Arm Candy Guide to eBay and Fakes

The ArmCandy Guide To Buying On eBay

Thinking about buying a purse on eBay? Fantastic! But read this first.
The one thing that any genuine purse-lover *must* keep in mind before embarking on an eBay spending spree is:

If it looks too good to be true, it most probably is.

A purse that retails for over a grand in store is not going to sell for $200 on eBay. Any seller who tries to pass off such a purse as the genuine article is most probably a scam artist. And unfortunately, eBay is absolutely riddled with them.

But wait, I hear you say. This seller is selling genuine Chloe purses for a steal – and his feedback is 99.9%!
Well, that can also be mere trickery. Take a look at the people who are leaving feedback – how many transactions do they have to their name? How much of the seller’s feedback is left by the same people bulk-buying? Bear in mind also that a lot of crafty sellers will sell small items (like manuals) for, say, $1.00 – just to build up their feedback. It’s all very deceptive, and very, very sly.

I happen to know of the perfect example – one seller I dealt with personally on eBay sold me a fake Chloe Paddington. His feedback was near-perfect, and I wasn’t smart enough at the time to look at all the evidence that pointed to him being a scam artist. I did get my money back in the end, but it was a very disappointing experience. I just wanted to have that purse, and it’s very easy to ignore warning signals when you covet anything that much.

Now, there are sellers who are genuine – just take a look at what they information they are willing to share with you. A good, genuine seller knows that if a person is going to part with $800 for a purse, they may want some reassurance that they are not being ripped off. Therefore communication should be excellent. Emails should be answered in a timely manner. Any requests for proof that the article is genuine should be met with compliance.
Be very, very suspicious of any seller who avoids your questions. The pictures that accompany the listing should be varied, with close-ups of the label. Depending on the brand, the seller should be able to offer a receipt or other proof of purchase if the purse is brand new as advertised.
Be warned – with a lot of scam sellers, the purse in the picture may not be what turns up on your doorstep!

If the seller is selling a second-hand purse – just use your judgement. Check out their feedback, ask them questions, look at the pictures and make an educated decision. There are some sellers who may be just like you – people who have far too many purses and are willing to get rid of them for a fair price.

Another good idea for anyone considering buying high-end purses on eBay is to go to a department store and look at the purses up close so you get used to seeing what a quality product looks like – the stitching, the little foibles and eccentricities that separate a Balenciaga from a Chanel. Talk to the salespeople, ask them how to spot fakes and how to know what to look for to ensure you are getting the real deal. Chances are they will be more than happy to talk to you – information like that is often not posted on company websites because potential scam artists and fake merchants will use it to their own benefit.

Learn what real, quality leather feels like and looks like. Soak up as much as you can, because it will only serve you well for years after and make you a more confident buyer, whether on eBay or anywhere else.

Do not bid on items that are ending either that day or the next.

There simply is not enough time for you to do adequate research and it is far too easy to pressure yourself into making a bad decision because you don’t want to miss your ‘chance’. Trust me, you will feel buyers remorse almost immediately afterwards – and why deny yourself the luxury of taking your time and enjoying the whole experience?

Remember: Assume every seller is selling you fakes UNTIL you have enough evidence to be comfortable that they are not. Email the seller’s past buyers, especially those who leave negative feedback, to get information.
At the end of the day, why pay for a substandard product? The reason high-end purses are expensive is because they are beautifully made and often a great investment. By buying a fake purse, you are only denying yourself a great deal of pleasure.

And once again, don’t forget that golden rule of buying on eBay: