The main problem for people who buy goods on ebay is often to do with whether an item is a "fake" or not. Sometimes, as you may find in other articles, the goods are complete fakes and were never designed by the initial company. These you should stay well clear of and if you are concerned then there are many articles on here about specific items. However, there are many items for sale on ebay from top names such as Prada, Fendi, LV, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Versace, Gucci and Ralph Lauren and many more. Now, if the item is going for cheap then it is unlikely to have come from a recognised retail store. Butu does this mean that it is necessarily a fake? You would think so. However, when a large designer company decides to use a chinese of other factory in asia, they will specify as to how many items they would like the company to make. What often happens is, is that the factory will hundreds if not thousands more than has been ordered. All, more or less to the same specifications. Although it would have to be assumed that less effort goes into the ones that are not being sent to the company that designed them. These extra bags or items of clothing are then sold off at a cheaper price (obviously). So, if it is a bag that is sold off cheaply is the same as the one that is sold for hundreds of pounds, is it still a fake?! Now, obviously i am not saying that buying goods that are "fake" is good, honest or whatever. that is a decision that is up to. i just thought you should be aware that not all "fakes" are as fake as you may think. I MUST MAKE IT CLEAR HOWEVER THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS TRY AND CONFIRM WITH THE SELLER THAT THE ITEM IS AN ORIGINAL AND BOUGHT FROM A RETAIL STORE. IF YOU CAN ASK FOR RECEIPTS OR JUST GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ITEM. A LOT OF COMPANIES HAVE TRIED TO CONTERACT THE EVER GROWING MARKET OF DUPLICATE GOODS BY ADDING SECURITY MEASURES OUTSIDE OF WHERE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY MADE. I.E..... "Dolce & Gabbana S.p.A. decided to introduce an anti-imitation system made up of both visible and invisible elements. The aim of this system is to protect the articles of some of the lines which are to a greater degree the object of numerous attempts at imitations on the part of counterfeiters and, on the part of Dolce & Gabbana S.p.A., to safeguard its clientele. The by now consolidated system of anti-imitation principally consists of the use of a safety hologram (in the foreground showing an "&", together with a series of micro-texts which reproduce the trademark): the graphic elements were ideated by Dolce & Gabbana whereas the hologram is produced and guaranteed by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca della Stato (the Italian State Printing Works and Mint). The anti-imitation elements used by the "D&G Dolce & Gabbana" line which make up the system consist of a certificate of authenticity bearing the hologram, a woven label placed inside every article with the trademark with the same hologram heat-impressed on it, a safety seal whose braiding contains an identification thread that is reactive to ultra-violet rays and a woven label with the Company's logo incorporating the same identification thread." ALWAYS CHECK THE COMPANIES WEBSITE TO SEE WHAT SECURITIES MEASURES THEY HAVE TAKEN AND THEN IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT AN ITEM - CONTACT THE SELLER TO SEE IF THEY WILL PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE. NOW, IT'S UP TO YOU WHETHER YOU WANT TO BY A REAL ITEM OR A "SLIGHTLY LESS" REAL ITEM OR JUST A PLAIN FAKE. the choice is yours!