if you are referring to me i never claimed to be a specialist. I did list some resources for authentication that are considered to be experts. However, with some of the fakes it is pretty darn obvious. Misshapen letters in the logo, wrong font, etc. And i also know enough to know that it's illegal to sell counterfeits. It's not illegal to sell real items that came from the authorized store's outlets.
The difference between designer-inspired and counterfeit is this: Designer-inspired items do not claim to be made by a certain company, and do not have that company's name on them.
If an item has a company's name on it and was not made by that company, it is a counterfeit. No credibility needed for that one, it is just good common sense.
And in my opinion, those bags you are selling, both of which have the coach logo on them, were not made by coach.
Just my opinion, no credibility needed to have an opinion.
Again, fakes are illegal. Does a site riddled with illegal items hurt that site's credibility? Depends i guess on whether the people looking are law abiding citizens or crooks.
As far as the quality, i guess it's easy to say that the quality is all the same while also saying that you don't know much about them. I do use and carry handbags, and i know that there are in fact many different levels of quality available.
I'd personally rather have a nice leather bag made in an authorized factory that is actually good quality than a plastic knockoff any day. I'd also rather have the real thing with a few scuffs than a new fake. And the companies who get knocked off wouldn't be in business if many other people didn't feel the same way.
And also fakes are illegal. Check out the department of immigration & customs enforcement if you don't believe it. Otherwise known as ice.
Here is a link that someone may find useful:
http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/101...washington.htm
here is just a bit for people who don't like to click on links:
Washington - seizure orders have been executed against 82 domain names of commercial websites engaged in the illegal sale and distribution of counterfeit goods and copyrighted works as part of operation in our sites v. 2.0, as part of an ongoing investigation by u.s. Immigration and customs enforcement (ice).
"the sale of counterfeit u.s. Brands on the internet steals the creative work of others, costs our economy jobs and revenue and can threaten the health and safety of american consumers," said ice director john morton. "the protection of intellectual property is a top priority for homeland security investigations and the national intellectual property rights coordination center. We are dedicated to protecting the jobs, the income and the tax revenue that disappear when counterfeit goods are trafficked."
the coordinated federal law enforcement operation targeted online retailers of a diverse array of counterfeit goods, including sports equipment, shoes, handbags, athletic apparel and sunglasses as well as illegal copies of copyrighted dvd boxed sets, music and software.
oh, and for the ladies who buy a fake and think that no one can tell...well, people can tell.