| The manufacture of fake or replica designer handbags | | | | the Paddington and the Marc Jacobs Venetia get |
| has received a lot of attention in the media, and | | | | reproduced every year, often with a new twist so that |
| deservedly so. Designers have made an investment in | | | | the woman that needs the new style has to go buy it |
| the promotion of their brand name, and their intellectual | | | | and pay retail. But if you're perfectly happy carrying a |
| property rights should be protected. Unfortunately, | | | | 2005 or 2006 Marc Jacobs Blake, you can buy one |
| because of this attention, paranoia has overcome | | | | for a discount, sometimes a large discount. Online |
| consumers. Many people now believe that in order to | | | | stores that sell these handbags to the public are good |
| own a genuine designer bag it has to be purchased at | | | | resources for finding styles that aren't produced |
| a designer store or authorized reseller at full retail price. | | | | anymore as well. |
| This simply isn't the case. | | | | This presents an opportunity to women to buy an |
| Handbags are no different than shoes, clothes, | | | | authentic designer handbag for a lot less than retail. |
| electronics and nearly every other consumer product. | | | | There are many companies on the internet that help |
| Authentic designer handbags, like all these other | | | | keep the price down even further because they don't |
| products, can be purchased at less than retail prices at | | | | have the overhead of a brick and mortar retailer. Most |
| outlets that deal in overstock merchandise. These | | | | of these companies are very reputable and buy from |
| bags are not the current season styles perhaps. But | | | | excellent sources. If you buy a bag from one of these |
| women flock to discount shoe stores (traditional and | | | | companies and don't like it or don't feel that it's |
| online) to buy last years top name designer shoes at | | | | authentic, then you will be able to return it for a full |
| 25-50% off retail and don't think twice about | | | | refund. You are protected. However, DO NOT buy |
| authenticity. A good example of this is DSW (Designer | | | | from any company that will not allow you to return the |
| Shoe Warehouse). DSW has over 200 stores in 36 | | | | bag for any reason within a specified period of time, or |
| states. They sell top designer men's and women's | | | | does not clearly state their location and contact |
| shoes at "less than department store sale prices". The | | | | information. |
| Men's Wearhouse has been selling top name | | | | But how do you know the bag is authentic if it doesn't |
| Italian-made suits to men for years at less than half the | | | | come from the designer store or authorized reseller? |
| retail price. And today has become extremely | | | | Take heart ladies, it really is fairly easy to tell the |
| successful by giving consumers access to all kinds of | | | | difference. If someone has absolutely no knowledge of |
| consumer products for a substantial discount. | | | | designer items, or has never seen one and is buying a |
| The reason why these stores exist and thrive is the | | | | designer piece for the first time, it may require a little |
| same reason a woman can buy a designer handbag | | | | homework. One suggestion is to visit an authorized |
| at a discounted price. It's a function of supply and | | | | retailer such as Neiman-Marcus, Nordstrom, etc and |
| demand. Not all of the current season's handbags, | | | | look at the handbags from the designer of choice. If |
| shoes, suits or other items will sell at the authorized | | | | someone spends just a few minutes really looking at, |
| reseller's stores, so they will have to find a way of | | | | feeling and smelling the real bag, it will be hard to be |
| moving them to make room for next season's styles. | | | | fool them with an imitation. Look at and touch the bag, |
| Buyers for retailers need to place their orders for the | | | | open it up, and yes, smell the bag. Imitations can smell |
| new styles months before they are produced and | | | | like the chemicals that were used to treat the leather. |
| shipped. Buyers typically see a few items from the | | | | When handling the genuine article one should easily |
| proposed new line and make buying decisions based | | | | smell the aroma of genuine leather. |
| on those samples. How many of what style and color | | | | Another suggestion is to refer to the Authenticity |
| will they sell? They can make an educated guess but | | | | Guide at If you are looking for information about Chloe, |
| really can't be sure. Maybe another designer will be hot | | | | Fendi, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Prada or TOD's you will find |
| in the fall and certain handbags will sit on the shelves, | | | | specifics on what these designers have done to |
| with a $1200 price tag no less. So what happens when | | | | protect their brand from forgeries and therefore what |
| all the bags don't sell and the next new line is ready to | | | | you can look at in a bag to protect yourself from |
| be put on the shelves? This is expensive inventory | | | | buying a fake handbag. There is also general |
| and can't be simply thrown away, and they can't sit in | | | | information about what to look for in any designer |
| the warehouse either. The designer certainly isn't taking | | | | handbag. |
| them back. These bags must be sold to companies | | | | You will discover that knockoff handbags typically do |
| that make their living finding markets for overstock | | | | not even compare to the real deal. Replicas can be |
| merchandise. This process takes place several times | | | | bought at a swap meet or purse party for $50. They |
| a year, in every city in the world creating a huge | | | | don't feel like calf skin leather and they certainly don't |
| opportunity for all types of goods including designer | | | | smell like it. Anyone fooled by these bags just isn't |
| handbags. And the U.S. is still the biggest consumer | | | | paying attention, has done no homework, or just wants |
| market in the world, especially for high priced items like | | | | to think it's real. |
| designer handbags. | | | | Go ahead and take the step. Find an online seller of |
| One might argue that classic bags like the Chloe | | | | discount designer handbags. Buy from one of these |
| Paddington have been selling in retail stores for 3 | | | | companies and check out the bag. Bring the bag to |
| years now, which is true. But the Paddingtons that | | | | Neimans or Saks. Compare it. If you buy from a |
| were produced in 2005 and perhaps 2006 are not | | | | reputable online retailer you will be pleasantly surprised, |
| sitting on the shelf at Neiman-Marcus right now. They | | | | and extremely excited that you saved a lot of money. |
| were either sold or returned, and what sits there now | | | | Then perhaps you can also afford to buy that Fendi |
| are the 2007 Paddingtons. Classic handbags such as | | | | Mamma bag you've had your eye on. |