Buying a designer brand handbag is a big decision, and it's important to make sure you don't get ripped off.Versace, Coach, Louis Vuitton, and Michael Kors are some of the well-known brands that are targets for counterfeit suppliers.If you pay close attention to the details in the stitching and metalwork of the bag, you can detect fakes.If a price seems too good to be true, remember that.
Step 1: A high-quality tag can be found inside the bag.
Go to the right side of the bag.The bottom layer is gray and the top is white.The front and back of the white and gray tags should have text printed on them.Older bags may have a leather tag with a heat stamp on it.The first line of text will be larger than the second line.
Step 2: The top of the white tag has a code.
To verify this code, type it into a search bar and see what comes up.The correct model of bag can be found when you search the code.The results of the search may include different colors of your bag model.
Step 3: The back gray tag has a number on it.
The 4-digit indicates when the bag was made.The factory location is included in the tag.The bag was made in November of 2015.Michael Kors has factories in the China/Taiwan area so a "Made in China" does not mean that the bag is fake.
Step 4: The bag should be flipped over to make sure there are no frayed stitches.
Take a close look at the seams and stitches of your bag.The bag was made hastily by a counterfeit seller.Don't buy bags with no stitching or pristineness.If you want to know what the stitching should look like, look up pictures of designer bags online.If you have more than one designer bag, use it as an example.
Step 5: Look at the stitches and see if they are straight.
Take a look at the detail-work of the bag and give special attention to the zippers.Check to see if the zippers are held in place with the same number of stitches.Don't purchase the bag if this is the case.It is easy for counterfeit sellers to stand out because it takes a long time for official companies to make a high quality bag.
Step 6: You can smell the material to see if it is authentic.
Take a deep breath and lean in next to the bag.While some materials won't have a distinct scent, bags made of real leather will smell rich.If the bag doesn't have a smooth finish and it smells like plastic, it's probably a fake.Surface dying is used in leather counterfeits.The bag is probably a fake if you can see a pinprick hole in it.
Step 7: There is high-quality stitching along the handles of the bag.
If the straps are sewn onto the bed, look at the side of the bag.Straight, vertical lines of stitching are what attach the strap to the bag.There is a horizontal line of 4 stitches beneath the buckle.
Step 8: Take a look at the fabric used to make the bag.
You can stroke the inside of the bag with your hand.Make sure the material is soft and silky.It is likely that the material looks and feels fake.The inner pockets will be attached with triangular stitching along the corner of the seams.
Step 9: The metal logo needs to be polished.
There is a metallic logo on the side of the bag.The details of the logo are important.There is a good chance that the bag is fake if the metal edges seem puffy and lackluster.The Michael Kors logo is always made with crisp, unmistakable edges in the metalwork.The bag is likely a fake if the metal looks like it has been damaged.
Step 10: To see how heavy the metal decorations are, hold them in your hand.
The logo is pulled in your hand.While they won't feel heavy, keep in mind that the metals used in the bags feel heavier than those in counterfeit bags.Remember that weight can be a good indicator of a metal's value, so don't use this test as an end all be all.Most Michael Kors bags are made with high-quality metals.Some counterfeit producers use luxury materials like gold and diamond to make their products look like the real thing.
Step 11: The metal has engravings on it.
Take a closer look at the metalwork engraved with the Michael Kors typeface.On the metallic logo, make sure that the text is centered beneath the "MK" of the logo.To make sure that the letters are even in size and shape, examine the metal pulls.The text on the fake bags won't be clear, and the letters might look stamped.