Who has the final say on authenticity?

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cheapfrillnorth

cheapfrillnorth

O.G.
Jan 20, 2009
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#1
I feel a storm brewing and wonder if anyone can help. I recently sold a Birkin on eBay which I know to be 100% authentic. I bought from a lady who bought from our local H shop in the UK. Before completing the transaction I got insurance certificates with details of date of purchase, original receipts etc.

I subsequently sold the bag and now the buyer is questioning authenticity as he says it is slightly different from his girlfriends other Birkins. Who won't elaborate how and says he is taking it to H on Wednesday to get authenticated. Now unless H are selling fakes this is authentic. I will always give people the benefit of doubt but I feel a scam coming on and want to be prepared. If he says it is fake where do I stand? He paid wire transfer.

I guess I could say caveat emptor and move on but I value my hard earned reputation as an honest seller. I also have a strong sense of justice and that makes me determined to be prepared for the worst case.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
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#2
Hermes don't give authentication certificate etc. The only person who has a say is the craftsman. And the only way to tell a bag is fake or not is to take it in for a spa treatment. Are you in the same city/town with the buyer? If so, you can go in to a H boutique together with the bag and ask for a spa treatment. If the bag is rejected, then it's fake. In your case of course it will be accepted, therefore prove your bag is authentic. Other than that, H will NOT certificate anything so don't believe the buyer if he said somebody said it was fake.
 
#3
xiangxiang0731 said:
Hermes don't give authentication certificate etc. The only person who has a say is the craftsman. And the only way to tell a bag is fake or not is to take it in for a spa treatment. Are you in the same city/town with the buyer? If so, you can go in to a H boutique together with the bag and ask for a spa treatment. If the bag is rejected, then it's fake. In your case of course it will be accepted, therefore prove your bag is authentic. Other than that, H will NOT certificate anything so don't believe the buyer if he said somebody said it was fake.
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That is good news. I was concerned that H staff could make a judgement as I know they too have difficulty sometimes spotting the real deal. The bag is brand new so a spa request would be somewhat unusual but if needs must then I will do it.
 
#4
Don't worry. If a buyer is trying to scam you, I don't think they will pay wire transfer. Wire has no protection for buyer. I just dont think scammer will do that. Probably just misunderstanding.
 
#5
If he's a scam, he'd have a extremely good fake bag in exactly same specs as yours so that he can swap it when he returns the fake bag to you.
But at least he's paid in wire transfer, so he can't do charge back or nasty things like that.

In case that he does want his money back and send you the bag back, make sure it's your bag that you get back.
 
#6
djmm said:
If he's a scam, he'd have a extremely good fake bag in exactly same specs as yours so that he can swap it when he returns the fake bag to you.
But at least he's paid in wire transfer, so he can't do charge back or nasty things like that.

In case that he does want his money back and send you the bag back, make sure it's your bag that you get back.
Click to expand...

Thank you all for your help. I am just going to have to wait until Wednesday. I will give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he is just being cautious and getting it checked.
 
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