How do I know?

[littlerose2]

I am NOT an eBay newbie but I still can't figure out how some sellers are selling "genuine" and "authentic" items at such drastic differences in price!  Can someone please please tell me?  e.g.  Prada sunglasses @ a high price of $445 and @ the lower end of the spectrum @ $95!  

[ed8108]

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@littlerose2 wrote:

I am NOT an eBay newbie but I still can't figure out how some sellers are selling "genuine" and "authentic" items at such drastic differences in price!  Can someone please please tell me?  e.g.  Prada sunglasses @ a high price of $445 and @ the lower end of the spectrum @ $95!  

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Be prudent, exercise caution, research the product that you consider buying.

[little.font.lord.leroy]

There are as many reasons for a difference in price as there are different sellers. Each has his own reason for setting that price.

Your question: how do you know if it's authentic is hard to answer. You don't always know. And price can be the worst indicator. The same dealer selling fake prada glasses will list one at $445 and then under another ID list the same pair @ $95, using different bait to attract different fish (one who is looking for a deal, the other who believes price = authentic.)

In order to purchase this type of item, you need to be an expert and be able to detect the forgery.

For the cheaper items It is possible that:

a. the seller purchased an authentic item, wore it twice and it's now selling on eBay at a far reduced price.

b. a buyer purchased store returns and is selling at a reduced price.

c. The buyer purchased last seasons glasses when they went on sale or had a store discount through an employee.

e. The item is a lesser "outlet" item by the brand.

e. the seller is from China, and sells fakes.

f. The seller is from the US, but buys tons of Chinese fakes.

The red flags you can check:

first the sellers feedback, see if they have "condition" complaints from buyers  and what the response, if any, was from the dealer.

Is the seller located in china?

Does the seller only sell sunglasses by top brand names or have multiples of the same glasses?

Does their listing look like a copy-cat listing with catalog photos instead of a real photo of the actual item you will be buying?

Some brands, have an "outlet" line, often looks a lot like the high end, but is actually made cheaper, usually has a slightly different label, but is made to be sold in an outlet shop they run or at a place like Marshalls. These are legit, but lesser quality.

A legitimate seller of discontinued items and sale items may be difficult to tell from someone selling knock offs. So it is important to know your brands and what to look for to distinguish quality over cheap.

If you do find a seller with legitimate merchandise at a deep discount, you may want to save them to your favorites, that is quite rare.

[annasunicorns]

..... They got a good deal out bargain hunting.
...or its fake
.... They do not actually know what "authentic" means
...They got it as a gift and do not know the value
...they got it as a gift and do not know its fake
... They are lying
....They know its worth more but are unsuccessful at selling for more
....Its bleepity bleep ugly to the seller
..thier bleepity bleep x gifted it to them and they do not care that is cost him $500 they just want it gone

[littlerose2]

very detailed and informative.  I am still vacillating and hopefully this is not a "buyer beware" scenario.  

[mudshark61369]

@littlerose2,

 "I am NOT an eBay newbie but I still can't figure out how some sellers are selling "genuine" and "authentic" items at such drastic differences in price!".

You are not exactly what I would call an experienced member either.  The others have given you reasons why an item may be priced lower and even much lower than the trending price.  However, the fact is that designer fashions and accessories, are high risk items to buy on ebay, unless one does some research.

"I am still vacillating and hopefully this is not a "buyer beware" scenario".

Have you searched online for sites dedicated to spotting knock off or fake Prada sunglasses? You may find the partiular type/model you found as being heavily copied or counterfeited, though not every pair of Prada glasses is high priced, some styles just did not sell well.

One thing you need to do is check the seller's feedback profile. 

If all but 1-2 feedback are over a year old.

The recent ones from the last year or 6 months. 

They have little or no selling experience.

Have not sold items in the high end fashion categories.

Are registered outside of North America.

If any one or more things in the list above is true. They may be selling from a hijacked account. 

The listing could provide some clues to the authenticity and reliability of the sale.

Item location, (and the country the country the seller is registered in, from the profile page).

More than one pair available.

An extended delivery time, over 10 days for a domestic seller, over 14 days from the U.S.. Over 30 days from any place else.

The pair is used but has all stock photos or only 1or 2 photos that cannot be enlarged to see specific details such as the logo.

If a few of the things listed above match up, listen to your gut, and remember what your parents probably told you.  "If something seems too good to be true, it probably is".

[robot-hands]

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@littlerose2 wrote:

I am NOT an eBay newbie but I still can't figure out how some sellers are selling "genuine" and "authentic" items at such drastic differences in price!  Can someone please please tell me?  e.g.  Prada sunglasses @ a high price of $445 and @ the lower end of the spectrum @ $95!  

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A thousand different reasons.

They are out of style, factory irregulars, incompetence, loss leader, fire sale, stock clearance.....

[postingid2017]

It should always be "buyers beware" and really know the item that you are purchasing, always.  There were some items that I wanted to list and was informed that that Chanel handbag, was a fake.  I thought it was, but it was not.  There are a few items that I can purchase with confidence and for those that I don't know as authentic, I just move on.  I even purchased a Hermes scarf once at the SA, but doubted if it was real because I could not fathom why it would be donated.  Turns out, it was authentic and I was able to sell it w/o incident.

If you have any questions for authenticity, ask on the Fashion Board.  The responders there are super great and are willing to help and advise.

[littlerose2]

Fashion Board? on eBay?

[mycarolinavintage]

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@littlerose2 wrote:
Fashion Board? on eBay?

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Hi there. You can go to the top of this page. Point and click on discussions. See Fashion to the right under the Categories heading. That may help you find more info.

........................................................

energy flows where attention goes

[littlerose2]

Yikes!!! Much appreciated........

[juststuffisell]

Assuming they are authentic....

If I picked up a pair of authentic maui jims for 20 bucks, and that model is selling for 200 at the high end, If I didn't keep them for myself, I would sell them for a franklin just to move them quickly.

All depends upon how much you paid and how quickly you want to move them. Condition plays a roll as well, but all things being equal, what did they cost you and how quickly do you want to turn them over. Every seller is different and so..is the price.

Cheers

[ab_ryut]

They also may not know the worth of it... My mother got me a Coach bag mini pouch with all those awful CC's (shudders) and from moving and carelessly packing the leather got scraped up so I tried to sell it cheap because Im not into those designer brand logo **bleep**... I love cute Japanese fashion.. vintage blah blah... and I was flagged. (Im sure I probably priced it way too cheap... and then I spent a long time on the phone talking about integrity and appreciation of designers and why did they let let sellers from China sell FAKE **bleep** when I was legit. (Poor woman... ) They said even if I went to coach and got authentication it was NO. What??? REAL DEAL. Finally they said "we will think about it but you can sell it on other platforms." Yeah, you don't own the internet, Ebay... I get that.
But, some have had it... flaws... or they just want to make money despite. Also, how rare and all that jazz goes into pricing.

[castlemagicmemories]

Always remember, Caveat Emptor.

[albertabrightalberta]

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@littlerose2 wrote:
Fashion Board? on eBay?

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https://community.ebay.com/t5/Fashion/bd-p/fashion?nobounce