How To Spot A Fake Designer Bag

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When people go shopping, next to shoes and clothes, handbags are often something they stop and admire. From clutches to totes and satchels, there are a number of different styles, colors and sizes that people can purchase, but there are many who prefer to focus on the brand over everything else.

Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Gucci and many others are all favorites of those who love designer handbags. While it is always nice to be able to afford one of these fashionable bags, a common problem people run into is that the designer bag they purchased is actually a fake. Some people may not care too much about how authentic their handbag is, but for others, a fake designer bag is simply not acceptable. Luckily, there are a few things that people can look at to help them determine if the designer handbag they love is fake or the real deal.

 Check out our coupon pages for Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton to see how you can save on authentic designer bags. More great places to shop for designer brand names at budget prices are 6PM and Nordstrom Rack!

1. Know what the material should be.

   

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   Many designer handbags are made from a high quality leather that feels supple. Leather isn't always the material of choice, but it is very common. Knowing what type of material the bag you are purchasing is supposed to be and what material the designer likes to use can help you determine if a bag is real or fake.
    
2. Pay attention to the trim and stitching.

   

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   The trim is a dead give away that a bag is a fake. Many designer bags are high quality, so they look professional and have a wax casing over the raw edges. A fake bag will be sloppy, uneven and most likely lack this wax casing.
    
3. Test the longevity of the hardware, especially zippers.

   

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   If you are spending $100, $200, or more on a bag, you should expect that the zipper will work properly and last for a long time. Fakes tend to have weak zippers that don't last very long. If you find that your zipper breaks within weeks of having your bag, then you probably purchased a fake.
    
4. Is the price justified for the quality you are expecting?

   

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   Typically, with these popular names, people should expect an expensive price tag to be attached. It is possible to get a great deal on a real designer bag, but if the price is significantly lower than what you have seen in other stores and online, it is probably a fake. Very rarely will a person be able to purchase a Coach handbag for $20 when it has a retail price of $300.
    
5. Where is it coming from?

   

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   Where the handbag came from can reveal a lot about its authenticity. Department stores or the official vendor is definitely going to provide you with an authentic handbag. That being said, when walking through a flea market or shopping on a site you have never heard of, you really have to think twice about purchasing a bag because chances are it is fake.
    
6. Check for authenticity cards.

   

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   Many designer bags do come with authenticity cards, but there are some that do not. If you know which bags do and don't, for example, Hermes and Louis Vuitton, you'll be able to save yourself some money. With vendors loving to lure in unsuspecting buyers in with authenticity cards, you shouldn't always take this as a sign that the bag is real.
    
7. Ask for more photos when buying secondhand or online.

   

   Source: ebay.com

   When buying online, you will want to avoid purchasing bags that use stock photos. For example, if you are buying a bag on eBay, request that the seller sends you more photos. This should be able to help you decide if the bag is real or not, but you will want to ensure the seller accepts returns just in case it isn't.

There are millions of sites and stores that will try to sell people fake items, whether it is shoes, clothes or handbags. Of these many items that are counterfeit, handbags are one of the most common items that are faked. If you are a lover of a certain designer, get to know more about what they like and what exactly they use for their handbags. By doing this, you will be able to avoid purchasing a fake purse and not repeat this mistake if you have already made it. A fake designer handbag isn't the end of the world, but that doesn't mean people should be okay with purchasing one.