How to Spot a Fake Coach Bag

Oh, the temptation! That coach bag you've been lusting over is on for sale on Craigslist or eBay or at a flea market for half price, but is there a reason for that? Knockoffs abound, especially on the Internet, but it's easy to guard yourself against buying a fake.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Check for the classic Coach "C"s. Fakes will often have "G"s to avoid being prosecuted if marketers are found selling them.

2. The "C"s on the bag should appear in pairs. Side-by-side pairs also face each other.

3. Make sure the "C"s aren't cut off in the middle of the bag. The only "C"s that won't appear as complete letters will be those on the sides.

4. Next, check for a dustbag. Resellers may not always sell a purse with a dustbag, but if they do it should always be tan or brown with red stitching, with the Coach logo stamped on it.

5. The hardware should be heavy and not plated. It should not be able to be bent using your fingers.

6. Most clasps should be imprinted with the "Coach" name. Check the specific line before writing off a fake at this step, as some types of Coach bags are no longer stamped.

7. The inside should feature a square leather panel with the Coach creed on it. The lettering is pressed into the leather and the panel will be stitched, not glued. Also, check the spelling here. Many fakes feature misspelled words or improper grammar.

8. No parts of the bag will be glued. Any patchwork or embellishments will be stitched on, never glued.

9. The "Coach" tag should be secured to the bag using a looped chain. It should be made of two stitched together pieces of leather and not plastic or vinyl. The letters in "Coach" should be raised.

10. Check the stitching. Coach does not use cheap thread, but many sellers do. Make sure there are no gaps in the stitching, no threads pulling and no flaws.

11. Make sure the material on the strap is either leather or fabric, not plastic. If any part of it is peeling, its a sure sign that it's molded plastic.

12. Check out the styles of Coach purses on their website. If the purse doesn't match one of these styles exactly, it's probably a fake. Coach only makes so many types at a time, and they typically will not make a purse in a color without listing it on their website. Also, the website will give you an idea of how different bag lines really look.

13. Check out a seller's location. If they are shipping from overseas, have a poor feedback rating or are selling purses in large quantities, there is a very good chance the purse you're looking at is a knockoff.

14. Most of all, trust your gut. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Tips & Warnings

• Some sites list the "Made in China" tag as a dead give-away. However, this is no longer a true sign of a fake. Some parts are outsourced to China, therefore some authentic Coach purses also have this tag.

[thedutchtulip]

on 5/9/2009 Also seen creed tags inside bag without actual creed #, mispelling of sude instead of suede and Floride instead of Florida on hangtag/prce tag (overall hangtag looked authentic, except for these 2 errors). Inside lining looked perfectly authentic (perhaps there was some stolen product). Dustbags had leatherwear with space between r and w, made of poor quality light tan material and poor quality draw string of light tan material. Best advice: save your money and go buy at directly from authentic store or outlet or coach directly online.

[coffeefirst]

on 3/25/2009 Whheeewwhooo I am an avid COACH fan, great article 5*

[jclayrey]

on 6/27/2008 Nice Article. You can also tell the coach purse is a fake, if the zipper doesn't have a YKK on it. They are made in either Turkey or China, No place else.

[jclayrey]

on 6/27/2008 Nice Article. You can also tell the coach purse is a fake, if the zipper doesn't have a YKK on it. They are made in either Turkey or China, No place else.