The purpose of this review is to tell you the easiest ways to verify if an item is authentic Coach. To verify if a Coach is authentic I call in the serial number and check it out with Coach at their customer service toll free number. The number can be found on their website. For the vast number of items they will be able to tell you if the item is authentic Coach - just give them the series of numbers that is on the interior label/patch, and they will tell you if the number checks out with their stystem - if the number checks out it is most certainly authentic - if it doesn't - it is most certainly a fake. There are some older Coach bags that were produced before Coach started recording the Coach numbers in their data base and on those old bags the only way to know for certain would be to mail it into Coach to have them veriify authenticity(clerks at the Coach store really can't tell for certain as the item is not in the range of their expertise -clerks for the most part are only familiar with the items recently sold or are that are in the store. I bought a bag that I wasn't quite sure about - the Coach store employees thought it was probably a fake - so I mailed it to Coach and they sent it back in writing that the bag is an authentic Coach bag). The serial number in my opinion should always be given in a listing - that is a give to show the item is authentic - if it isn't, ask for it and call Coach and check it out (some items of course won't have the coach information/numbers so ask where it was purchased and how does the seller know for sure it is authentic-how have they verified authenticity). If the seller doesn't provide the serial number or is unsure where the bag was purchased, I would suggest not purchasing to avoid having to verify authenticity and then sending back for a refund and incurring the return shipping and insurance costs. I don't want to be a bag detective - I leave it up to the experts to tell me if a bag is authentic - but here are some things I have gleamed over the years in identifying fake Coach bags:
On many authentic Coach bags with an inside flap, under the flap, there will be a white strip going from side to side (color through it means the bag has been redyed).
Hardware on fakes will be cheap and won't have that quality to the touch-the hardware won't feel right and won't have the strong pressence and texture.
Any mispellings in the information embossed in the leather is also a red flag the item is a fake - Coach does not mispell words in their products.
Coach seems to stick with certain fabric linings - consistently.
On older style bags, if the interior patch says made in Italy, Costa Rica, or United States, and there is no mispelling of the words - the item is most certainly authentic. But would still check out the serial number with Coach.
Some of Coach's older bags have "Solid Brass" embossed in the shoulder strap hardware - I have found this on authentic Coach bags - Coach years ago used to make some of their hardware out of solid brass. I am mentioning this as I read a review that said if hardware says solid brass, then the bag is a fake. That is incorrect. Rather it is just the opposite - should you find a Coach bag that has "Solid Brass" embossed in the hardware, that is most certainly a guarantee the bag is authentic Coach, but to be certain would also go by the other ways I have mentioned herein to be certain the bag is authentic. Fakes to my knowledge have never had solid brass hardware and "solid brass" embossed in the hardware.
And a heads up - in our area in May 2008 a party posted a flyer that they were having an open house and were selling designer accessories from Beijing - posh designer wear at China prices - I did not go as I do not buy fakes - ever - but out of curiousity called and inquired if the items they were selling are authentic - the response I got.... the lady told me the "C"s were made perfectly and that some Coach have the inside patch and some don't,and that they plan on having another one of these in the fall. These are the designers that were listed on the flyer so beware that some of these that were sold could very well end up on Ebay - Coach, Tod, Prada, Chanel, Burberry, Juicy Couture, Ed Hardy, Tommy Bahama, Breitling, Rolex, Omega, Tiffany & More.
End of June 2008 there was an article in our paper that Coach does not make their bags with the C's on both sides. However, that seemed a little odd to me so rather than take that information at face value, I called Coach's customer service and they said their bags are made with the C's on the front and on the back. The customer service rep had one in front of her and it has the C's made on the front and the back. So the information in the article was wrong. Coach bags also are made with C's in random patterns and in at least two different sizes and going at least 3-4 direction and some even meet and touch. Coach's website has pictures of their bags made with the C's pattern. So if you have one that has perfect Cs throughout and none touch each other, it would appear to be most definately a fake.
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