Here are the answers to the most important questions regarding authentication we get asked all the time. For you convenience, we've broken down the questions into sections. If you have a question that is not listed here, message us and ask!
SERVICE QUESTIONS
What will I get as a service?
You'll get a response with our opinion regarding the item's authenticity.
If you selected Verbal authentication, you will get an email/WhatsApp message with either of these verdicts:
- Authentic - upon checking all the aspects of the item, we think that it is authentic
- Not authentic - upon checking the item we have proof that this item in NOT authentic.
- Possible scam - this is an additional label we share if we notice anything suspicious about the listing. For instance, if pictures from multiple items are presented as pictures from one item. Technically, most pictures can belong to an authentic item, yet we normally provide a 'Not authentic' verdict to protect the buyer from a likely scam.
If you selected a Certificate of Authenticity, you will get an email/WhatsApp message with a link to a certificate stored on our website. We store all certificates on our website to prevent forgery (unfortunately, that often happens with PDF certificates).
What brands do you authenticate?
At the moment we authenticate the following brands:
- Louis Vuitton
- Dior
- Gucci
- Chanel
- Bottega Veneta
- YSL
Other brands are authenticated upon request. That means that we an only say if we can authenticate the brand based after we see the pictures of an item.
How can you tell whether an item is real or fake? Are you guessing?
No. While you're responsible for your customer's money, you can never guess. we use a specific set of checklists we have developed over years. Unless we have at least 3 red flags, we never provide a verdict. If an item looks fine but something seems to be wrong, we look for evidence like a detective, doing multiple side-by-side comparisons to ensure we have proof.
The following aspects are checked in each authentication:
- Is the item a part of an existing collection?
- Was the item released in this print ever? When?
- Are the production years consistent with the item's production years?
- Is the serial number consistent with the item in question? [Gucci-specific]
- Do materials and the signs of wear look consistent with authentic items?
- Is there anything typical for the most up-to-date replicas on the pictures?
- Are the details of the handbag (leather, hardware, heat stamps, serial number / date code) consistent with the same details on authentic handbags?
- If some details are not consistent with original items, can it be due to the item being some soft of exclusion or repair?
- If that's a purchase, does the listing / pictures show anything suspicious about the transaction in general?
After an item is assessed in every aspect, we are able to make a conclusion on the item's authenticity.
When will I get a verdict?
You'll get a response within 24 hours from the moment we receive all the requested pictures. Of course, we try to return the verdict as soon as we can.
Until that time, we strive to provide a percentage of
What does 80% Authentic mean?
To authenticate an item, we need to see very clear pictures of every item's detail. It's a customer's responsibility to provide the pictures the authenticator is requesting, either by taking pictures of your item or requesting them from a seller.
Sometimes we can't see all the required details on the pictures provided and higher resolution pictures are not available. In this case, we check the item's authenticity based on the pictures provided. Please be aware that if some details can't be verified, it's not always possible to be 100% sure about the item's authenticity.
In such case the final verdict will be our inclination with a percentage of probability. If you provide the missign pictures later, we'll review the item again for free, providing our final verdict.
I need to verify an item urgently! What do I do?
We currently provide urgent authentication upon request. The service is not 24/7 at the moment cause sometimes we sleep :) Thus, the service is not listed on the website, we don't really want people to order it and get disappointed because they receive no response.
To order urgent authentication (2 hours), please message our webchat and ask whether we are online
Typically, urgent authentication is available from 9 AM to 9 PM GMT.
Do you only authenticate bags?
No, we authenticate all types of accessories.
We also authenticate clothes by request.
Who authenticates luxury bags (Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior) at Bagaholic?
Our main authenticator is Anastasiya Bagaholic, a luxury purse collector and reseller. She's been into luxury purses for 15 years. 10 years ago she founded a preloved luxury store specializing in Louis Vuitton and Dior handbags. Designer purses have always been her joy and she enjoys working with them.
Can I trust you?
Bagaholic is a Dutch company officially registered with a Dutch Chamber of Commerce. We've are in love with designer handbags and have been on the market for over 10 years. Follow us on Youtube and Instagram. We always strive to be transparent.
Why are you not giving the explanation of why an item is authentic/not authentic?
Not all people who ask for authentication are doing this for themselves. Counterfeiters are using authentication services too, to test if they created a perfect copycat.
Providing this information to people involved in counterfeiting would mean helping copycats to get better. It is wrong in so many ways.
As we are unable to investigate each customer's background, we've decided not to disclose the reasons for the verdict.
What is the main goal of authentication?
Apart from being able to draw a conclusion regarding authenticity of a certain item, our goal is to save customer's money. Most often authentication is about checking an item a customer wants to purchase. And
Is there any type of certification from the fashion brands for an authenticator?
No. Big fashion brands are not interested in helping buyers to flood to secondhand market. They want you to purchase authentic items from the boutique at full price rather than saving half the cost of the bag buying preloved. Hence, they don’t provide any type of authentication themselves (employees are forbidden to do so).
Is device-based authentication better that expert authentication?
No, it’s not. It is just another way of doing the same thing - comparing the purse in question with authentic examples. The chance of mistake is approximately the same.
Are you collaborating with counterfeiters?
We are strongly against counterfeiting. If we learn that someone uses our services for manufacturing counterfeiting items, we black list that person and never work with them again.
PAYMENT FAQ
I have paid and no one contacted me!
After you purchase an authentication service, you can always send us an email to authentication@lvbagaholic.com with the pictures / link of your item.
If we haven't received pictured from you, we send you an email requesting the pictures within several hours. We always do that at least a few times.
If you haven't received an email from us, there can be 2 possible reasons:
1) The email ended up in Spam folder.
2) There was a typo in the email address when you purchased the service.
If there was a typo, please email us.