Buying Designer Goods On Ebay
[ 2 October 2007 ]
Do any of you have experience with this? I have been on Ebay for years & have never been burned by a seller — I have always received my item & it has always been what it claimed to be.
However, I’ve never tried to buy anything designer there. As you all know by now, I am obsessed with Chanel 5018 sunglasses. I discovered yesterday that there are some for sale on Ebay, which was, of course, very exciting. However, when I went into the Chanel boutique to get more information (as well as to see whether they had them in stock), the sales assistant told me they were an extremely limited run. They came straight off the catwalk, sold out immediately, & there are only 3 pairs in Melbourne, 3 pairs in Sydney, etc. She said the sunglasses on Ebay would definitely be fakes, & that she didn’t advise buying them.
Of course, this must be their official line, since if people buy on Ebay, Chanel doesn’t turn a profit. But it really made me wonder what the authenticity of the items on Ebay would be. If you were smart, you’d buy them in the boutique & sell them on Ebay for a massive profit.
I guess all you can really do is look at the seller’s feedback & hope for the best… but I’d love to hear your take on the issue!
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala 
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Hey gala, ebay has really helpful guides about how to spot fakes for most designer products. The one on Hermes scarves was great. They went in depth about little details, colours overlapping etc.
My take on it is this: Perception is reality. If people think you have the real thing does it matter if it is not? (beside the ‘moral’ issue of ripping off the multimillion dollar luxury brands which make up to 2000% profit ;)
Hi Gala,
First of all I must say hello and how much I adore your daily take on life. It is very refreshing!
I must admit that I have always been dubios of ebay designer items. some of them have ridiculous price tags and if you bought it and it tured out to be fake imagine how dissapointed you would be. I think the safest thing is to take into consideration the location of the seller and the feedback like you said.
Andjxx
x Sarah X i reckon you are right on your take! but i checked em on ebay and they cost 400 something and 900 something buy it now,, obviously it would be unpleasant to pay that much for a fake? i dunno..I am ebay junkie though…complete maniac i find its indispensables for renewing your wardrobe by the way i got a parka from japan on sale there have a looksie its v. different http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230176826316&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=013
Also, I think if you’re familiar with the product you’re searching for – as in, have actually seen, and perhaps handled it in person- you’ll be more likely to spot the signs of an imposter. This of course requires that the seller has good pictures, or is willing to send you more photos of the thing!
And if you can’t see the item in person, check the designers website and compare how the logo looks on their stuff… these things will definately help!
Those look pretty real to me, and so cool/odd-looking! You can check the refund policies and feedback scores to be safe.
hey hey girl.
Ive bought alot of designer stuff on ebay and have been really happy that nothing has turned out to be fake. best tips for ebay: the sellers rating, deffintly look at the bad comments and good comments left by the purchaser. Look at what other designer item’s they are selling, and if they are a one time ‘seller’ they have to be fake. But this guy gala, sells a bit of desginer clothing, and has positive feedback.
hello! i have been very lucky with designer goods on ebay myself. i have gotten authentic shirts with tags still on from Juicy Couture, Lacoste, and Ralph Lauren for $30 or under each! When I have designer items that I’m ready to sell, I always ensure their authenticity as well and don’t rip people off- I hope it contributes to my good ebay karma.
Hi.
I read an article about this once at the hairdressers so can’t remember the magazine (Vogue or Harper’s maybe?). But it mentioned most sites offer certificates of authenticity or are willing to show some type of proof that they’re authentic if asked.
Maybe someone remembers the article? It talked about some websites that could tell whether or not the item was authentic.
I know not a lot of help but good luck!
I would love to buy fashion on ebay but is really expensive; since I live in Chile I would have to use my bf’s mailbox in Miami and pay a massive shipping fee Dx! Anyways…
I’m not really into brands, I know designers are incredible and all, but I wouldn’t mind to but fake ones if their cheaper 8D I bought my sunglasses in Urban Outfitters for US$ 18; they have last a lot and I love them! :D
Of course selling fake ones at the same price of the original ones is aweful, I agree with you that if you want to be smart you gotta go to the store first ;)
Hi Gala!
Just wanted to say I absolutely love your blog (I only started reading it last week, but I keep checking back and hoping that you’ll have posted since the last I checked).
EBay is, well, good for scams and circulation of fakes…but you can also find a bargain on there.
Some ways of knowing it’s real are:
- They post NUMEROUS pictures from all different angles (so that you can check if they’re fake or not). – They come in original packaging with the receipt. – Their price is likely to be 60% of the original, at the very least. – The seller is a ‘power-seller’ or has close to 100% positive ratings for selling (personally I refuse to buy off anyone below 99.6% positive, no matter WHAT they’re selling).
Hope that helps =)
x Sarah x — Yeah, I’ve seen some of those! & also… I don’t know, I am not keen to pay close to $1000 for something which might not be genuine. If it was cheap, I probably wouldn’t care, but if you’re going to spend the bling, you should get what you pay for!
Andj — Yeah, I am always pretty careful about feedback. But those sellers haven’t got LOTS of feedback, they have some but not heaps. I don’t know, I don’t feel that good about it, so I might leave it… Plus, there is always the (very high) chance that the 5018’s will become one of those majorly-ripped-off items, like the Louboutins with the stacked wooden heel, available everywhere for a pittance. Which of course devalues the original enormously. Hard to know!
Tamanta — They aren’t instore so I’m not going to know really! Though most of the sellers have lots of pictures of the originals on the catwalk & celebrities, so…
Annie — I knowwww, aren’t they fabulous?! LOVE them so much. Good call on the refund policies, too.
Emma — I am always dodged out by one-time sellers! Oooooh, I want them so badly! They are so expensive though, argh, I kind of want to go halves with someone ;D
Amelia — I hear so few actual horror stories about Ebay, it really makes me think it’s pretty safe. Whenever you hear about someone getting ripped off, it’s always like “my friend’s friend” or in a bad magazine…
Jess — Hmm, interesting. Then again, those crazy factories which churn out fakes can make fake authenticity labels too…
Anodien — I’m not usually into designers either, but sometimes I see the odd thing which makes me light up like a christmas tree. These sunglasses fit into that category!
Jessabelle — Thank you darling! Good tips. I always wonder about people using other people’s authentic photographs. Gah. There is no way to be sure I guess, just have to put your money where your mouth is…
I only buy low-end designer items like J. Crew, because they are rarely counterfeited. That way I know I am not getting a fake.
I couldn’t see the link.. but yes if you are paying 1K you definitely want to have the REAL DEAL!! :)
The best way to tell if a designer item is authentic is to ask for the reciept. You could ask for them to scan it and add it to their auction?
In my experience, the majority of big-name designer sunglasses and bags on eBay are fakes. They’re often very good fakes — sometimes even good enough to fool shop assistants who sell the real thing — but they’re still fakes.
Lots of photos of the real thing is no guarantee (you might not get the item in the pic); nor is a certificate of authenticity and packaging (they’re far easier to fake than the item itself).
My advice: be very, very careful. If you’re spending close to the cost of the real deal, just buy the real one… don’t risk that much money!
Ms. Bargain Queen — Yeah, except they’re all sold out! ARGH!
Can I make a completely whacked-out suggestion?
For $AU900, you could scour every second-hand store in Melbourne and Sydney, plus find cool vintage sunglasses on Ebay. And maybe an extra pair that’ve been blinged out by somebody from Etsy.
My feeling’s this: No matter how cool it is, why wear something that somebody else somewhere has? If you’re gonna spend the rent on a single piece, it might was well be honest-to-Frog unique, not limited-edition.
having looked at those three auctions, id have to say go for number 2 after getting a scan of the receipt. that is of course if you can find someone in the us you trust to send them on.
Oh I’m so glad that someone else is obsessed with the 5018s. Ever since I saw them on Nicole Richie they’ve been bubbling away at the back of my mind.
I’m a frequent eBayer and if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!
BUT does it matter if you buy a fake? Nobody else would have to know but if it’s the look that you’re after then go for it – if it makes you beam every time you put them on then that’s all that matters!
Life is short, and the things that make you happy are the most important, not the brand name behind them or how much they cost.
P
x
It’s hard to tell sometimes. I’ve gotten a little bit of both from eBay…for the most part you just have to research your product. Make sure it’s a product actually made by your designer, not just a logo slapped on something generic. Livejournal communities are actually great for this, you can link to the photo in the auction and ask if it’s a real product, people will reply with what they know!
Good luck~
I’m not a fan of designer goods for the most part- so I generally don’t have this issue. Heh.
However- I spent 12 days in Shenzhen, China back in May and we went to this massive marketplace that was made up entirely of tiny shops selling fake designer goods. Most of them were so good that you’d never know the difference if you saw them elsewhere. They covered everything- the linings, tags, embellishements, zipper pulls… everything! They had everything from bags, to jeans, to shoes, to watches, to sunglasses. I’m actually wearing my fake Miss Sixty jeans right now, and other than the fact that one of the inside tags is sewn on a little sideways- you’d never be able to tell the difference.
My general thought on buying anything on Ebay is that if it sounds/looks to good to be true- then it probably is. No one is going to sell brand new designer ANYTHING for less than what they payed.
checking the persons feedback is a must, even if its not something designer. but i found some links that would be helpful on spotting fakes.
http://reviews.ebay.com/How-to-spot-Fake-Knock-Off-apos-s-Counterfit-Sunglasses_W0QQugidZ10000000002963367?ssPageName=BUYGD:CAT:-1:LISTINGS:2
http://fashion.about.com/cs/tipsadvice/a/fakingit.htm
i would say, even if they are fakes, go for it. because honestly, who else is going to know?
i got a phoney betsey johnson suit a while back.. i know it’s phoney because the jacket sleeves are super long and weirdly curvy – the pants are still pretty rad. and i got what i’m sure is a fake tiffany heart charm toggle necklace a long time ago, but it’s hard to tell that from real except for the constant tarnishing issue.
i have also made out really well on ebay with real stuff, designer shoes especially.
and yes i think it does matter if you buy fakes intentionally, as they are often made in deplorable conditions. it’s not about marc jacobs getting ripped off, it’s about sweatshops.
Jo — I could buy a lot of great pairs of sunglasses for $900, I know that. But I like THOSE! I have never been so in lust with eyewear. Seriously. Also, I don’t really care how unique it is. I don’t derive more pleasure from something just because it’s rare, it’s all about how it makes me feel. If it makes me feel amazing, then I’m happy.
Sarah-Rose — Tell me about it. But I think we will see them EVERYWHERE in a month or so.
Pants — It matters if you pay big bucks!
Pawleen — Hmm, good call, thanks for the tip!
Renai — It depends, sometimes you can get amazing designer goods at sample & warehouse sales. They’re the real thing, it’s all end of line stock usually. So, good deals are out there, but if there’s a Marc Jacobs dress for $60 buy-it-now, then it’s definitely not the real thing!
katie — Thanks for the links!
sunshine — Hmm, I don’t know, I think a lot of companies employ slave labour, high end, low end, it doesn’t make much of a difference…
wow. i don’t know much about buying designer goods on ebay, but goodness… i LOVE those sunglasses. they seem like the kind of glasses that will look perfect with every outfit and would be in style forever. swoon
Do NOT believe eBay’s seller’s claims of “authenticity”. I’ve been burned twice and will never buy “designer” again on eBay. The sellers cannot be trusted!!!
Also, buyer’s feedbacks are deceiving. Very few people know how to spot fakes or they just don’t want to put the real TRUTH of their experience.
Be safe. Don’t buy designer on eBay!
My mom never buys or never lets me buy from there unless they have like 99+ percent feedback. Also, if its from like a store in Japan a lot of those places make fakes. You know one of those places that ask for your measurements and then they make the dress and sent it to you.
My best friend bought a prom dress and the pic showed this lovely one we had seen in a prom magazine. It came from Japan and the shipping ended up being WAY MUCH! AND the dress was NOT like the pic they showed at all! It was ORANGE instead of blue! It looked like they had tried to make it look like the real thing but failed TERRIBLY. It was just sad. :( So I would say go by fedback AND location.
(Note: Not saying ALL clothes that come from Japan or China are bad but I have seen a LOT of fakes come from there!)
Gala, if you are thinking of spending almost a grand on a single pair of sunglasses, why not find someone who will make them for you? Eg. young artists or starting out jewellers? They will be yours, unique, real and won’t cost you all that much!
I might be a cheap skate who “doesn’t get” the whole spending a fortune on fashion thing… but buying 1 single item for the money that I could have a week’s holiday in New Zealand for is beyond me. :) ($400 for tickets and $600 will pay for a week in a sweet B&B).
P.S. Besides, these glasses are bound to be a fake – a limited edition Chanel would never sell for this little. For the money, you could fly to Singapore or Bangkok and bring back a bag of fakes like this…
D — Because I like them. I am happy to pay for quality… Which is also why I use good skincare, good makeup & wear good clothes & shoes. To me, it is 100% worth spending the money on something I love which will last. That’s just how I think. We’re all different though!
Hi,
I did buy a pair on Ebay and they are authentic. The woman told me she knew a rep at Chanel and bought them. I read that the sales associates would hide them behind the counter and save them for favorite customers.
They are adorable and sooo worth it. The seller told me she only had two pairs left and one was sold since then. She hasn’t listed the last pair since I looked on eBay.
They are really, really cute and I think they look best worn a bit lower on the bridge than you are normally used to. It takes a little bit to get used to the line from black to clear as well (which is also better for me to wear them more on the cheeks) I couldn’t stop thinking about them. Lol ;)
I just stumbled across your site (i’m in love, btw), and feel compelled to let you know about my favorite new little site. I have it on permanent tab next to email and the sort.
I’ve just discovered ebay and have picked up a fancy for used designer bags. Not LV or Chanel, which are frequently duped. More along the lines of Cole Haan and Betsey Johnson. Anyhow, mypoupette.com is a site like the ones mentioned above. They have wonderful guides on spotting good vs. questionable auctions, lists of “no buy” sellers known for dealing in fakes, as well as lists of recommended sites and sellers for authentic handbags and accessories. They also have a service, where for $20US or so, they can preview auction pictures as well as determine authenticity after an item is purchased. I check all my designer bag auctions against their lists and avoid anything that looks sketchy. Make sure it says guaranteed authentic in the post and get their guarantee in writing through the email to start. Good luck. And by all means, honey, without a little indulgence once in a while, what’s the point?
xox tura
I just checked and they were put up for $850.00 or best offer from my seller on ebay . I tried for two days and they are sold out all over the US. I hope this helps! I love your site too. :)