Spotting Counterfeit Purses in Thrift
Some fakes look like fakes from a mile away. Some are so good it takes an eagle eye to tell the difference.
Counterfeit merchandise is a multi-billion dollar business with purses near the top of the list.
Most fakes are fairly easy to spot if one takes a moment to look. Stitching can be uneven, glue might show, materials don’t feel substantial, the logo isn’t quite right, zippers are cheap, and patterns don’t quite match up.
To be fair, thrift store operators are not experts on every random thing that comes in their door. Some take a “buyer beware” approach and some make a serious effort to eliminate the fakes. Either way, some make it to the sales floor.
Guide to Counterfeits, Pirated Goods
For context, in 2019 U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized goods that, had they been genuine would have had a retail value of over 1.5 billion (yes billion) dollars in over 27,000 shipments. Wearing apparel and accessories made up more than $343 million. That is just what they caught.
A few ways to check out purses to avoid fakes:
Materials are important. Supple leather is the go-to for most high-end purses. Man-made materials don’t look the same. Especially If there are cracks or wear through or it feels hard, it’s probably fake. Time is not kind to fakes.
Stitching on the real thing is exacting. Stitch lines are straight and even, ends are neat and clean. The stitches themselves are even and consistent. There is never a loose thread. This is just as true on the inside as on the outside.
Metals are a big giveaway. It’s the first thing I look at. Designers use solid metals, not plate. If the metal parts show color changes wear or they don’t seem substantial it’s likely fake. Zippers and zipper pulls are the same, if there is metal chipping it's fake. Zippers themselves should operate as smooth as butter.
Brand badges on real purses don’t come off. They are sewn or attached in a way that they will never come off. One way counterfeiters get around customs is to make the purse in another country without badges or brand names and add them after they get through customs. Some fake badges are just clipped on.
Consistency is a hallmark of real high-end bags. Everything will be straight and square. Rivets perfectly even, cut-outs even, handle stitching, and attachment seven? If it has a flat bottom it should sit square and straight.
Inside the bag is a place a lot of fakers cut corners. The real thing will be as exacting on the inside as the outside. If the fabric feels cheap and stitching is uneven or some details don’t look right, you have a tip-off.
Factory authenticity cards don’t prove anything. They are just as easy to fake as the rest of the purse. Experts can use the information on them to identify fakes. For your purposes look at the numbers and writing, is it square and consistent? The stitching on this should be as good as the rest of the purse. It should never come off.
What does a thrift store operator do?
If a thrift store charges a higher price for a brand name item or is advertising say a Louis Vuitton purse they are indicating they think it is more valuable than the run-of-the-mill purse. It’s worth asking why they think so. Very often they do know, or at least have made a reasonable guess.
Some thrift stores have an internal employee that is knowledgeable about these products that do a good job of pulling out fakes. Unfortunately, there is no school or widely recognized certification training program for purse authentication. They are relying on experience and comparisons.
More and more thrift operators are using authentication services and can provide a COE on better quality purses. I used Entrupy, (not a paid endorsement) which we found to be very accurate. The system was quick and easy. Like most, they charge per item so it costs whether it turns out to be real or fake. A quick search on the internet will surface a lot of other similar offerings.
There are also brand-name purses that are worth more than a big box store purse but not enough to spend time and money on authentication. It could be there are stains, wear, or style issues that limit its value but are still in demand. Some older Coach purses fall into this category. This group might not have a COE but can still represent a great deal in a thrift store.
Be careful what you are representing your customers.
Be upfront with your customers about what you do and do not know about your inventory. Especially brand names.
Thanks for reading!
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