We always get designer bags in!  Plenty of Coach, Marc Jacobs, Fendi, you name the brand – we get it in.  So, we take pride in our consigning authetication process.  Check out this fabulous Coach bag we have in the store now (well, if it doesn’t sell out as soon as I post this, which happens quite often :J ).  Here are some ways to tell an authentic Coach bag:

There is always a way to tell a fake. Although there are a few that are passable, there will be some part of the bag that is wrong. On most fakes, there are numerous mistakes. The best ways to authenticate are by checking these:
1. On signature pieces, the C’s will be centered and go out from there. Miniature C’s can be slightly off, but not by much.
2. Signature bags will never have signature lining.
3. Besides small bags, like wristlets, there will be a creed and registration number inside. The middle digit(s) before the dash will correspond to the year made- 5 for 1995, 05 for 2005. The creed is a leather patch, sewn into the lining, and the printing is justified, and reads in all capital English letters. The number after the dash should correspond to the style number of the bag. If from a factory store, there will be a bullseye stamp in one of the upper corners or an “F” before the style number and after the dash. Pieces sold through a discount store, like TJ Maxx will have an “x” stamp in the creed. On pieces with natural leather lining the creed will be directly stamped onto the lining.
4. The hangtag is usally leather, the same color and stitiching as the bag itself. There are some metal hangtags, but they are not cheap looking like on most fakes. The coach lozenge is raised from the handtag, not embedded into it. The lozenge is usally found on one side of the tag only.
5. The zippers will say YKK. This marking is usually found on the side of the main metal zipper pull. The zipper pull will be a leather swatch, same color and stitching as the bag, or will be a series of rings. The zippers will run smoothly.
6. Most coach hardware is stamped. The backs of buckles, the inner snap.
7. The stitching is tight, even and straight. There will not be any loose strands or restiching marks.
8. The bag’s overall appearance. It will look perfect. A new bag will not be saggy or misaligned. All the straps, stitching, every detail will be centered to the bag. No part of the bag or its details will look crooked.
But, you have to be careful. Most counterfeit attempt to copy these, but do it wrong. If you are unfamiliar with the product, it is easy to be fooled.