One of my weekend rituals is heading out to some local garage sales to search for some treasures I can flip on eBay. Most of the time I strike out as there really isn't anything I think is worth the gamble. Some of my favorite items to watch out for are LEGOs and anything that might be silver or gold. However, every now and again you find a deal that's just too good to pass up. That's how I ended up with a load of shoes!
At one sale a few weeks back the woman had bunch of J. Crew women's shoes that were in the original boxes. There were 10 pairs and she was asking $15 a piece, I offered $100 for all of them and she threw in a bonus. Some red Gucci shoes...
On the J. Crew shoes I figure I could sell them from around $20 to $50 each, it will take some time since they are "vintage". But the red Gucci sneakers I won't be selling at all. They were complete fakes which I realized almost right away when I looked at them. But I didn't buy the lot for them anyway, so no great loss!
One of the problems when buying anything second hand is the number of fakes that exist of name brand items. Gucci sneakers can sell easily for $700 or more. But the fakes always have some problems that give them away. I'll point out a few in this pair that is headed for the trash!
At first glance they may not look too bad. But keep in mind that name brands are very exact in their stitching and even a minor flaw isn't going to pass quality control. First off notice the back of the sneakers how they are slightly wrinkled and the insole in the right shoe is folded. Talk about a bad fake!
Here I circled the areas if you couldn't see them!
Then once again the back of the sneakers, just poor stitch work everywhere...
The insole once again...
And then a side view. When the shoe attaches to the sole you shouldn't see through the sole, just plain bad work...
Counterfeit items aren't just limited to shoes, purses, and clothing. There are even counterfeit silver and gold coins that are produced in China and Russia and passed off as real. So always know your seller well, and test any silver or gold before you buy! With name brand items the fakes will come with shoddy workmanship which is a dead giveaway. The stitching and material used make it easy to tell the difference in cheap fakes which make up the majority out there!
Always be a smart shopper out there. Even thrift stores frequently will have knock off items. So a little experience will help you avoid buying a fake item which you will never be able to re-sell. Unless of course you don't mind and plan on wearing them! These are headed to the garbage where they belonged from the get go!
I do hope you enjoyed my post today. This is a departure from my usual material, but it keeps me from getting burned out. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions below, and thank you everyone for all of your support. It truly is greatly appreciated! Have a great day everyone!
Disclaimer
I am not a financial planner and this isn't financial advice. Please always do your own research before investing your money. You worked hard enough to earn it!
All pictures are mine taken today with my old Samsung phone.
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