How to tell if that Versace Bag is Real or Fake

2. Versace does not sell its handbags at Sample Sales - only through reputable retailers like Nordstroms, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney's, Bergdorf Goodman & of course at actual Versace Boutiques. You can also buy an authentic Versace bag at a reputable outlet like the Versace Company Store (Versace Outlet) or a high-end department store outlet. Versace handbags are also available to purchase via online retailer E-Luxury. Many unscrupulous sellers will state they purchased the bag at a sample sale because it had a little stain or perhaps part of a label was missing and try to explain that this is why they're offering the bag at such a huge discount - not true. More often than not, they're offering a $4000 bag for $500 because it's fake and because they only paid $150 for it.

3. If a seller states that he/she has a copy of the original receipt does not necessarily mean the bag is authentic. I recently wrote a detailed guide covering high-end designer handbags that were being sold by dishonest sellers in which a copy of the receipt was included. These sellers would buy an authentic bag from a high-end department store with a generous return policy and then return it for a full refund. They'd buy the authentic bag, return it and keep a copy of the receipt to try to fool you. Want to know how? They buy a bunch of replica/fake handbags in the exact style of the authentic bag they had purchased & returned. Most of the fake/replica bags cost between $100-200 from I-offer.com (an online source for every type of replica you could possibly think or dream of). They'd then list these fakes on Ebay claiming they're authentic and even taking a picture of the receipt and posting it on their auction page. I know this might sound like a lot of work but believe me, they make it worth their while! These dishonest sellers can sometimes get as much as $1200 or more for a FAKE bag (that they paid $150 for). My guide helped in getting a scamming Power Seller kicked off Ebay when I noted that he/she kept selling the same bag in different colors each week using the very same copy of receipt. in each case she stated that only a copy of the receipt would be included for "security" purposes even though the transaction stated it had been purchased with cash.

4. Before buying a bag - check out the sellers feedback rating. I've found that most (but definitely not all) sellers selling fakes seem to have under 30 feedback ratings. Meaning they've had fewer than 30 transactions in TOTAL on Ebay. Think about it? The more transactions a seller has, the more chances that one of his/her buyers will catch on the "replica" scam. The seller might get away with scamming buyers 30 times - but it might just be the 31st buyer that'll be the one to take the bag into a store to be "authenticated". Once that buyer leaves negative feedback, the seller will simply cancel his/her user ID on Ebay and STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN with a New User ID.

5. If the bag you're looking at - and this is true for any high-end bag (whether it's Versace, Gucci, Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Balenciaga or Valentino) - If the pictures posted on the auction page show a bag with plastic wrapped handles it's FAKE. This is a HUGE tip-off. Any high-end designer would never leave unattractive plastic wrapping on the purse straps or handles. They may cover certain sensitive parts on a bag in clear film - kind of like the film you take off of your cell phone screen when you first purchase (Example - Christian Dior puts a clear plastic film on their C&D charms of their bags to avoid them being scratched prior to purchase). So remember... plastic wrapped handles or shoulder straps, it's fake.

Example of Fake bag with plastic wrapping on the handles.

6. If the bag you're considering buying has a strip of dangling leather attached to the handle or onto any part of the bag - it's fake. Chinese counterfeiters first started this practice to prove to its exporters that the bags they were selling where made of real leather and not plastic, man-made, leather-like material. Do you think Versace or any other high-end designer would feel the need to add a strip of material or sample leather to prove to you it was made of real leather? Of course not. So if you see a dangling piece of leather/material attached to ANY part of the bag - it's fake.

  Check out the leather tag dangling from the tag - this bag is Fake.

7. Take a look at the Versace tag dangling from the handbag. An AUTHENTIC bag will have the official Versace tag. The Official Versace Tag is made of smooth black heavy-stock material (like super fine cardboard). The tag is Black and EMBOSSED with Gold Versace Lettering. When you feel the tag, you'll be able to feel where the lettering is because you'll feel the indentation. The Versace Wording is stamped into it - NOT JUST PRINTED ON. The string which attaches the tag onto the purse should also be black and the little plastic tag that attaches the string to the purse should be black too with the word "Versace" written on it. When the tag is opened, you'll see a white piece of paper with back wording which is your "Certificate of Authenticity". Please see attached pictures of an Authentic Versace Bag & Tag - THANK YOU Bagilbert62 for giving me permission to use the following pictures:

  Notice the black plastic seal - Authentic Bag

Notice the black tag with gold Embossed wording -Authentic Bag

This is what the label/tag looks like when it's opened. Also - notice there's no plastic anywhere! Authentic Bag!

8. If the Versace tag you see attached on the bag is white with black writing - it's Fake. The Versace tag should look like the tag above. A lot of the fake bags have all white tags with black lettering or white or black tag with a stamped Medussa on it. They're all fake! The label should look EXACTLY like the one above. Also - I noticed that the plastic seal on these fake bags are also wrong. The fakes have a white little plastic seal with black writing - notice the plastic seal on the REAL bag above... notice how's it's black? It should not be white.

Common example of a fake Versace bag sold here on Ebay. Notice the tag? It's wrong!!! It should be black like the black & gold tag above. This is FAKE.

Another commonly sold FAKE bag here on Ebay. Notice the tag? It's FAKE.

Another Example of a Popular FAKE VERSACE bag being sold here on Ebay. FAKE!!

And Another Popular FAKE Versace Bag.