To warn you about this retail scam?

[BurgundyFlags]

Long story short, bought a bag from a trusted authorised retailer months ago, realised last week that it's fake, and had my eyes opened to this scam that apparently is 'common'.

Here's how it usually goes:

1. Person buys something from authorised retailer, maybe even the actual store
2. Person buys a good fake from Amazon etc
3. Person returns the fake to the original retailer
4. Next person ordering from the original retailer gets the fake

It wasn't a majorly expensive bag (about £75 but it's one that is popular with counterfeiters) but it is disappointing especially since I paid a premium for a brand that's famed for having durable stuff that was supposed to last me 10 years only to get a fake that broke in months!

Just thought I should let everyone know that just because you buy something from the official store or official retailer doesn't necessarily mean it's real these days!

The problem with this scam is that even if you alert the retailer they might think it's actually you pulling a fast one so either way you lose. I suppose the only thing is to hope for the best. I bought my Kanken direct from the website tho.

Apparently some of the newer fakes have 'fixed' this issue but the main tell for most is this gap on the Å. I wouldn't even have thought to look or noticed it if someone didn't point it out and if the strap hadn't torn!

This is the real one.

I’m not surprised some fakes are so good and not of cheap quality it the quality is still not as good

hope you get a refund o think they shall to use some sort of code that is unique to each bag but that will be costly (but those that make the fake bags they will probably get around that at some point)

my ex was very into watches and his friend ran a jewellery shop that sold second hand expensive jewellery and watches. . When we were in Thailand he bought a fake Rolex and another high end watch (can’t remember the name) for his friend. Not the £10 ones they cost a few hundred £’s. His friend was amazed at the craftsmanship of these watches he could tell they were fake but not by a glance but by having a really good look at them

Shhh. Don’t say that or they will realise.

Well made means in this instance "faked well" not necessarily good quality with good workmanship and made of quality materials. It also matters because you'd pay more for the genuine article than a fake. So the customer is ripped off financially. They also can't sell it on in the future as whatever brand it's meant to be because it isn't it's a fake.

people do this all the time with electrical goods apparently, order a new version of their kettle, put the old one in the box then send it back 🤦🏼‍♀️

this reminds me of when my FIL bought a Rolex in Hong Kong from a reputable jeweller.

It needed a new battery and he took ti to Rolex in London for it. They told him it was a fake but asked him if they could purchase it off him to have in their archives because the quality of it was so exceptional. He ended up swapping it for another Rolex from the London store.

(I now am in proud possession of his replacement Rolex. My FIL left it to me because I love mens watches. I must look it out as it again needs a new battery!)

I've heard of this happening with Doc Martens, someone bought a pair from La Redoute which were fakes, and the consensus was that they'd been a returned pair. Apparently when returns are received at the warehouse they pretty much just check there's 2 in the box and they're the correct size.

@BurgundyFlags I am sure you should get all money back and they should pay for the return post , not to mention if you paid by credit card you will have additional protection

It would matter if you'd paid top dollar thinking you were getting the real deal.

This happened in John Lewis when I worked there. Someone claimed their Barber coat popper had come loose. Girl on the till let her exchange like for like as she didn’t have a receipt. Turned out the one she exchanged was a fake and she got herself a lovely new Barber.

It doesn't matter except that you've paid the real price for the fake product when you could have got the fake one for much cheaper.

I’ve just bought something from vinted, which is fake. My bad… and poor eye sight! I’ve been refunded.

I hope you get your refund op.

Here’s a novel based on that very thing!

Aren't some of these designer bags a scam in the first place? Aren't some of them made in the same place as cheaper makes, it's just some label that makes the difference. It's all a bit emperor's new clothes

Oh my goodness thanks for the heads up re Kanken. I’m going to check mine. So I bought mine from the site and the motif has rubbed off! Going to check the A when I get home. If fake can I get a refund as I have proof I bought it from them. Their returns should be better.

But then how did not know that you didn’t switch it for the counterfeit OP?

You can buy fake fjällräven kånken bags on wish and places like that. They look very similar unfortunately.

The real ones last forever though, I still have mine from 25 years ago.

Happens all the time with Pandora, the staff can’t tell most fakes.

The eye on that Kanken motif is different too.

The make is ‘fjallraven’ a long established Norwegian manufacturer, “kanken’ is the model/ style name

Only a guess as I don't have the foggiest about high fashion, but the real product will be made of good quality materials and well sewn, whereas the fake will be as cheap,as chips and looks OK for about 6 months then falls apart.

thanks for the heads up OP, I didn't know this was a thing, I only buy high street brands that have a presence in my local area. I don't trust online at all, it's easy for them to do all sorts of jiggery-pokery when you can't pick up the product in your hands to look it over.

As far as I am aware Rolex watches don’t have batteries, they use motion to charge them as do most high end watches. You may need to charge it by wearing it rather than it needing a battery.