A Fake?

Hi N., here's some info...

1. If it is a signature piece, the C's will start centered and go out from there. If it is leather, it will feel buttery smooth.
2. The stitching and hardware. The stitching will be tight, even and straight. There should be no loose strands or restitching. Most hardware is stamped Coach, like the snaps or buckles. You may have to really look for the stamp, like on the backs of buckles. The hardware is not cheap looking nor will it peel or crack.
3. The hangtag. It is usually leather, the same color and stitching as the bag itself. The Coach lozenge is raised from the tag, not embedded into it. On my bags, the lozenge is only stamped on one side of the tag.There are a few styles that come with metal hangtags. But, look at the metal hangtags at the link below to see what they look like. Most counterfeit come with cheap, shiny silver hangtags.
4. The lining. Signature bags never have signature lining.
5. The zippers. Coach uses YKK zippers. The logo is usually found on the side of the metal zipper pull. Coach zipper pulls are either leather, the same color/stitching as the bag or a series of metal rings.
5. Unless it is a small piece, like a wristlet, there is a creed and registration number on the inside. It is a leather patch sewn into the lining of the bag. The creed will be written in justified, capital english letters. The abbreviation No. is followed by a letter, then a one or two digit year code. For example, 6 for 1996, 06 for 2006. After the year code is another letter or one or two digits, the a dash. The numbers after the dash are the style number of the bag. If it is a factory store bag, it will either have an F before the style number or a bullseye stamp in one of the upper creed corners. If it were bought through a resale store, like TJ Maxx, there will be an X stamp on the creed.
However, counterfeit bags copy a lot of these details, so to tell the difference, you have to know the real thing. You can go to an authorized dealer to familiarize yourself and/or see the link below. On this authenticating page, there are tips and pictures of real and fake to help learn the difference,
http://www.ebelle5.com/counterfeits/coac...

3 moms found this helpful

Honestly, who cares????? It was a gift...use it and enjoy it. If anyone is rude or hateful enough to intimate that it is fake...look who you are dealing with and give them a "Whatever!" and point out how crass they are.

1 mom found this helpful

not into the purse thing, but if you cant tell then noone else can.. thats why most people buy those $$$ expensive purses anyway!

1 mom found this helpful

I love the old classic Coach bags. They're made to last a lifetime. (I've never had one, but I got close once.) I don't care for the newer style. They're just too loud and noise.

The classic bags never screamed Coach at you. They were/are just made in such a classic style and of such quality leather and crafting that they announce themselves. I believe that the history of Coach is intertwined with the harness-making industry and thoroughbred horses.

I did want to point out that the YKK is a brand and not something unique to Coach.

There is a certain snob appeal to owning a designer anything and some folks just want to put on airs. Others want the quality and they want to make sure that they're getting the real thing if they're paying the real price.

I don't switch bags with every season or outfit. I have one bag that I use for years until I get sick of it or find something I like better. Functionality is what's important to me.

1 mom found this helpful

Just an idea. If you like it, why does it matter if it is real or fake?

1 mom found this helpful

If you can't tell, then nobody else can either. Enjoy!!

1 mom found this helpful

Seriously who cares if it is fake or not. If it looks nice and you like it, why worry over something so trivial. I would rather buy a nice knockoff purse, then spend the money I did not use on the purse to pay for something way more important.

1 mom found this helpful

If you look on 'buyer/seller tools' on ebay, they have information on how to identify a real/fake Coach purse.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi N.! I happen to sell designer knock offs and they are such a good quality that they pretty much match the quality of what Tiffany wrote. The leather is soft...the tags are just like the actual bags, etc. It has the leather tag inside and some of them even come with authentication cards. Its very hard to tell a knock off these days, but most of the answers are right in pointing out the zippers. That's about it. PM me if you are interested or if anyone is interested in looking at what I have.

N.
look inside to see if the serial number and reg tag are in it. All coach bags have them. Also make sure the C's are going the right way. If you find the serial and reg tag go onto coach and you should be able to type it in. I had a large coach bag older style didnt pay much for it since i got it from a friend. Checked it out and it was real. Just to make sure i took it in to coach at the mall and sure enough it was real. Good luck.

Inside the purse on the tag it should have a number on it. If you call Coach and give them the number on the bag they can tell you if it is real or not. I don't have the number for Coach, but you should be able to find it on the internet.

Others have mentioned the serial number inside the bag -- contact Coach and give them the serial number and they can check for you. I always register my bags with Coach and I'm fairly certain most people do. They have a lifetime warranty. You can call Coach and give them the serial number and they can tell you who the bag is registered to. Good luck!

I did a lot of research on this before I got my coach purse because I bought it online, and the one thing I read that was very helpful was to check the zipper coach use a zipper with 3 letters engraved on the pull. Unfourtunatly my purse doesn't have a zipper and I don't remember what those letters are but if you have an authentic to check that would be a clear indicator. I also am pretty sure that the real coach purses all have the leather sewn in tag. Hope this was helpfull!

I NEVER buy designer bags from anywhere, but retail stores b/c my sister made the mistake of buying one on Ebay and found out it was a fake. She had her doubts when she received the bag so she took it to her local Coach store and they confirmed that it was not authentic. You can do the same. Just take it in and explain your situation to them. They will inspect the bag and let you know so you'll know for sure. Good luck!

If it sounds too good to be true????? When in doubt?????

I never buy from anyone other than Coach or an authorized dealer of designer handbags, clothing, etc whatever i am shoping for at the time. There are too many look alikes and people who get scammed.

I'm one of the more untrusting buyers out there on the market and I will pay more to get exactly what I want. I do not shop designer outlets either.

Good luck!

if it has the leather sewn in tag then its genuine, also there is a number on the inside check it and call coach and they will tell you if it is authentic. and as for all of the other women who responded that you need something else to worry about, don't give them a second thought they are just jealous that they don't have a coach purse! Have a great day!

Look at the zipper, any zipper on or in the purse. It will have the letters YKK on it. Also, the rings that hold the straps to the purse will be one ring with NO BREAKS....an endless circle. You can google "How to spot a fake Coach" and it will give you all kinds of info. I'm a Coach freak, and can usually tell a fake a mile away. Remember, even FAKES can put a serial number and Coach hang tags on a purse. You cannot tell a fake Coach by the serial number. That's the purpose of a fake, to make it look real! Also, Coach never sells a purse with the straps wrapped in clear plastic like so many fakes do.

you can take it to any coach store and they can tell you

Hi N.

For me it's hard to tell if a purse is a fake also. I have learned along the way that you can tell if there is a long zipper. Also, a real Coach purse is not something you would buy off the street. I had a friend to tell me once that the guy she bought a purse from had told her that the manufactory had made a flaw in the zipper. This is so untrue. Coach isn't going to put anything out there like that. I went to New York this summer and had a Asian guy tell me that they buy a real bag, and than go to China and make bags to look just like the real thing. Only it was made from cheaper material. The label can easily just be sewn in the bag.

I have been places and have had females as well as males come up to me asking if I want to buy a Coach, or Prada. Please. These jokers can't even spelled Prada. Another way to tell is to watch the wear and tear of the bag. Anything fake, never last too long.

Just wondering if you are concerned that your mom paid too much for something that is not authentic? Seems like if the purse is right for you and you enjoy it, maybe it does not really matter, unless you are worried for your mom. Just a thought-- hope you like your new purse!
A.

I sort of agree with several other posters, if you cannot tell whether it is fake and aren't concerned about your mother paying more than she should?

My daughter bought me a very good fake Prada bag when she went to NYC with her choir last spring. She has spent enough time with my mom that she can spot a fake bag or jewelry a mile away. We can't afford Prada, so her goal was finding a good knock-off.

I was in a coma about a year and a half ago, nearly died, and have spent the last year and a half trying to get my health back and pay my basic bills, so for me, the thought behind the gift was enough because I knew she was trying to make me feel better that we did not have the money for me to chaperone; I have wanted to go to NYC for years.

If you like the bag, I suggest you find something else to worry about.

I have another question to add. Have you seen the Dooney and Couch bags at Steinmart or TJMaxx? Are those authentic? I've had my doubts about some Dooney's at Steinmart, the straps look odd.

Hi N.

I think you should take the purse to a Coach store and have someone there take a look at the purse. They will probable have an idea if it is a fake or real.

Real Coach purses will have a serial number on the leather patch inside. If there is no number it is fake.