Counterfeit and replica handbags are everywhere – in small boutiques, at the airport, on street corners, and on eBay. Below are some tips on how to spot a fake or knock-off Coach bag before you buy it.

Counterfeit goods fund all kinds of illegal activity including prostitution, drug trafficking, gang activity, terrorism, and other types of organized crime. When you purchase a replica handbag (either intentionally or unintentionally), your money goes to support these types of activities.
Replica bags are not allowed on eBay. Yes, many are for sale, but if you are caught offering one, your listing will be removed and you may lose your status as a seller. Click here to read eBay’s policy on selling counterfeit items.

If you plan to sell one:

First, examine the signature “C” pattern of the fabric. The “Cs” will be crooked, tilted, off center, have jagged edges, or other wise just not look right. The pattern should start in the center of the front and back panels. The fabric should be symmetrical as if it was folded in half down the center seam. There should not be any breaks or gaps in the seams.

The workmanship will look shoddy. The stitching could be crooked, stitches will vary in length, and there could be overstitching. All of these are signs that the bag is a fake. Coach bags are immaculately made with all the stitches the same length, stitch lines perfectly straight, and no overstitching.

The zipper itself will be stamped with YKK.

Where was it made? Coach does not make bags in Korea or Thailand, although they do make some in China.

If you found one at a thrift store or garage sale, chances are it is fake. Don’t risk your eBay seller status by trying to sell it.

If you plan to buy one on eBay, investigate all of the above and also check out these criteria:

Proof of authenticity. Ask the seller to provide a copy of a receipt or some other form of proof. Read the listing carefully – is the word “authentic” mentioned in the listing? If not, don’t buy it.

Examine the seller’s photos. Make sure they are photos of the exact bag that is being sold, not stock photos from a website. Go to the official Coach website and examine photos of legitimate, authentic bags. Compare to the eBay seller’s photos.

Review the seller’s history, feedback numbers, the actual feedback, etc. Get an idea of who you are dealing with. Click here for more ways to check out the seller before buying from them.

[Image Source: Flickr, BagsOnly's PhotoStream]

Post from: EveryJoe

How to Spot a Fake Coach Bag on eBay

History was made on November 4 when America elected its first African American president. eBay is flooded with newspapers from around the world showing this historical event.

As of this writing, there are 840 listings for the sold out November 5 issue of USA Today for sale on eBay.

There are over 2,200 listings for the NY Times November 5 issue.

There are 311 listings for the November 5th issue of the LA Times.

There are almost 4,500 listings for the Chicago Tribune printed on November 5.

It will be interesting to check completed listings in a few weeks to see how much these “pieces of history” sold for.

Post from: EveryJoe

eBay Flooded With Auctions for Obama Newspapers

Remember the Bigfoot hoax back in August? Two men claimed to have found a 7′7″ Bigfoot specimen in the woods of North Georgia and had the remains secured in a freezer. (One of the men was a police officer.) The men duped the media into holding a press conference about their find, even though all they had to offer as proof were a few photos of the remains.

Now, the costume is up for sale on eBay. As of this writing, the bidding stands at $200,400. Click here to see the actual listing.

[Image Source: Flickr]

Post from: EveryJoe

Bigfoot Hoax Costume on eBay

The much anticipated Elmo Live hits store shelves on Thursday, October 14. Look for Elmo Live at Walmart, Target, and Toys R Us for $59. Many sellers have preordered the toy in order to list it immediately on eBay. Some sellers predict that Elmo will sell on eBay for $150 or more. Read what eBay sellers are saying about Elmo Live on the Official Elmo Live Thread on the eBay Discussion Forums.

Post from: EveryJoe

Hot Toy on eBay Holiday 2008 – Elmo Live

The abandoned Saginaw home sold on eBay on October 1, for the final price of $1.75. The actual cost to the owner will be more, as the house is in shambles and needs major clean up, repairs, and taxes are due. I suppose the seller, Southern Investments LLC, will have to pay eBay listing and final value fees out of pocket, since eBay Real Estate listing fees start at $35.

Take a look at the house by clicking here. Check out the comments on the blog post. This one by saginawskydd is my favorite:

“Wow, with the bank crisis I hope she can get financing. I’d hate to see her lose this realestate specimen. I’m thinking with at least 20 percent down she should be able to get an affordable mortgage and maybe when things turn around she can re-sell it for the market value. I estimate that to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $2.86. She could also just take the equity out of it and buy a McDonald’s sweet tea.”

Post from: EveryJoe

House in Michigan Sells for $1.75 on eBay

I was intrigued when I heard Sarah Palin’s speech at the RNC that she put the jet (belonging to the state government of Alaska) on eBay. My ears always perk up when I hear eBay in the news, and let’s face it, Sarah Palin is big news right now.

I have done some digging and learned that the jet did not sell on eBay, although she listed it there 3 times. The item had bids, but the reserve was not met so the sale did not take place.

The jet, a 1984 Westwind II was eventually sold the through an aircraft broker. The final selling price was 2.1 million.

If you are a Sarah Palin fan, click here for a list of ways to show your support.

[Image Source:Flickr]

Post from: EveryJoe

Sarah Palin’s Jet Not Actually Sold on eBay

The big announcement was Friday: John McCain has chosen Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. As of this writing, there are 226 items on eBay matching the key words “Sarah Palin.” Items include buttons, t-shirts, license plates, stickers, yard signs, and photos. Funny how fast things show up on eBay!

[Image Source: Flickr]

Post from: EveryJoe

Sarah Palin Items on eBay