Appraising Coach

Recently, we have been overwhelmed with people seeking appraisals on their "designer" handbags. I personally evaluate at least two a week. Why is this happening? Are people needing money and deciding to liquidate their valuables? That's possible. Are people still buying them at purse parties? I know eBay is cracking down on people selling "designer" items without proof. So, I suppose that's another reason people are having their bags, "appraised".

Coach seems to be the bag to copy these days. In the past month, I've personally evaluated and disappointed four "Coach" owners. So, as a public service let me post some information.

If you are considering buying a Coach bag from an online auction: Beware if the seller has only provided one photo of each of the purses. I would also suggest checking out their feedback. Another tip would be to contact the seller and ask if they can provide a store receipt for the handbags.

Tips for Buying Genuine Coach Bags:
*Coach does not sell to wholesalers or middle men. They only sell their bags through Coach, Coach Outlet, The Coach website and authorized high-end retailers.
*Coach does not sell blemished or seconds. If someone is selling the item as a "second" beware its a fake.
*Coach should be numbered and have a creed.
*Coach should come with a dustbag, usually a deep chocolate with red drawstring and white letters. (There are now newer dustbags, with the company colors)
*The Coach price tag is a bi-fold tag with the word COACH written in brown centered in the front. The interior is imprinted in black are the style number, colors, the SKU number & bar code, a brief abbreviated description, and the price.
*Coach only uses superior craftsmanship. Every detail should be perfect including the evenness and number of stitches on the leather.
*Coach only uses genuine leather.
*Coach CC's are centered and run horizontally never vertically.
*Coach uses heavy thread and double stitches seams.

The following information is directly from the Company Profile Page on Coach.com

Coach was founded in 1941 as a family-run workshop. In a Manhattan loft, six artisans handcrafted a collection of leather goods using skills handed down from generation to generation. Discerning consumers soon began to seek out the quality and unique nature of Coach craftsmanship.

Now greatly expanded, Coach continues to maintain the highest standards for materials and workmanship. Coach’s exceptional workforce remains committed to carefully upholding the principles of quality and integrity that define the company. We attribute the prominence of the Coach brand to the unique combination of our original American attitude and design, our heritage of fine leather goods and custom fabrics, our superior product quality and durability, and our commitment to customer service.
During the last decade, Coach has emerged as America's preeminent designer, producer, and marketer of fine accessories and gifts for women and men including handbags, women’s and men’s small leathergoods, business cases, weekend and travel accessories, outerwear, scarves, jewelry, fragrance and related accessories. Continued development of new categories has further established the signature style and distinctive identity of the Coach brand. Together with our licensing partners, we also offer watches, footwear, and sunwear bearing the Coach brand name.
Coach’s distribution strategy is multi-channel. There are currently over 400 Coach stores in the United States and Canada, with more slated to open this calendar year. In addition, Coach has built a strong presence in the United States through Coach boutiques located within select department stores and specialty retailer locations. In 1999, Coach launched its online store at www.coach.com and evolved it into an important sales channel in the United States, and an effective marketing and advertising vehicle for Coach both domestically and abroad.
While Coach continues to be one of the most recognized accessories brands in the United States, its long-term strategic plan is to increase international distribution and target international consumers. Through Coach Japan, wholly owned by Coach since 2005, the company leverages a large growth opportunity in this important market for imported handbags and accessories. Similarly, the Company acquired its retail businesses in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China in 2009. As this emerging market rapidly grows, the Coach brand enjoys increased recognition. Intent on maintaining a consistent brand strategy domestically and abroad, this ownership structure provides Coach with complete control of its distribution in Japan and China. With a global vision in place, Coach is available at over 900 department store locations in the United States, 159 international department stores, retail stores and duty free shops in over 20 countries, 155 department store shop-in-shops and retail and factory stores operated by Coach Japan, and 28 company-operated locations in China.

Coach’s corporate headquarters remain in midtown Manhattan on 34th Street, in the location of our former factory lofts. Coach is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, traded under the symbol COH.

About Estate Sales and Liquidations

We serve individuals, families, estate trustees, executors and attorneys. We are committed to helping people with the arduous and emotional task of liquidating personal property. We are a staff of caring professionals. We conduct our sales in a speedy and efficient manner with the goal of obtaining for you, our client the highest possible prices.

Here’s What We Offer: • FREE appointment/consultation to discuss the best means of liquidating your personal property. There are a variety of ways to liquidate personal property, aside from the traditional on-site estate sale. Let us explore the options with you. • FREE appraisal/evaluation of items by a certified and experienced appraiser should you choose our firm to liquidate your property. (Written appraisals for tax/estate/donation purposes are available on a separate fee schedule.) • FREE advertising of your estate sale in a variety of venues. (Antique News Publications, Local Newspapers, and Online Ad Services such as Craigslist, Fogster and Ebay.) • FREE promotion, we promote your sale on our website in addition to advertising. We also prominently place signs guiding people to the sale. • FREE credit card processing. Sometimes, a sale would be lost if the customer couldn’t pay with a credit card. We never want our clients to lose a sale due to their inability to accept all types of payment. Our company absorbs the high cost of credit card processing and you benefit from increased sales. • Event hotline and email newsletter: We have a number where the public may call to ascertain information on our upcoming sales and we also regularly send out information in our online newsletter and daily blog. • We work on commission. It is in both our best interests to garner the maximum prices for your merchandise while still maintaining its salability. • We will sell everything possible from the muffin papers in the kitchen cabinet to the family car in the garage. • We conduct on-site or online estate sales. Sometimes due to inclement weather it would better serve our clients to have an online estate sale. (Ask us for our flyer detailing both.) • We give you a clear list letting you know which items sold and for how much and you’ll have your check by Certified Mail within 14 days of the close of the sale. • Items not sold, if salable will be picked up and donated to a local charity. • Broom-Clean, we will leave your home clean and free of debris generated from the sale. If you require additional removal or clean-out of non-salable items we offer clean-out services.

Is it Real???

This is a question I've been getting a lot lately. By a lot I mean at least once a week someone comes to me wanting an appraisal and authentication on their Coach, Chanel or Gucci handbags. Over the next couple of weeks I'll post tips on how to know before you buy online.

FIRST TIP and this applies to all the major designers.
If you bought it from a purse party or a guy on the street corner, IT IS FAKE. Counterfeiting is illegal and I don't care how cheap the price was and how real it looked it is wrong. Don't do it!!

About Coach
BEWARE:
Beware when buying on eBay if the seller has only provided one photo of each of the purses. I would also suggest checking out their feedback. Another tip would be to contact the seller and ask if they can provide a store receipt for the handbags. Also, beware of the same seller having multiples of the same bag.
Tips for Buying Genuine Coach Bags:
*Coach does not sell to wholesalers or middle men. They only sell their bags through Coach, Coach Outlet, The Coach website and authorized high-end retailers.
*Coach does not sell blemished or seconds. If someone is selling the item as a "second" beware its a fake.
*Coach should be numbered and have a creed.
*Coach should come with a dustbag, usually a deep chocolate with red drawstring and white letters. (There are now newer dustbags, with the company colors)
*The Coach price tag is a bi-fold tag with the word COACH written in brown centered in the front. The interior is imprinted in black are the style number, colors, the SKU number & bar code, a brief abbreviated description, and the price.
*Coach only uses superior craftsmanship. Every detail should be perfect including the evenness and number of stitches on the leather.
*Coach only uses genuine leather.
*Coach CC's are centered and run horizontally never vertically.
*Coach uses heavy thread and double stitches seams.
*Coach bags never have puckered seams
*Coach bags with the CC logo on the exterior will always have solid linings.
*Coach bags if wrapped in plastic will always be covered with tissue first, plastic will never directly touch a Coach bag.
*Coach is always happy to answer questions and can be reached toll free at 1-888-262-6224

Johan Viktor Aarne

Johan Viktor Aarne was born in Tampere, Finland in 1863. He was an acclaimed gold-silversmith who worked both in Finland and for Faberge in Russia. He did his apprenticeship with Johan Erik Hellsten. Hellsten was a gold-silversmith in Tampere Finland. Aarne became a journeyman in Hameenlinne in 1880. Aarne worked in August Wilhelm Holmström's Faberge studio for ten years between 1880-1890. He returned to Tampere in 1890 to obtain the title of Master and stayed there in his own studio for a year before returning to Russia. Between 1891 and 1904 he worked for Faberge in St. Petersburg. During this time period he used his Cyrillic signature, BA. In 1904 he sold his workshop to Karl Gustaf Hjalmar Armfeldt. Aarne returned to Finland and opened a successful workshop which he ran for over 30 years. During this time period he used the signature of J.V.A. He passed away in Vyborg, Finland in 1934. Johan Viktor Aarne is most renowned for his enameled and bejeweled photo frames.