Dodged a Bullet

[kath.layn]

Here’s my story.  I bought a pair of unused Valentino Garavani Rockstud Heels from an upscale resale store for $100.  Listed them and sold them for $360.  Buyer requested to return them as she took them to Newman Marcus and the sales clerk told her they were fake.  I accepted the return, buyer shipped them back promptly in same condition, refund issued, all good.  WHEW!  I was expecting to get a box of rocks!  

So, now, what to do with these shoes?  I just sent off some photos and $20 to an authentication site “Legitgrails”, waiting to hear what they have to say.  Has anyone out there used this authentication service?  Or another one that you would recommend?  I wont be relisting them on eBay, don’t want to risk their wrath or worse.  Suggestions?

[kath.layn]

That shoulda said NEIMAN Marcus, darn you autocorrect!

[whatmorefabric]

Neiman Marcus will not authenticate  shoes.    She did not bring them to NM and if she did,  they would tell her that they can't.

She probably did not like them,  or did not want them.

They could indeed be fake,  and the service you stated is pretty good.

[ckimodog]

Salesgirls are salesgirls, not authenticators. Wait to see what the authentication site has to say.  If they are authentic, post that in your description and what ever else you feel is helpful and within the guidelines of listings. Good luck. 

[jayjaspersgarage]

Well, the moral of the story is that greed doesn't always pay and the result could be much worse.

Why not return them to the 'upscale' retail store where you originally bought them?  If they are not authentic then the store where you purchased them should be informed if they are still in business.

[axiombody]

Doesn't Ebay require shoes sold for more than $100 to go through their authentication process?

[wastingtime101]

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@axiombody wrote:

Doesn't Ebay require shoes sold for more than $100 to go through their authentication process?

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Sneakers, not shoes.

[kath.layn]

I don’t think so.  Maybe with sneakers?  I’m very reluctant to go through eBays authentication program after reading the horror stories on this forum.  I’d be interested in knowing which shoes get sent to the authentication and which ones don’t.  And do you have a choice?

[mtgraves7984]

I've had good luck with Authenticate4U. They do Valentino. Good luck.

[amricons]

Did you get a receipt at the store, how about posting a copy w/o the price ?  ie. Store and item description.

[chapeau-noir · Accepted solution]

@kath.layn  The "I took it to XYZ store and they said it was fake" is an old ruse to get a free return.  If you can't return them to the resale shop I would have them properly authenticated.

Before you do anything, go onto the Fashion Board  with good photos - JSales0 is a shoe expert, many years in the industry, and there are others there who are very helpful.  They can assist with authenticity and if it is worth it to get official authentication (i.e., they think they're real) and where.

@amricons  A receipt from a resale store won't prove authenticity - it has to be either from the original store or an authentication source that eBay recognises.

[kath.layn]

No, Unfortunately I don’t have the receipt. Ill try calling them and explaining the situation, but I doubt that would help.  Mainly I just want to know if they’re real or fake.  I did look up reviews for Authenicate4U and they don’t have a very good reputation, from what I could gather.  Ill wait to hear back from LegitGrails.  

[kath.layn]

Thank You!  Ill do that.  Just curious, one of the replies I got here sort of implied I was greedy? ( Not from you, chapeau-noir) Hmmm.  I don’t think so.  I generally try to buy things at a price I can mark up 4x.  That’s been my business model for years and it works for me.  I still generally have my prices a smidgeon below my competitors.  If that’s greed, I guess I own it.

[chapeau-noir]

You're gonna get all kinds of opinions on chat boards.  You're doing what every one of us on here does - purchasing stuff to flip, so I wouldn't even worry about it! 

[jayjaspersgarage]

"Thank You!  Ill do that.  Just curious, one of the replies I got here sort of implied I was greedy? ( Not from you, chapeau-noir) Hmmm.  I don’t think so.  I generally try to buy things at a price I can mark up 4x.  That’s been my business model for years and it works for me.  I still generally have my prices a smidgeon below my competitors.  If that’s greed, I guess I own it."

Didn't mean to imply that you only had a massive profit in mind from the start.  I do but that's my nature.  I buy estates and find all sorts of things things mixed in lots that the seller nor I had a clue about.  So at zero real cost and a little research later of course I will sell that odd looking medal from 1907 for a $1,400 profit.  I did pay $150 for a professional appraisal on that item.  My point was that sometimes a purchase can go sideways on the selling side.