Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Ladies Handbags - Are You Holding A Counterfeit?

By Ashlynn Mario

Knock-off purses are handbags that are meant to imitate the popular and highly expensive designer handbags. Knockoffs come in two recognized forms. Some supposed "designer" handbags are actually total rip-offs of an original product. They are mass-produced purposeful imitations that are created using cut-rate materials. Others are well thought-out "designer-inspired." They solely mimic the famed look of authentic designer bags made by Christian Dior, Kate Spade, Prada and others but never claim to actually be the authentic article. These products will avoid using proprietary tags and logos. Thus they are meant to be the cheap alternatives that customers desire from a designer handbag but without having a designer budget.

Counterfeit handbags, on the other hand, are sold externally of traditional stores. The sellers often use roadside markets, flea markets and online auctions. Unscrupulous sellers of these counterfeit handbags hope that you'll be won over by the guarantee of a lower price and thus will not look suspiciously at their shoddy products.

Buying online can be particularly difficult, unless you?re sure that you?re buying from someone you can trust. If you really want a designer bag from an online auction site, be sure to go over the seller's feedback with care.

One way you can tell the difference between an authentic bag from a designer label and one that's a fake is that the real bags will be carefully photographed so you can see the whole bag, inside and out. Counterfeit bags are often poorly photographed, and shown in a group. You're also unlikely to find authenticity tags on a fake designer bag, unless the seller is trying to hoodwink you into believing it's the real thing.

Designer bags use good materials, not inexpensive vinyl, and good construction. If you see low quality stitching or other telltale details, you may be looking at a fake. Make sure the seller is using a picture that represents the kind of bag you want to own.

Further, pay for your authentic designer bag using a credit card, so that if you are ripped off, you have a means of recourse such as a charge back should your bag be found to be a counterfeit. Remember that sellers who sell outside of the United States will be more difficult if you are seeking either a refund or a charge back. Also, if you deal with a seller outside of the United States, longer shipping times are often part of a plan to have you overextended on complaint times, or to ask for a refund or charge back.

Designer-inspired bags, not counterfeit bags, are sometimes also referred to as designer replica handbags. These will let you own the latest hot design for a much less expenditure. These bags will be available in online stores, as well as many discount retailers. However, at least you then know what you are buying and you know what you are going to receive, as opposed to counterfeit bags.

Many women however, frugally save their spare change for months on end, assuming that they are "worth it" and deserve the quality of authentic designer bags, which will serve them for a long time, and be carried with pride.

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