COACH Handbags

There are some pretty good fakes out there and it can sometimes be hard to tell whether a COACH bag you purchased online is real or not. My personal suggestion is to buy from a reputable seller. If you find the COACH Bag on eBay, check the sellers ratings and reputation to determine weather you can trust them or not. You also want to check the return policy of anyone you buy from so that if when you receive the bag you determine it's a fake, you can return it for your money back. Beware of anyone that say 'no returns' or has a bad reputation.

I found a great guide on eBay by a COACH Bag fanatic that goes through some excellent steps to determine if your Coach Bag is real or not. Below is to.much.stuf's advice on the subject:

1. "The "C" pattern will be off - except for some patterns, like the "optic" or my new favorite "scarf print," the tip of the "C" facing the other "C" should touch. Also, the pattern should line up and start in the center and go out from there. The seams should go straight through the middle of the CC, and the pattern should be aligned horizontally and vertically. The best way to tell is to go to the COACH website and look at the real thing, and then compare it to what you're looking at on eBay and see if the pattern is different."
   
   
2. " Sometimes the "CC" will actually be a "GG" - how much more obvious can you get! And no, this does not mean it's a Gucci! (I'm not as familiar with Gucci products, but obviously if someone is selling you a "COACH" bag which is imprinted with the letter "G" then logically it must be fake.)"
   
   
3. " The stitching is sloppy or the pattern is crooked - this is a sure sign because COACH does not make sloppy products!"
   
   
4. " The bag does not look like any other bag you've ever seen - if it looks "sort of" like a bag you've seen but not quite, be careful! "
   
   
5. " Beware of blurry photos or stock photos (a stock photo is one that has been cut-and-pasted from the COACH website) - this does not necessarily mean the bag is fake, but if you see either of these types of photos, I would contact the seller and see if they can send you a photo of the actual item they're selling."
   
   
6. "Ask the seller to verify that they are offering an authentic product. If they fail to respond to your request, this may be a sign that they don't want to incriminate themselves. (And unfortunately, just because the seller claims it's authentic does not necessarily mean that it is)."
   
   
7. " Most COACH bags have a serial number stamped on the inside, on a square patch of leather sewn into the lining. Some of the smaller purses (the "clutch" "swingpack" and the "mini") do not have this serial number. However, handbags and totes should all have the serial number patch. The serial number typically consists of a series of numbers or a number-and-letter combination. Beware, some fake COACH bags also have a serial number - so you'll have to look at other aspects of the bag and the seller to determine if it's fake. Note: The last 4-5 digits of the serial number should match the style number of the bag."
   
   
8. " The "COACH" logo should be stamped on most of the metal fixtures - the older "classic" styles do not have the stamp, but most of the newer styles do. **UPDATE** The new "Legacy" line of COACH bags do not have the COACH stamp on any of the metal/brass fixtures. These bags are made to look more like their "classic styles" but updated with a little flair. Also, these Legacy bags all have a the same multi-colored striped *real* silk lining, no matter what the exterior color or pattern is. But keep in mind that COACH still makes their regular 'trendy' line of bags, although the newer ones do not appear to have COACH stamped on the hardware (perhaps they are doing away with this) - so it looks as though you may only find COACH-stamped hardware on last year's trendy bags. The "classic" bags will always remain the same, with no stamps on the fixtures."
   
   
9. " Although the zipper pull on a real COACH bag tends to be leather or a series of rings, the actual zipper mechanism which pulls the two sides of the zipper together should be embossed with the letters "YKK". This is the highest-quality manufacturer of zippers and COACH uses this brand. Sometimes it's hard to see, especially on a photo. Even in person, you may need a magnifying glass to see the YKK, especially with very small zippers. "
   
   
10. " Lining: If the outside of the bag has the CC pattern, the lining will NOT have any pattern, whereas if the outside of the bag does NOT have the CC pattern, the lining will most likely have the CC pattern (although sometimes neither the outside nor the inside will have the CC pattern). You will NEVER see a bag with the CC pattern on the outside AND the inside - this is a sure sign of a fake bag. Also, the classic style bags do not have a lining at all. (Remember the Legacy bags will all have the same multi-colored striped silk lining, no matter what color or pattern the exterior looks like)."
    
    
11. " I've been asked this question often - if it says "Made in China" does that mean it's fake? The answer is no - COACH does make some bags in China. I have also heard that Coach has made bags in Turkey. However, Coach does NOT make bags in Korea - so if you see a "Made in Korea" tag then you'll know it's fake. Go to the "community" forum and read some of the discussions for more info."
    
    
12. " Finally, don't forget to look at the seller's feedback - what is their rating? If it is not 100%, then beware, read their feedback comments, and as always - ask questions! "
    
    

• She also has some links to other guides and her website in the guide so to check out everything on her page follow this link : How to spot a fake COACH bag
  
  

When you visit the COACH website to see thier tips on spotting fakes you won't find any, they don't like to make tips becasue they believe it makes it easier for fake bag makers to copy thier merchandise. Here's exactly what they say about fakes taken direvtly from their site:

" Combating counterfeiting of Coach product is an important objective for Coach. The counterfeiters illegally profit at the expense of Coach and affect the entire economy through lost revenues and taxes. In addition, counterfeiters do not typically honor safety and environmental regulations, namely child labor and anti-sweatshop laws. Without a doubt, the high quality and workmanship embodied in genuine Coach product is not duplicated in the counterfeit product; counterfeit quality is typically poor.
Coach DOES NOT offer its merchandise for sale through individuals, street vendors, unauthorized retail locations, internet auctions, or at house parties. The ONLY avenues in which Coach offers its merchandise for sale is via:
1) Coach Stores;
2) Coach Factory Stores;
3) Direct Coach Catalog Sales;
4) Authorized Department Stores;
5) authorized specialty stores;
6) limited duty free locations;
7) corporate accounts; and
8) our website, www.coach.com.

If you purchase a Coach item from an unauthorized source, such as an internet auction, Coach is not required to offer a determination regarding the item's authenticity. Also, Coach will not provide specific tips on how to determine if an item is counterfeit. As you can understand, counterfeiters could use this information to the detriment of Coach. The only way to guarantee the authenticity of a Coach item is to purchase it via the avenues listed above.

To report counterfeiters, please call the counterfeit hotline at (800) 396-1807 or e-mail the information requested below to to Counterfeits@coach.com. If you wish, you may remain anonymous. Please find below a list of the information that will assist Coach in taking action:

Where is the location?

What kind of location is it (i.e. retail, street vendor, flea market, internet, factory, etc.)? If you are reporting an internet auction seller, please provide the seller name and/or item number of the item at issue.

What quantities and styles are being sold?

Are counterfeits of any other companies present? If so, which companies?

Do the items bear any Coach trademarks (Coach name, logo, beaded chain and hangtag, Signature C), or are they confusingly similar to our designs and/or trademarks?

Please be assured that every lead is a priority and investigated as soon as possible. Your assistance is greatly appreciated and sends a strong message to counterfeiters that their illegal activity will not be tolerated. And remember, if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. "

So if you think you bought a fake or think someone is selling a fake you should definitely report it to COACH so that they cna help stop fakes from being made.