Hi. I have seen a lot of demand for Gucci handbags and other accessories but am scared that I may end up with a fake Gucci product. Are there any easy ways to ascertain if the product is real or fake Gucci?

I just know about the interlocking G’s

I can tell you about handbags since I have worked with a Gucci reseller at some point.

• There should be no logo on the outside of the bag but definitely one on the inside of a genuine Gucci handbag
• The G is often crooked or looks like a C or even an E in case of a fake Gucci bag.
• All Gucci bags are made of leather, never cloth.
• Many Gucci bag styles come with some accessories that you can check on.
• Logo should be engraved and not printed on the leather of the bag.
• The bag should come protected by a dust cover and not wrapped in plastic.
• All stitches should be equally spaced and neat. In case of loose threads you can rest assured that it is a counterfeit piece.
• The lining is often of poor quality with bad stitching in case of a knock off. In the real piece the inside looks as good as the outside.
• The zipper of the bag will have the designer’s signature embossed on it. The fake will not.
• Inside lining should lie flat and not be puckered in case of a backpack.
• Each original bag comes with a tag with detail about the bag or at the very least an authenticity card.
• The color of the fake Gucci bags often looks faded or at the very least worn out.

For someone who has owned or used a genuine Gucci piece, it is much easier. You may consider buying yourself one of the lesser priced, out of season pieces and getting used to what a real Gucci product feels like.

My advice would be to spend some time on the Gucci website and understand their various fashion styles. Designer handbags have limited number of popular styles every season and if you understand this trend, you will not get cheated. Check both current as well as last season’s designs.

You could also walk into an exclusive Gucci outlet and ask for help from the sales personnel. Given the huge amounts of revenue that brands like Gucci lose every year due to such intellectual theft, I’m sure they will help you. Examine the packaging, the boxes, logo design as well as trademark features.

Gucci bags are made of a single piece of leather; so if you see seams where several pieces are joined together then you are probably holding a fake.

There should also be a small leather tag on the zipper seam where the serial number is located. There would be 4-6 numbers stamped on the tag which will read GUCCI and also mention place of manufacture.

Serial ID that begins with 001 are also a sign of fakes. Even the size of the interlocking G’s are often too big or small or simply too wide apart on a fake Gucci

I am also told that most knock offs have scratches on the surface due to the treatment they are subjected to during extensive travel. Real Gucci doesn’t have to bear that kind of wear and tear (and would probably fare better even if it did). You may want to check for that as well.

I read somewhere that 98% of all `new’ Gucci or other designer handbags on Ebay are fake. Interestingly they have a review forum on how to spot a fake Gucci that might be of interest to you. They say that you should stay away from seller with a score below 250 and 99% positive feedback.

I don’t even get what the fuss is all about. My girlfriend just picked up a fake Gucci backpack and to tell the truth, I can’t see the difference. It cost her a fraction of what the original would retail for and looks just as good.

Of course one should not pay top dollar for a fake. To my mind, a business in knock offs will be easier at least from the supply point of view. There seem to be more fakes around than originals.

That’s the kind of approach that gets all of us in trouble. Brands spend huge amounts in creating the hype and exclusivity around their products which they get a return on when they sell at high prices. Counterfeits not only eat into their margins but rob the treasury of revenue.

I have been reporting counterfeit goods on E bay for years only to see them multiplying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllenSch

I don’t even get what the fuss is all about. My girlfriend just picked up a fake Gucci backpack and to tell the truth, I can’t see the difference. It cost her a fraction of what the original would retail for and looks just as good.

Of course one should not pay top dollar for a fake. To my mind, a business in knock offs will be easier at least from the supply point of view. There seem to be more fakes around than originals.

Have you ever seen or touched a real Gucci handbag? It's nothing like fakes. The process Gucci leather goes through is the result of decades of research, highly secretive chemical processes, detailed leather selection. A fakes factory would never go through the same process, not just for the cost of the raw materials, but for the cost of research that would be required to achieve the same high quality result.

If you cannot afford a Gucci handbag, don't but it. It's not just a logo, it's an art form.

It is also a fact that actual production cost of these Gucci or other designer handbags are a fraction of what is being charged which is why they are sitting ducks for the counterfeit industry.

Even if the `faked’ product is made with good quality material, it is still a great bargain compared to the genuine piece. In fact, there are many fakes that are actually very difficult to distinguish with the naked eye or by an untrained buyer.

Coming back to the original question I suggest that you find out what other brands your supplier stocks. If they are all commonly `faked’ ones like Coach, Dior, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, Hermes or Balenciaga, it may be time to find another supplier.

What about other Gucci products – belts, watches…etc?