BUYER BEWARE

Spotting a knock-off is more difficult than you may think. Use the tips below as a checklist to avoid buying a fake.

1. Location, Location, Location
   First and foremost, purchasing luxury goods at a brand’s boutique, website or authorized dealer is your best bet to insure buying a genuine product. Items at flea markets, home parties, from street vendors, or unauthorized websites are likely to be fake.
2. The Price is Right
   Quality and exclusivity account for the high price of luxury goods. Thus, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
3. Construction Sites
   Craftsmanship is a main point of distinction with luxury goods. Sloppy stitches in less visible areas—such as the underside of a product or inside pockets—is likely the result of counterfeit production.
4. Package Deal
   Luxury retailers meticulously package their products, including tissue paper, authenticity cards, product care information, superior quality boxes, and shopping bags. If you see a plastic wrap covering or a flimsy dust bag, it’s probably a fake. For example, counterfeit manufacturers will often wrap the handles of handbags in plastic.
5. Spell-check
   Counterfeiters will often misspell designer names. Check for letters that are swapped or a letter that is capitalized that shouldn’t be, and vice versa.
6. Check the Hardware
   With most luxury accessories, you will find the logo on all the metal pieces, such as zippers, latches, snaps, and buckles.
7. Read the Label
   In a genuine article of luxury clothing, most often the label is stitched in, whereas counterfeit clothes are likely to have a less expensive hangtag. Also, check the country of origin on the label.
8. Timely Tips
   Makers of fake watches may not replicate unusual features, such as a helium relief valve. If the feature is available, often times it does not function.

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Watch out for the list of trustworthy websites selling authentic luxury goods in Part 3 of BagAddicts Anonymous Fight Against Fakes later this week.

Image via Stylecaster