• Home
  • About
  • Life
  • beauty
  • fashion
  • Hair
  • how to
  • Contact
  • Search

The Fashion Faux Pas of Gabrielle An unconventional fashion blogger trying to find her place on the internet

fashion•Uncategorized

12 Tips for buying second hand designer online

26/03/2018

I’ve had my fair share of designer item fails when purchasing second hand online and I’m here today to share some tips I’ve picked up when hunting for a designer item online. I’ll also put my hands up and say I’ve tried a few knock off items whilst on holiday in Turkey or Thailand (“Miss, it’s a genuine fake – just as good as real thing” 🙄) so have gained a lot of experience in fakery. Not my proudest moments in life and the last one in Thailand was because I needed a bag and couldn’t find anything that wasn’t a knock off. But you know I’m all about keeping it real here and a quick disclaimer: I wouldn’t ever purchase something fake (knowingly) anymore – we all have our past!
It’s a minefield of fakery out there, so hopefully this post will help you navigate through the tat to find the treasures!

  1. The product descriptions are key when searching for designer wear (no matter what it is you’re looking for) – when I first click on something, I always make sure to look out for “Gucci Style” or “Mulberry Style” (or whatever brand you’re searching for “style”) because that means the seller can’t verify its authenticity or they’re aware it’s a fake. If an item is genuine, you’re likely to have a more thorough description and maybe confirmation of where the item was purchased – be wary of “Genuine Mulberry Bag” without much else to go with it, it probably doesn’t indicate you’re getting something genuine
  2. Check the photos VERY carefully! Now I don’t mean to check whether it looks as amazing as it should because the design is amazing and what you’re after; check for pictures of the item up close; the stitching should be immaculate, hardware should be in the correct place and there shouldn’t be just one picture of it. If you’re unsure, go onto the designer’s website to check their product pictures and see whether it matches exactly. This can sometimes be difficult distinguishing from photos as they might not be showing the dodgy parts, but it can give you a bit of reassurance until you see the item in real life (if you decide to take the plunge!)
  3. If the product has a serial number (usually on accessories like sunglasses, belts, purses, bags etc.) make sure to Google search the serial number to check it’s not a common one used for fakes – there are normally loads of sites listing the common ones to look out for so it’s definitely worth dropping the number in there to find out
  4. Try to get some proof of purchase – whether that’s a copy of a receipt or a certificate of authenticity. A lot of brands will provide these if you’ve purchased something you’re not sure about and eBay/PayPal will insist on you obtaining these if you’re disputing a purchase- if you can’t see in the product description whether they have this, drop them a message to ask! Most of the time they’ll share that in their description as it makes the item more desirable due to it being authenticated
  5. Check the feedback from the seller and what other items they have for sale. If they’re selling various designer items with photos they’ve taken themselves and they’ve had great feedback, you’re probably onto a winner. But if they’re using stock pictures from a brand’s site, I’d say to steer clear
  6. If a seller doesn’t have any feedback, it doesn’t automatically mean they’re dodgy, but it can be a warning sign if they’ve only got one item available for sale, or the same one in different variations – ain’t nobody got time for that!
  7. Always shop around and check what the average price for a secondhand item of your choice usually is – you don’t want to overspend on something you’ve first seen if someone else is selling for a more genuine price. I found this a lot when I was shopping for my Mulberry Taylor bag – someone might have purchased it originally for £900 but that doesn’t mean it’s still worth that amount, despite it being unused in its dust bag
  8. If the price looks too good to be true, it more than likely is. I learnt the hard way when purchasing a fake Gucci Marmont belt on Depop and it’s a pain in the arse trying to get your money back from a seller who’s profile has mysteriously vanished or doesn’t reply to your pleas for a refund!
  9. ALWAYS PAY THROUGH PAYPAL!! I cannot stress this point enough! If you’re buying on eBay or Depop, then PayPal is always an option and gives you buyer protection for when an item isn’t genuine or doesn’t turn up (I’ve been victim to both – the Gucci Marmont belt as mentioned earlier was a fake, but I also purchased a Mulberry bag on eBay a few years ago which the buyer didn’t end up sending 🙄)
  10. Try selling some of your old clobber to help fund the purchase. Before I bought my last Mulberry bag secondhand, I had an old vintage one that I’d impulse bought and an old smaller one that I wasn’t using anymore, so I popped it on eBay and used most of the money I got from selling those to fund my new purchase!
  11. If you’re wanting to drop quite a bit of coin on something, make sure you REALLY want or need the item you’re looking for – it’s easy to get wrapped up in the whirlwind of online shopping and you might not have wanted those neon coloured Christian Louboutin shoes yesterday, so sleep on it and go back tomorrow or a few days time. Your bank account will thank you for it
  12. And the final tip comes from Aaron “buy with your head and not your heart” which I thought was a great one! So often you can want an item so badly that you can’t see any of the above points, so you’ll go with your heart, only to find out later that you’ve bought a PVC Louis Vuitton bag that “definitely looked like genuine leather” in the photos – save yourself heartbreak and keep on looking

And those are my little nuggets of wisdom when it comes to buying designer online, if you want some more specific, popular brand related posts, make sure to check out the following links to find some more tips;

  • Gucci Belts
  • Louis Vuitton Bags
  • Christian Louboutin Shoes
  • Mulberry Bags
  • Chloé Bags
  • Michael Kors Bags
  • Baleciaga Bags
  • Ray Ban Sunglasses

Let me know in the comments if you’ve had any second hand designer fails and if you’ve got any tips to add to my list!

0

bloggerclothescounterfeit fashionfake designer goodsfashionfashion blogfashion bloggerfashion trendsfbloggerLifeonline shoppingonline shopping experiencesshopping experiencespotting counterfeit fashiontips for buying designertrends

18 Comments
Previous Finally getting new glasses
Next Less Than Ten Pounds Online Shopping Review

Related Posts

Making use of old wardrobe pieces 

What is “Greenwashing”?

The documentary that made me re-think my fash...

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jazziepickles says

    26/03/2018 at 10:34 pm

    I’ve never actually thougt of buying designer second hand so this post has opened up a whole new world for me to explore and hopefully buy something genuine and pretty!

    Reply
    • Gabrielle Banner says

      27/03/2018 at 5:36 pm

      Ahhh Jazzie it’s so bloody addictive I tell ya! I go through phases of sorting through everything until I find something that curbs the urge for a while 😂❤️

      Reply
  2. keepingupwithMJ says

    27/03/2018 at 5:36 pm

    It’s always hard for me to find authentic designer bags, so this definitely helped! Saving this in my archives👏🏾

    Reply
    • Gabrielle Banner says

      27/03/2018 at 5:37 pm

      Ahhh thanks lovely – how funny that I was just lurking on your blog just now 😂

      Reply
      • keepingupwithMJ says

        27/03/2018 at 5:37 pm

        Lol oh wow! Great minds think alike!

        Reply
  3. meganrosel says

    27/03/2018 at 8:06 pm

    This is such a handy post! I’ve on the market for a Gucci belt but was so frustrated with the amount of clear fakes i just gave up! xxx

    Reply
    • Gabrielle Banner says

      27/03/2018 at 9:22 pm

      Thanks lovely!! I did a post about a fake Gucci Marmont belt I got conned for a while back which might help! So many fakes of them out there! Xxx

      Reply
  4. According to Alice says

    27/03/2018 at 9:34 pm

    The bit about “genuine fake” in Turkey made me laugh so much because I actually walked past a shop in Turkey with that exact name! Bloody hilarious. My favourite thing is with online products when the title of the item is like pages and pages long, it’s so obvious that it’s fake. These are some really useful tips though – I always make sure to go through PayPal now as I’ve heard so many horror stories, I’m way too paranoid about where I enter my bank details! But rightfully so I suppose x
    Alice | http://www.accordingtoalicex.com

    Reply
    • Gabrielle Banner says

      27/03/2018 at 9:35 pm

      Right?!!! I was laughing when I was writing it and picturing the guys eyeing up my genuine Mulberry purse for tips on how to make theirs look real 😂😂 thank you lovely ❤️❤️

      Reply
  5. blacktulipbeauty says

    28/03/2018 at 1:55 pm

    Honestly, I have never had the money to buy real designer things and I don’t think I ever will so buying a fake for a fiver is usually good enough for me, haha! My mum is really into her designer bits though and she always spends so long checking whether an item is real if it’s secondhand. I definitely agree about going through Paypal for everything and don’t transfer money through ‘friends and family’ unless they are just that as otherwise you don’t get the protection either! I’ve gotta say, I would love myself a Louis Vuitton bag someday though…
    Alice Xx
    http://www.blacktulipbeauty.co.uk

    Reply
    • Gabrielle Banner says

      28/03/2018 at 5:14 pm

      I was the same for ages until I learnt how to shop a bit savvier for the more expensive bits – I’ve come to accept I won’t be donning a Louis Vuitton bag (agree I’d love one too lol) but I can make do with a Michael Kors discounted at TK Maxx which I know I’ll get the wear out of 😉❤️

      Reply
  6. Lily 💕 (@wellbeingedit_) says

    30/03/2018 at 10:33 pm

    This is such a helpful post and I’ve never thought to shop for second hands seeing as they could literally be new and not used! I’ll keep your tips in mind for when I have a browse 🙂
    Lily | The Wellbeing Edit

    Reply
    • Gabrielle Banner says

      30/03/2018 at 11:50 pm

      Ahh deffo worth having a look if you’re after something which you know will take forever to buy new! Thanks lovely! ❤️

      Reply
  7. Ashton says

    31/03/2018 at 4:27 pm

    I am always so careful when buying second hand designer wear.There is this shop that sells some second hand designer stuff and I really love that because then it check and prices right

    Reply
    • Gabrielle Banner says

      31/03/2018 at 10:59 pm

      Ahh there are some great places online that do the same thing – I think Vestiaire is the big one that does it!

      Reply
  8. charlotteannelane103 says

    02/04/2018 at 9:35 am

    I have never purchased designer second hand cos i”m scared I’ll buy a fake and then not even notice haha.. These are all great tips!!xo
    Char | http://www.charslittleblog.co.uk

    Reply
    • Gabrielle Banner says

      02/04/2018 at 9:37 am

      Ahh you’re missing out on some bargains (and some major investigation 😂) but thank you lovely! ❤️

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to be more sustainable with your clothes – The Fashion Faux Pas of Gabrielle says:
    29/10/2018 at 5:00 pm

    […] something designer (if you want some tips for buying second hand designer, make sure to check out this post). I always make sure to search second hand sites when I’m after something online and […]

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Archives

Thought I’d make another appearance on here sinc Thought I’d make another appearance on here since it’s been over a year since my last post, so here’s one from my Tiktok #sustainableootd #ootd #vintedfinds
Had such a good night for @maismurph ‘s surprise Had such a good night for @maismurph ‘s surprise birthday outing last night, although I’m definitely feeling it today! Love you both loads ❤️❤️
So I’ve been absent on here for months as I’ve So I’ve been absent on here for months as I’ve been working and saving away with this gorgeous man to make sure that we could buy a house and we’ve only gone and done it! We’re now in the process of fixing it up and getting our bedroom ready to move in to, so hope we can get in next week! I’m going to be sharing the whole process on our Tiktok account which you can follow @thealbonrenovation - the first post on there is just a video showing the whole house as it was when we bought it on Friday (it’s changed a lot since then!) - so give us a follow it you love a bit of home renovation! 🥳🥳 #firsttimebuyers #newhouse
When the snow was beautiful and didn’t disappear When the snow was beautiful and didn’t disappear ❄️ what a week it’s been! I’ve been shivering away, heating on full blast and my dressing gown wrapped around me as I work this week - I love the look of snow but hate the cold! Had a day of hypochondria where I had a cough and was convinced it was Covid - but turns out my husband knows me best and that it wasn’t. And that’s probably the most exciting bit of news I l have for you all! How are you all doing?!
Hello all! I’m trying not to leave too much time Hello all! I’m trying not to leave too much time between posts as I have been in the last few months, so I think a couple of weeks is an improvement! On our way home from food shopping last week (highlight of the week!) we decided to stop by one of my favourite spots to take some outfit photos, where the majority of what I’m wearing is second hand (bag, jacket and jumper). I’m getting extremely stir crazy, but at the same time have turned into quite the hermit, I miss going out for lunch with Aaron, mooching around the charity shops and going out to do site visits for work - let’s hope this vaccine helps bring some normality!
And the final day of 2020 is upon us! I decided to And the final day of 2020 is upon us! I decided to make myself feel like I was going somewhere tonight by putting a full face of makeup on, with the intention of sitting on the sofa sharing a bottle of Disaronno with Aaron to see the new year in! We might hit up the kitchen, the living room and Aaron suggested the bathroom but I wasn’t sure 😂 what have you got planned for tonight? And Happy New Year to everyone!
And that’s Christmas over for another year (alth And that’s Christmas over for another year (although let’s be honest, 2020 may as well not have happened!) and I just hope to god 2021 is a damn site better for everyone! Since I’ve been attempting to cut out purchasing brand new clothing all together, bar a few items such as underwear and pyjamas, I’m hoping once Hertfordshire is out of Tier 4 that I can head to the shops and do some serious secondhand shopping and use the vouchers I got to buy myself some new beauty bits. How was your quiet Christmas and have you got any beauty recommendations for me? #hertsbloggers #fashionbloggeruk #ukfashionblogger #ukstyleblogger #hertsbloggerlove #sustainablefashionblogger #secondhandfashionblogger #petitebloggeruk #petitefashionbloggeruk #outfitinspo #mylookoftheday #ootdshare #ukfashionblog #petitestyle #hertfordshirebloggers #funkyfashion #ukfashion #ootdinspo #canon700d #canon #amatuerphotography #aspiringfashionblogger #aspiringblogger
Copyright © 2023 The Fashion Faux Pas of Gabrielle · Theme by SheShoppes

Copyright © 2023 · Pathfinder for Genesis on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in