Beware of Fakes - How not to be scammed by expensive, plain and simple

Designer duds. If you're looking for gorgeous pieces right on the runway but don't have the budget to buy the pieces directly from the store, there are alternatives. However, you should know that buying designer items from someone other than the original manufacturer will expose you to the possibility of purchasing a fake. Designer knockoffs are sold on the streets, in stores, and more often than not, on the World Wide Web. Protect yourself from spending hard-earned money on poor quality items. Just because the item in question has a brand name doesn't mean you're dealing with the real McCoy!

Most of the supposedly branded items sold on the street are just fakes. Use common sense when buying any type of merchandise from any type of seller. If you buy a Louis Vuitton handbag for $15, chances are the item is actually a fake. Remember the old adage, "if it is too good to be true, it can be". That couldn't be more authentic than those looking for great deals on genuine designer watches.

Wherever you choose to buy discounted branded items, make sure the seller is trustworthy. If you are purchasing items from virtual stores on the World Wide Web, check to see if any claims have been filed against that particular company. Also, if you choose to buy designer items from online auction sites like Ebay or Yahoo! Auction, carefully evaluate the seller by studying the feedback feedback. As always, follow your instincts - if you think something is fake, avoid buying the item. No matter how good you are at sniffing out bargains, there's no way that the bag you bought for fifty dollars is a genuine Hermès Birkin.

The best way to avoid buying branded fakes is to touch the items. If the material appears cheap, rough, dyed or woven unevenly, or otherwise made of poor quality, it may be a fake. Also, look at the craftsmanship. Check for seams, buttons, zippers, and anything else that could make an item look fake. With bags and shoes, look at the quality of the leather. Also, the lining of a bag can tell you more about the quality of that particular handbag than anything else, so be sure to take a close look at the inside.