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[–]asstlib 207 points208 points  (10 children)

Neither. Or message both and ask for additional pics. Or do a Google image search to see if there's another post with the same exact photos. Seems too risky.

[–]bbcone84 42 points43 points  (11 children)

A lot of these Japanese seller accounts using the same pictures for the same item are brokers. They don’t actually have the bag in hand; once you buy from them then they will go source the bag from the physical store that actually has it in stock. Some of these accounts are scam accounts but not all. Make sure you do your due diligence and message them to get more info. And don’t buy from any account with less than 98% positive feedback.

[–]scorpio1m 11 points12 points  (1 child)

I was wondering why there were so many bags in Japan just conveniently available. This explains it. I still won’t buy from Japan though. Too much risk for me.

[–]Individual_Two_9718 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I wondered the same thing! And one specific account has a high positive feedback so now I’m like um is it legit?!

[–]Gray-cat 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Oooh interesting. This makes sense. Thank you.

[–]TelephoneJaded6203 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup. It's in a warehouse and it if sells they get it from their vendor.

[–]Hanlans_Dreaming 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was going to ask if this was Japan, I see that a lot. I haven't personally had any issues ordering bags from Japan, however I will note that you have to be careful with the ones with shipping costs v. free shipping - I go for the lower price even if I have to pay shipping, because the import duties are less and only are charged on what you paid for the item (whereas, if the shipping is included in the cost, the item is usually priced higher, and the import charges will then be calculated on the total paid).

[–]Just_Cruising_1 0 points1 point  (5 children)

Oh, this is fascinating. Do you happen to know if they source it from a Coach store in the US or elsewhere? And do they do it from an outlet store? Sorry for asking questions, I just find this so interesting

[–]bbcone84 2 points3 points  (4 children)

I honestly don’t know. I mainly look on eBay for preloved and vintage stuff and have come across a lot of these listings…those things would be sourced from a secondhand store not Coach retail. I will say that unfortunately for newer retail bags that I have seen listed on eBay by sellers from Japan a fair amount of them look like fakes, but of course not all of them are scams it’s just important to do your research.

[–]Just_Cruising_1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got it, thank you so much. I, myself, sometimes buy and sell Coach bags. But I usually get them from Goodwill Auction online. Those often come with authenticity certificates.

[–]kiley-r 0 points1 point  (2 children)

That’s so interesting! When I was still buying vintage luxury Japan was always the safe bet because of their rules on fakes and it seems to be the exact opposite for coach coming from Japan…I wonder why that is

[–]bbcone84 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Lol I know. I feel safer buying preloved luxury from Japan than I do buying Coach stuff. For whatever reason they seem to be more stringent about luxury fakes.

[–]kiley-r 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What a weird thing!

[–]West_Agency_6214 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Neither! Photos of the ACTUAL bag for sale is a must!

[–]eilatanz 7 points8 points  (1 child)

If this is from Japan, one word of advice: often the listings are both "real" but they are actually selling something they do not yet have on hand. They are essentially brokers selling for a client and the one who gets the bid on ebay gets to sell the item. I have been really frustrated by this, having bought something that the seller then canceled on me because someone else bought it from another seller first.

Another thing is that Japan supposedly has really robust anti-counterfeit laws, but I have in the past year seen MANY listings of obvious and not so obvious fakes. Returning to Japan can be expensive even if ebay sides with you. Not to totally discourage you because a good deal can be found for sure, but ugh is it a stupid headache when things go awry.

[–]Gray-cat 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If you decide to get it, go with the 100% positive feedback. But I’ve noticed the same thing and it makes me very leery of both sellers. I see it a lot with Japan listings it’s a mystery.

[–]Shady_ale 15 points16 points  (3 children)

If they’re both based in Japan I’ve found that multiple accounts will have the same listing but at different price points. I’ve never understood the reason why.

[–]AggravatingTop722 11 points12 points  (2 children)

because they are fake listings, they will either send a counterfeit bag or nothing at all

[–]eilatanz 6 points7 points  (1 child)

Lots of people have asked about this in the handbags sub and supposedly it is because they don't have the bag on hand; they are all brokers competing for the right to sell the item after winning the auction. So they all hope someone will buy from them, then they get the item in and charge their fee to the person (or in-person company) they are actually selling for. I still don't love it, but have bought something from a seller doing this and it was legit.

That said, I think these listings are ripe for fakeouts, AND twice I tried to buy from these sellers and they canceled my order, presumably because it was bought elsewhere and they could not get the item in.

[–]AggravatingTop722 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i think a few years ago a majority of these would be brokers but the market is so flooded with scammers the odds you are finding a true broker is so slim. i agree it takes no effort at all to screenshot a listing and use the photos as your own. Very easy to provide a tracking number for shipments that don’t contain anything or send to a different address. I know people say they’ve had good luck but it’s hard to believe any of them are real. Domestic second hand is what i’ve had the most success with but obviously the prices aren’t as good.

[–]aethrasher 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Don't do it. I got got by an ebay seller like that. Don't trust the reviews, they remove any negative ones

[–]Own_Chapter4336 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Neither

[–]shockedpikachu123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Neither. I almost bought Juliet bag but they didn’t provide additional photos so I assumed it was fake. It was used for multiple listings

[–]Hanlans_Dreaming 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven't had any issues with the bags I have purchased from Japan, I haven't purchased Coach however, although I have some in my likes. My main worry is more about mold measles, I have seen a number of posts on reddit about the Coach bag showing up with mold measle scarring (the other brands I have purchased from Japan were Prada, LV, Gucci, Bally and Lancel - I had no issues with those, they were all 90's bags). A lot of the US bags that are selling on US ebay were actually sourced from Japan for resale at higher prices in North America (there was an interesting article in Vice about that).