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Buying a used Chanel on eBay? Would I be mad to?

96 replies

iloveshetlandponies · 08/03/2024 11:31

I've wanted a Chanel for years and been watching a few on eBay

How likely are they to be fake? Has anyone bought one from there and how did it go? Did you have much recourse if it did turn out to be fake

I would be absolutely gutted to buy a fake or support the fake industry in any way. But at the same time I can only afford to buy used

This is one of the ones I'm looking at

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404768319698?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=48kFc0tiRZm&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=gBBVmftFSDy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

OP posts:
Ineedanewsofa · 08/03/2024 15:27

I bought through Designer Exchange, they have stores as well as the website and they have a full authentication process as unlike Vestiaire they purchase and resell the bags.
Sellier also operate that model, I’d be very wary of buying direct from a marketplace/individual without authentication

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 08/03/2024 15:29

bunnybunnybunnybunny · 08/03/2024 12:16

Am going to go against the grain and say that's an authentic bag - it is vintage, probably mid 80s or very early 90s.

Would I buy it? No, because it is eBay and I don't feel comfortable making this kind of purchase from there.

Edited to add that re. pricing, given the age, style and condition, the pricing is about right. Bags of this vintage/style go for considerably less than many other Chanel bags.

My only criticism is tmatelassé is not a style of Chanel bag. This is a single flap bag. Metalasse is the term used for that kind of leather/quilting, and as that is Chanel's signature for leather goods, they have never needed to flag it as such.

Edited

I feel the same as you. But anything designer and especially bags I always include certificate of authenticity, serial number and dust bags, receipts if I have them.

Ineedanewsofa · 08/03/2024 15:29

Oh and that Chanel is way too cheap! If it is real (which you can’t tell as those are stock images) then you’ll probably be buying stolen goods

bunnybunnybunnybunny · 08/03/2024 15:31

@iloveshetlandponies

It's just a classic single flap bag in lambskin.

What is so nice about this one is how the quilting is so flat - Chanel quilting used to be much flatter. Also, given its age, the hardware will all be gold plated. But, I don't think the condition is great. If you want a bag of this vintage, look through the Chanel (and other high-end handbag) dealers whom concentrate on handbags and vintage Chanel. Also, these bags often come up at Sotheby's, Christie's and other high end auction sites.

PS. I love shetland ponies too!

Mycardieistootight · 08/03/2024 15:33

That bag is a mess - look at all the photos. It has a worn edge!

Startyabastard · 08/03/2024 15:34

Just a heads up: even if there is a serial number, it is said that there are 'most faked serial numbers' to contend with.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 08/03/2024 15:34

Wimbledonmum1985 · 08/03/2024 11:54

If it’s indeed genuine why is it on eBay?!!

What a crazy thing to say. I sell lots of my unused designer items with receipts or not, and i wont buy fakes. Ebay items are not necessarily fake!

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 08/03/2024 15:35

Ineedanewsofa · 08/03/2024 15:29

Oh and that Chanel is way too cheap! If it is real (which you can’t tell as those are stock images) then you’ll probably be buying stolen goods

It’s ridiculously cheap for a Chanel and doesn’t look like one either.

I’m quite lucky as I inherited a medium Boy bag from my nana who bought one when they first came out in 2011 but sadly passed away the following year. It’s not really my style but I do like it.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 08/03/2024 15:37

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 08/03/2024 15:34

What a crazy thing to say. I sell lots of my unused designer items with receipts or not, and i wont buy fakes. Ebay items are not necessarily fake!

I see a lot of authentic designer items for sale on eBay. I mean I’d use other sites now too if I was selling but nothing wrong with eBay.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 08/03/2024 15:37

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 08/03/2024 15:37

I see a lot of authentic designer items for sale on eBay. I mean I’d use other sites now too if I was selling but nothing wrong with eBay.

Exactly!

bunnybunnybunnybunny · 08/03/2024 15:40

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain Like you, when I resale handbags, I like to include certificate of authenticity, serial number, dust bags and receipts if I have them too. However, I have several of my mother's Chanel bags from the 80s and 90s, and most of them, I don't have any of the above. (The dust bags I do have have more or less disintegrated with age). That said, due to sentimental value, I wouldn't sell them anyway. Also, it's worth bearing in mind that some of the super fakes come with authenticity card, serial number, dust bag and even a store receipt, so they can be meaningless.

It's also worth noting that a lot of the Chanel bags of this vintage don't have serial numbers inside them. Indeed, have just been to check two of mine and neither have them, although one does have an authenticity card. I was with my mother both times these bags were bought - one from Old Bond Street, the other on Sloane Street, so know for a fact they are real!

new837 · 08/03/2024 15:46

@iloveshetlandponies

Have a look on Sellier Knightsbridge

OP posts:
iloveshetlandponies · 08/03/2024 15:53

new837 · 08/03/2024 15:46

@iloveshetlandponies

Have a look on Sellier Knightsbridge

Ahh I follow them on Instagram ill have a look

OP posts:
DrJoanAllenby · 08/03/2024 16:30

Don't forget that they can use a photo of any bag and send you something completely different!

So even if the photo looks genuine you could still receive a knock off.

There is payment protection from eBay and PayPal ( only ever pay online using PayPal)) it's still an annoying process getting your money back and you are left without getting a bag!

bunnybunnybunnybunny · 08/03/2024 16:39

Go try it in person, if you are able to. (By that I mean just go to a Chanel boutique be it a standalone store or one in a department store).

I have a denim WOC and I rarely use it because I don't like any of the lengths of the strap - you can wear it at three different heights. I also kind of wish I would have bought a leather one because back when I got mine, they were £1800. Personally, I don't think the newer models are worth the money, more so when you take into account the quality isn't the same and the hardware is no longer gold-plated. However, that's just my opinion.

Finding a vintage single flap bag for a similar price at this WOC is probably the way I would go. The two aren't comparable, and the single flap more desirable, not least because it is no longer in production.

iloveshetlandponies · 08/03/2024 16:41

DrJoanAllenby · 08/03/2024 16:30

Don't forget that they can use a photo of any bag and send you something completely different!

So even if the photo looks genuine you could still receive a knock off.

There is payment protection from eBay and PayPal ( only ever pay online using PayPal)) it's still an annoying process getting your money back and you are left without getting a bag!

Oh yes I'd only pay with PayPal via eBay but the more I read these replies and look into it the less of a good idea eBay seems

That said - I had a genuine mulberry Bayswater bought by me from selfridges that I tried to sell on eBay a few years ago, eBay took my listing down as they did not believe it was genuine. But it was!
So god knows how some people manage to sneak their fakes on there for sale

OP posts:
Replyingtoyou · 08/03/2024 16:50

iloveshetlandponies · 08/03/2024 11:31

I've wanted a Chanel for years and been watching a few on eBay

How likely are they to be fake? Has anyone bought one from there and how did it go? Did you have much recourse if it did turn out to be fake

I would be absolutely gutted to buy a fake or support the fake industry in any way. But at the same time I can only afford to buy used

This is one of the ones I'm looking at

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404768319698?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=48kFc0tiRZm&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=gBBVmftFSDy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

The bag linked is authentic.
I sell Preloved Chanel as part of my business.

Matobe · 08/03/2024 16:51

Lamb skin 🤢😰

iloveshetlandponies · 08/03/2024 16:57

@Replyingtoyou ahh really ? What makes you think that ?

What do you think to this one ? Real or not ?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305430340778?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=cGvusxyWQgi&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=gBBVmftFSDy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

OP posts:
Replyingtoyou · 08/03/2024 17:01

iloveshetlandponies · 08/03/2024 16:57

That one is fine.

You'll struggle to get someone to tell you definitive reasons why though, most authenticators don't want to help the fakers improve their products.

If I were you buying from eBay, I'd stick to items from the UK and vintage. That'll be the least level of potential hassle

iloveshetlandponies · 08/03/2024 17:03

@Replyingtoyou

Yeah I feel like that one could be authentic , and also is uk based

I'm keeping my eye on that one

Makes sense re the authenticators not wanting to share what exactly makes them real or not . But doesn't really help those of us who genuinely just want to find a genuine Chanel

I'd be mortified carrying a fake

OP posts:
Dee1224 · 08/03/2024 17:04

Re:Japanese vintage designer bags - Japan has very vigorous controls regarding the sale of designer bags/vintage bags. The article linked to previously was about the very bizarre practice of tampering with genuine Chanel bags to make them seem of a different vintage. They were not fakes as such, but their value was affected by the tampering.

Re: eBay - there are a LOT of fake designer bags on there, (I have reported some myself), but at least buyers can report problems to eBay and probably force a refund.

Something to watch out for: Scammers often buy genuine dust bags, tags and boxes for designer bags, and use these to make fake bags look more genuine.

LaurieFairyCake · 08/03/2024 17:06

That EBay looks real to me Confused