Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.
If you enjoy thrifting, not only for the bargains you can get but also because it is better for the environment, then bag hunting may be for you. Many people will donate items they do not see as valuable, giving you a chance to get a bargain.
It is not always easy to tell if the jewelry or bag you are buying in a thrift store is genuine, and that is where companies that can conduct luxury bag authentication can help. For a small fee, you can find out if the bag you have purchased is a designer bag and not what the thrift store may believe to be a replica.
Having a company that knows how to discover this and give you the authentication can help whether you choose to keep the bag for yourself or sell it for more than you paid.
How Does It Work?
It is easier than you would believe to find yourself a bargain designer bag. Whether you are looking just because you want or need a new bag or because you are looking for bags that look designer to sell on and make yourself a little extra money.
Find a good thrift or charity shop that stocks all kinds of clothing and accessories and look around. If it looks designer, it could be; it can often be easy to spot a replica handbag when you know what you are looking for.
Simply put, if the lining looks wrong for the designer or the stitching is not right, this does not always mean that the bag is not an authentic designer bag. However, it may not have the authentication card to prove it is genuine, which would raise the question of if it is a replica.
This is where a luxury bag authentication company can help you; if you think it is a designer bag, you can pay a small fee to authenticate it.
Once you authenticate the bag, if it is a true designer, you can sell it as a genuine designer bag with proof. If, however, it is a good replica, you will have a new bag for yourself that is almost as good as a designer without the price tag.
Would The Store Authenticate?
Most of the time, when buying cheap bags, whether designer or not, a thrift or charity store will not have the time or resources to be able to pay for all bags to be checked and authenticated. This is how you can get a good deal.
Due to the companies not having the time or resources, they will sell based on whether the bag or item already has an authenticity card. If not, they will apply a price based on the condition of the bag.
By going through an authentication process yourself after purchase, you have proof of the bags worth and proof that it is a designer bag. You can then keep or sell the bag at a higher cost, depending on your preference. Of course, if the bag has obvious wear and tear, you will get less selling it on, but you will know if your bag is a designer make rather than a replica.