PrintBy Chandra Coleman-Ross
eDiets Contributor
Louis, Christian, Chloe, Hermes, Prada! How are you, darlings? If you are a purse fanatic, you know these names well. These are the luxury handbags that make many of us women swoon, yet not all of us can buy. In recent years, counterfeit versions of these have popped up everywhere — from the streets of New York City to the Spanish Steps in Rome — cheap versions for a quarter of the retail price. Is this right? Should you buy a fake bag?
We’re talking serious money. Bags by these designers typically sell for between $800 and $1,200. This is for normal-sized bag — totes or “oversized” purses go up in price. The crème de la crème is the coveted Birkin bag by Hermes, which for certain styles, has a perpetual waiting list. These bags start at $6,000 and can go up to $75,000. That’s right. A quick search on eBay revealed the asking price for a Birkin was $37,500. So all of sudden, buying a fake doesn’t seem so crazy, right?
Out of the five or so bags I own, one is fake. I bought it in London and somehow thought having bought it in Europe it would seem less fake. But to tell you the truth, I hardly use it; I almost feel guilty parading it around. I have come to the conclusion that I would rather save my money and buy the real deal.
Although luxury companies charge really ridiculous prices for their handbags (not to mention clothes, shoes, sunglasses, etc.), it’s because they aren’t meant for everyone. The quality of the materials and the time that goes into making them sets them apart; they come in limited editions and/or only a certain number of bags are created every year (hence the waiting list for the Birkin).
Reasons you may not want to buy a fake:
–It is illegal. You are a willing participant of the black market when you buy anything that is counterfeit. –Labor: Think about who produces these bags — not little old ladies in Italy (who really do hand sew every Bottega Venetta purse), but probably child laborers in sweatshops. –Exclusivity: It lessens the exclusivity of the item when all of a sudden anyone can have one.
How to Spot a Fake
If you don’t want to buy a fake, learn how to spot one. This goes for online buying as well.
–Do not buy from anyone in China or Hong Kong. These are the countries where so many of the fakes are made, so it’s most likely that’s what they’re selling.
–If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. A bag that retails for $1,000 and is selling for $500 is not real.
–When online, ask the seller for close-up pictures of details like stitching and leather quality if they are not apparent.
–Look for “Made in Italy” or wherever the brand is from (Balenciaga bags are made in Paris, for example), usually displayed on the inside on a plaque. If it is missing, or it says “Made in China,” do not buy.
–Know your seller. If you’re on eBay, for example, look for seller feedback. If there isn’t any available, or it’s negative, don’t buy from this person.
–Know the real deal. Go into a boutique or store like Neiman Marcus or Saks and look at and touch a real bag so you’re familiar with it.
If you want to buy online, there are sites like NetAPorter.com and ELuxury.com that are guaranteed authentic.
Rent a Purse!
Guys get to rent tuxedos — why shouldn’t women be able to rent purses? For a monthly fee, you can choose the bag of your dreams and “own” it for a certain amount of time, return it and get a new one! Think Netflix for handbags. What a brilliant idea. Check out BagBorrowOrSteal.com or FromBagsToRiches.com.
Have you ever used one of these Web sites to “borrow” a bag? Let us know how it went! Comment below…
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Chandra Coleman-Ross has spent the past five years working at Internet companies and writing about fashion, health and entertainment among other topics. She is recently married and lives in Miami.
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