A genuine designer handbag can be the most valuable donation a charity shop receives all month. But counterfeit bags are common, and selling a fake as genuine can damage a charity’s reputation and break the law.
No checklist replaces an expert, but these signs help volunteers know when a bag needs a closer look.
1. The overall quality
Genuine luxury bags are made with care. Look for:
- even, tight stitching with the same number of stitches along matching edges
- smooth, finished edges on leather
- linings that are fitted neatly, without loose threads or glue marks
Crooked stitching, rough edges or a strong chemical smell are warning signs.
2. Hardware
Zips, clasps and feet on genuine bags usually feel heavy and solid. Many brands engrave or stamp their name on zip pulls and buckles, and the lettering should be crisp and evenly spaced. Light, hollow or flaking metal is a warning sign.
3. Logos and lettering
Counterfeiters often get the details of a logo slightly wrong: the spacing between letters, the shape of a particular character, or where a pattern is cut at a seam. On many patterned bags, the pattern should line up neatly across seams.
4. Labels, codes and serial numbers
Most luxury brands use date codes, serial numbers or authenticity cards. Their format varies by brand and year, and a code alone does not prove a bag is real, since fakes often copy them. But a missing or badly printed code is worth noting.
5. Too good to be true
A brand-new-looking designer bag in a donation bag isn’t impossible, and genuine treasures do turn up. But if everything about it seems perfect except the quality, trust your instincts and hold it back.
What to do with a possible fake
Don’t put it out at full price, and don’t throw it away either. Set it aside and get a second opinion from someone who knows the brand.
Expert checks with PricedRight
When PricedRight’s AI sees a designer item, it flags it for a check rather than simply pricing it. Shop managers can send the photos to a PricedRight expert, who looks at the details and replies with a verdict and a suggested price. Genuine pieces get the price they deserve, and fakes stay off the shelf.