Having had this shop for a little while now, I think it's important to share my experiences with my valued clients. Therefore, I am going to be posting regular blogs on (hopefully) a weekly basis, feating a broad range of topics related to designer goods. Since conception and launch, I've witnessed some very interesting things. I brokered amazing deals for my clients both selling and buying, I've learned so much about the luxury fashion industry, and let's be honest, I've also experienced, first hand, the booming market for counterfeit designer goods. 

Let's launch right into it, shall we? 

THE GOOD: With the price of luxury goods increasing year to year, it makes perfect sense consider investing in a classic styled bag; and it makes even more sense to acquire it second-hand (read our last blog about it HERE). Fashion houses, such as Chanel, Hermes, Christian Dior, and Louis Vuitton have been issuing the same styled bags for many years, and these styles have stood against the test of time over and over again. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to purchase these second hand at a discounted price. You're likely to score an amazing deal, and if you take care of it and resale it later, you can likely get all of your initial investment back, if not make a little extra along the way as well!

THE BAD: When clients consign items for sale, very often they will not have kept the original receipt, box, care booklets, dustbag, authenticity cards, and other accessories. However, these "extras" should not discourage you as a consumer from buying these bags. At the end of the day, if what you want is a handbag, and that should be the focus of your purchase. Sure, brownie points can be made for the extra additions that make purchasing second hand almost like getting it from the store. However, many resellers also use these to target consumers and persuade them into unknowingly purchasing counterfeit items. 

Receipts, boxes, and authenticity cards are easily faked. Theres even been many instances where an individual purchased an authentic item, only to return a fake one back to the store, or reselling a fake item together with the original set of receipts and accessories. I have experienced first hand, someone knowingly or unknowingly inquiring about selling an item that comes with original receipt, only to discover that while the receipt seems legitimate, the item is actually a counterfeit. 

Thus far, this blog (and the fate of purchasing second hand) might seem gloom and depressing, but I promise there is light at the end of the tunnel! In order to safely buy second hand, make sure you are not easily persuaded by the "fluff" that comes with each item. Instead, scrutinize the details of the bag (or shoes, or accessories)! Luxury designers charge a premium for their products not only for the namesake, but also because their quality and craftsmanship is superior. Look at the stitching, the heat stamping, the embossing. Inspect the corners, the alignment, the spacing. With designer goods, their standard and quality is top of the line, and this should be reflected in the details of each item these brands put out. 

Take for example, photos of an Eva clutch below. This is by far one of the most requested pieces. A client of ours unknowingly purchased the following bag off of Kijiji, and brought it in to possibly consign. Unfortunately, we had to be the bearer of bad news in informing her that despite having a "receipt", the bag is actually a counterfeit. The logo stamping is off, stitching is off, hardware is off, and even the receipt looks a bit fishy. She let us photograph it for educational purposes so feel free to take a look. Can you spot the problem areas?

THE SUPERFAKE: Well, what about superfakes? Clients of mine are always sharing with me the stories floating around about how superfakes are flooding the second hand sales market, sometimes even fooling authenticators and sales associates. Now, I've see and felt these superfakes, and more often than not, the most persuasive element about them are the "fluffs" that they seem to come with - boxes, dustbags, care booklets, and ribbons. These extras can sometimes convince someone to overlook flaws in the construction of the item itself. "Oh, the leather feels a bit dry, and the stamping is slightly crooked, but look, it comes with the receipt!" - this sort of distraction by the "fluffs" is what they are counting on for you to purchase something that's not authentic. Although these superfakes are good in getting almost all the details, they don't have access to the same leathers, machines, and most importantly, craftsmen that make these items for fashion houses. Therefore, there are always too many details that are off to be a coincidence. 

Finally, the most important thing to keep in mind is to purchase from a reputable source that has an authenticity guarantee, and process your payment through a safe third party that offers you added protection, such as PayPal. A reputable shop will inspect every inch of any item that comes in, and will only sell items that they have personally inspected, rated, authenticated, and photographed. Further, they will offer you a full money-back guarantee on the items they sell. When these things happen, no matter what, you are protected as a consumer. 

Happy shopping!

-DeLuxe Consignment