coat-tails of a good reputation, where a lot of customers may not think to authenticate, is not going to lose much by offering to give refunds for counterfeit items. A lot of people will either not think to authenticate or ask, or will be loath to go through the trouble of trying to fight what appears to be a large company with a sterling reputation.
I will likely not be purchasing in the future, despite pat assurances given now. The fact that I was misled when very specifically asking about any affiliation with Bella Bags, when indeed there was one, and an advertised one at that, is something where trust is damaged. When it comes time to spend hundreds, or thousands of dollars, on an item I hope to be authentic, I'm not going to take chances when I have been very summarily misled. I've seen this before, with another "on-line reseller," where they came on here and made assurances and counterfeit bags continued to be listed over and over again. My personal concern isn't as much that the missed a counterfeit (although I don't know how this even begins to comport with "careful due diligence"), but in the lack of forthrightness when asked specifically about a business relationship clearly longstanding and advertised. It is definitely an eye-opener to say the least. I will say - the above post does seem like a "stock" response.
i suppose a step in the right direction would be for the company to disassociate itself entirely with vendors selling counterfeits through their site. That might be a huge step in the right direction in terms of restoring trust. Perhaps a letter to their customers acknowledging the problem and suggesting authentication of prior purchases and assuring that all counterfeits will be refunded? Similar to when bank information is stolen by hackers or third parties - acknowledging the issue and making assurances that people will be "made whole," and that they are taking steps to assure that fraud will not occur in the future. I'm not sure what the answers are. I'm still trying to deal with being told there was no affiliation. I find that really disturbing on top of the counterfeit issue. Put together . . . hmmm.
I thank Lee for the careful and thorough vetting done - and the wonderful assistance to all of us as an authenticator. I don't know what we would do without Lee and all the other people who spend so much of their own personal time, energy and kind gracious help, at no pay and with no self-interest to help us all. It means so darn much.
And to this situation, all I can say is, "Caveat emptor."
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