Is this a real one?

Designer handbags can sell for hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Handbags from the design houses of Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Coach have produced accessories for well-dressed women for generations. Their products are handcrafted of the highest quality materials and can last for years.

Recently though, designer bags have become sought after for their logo, and counterfeit products have flooded the market. Designers defend their intellectual property with trademark and patent protection, but still their items are “knocked off.” An online search results in page after page of websites selling counterfeit handbags.

I have spoken with many customers in my business who have purchased bags believing they were genuine, only to find out they were mistaken. If you want a new, authentic designer bag, buy it from the designer’s store. This is the best way to assure its authenticity.

If you are interested in a previously owned or vintage item, you can find great buys at consignment and thrift store, or even at garage sales. But how do you know it’s real?

First of all, ask the seller if they guarantee the product and will give you a full refund if you discover it’s a fake.