As a handbag lover, I understand the allure of a second-hand designer handbag bargain. But with used designer purses, it's a case of buyer beware. Fakes are everywhere, and it's easier than you'd imagine to get duped. So, before you invest in a handbag with all the designer bells and whistles, come armed with some knowledge to increase your likelihood of scoring a deal on the real thing and not wasting your hard-earned money on a knock-off.
The Price Seems Too Good to Be True
Even on second-hand markets, true designer handbags in good condition don't come cheap. So if the handbag has a bargain basement price, there's a good chance it's fake. Sure, occasionally you may just stumble on the deal of a lifetime on that coveted Gucci or Hermes bag at an insanely low price in someone's garage sale, but those very rare deals are like lightning in a bottle.
Know before you go. If you're in the market for a high-quality, second-hand, genuine designer bag, familiarize yourself with secondary market prices for the bags you're seeking. Places like The RealReal, Rebag, and Fashionphile authenticate any bags they sell, so their prices can be a good guide for what you can expect.
It's Being Sold on the Street
If it's available from a street vendor or at a local flea market, there's a good chance it isn't real. And if the vendor has a LOT of "designer" bags for sale, it's probably because they're not peddling authentic designer handbags.
Related: 8 Most Expensive Birkin Bags That Put the Luxe in Luxury
The Leather Feels Like Plastic
Look for sub-par leather; it may feel like plastic or be unusually hard. Worn patches in the leather may peel or delaminate from use, a telltale sign that it isn't genuine leather. Also, give it a good sniff. Does it smell like leather? If not, it's probably a little sus.
It Has a Bad Dye Job
True designer bags have top-quality dyeing processes, so the color on the handbag shouldn't look splotchy unless that's the designer's intention. Be suspicious if the dye doesn't look even.
The Logo Uses the Wrong Font
It can be a challenge to replicate the exact font used in designer logos, so if the font looks off, it could be fake. If you know what brand of bag you're looking for, familiarize yourself with the logo. Grab an image of an authentic logo and keep it on your phone so you can compare it while you shop. If the logo font looks off, it's probably a fake.
There Are Spelling Mistakes
This one seems like a detail that counterfeiters would pay attention to, but you'd be surprised at how often they don't. So if it says Guchi (or, in one fake I spotted, it said Gucc1 (using a 1 for the i), it's not real. Look inside and outside of the bag at all logos and wording, including on hang tags and labels, and make sure everything is Gucci (see what I did there?) as far as the spelling goes. If it has misspelled words, assume the bag is counterfeit.
The Care Labels Are Missing
Designer handbags contain labels telling you how to properly care for your very expensive investment. If these are missing, there's a possibility somebody ripped them out, but the more likely explanation is that the bag is fake.
The Stitching Is Sus
Authentic designer bags have tight, even stitches, while knockoff bags may have loose, shoddy workmanship, uneven stitches, or even missing stitches where fabric (especially on the interior) is glued rather than sewn. If it's not exquisitely and precisely stitched, it's probably a fake.
The Logo Plate Is Blurry or Off in Other Ways
Most designers affix signature logo plates to their bags. Those plates should be crisply printed, while fake plates may be blurry or slightly inaccurate. Also, look for logos printed on interior linings — fake bags often lack this detail.
It Doesn't Have a CoA
If it's a brand-new bag, it should definitely come with a certificate of authenticity or similar. Fake bags don't have this. This is a bit trickier if you're shopping second-hand, but it's a good sign if it has the authenticity paperwork with it.
The Color or Styling Is Off
If you have your heart set on an LV Speedy in a color that it's never come in, and you suddenly find it, it's unlikely that all your dreaming has manifested a genuine bag in your dream color. This is where pre-shopping research about different bags comes into play. Learn what's available so you don't accidentally wind up dropping a bunch of your hard-earned cash on a fake — even if the seller tells you it's a "rare design." Sure, it could be, but it probably isn't.
Shopping for the Real Deal
There are all sorts of reasons to shop for designer handbags on secondary markets, from big savings to saving the planet. But you work hard for your money, and even second-hand designer handbags are an investment. So always look closely at any bag you're considering before you shell out your hard-earned cash.
