How to Tell If a Coach Bag Is Fake

Coach is a manufacturer of various types of handbags and purses. Due to the fact that Coach products can be pricey, buyers often search online and on the street for cheaper Coach bags. You may want to double or even triple check the Coach bags if you have found an unbelievable deal on the bags. The bags may be so cheap because they're not real Coach bags. When you know what to look for, you can tell whether or not a Coach bag is fake or authentic.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Make yourself familiar with the latest Coach bags. Knowing the styles of Coach bags will help you to better recognize a fake. Look at the pictures of Coach bags on the official Coach website (see Resources below) or visit an actual Coach store and examine the bags there.

2. Look at the numerous "Cs" that are on the Coach bag. Make sure that the Cs are actually Cs and not actually Os, Qs or Gs. The Cs on the Coach bag should not be crooked. They should also be perfectly lined up all the way around the bag. If the Cs don't follow the same pattern around the bag, it is probably a fake Coach bag.

3. Notice the brightness of the colors on the Coach bag. If the colors are dull, the bag is most likely made out of a cheap material. Extremely bright colors, however, may also be a sign that the bag is not leather and thus isn't genuine.

4. Run your hands along that tag that is attached to the bag. The "COACH" letters should be raised on the tag. If these letters are printed on the tag, the bag is a fake.

5. Look at the stitching on the inside and outside of the Coach bag. Each stitch should be identical (same size, same color). The stitching should also be in a straight line around the entire Coach bag. If you notice any loose stitches, you're most likely looking at a fake Coach bag.

6. Find the zipper on the Coach bag. Coach bags are known for having the letters "YKK" on the zipper. YKK is the manufacturer of the zippers found on Coach bags.

7. Make sure the bag doesn't "slump" or "slouch" to one side or the other. If the bag appears to be falling in on itself, the bag is most likely made out of a cheap material and is not an actual Coach bag.

8. Inspect the tag that is found on the inside of the bag. The word "COACH" should be in the middle of the tag. Directly underneath that should be the word "leatherware." Some tags, depending on the type of bag you're purchasing, will also have "EST. 1941" written underneath the word "leatherware." If the tag says that the Coach bag was made in Thailand or Korea, the bag is fake. There are real Coach bags made in China, however. Authentic Coach bags have also been produced in the United States, Dominican Republic, India and Costa Rica.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that a fake Coach bag may look very much like the real thing. The only way that you can absolutely ensure that you're purchasing a real Coach bag is by buying the bag at a Coach store, on the Coach website or at a department store that sells Coach bags (such as Macy's).

• Do not assume that a Coach bag is real if you find a serial number on the inside of the bag. Many fake Coach bags will have a replicated serial number placed on the inside of the fake bag.

Resources

• Real Coach bags